chainsaw sharpening tips

[Sambo]

You'll also get 101 different opinions. I guess the important thing is to find something that works for you.

If you want to do it by the book, you'll need a pair of calipers. Find the shortest cutter overall, sharpen it, and then file all the other cutters to the same length.

Tedious, mind numbing and in my book, pointless.

I start wherever I feel like it, sharpen each cutter until its sharp regardless of length, and then lower each depth gauge to match.

 

Do you not find that your saw cuts with a curve if some of the teeth are bigger than others?

[stoxs]

When looking at a cutter from the front (nose of bar) on a sharp cutter you will not see any shinny marks along the cutting edge, if you can see small reflections you cutter isn`t sharp there is still damage on the face .

 

Best advice from me is secure the saw there is no way you can acurattlly sharpen if the bar is moving.

 

if you don`t have any forms of securing find a small tree say 2" to 3" and bore your saw through vertically at a comfortable height switch saw off and sharpen this works quiet well .

[DriveLink]

If it's of any interest to anyone, I'm just writing up a short series of posts about common problems and how to overcome them when sharpening the chain.

 

I realise that everyone has their own way of doing things, but for anyone that's interested head over to http://drivelink.blogspot.com

 

I've just posted about side plate angles / the amount of hook and the next post will be about cutter lengths, then filing angles / the leading edge.

[Peter]

Do you not find that your saw cuts with a curve if some of the teeth are bigger than others?

 

Not if each depth gauge is correctly adjusted.

[Silverback]

All good advice !

 

My only tip is to use one of the roller guides. I have a partner one which I've had for years and it fits nearly all types of chains.

 

It is important however to make sure that it is used the right way around.

 

The other thing is, don't assume because a file is new that it is a good one. I have bought boxes in the past and had to chuck at least half of them away.

 

Sometimes the metal is soft or hasn't been manufactured properly and this means they don't work as well as they should. With practice you will spot these, but basicly there should be a little bit of resistance as you push the file accross the cutter and it should feel smooth along the length of the file.

 

Everybody advises you should use a vice, but let's be honest who actually takes one out into the field with them. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to sharpen your chains as it makes your life so much easier.

 

To summarise - 1) Do wear gloves when you do this as anybody who has ever used a chainsaw will have chunks taken out of their fingers and knuckles.

 

2) Take your time and practice with a vice in a workshop first as this will help you out in the field to understand what it should feel and look like.

 

Hope this helps !

[Mesterh]

Do you not find that your saw cuts with a curve if some of the teeth are bigger than others?

 

If one side is alot noticbly longer than the other then yes but as to individual teeth nope.

[Sambo]

If one side is alot noticbly longer than the other then yes but as to individual teeth nope.

 

guess you're right! I use my Judgment to sharpen my chains on a daily basis and just give them a go with a pair of calipers at the end of the week when i'm doing weekly maintenance! Slowly getting better at sharpening but still tend to get bendy cuts towards the end of a busy week!!

[Mesterh]

Oh forgot to say the height of the depth gauges can also make a difference if one side has been ground down alot more than the other.

[Czlowiek Drzewo]

always have a handle for the file.

 

If not you. can cut a small peice of wood that is soft inside ( elderflower is good ) stick file in and use that as a handle.

 

and having a vice makes it far easier

[Log-ologist]

ok theres 101 tips...i'll start the ball rolling with what i consider to be probably the mst important 2.

 

1. make sure your chain is tensioned properly

2. find the bluntest tooth first, sharpen that tooth then proceed to sharpen every other tooth giving them all the same ammount of strokes with the file.

 

second that but also remember....

 

 

you need a sharp file to make a sharp chain.

 

buy lots of new ones , do not use a worn rusty opject found on the floor of the van.