Best Chain sharpener/method

[bobb d]

Hello Chaps, this is my first post. I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best method and kit for home sharpening a MS180 and a MS390.

 

Many thanks, Bob

[josharb87]

a round file

[Andy R]

by hand with a nice shiny new file...

[skyhuck]

a round file

 

What he said.

[bobb d]

Do you guys use a jig or just free hand.

[yorkshire pudding]

Buy a field vice,take home a lovely log to whack it into and just practice mate.

If you're fairly fresh to this lark buy a file guide too eh?Will hel p you get your angle right,you have been shown how to sharpen have'nt you?Al respect due,it just seems a bit of a daft question.Get right sized file,get comfy as you can and sharpen.Nowt more to it than that really mate.

[josharb87]

i do it free hand by eye, look at the witness mark at the bottem of the top face of the cutter, keep that angle, in fact, look at a new chain, and try to keep all angles the same-side view you should see a nice curve.

if youre not getting a decenc curve, try raising or dropping the handle hand(i have one hand on the handle and one loosly holding the tip of the file)

keep the cutters the same length both sides-or youll be cutting round corners!

to do the depth gauges, again i just do one or two strokes with a flat file on each one, but a gauge may help you if youve not done alot before.

most important thing is the correct size file, and sharp file! change for a new file every chain-no point making life hard!

welcome to forum btw

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Oregon file with wooden handle, by eye and wipe the file on cloth or other to remove filings every few minutes. Flat fine file for depth gauges - couple of strokes towards the outer of the cutter works nicely (not every sharpen tho). Don't muck about with any daft machine that someone tells you will save effort - nonsense.

[bobb d]

Thanks for the replys and the welcome, much appreciated. I will get a decent file sorted and will follow what has been said.

 

Many thanks again,

ATB Bob

[Tom D]

not being a stihl man I take it both those saws will need the same size file?