Chain sharpening tools

[Steve Bullman]

13 hours ago, Husqvarna King said:

I had a Dremel attachment for sharpening, used a couple of times on really damaged chains, also used a couple of grinding machines but as stubby says you can't beat a new file and a file will give the best edge (with practice). My grandfather taught me how to sharpen before I left school and about the only person I have seen with decent videos of this (with the same things he showed me) is Buckin Billy Ray

Tried a dremel once for a really mullered chain. Found the file attachment wore down way too quick to be of any real use 

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

30 minutes ago, Bolt said:

Good file, practice… and these days, a decent pair of glasses.

Well, agree with that👓

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

The main thing about simple file sharpening, that it is slightly artistic, real skill, and edge is a better guality. Actually sharpening is very relaxing a bit like meditation, I regularly restoring old woodworking tools, as a hobby. 

[Husqvarna King]

1 hour ago, Steve Bullman said:

Tried a dremel once for a really mullered chain. Found the file attachment wore down way too quick to be of any real use 

I don't think I did much with mine, remember cutting some pop afterward using it and was unimpressed with the speed of cut

[adw]

New file and the Husqvarna combi gauge and 5 minutes Tuition on the correct use of it as the instructions that come with it are useless.

[gobbypunk]

I like the Granberg one I got from Rob D yrs ago for those big milling chains and I have a cheap grinder from Lidl that my mate gave me I use that for knackered chains but my go to is always a file with a guide 

[Dan Maynard]

Hand file without a guide removes material faster if it's hit something bad, then finish off with a guide to get the top plate angle spot on (precise file height). Otherwise few strokes with guide to freshen.

 

On job site hold saw between knees for short bar, bigger bars cut slot in a log, or lean it against chipper exhaust.

[htb]

On 16/10/2022 at 08:19, Mick Dempsey said:

True, I hardly ever sharpen on the job these days, except in extremis.

In a well lit workshop, saw in a vice, wearing my glasses  is the only hope for me.

Funny that I take mine off to sharpen or any other detail work, even with bifocals.

[Muddy42]

The file guides and Stihl combi things are OK, but I find bare files are best for removing a lot of metal from either the teeth or the depth gauges.  Holding the bar in a vice at chest height makes a massive difference.  I then occasionally use a file guide to check that I have the correct depth, because I can easily file a little deep when filing freehand.  I do use a depth guage guide, but its mostly trial and error based on how the chain pulls into the wood. Another trick that I have recently learned is putting a metal sewing thimble on my finger to rest the flat file against on when filing depth guages - works a treat!