Vanity......I now need a good chainsaw blade sharpener after Sandy.

me | today | me

[onona]

Can anyone recommend a good chainsaw blade sharpener ? Thank you.

[KTM rider]

I cut about five cords a season for fuel and I would not use an electric sharpener so I cant help you. Electric sharpeners waste a lot of chain. you also need to file down the guides as you go. If you do not overheat and quench a chain it will sharpen quite easily, it will stay sharp a long time if you dont hit the ground and take extra effort to knock off dirt filled bark , theres a lot of dirt in some tree bark next to roads especially

[KTM rider]

I cut about five cords a season for fuel and I would not use an electric sharpener so I cant help you. Electric sharpeners waste a lot of chain. you also need to file down the guides as you go. If you do not overheat and quench a chain it will sharpen quite easily, it will stay sharp a long time if you dont hit the ground and take extra effort to knock off dirt filled bark , theres a lot of dirt in some tree bark next to roads especially

[onona]

You file by hand ?

[Bobalu]

I always hated using a chainsaw. I usually just sharpened mine by hand with a file...seemed to work OK.

I saw a cheap sharpener at Harbor Freight a while back...not sure how good it was.

[Thomas Truxtun]

Filing by hand may seem tedious, but it is effective. You can use an angle guide at first, but as you practice you will find it uncommonly easy. I heat with wood year round and always keep spare chains at the ready. The advice about dirt is spot on. Don’t be afraid of hand sharpening, you’ll grow to enjoy it. I do use a workbench clamp to hold the blade and chainsaw steady. Good luck!

[KTM rider]

yes filing by hand is the pros way to do it but it takes some basic knowledge of technique and principles or it is a waste of effort.

However if you dont mind buying a lot chains the grinder may be your style, the chain will last 10 times longer by hand sharpening I cut down a lot of trees and brush when wildland firefighting and working for a tree service so I know a little about it

[onona]

I guess I have some research and learning to do :)

[count-your-change]

Hand sharpen, practice, and keep the chain well oiled and clean.

[South40]

A small round file works just fine for me.

[fella]

Don’t forget a good pair of leather gloves when sharpening. At my age I bleed real easy.

[KTM rider]

it helps even if you use an electric sharpener , I take a file out with me when I go out hunting permit firewood in the forest .

its pretty simple but like I said before there are important things that get overlooked like the guides between the cutters and the condition of the bar , also if you get the chain hot and hit snow or water the chain gets tempered and wont sharpen. Just a little more to it than dragging a file or grinder thru the cutters

[golux]

Harbor Freight has a number of them on sale now.

[TChad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTXj1VIlbc

[Errant]

I've used a hand file and guide for years and I had a chainsaw timber mill. Both of my saws are Stihl, but it seems these new Stihl chainsaw files are only good for a few uses. At 3 files for about $5, I sure they're Chinese, and what's worse, the new Stihl chain doesn't hold up as well either, IMO.

So I went looking for something better to sharpen my chainsaw with. Of all the options, this is the fastest, easiest and wastes no more metal than a file would:

You can get them from your Stihl dealer or online. They're about $6 for three and last about 4 - 5 uses each. I use them with my dremel tools (both 110 and battery pack units) to quickly sharper the chains on both saws. My biggest is a Stihl 660 with a 28" bar. Stihl makes a battery operated grinder for use with these but a dremel works well and most handymen already own one.

A tip is to sharpen both left and right cutters from the same side (right side) of the bar. Otherwise the grinder will try to rise up out of the cutter on the left side, due to rotation of the tool.

Keep proper angles when grinding. It's not hard with a little practice. If you get off, use the file and file-guide to correct the angles. Stihl chain has the proper angle laser etched into each cutter.

Good luck and stay safe! :)

[21twelve]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2961385/posts?page=1

Here’s a FR thread from the other day. There MAY be some tips from Estibaliz Carranza on how to sharpen a chain saw.

[oldenuff2no]

Wow. I'm a logger and I see some things in here that are spot on and some that made me laugh. A chainsaw has bar and a chain not a “blade”.
A small round file????? Different chains take different files. A great way to screw up a good chain is to file it with the wrong size of file.
I do hand file but also have several extra chains ready to go at all times. Find a good saw shop and have them sharpen your chains ever fourth or fifth time you need them sharpened. If they grind the chain correctly it will not take that much off of it and it will fix any mistakes you have made with a file.
Keep the chain out of the dirt and rocks period. But know that if you use a saw in the real world all day that you will “rock” the chain now and then. Don't fight a dull chain. Either file it or change it right off the bat when you mess it up or realize it is dull.
The last thing I will say is to use a saw big enough to get the job done. Take care of the saws by keeping them clean, air filters as well as the bar and case, and the chains sharp. Don't be afraid to grease what needs it. Husky and the other saw, just kidding about the white one, (stihl) both make homeowner saws and pro saws. You get what you pay for. I like high speed husqvarna pro saws, the XP series. I like blondes too.

[Errant]

Have you ever used carbide cutter chain? I’m thinking of giving it a try. It’s about twice as expensive via ebay.

[Errant]

Like oldenuff2no mentioned above, different size files and grinders for different size chains. Dealers have charts if you know your chain size and it's listed on the file/grinder package.

[oldenuff2no]

Yes I’ve used the carbide chains. I go through a couple chains a day normally and sharpen them when I get home. I did not find that much of an advantage with the carbide. I use oregon chain. I buy it by the spool and make my own chains.