Should I file my chainsaw rakers by eye or with a guide?

File your chainsaw rakers with a dedicated depth gauge tool, not freehand. The raker controls how deep the cutter bites; too high and it barely cuts, too low and it grabs aggressively, causing kickback. Use a tool that fits your chain pitch, file until you hit the tool’s stop, and always file every raker the same number of strokes. A sharp chain with wrong raker height is worse than a dull one.