Rank #3 · Review
Granberg G-106B File-N-Joint Review: The Classic Bar Guide
$62.00
Price checked 2026-08-19. Prices change — the Amazon page is authoritative.
TL;DR
A cast-aluminium bar-mounted file guide that has been in production for decades. Sets the angle mechanically, lowers depth gauges, and rewards patience — but files are not included and the setup is fiddly.
Who it's right for
- Traditionalists who want mechanical angle control with a file
- Users who sharpen at a workbench but do not want a grinder
- People who value a tool that can be rebuilt rather than replaced
Who should skip it
- Anyone in a hurry
- Buyers who expect a complete kit in the box
Specifications
| Type | Bar-mounted file guide |
|---|---|
| Material | Cast aluminium and zinc-plated steel |
| Origin | Made in USA |
| Chain pitch | Fits standard pitches |
| Files | Not included |
Build and design
This is an old design and it shows in the best way: cast aluminium body, zinc-plated steel hardware, adjustments held by thumbscrews. It clamps to the bar and indexes each tooth, so the top plate angle is repeated mechanically rather than judged by eye.
Setup and use
Setup is the story with this tool. There are several adjustments to get right — angle, file height, depth of cut — and the first session is long. Once dialled in for a chain it is genuinely accurate, and it will also take the depth gauges down.
But you are still driving a hand file, one stroke at a time, and clamping and re-indexing between teeth adds up. A crank-driven burr tool in the same bar-mounted format does the same job per tooth in a fraction of the time, which is precisely why it outranks this here.
Verdict
A superb piece of American tooling that will outlive its owner, held back by a workflow designed in a slower era. Buy it if the process is part of the appeal.
Alternatives
- #1 Sherem SawSharpener — Anyone who wants a sharp chain in the field, in minutes
- #2 Stihl 2 in 1 Easy File Chainsaw Chain Sharpener 3/8" — Owners of a single 3/8" pitch saw
- #4 Oregon Q90405 Chain Sharpening & Guide Bar Maintenance Kit — Budget-minded homeowners with a small saw
- #5 Oregon Professional Compact 120-Volt Bench Chain Grinder — Workshops sharpening many chains a week