Chain sharpening

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If Oregon makes several grades of chain, how do I know if I'm getting a long-lasting one? Is what they sell in Lowe's/HD good or the crappy version?

Oregon makes perfectly good chain for your application. I'm not sure they use different metals depending on the chain design but if I had to list chain in order of build quality and hardness it would be 1. Stihl, Woodland Pro or Carlton, (which in all honesty looks more raggedly built than either Oregon or Husqvarna but stays sharp longer) Oregon, Husqvarna.

Any Oregon chain will do ya.

 

[Jstpssng]

I was listening to a couple of logging contractors and a wood buyer for Columbia Veneer a few years ago while they were talking about sharpening; and they all agreed that the file guides available make it pretty easy to keep a saw sharp. They also recommended this Husqvarna Filing equipment Combination gauges
sawguide.
I may use it a couple of times over the life of the chain, just to bring it back into shape. Otherwise I file in the woods. A word of caution though; you can't get a chain sharp if you are using a dull file. After each use I clean the filings out with a denim rag, and throw the file out when it doesn't cut the way I want. I also store my spares in lengths of fuel line.
When cutting, you should be throwing out chips of wood. If you're just making sawdust, your rakers need to be taken down. Don't attempt this without a raker gauge, as you could end up getting too much of a bite, icreasing the risk of kickback, or the saw may not cut straight.

A dremel may not be your best choice at first, because you still need to file the teeth at the correct angles.

 

[pathunt]

Check what the angles should be on the teeth before you sharpen them. I use a Stihl with a 14" bar and it is sufficient to routinely cut 8" and larger.

Starkiller

 

[Jay4200]

Anyway, how is the HF electric chainsaw sharpener? Looks like that would be a lot faster/easier than a file. But before messing with it figured I'd see if it's worthwhile or a waste of time & $$$. Also, just using the chain that came with it. Would a different brand stay sharper longer or are they all pretty much the same?

HF sharpener is great - one of the best $29 I ever spent.

 

[TerryR]

HF sharpener is great - one of the best $29 I ever spent.

I received one as a gift a few years ago. It broke promptly and they refused to do anything about it because the person who gave it to me hadn't sent me the sales receipt. I'll never buy anything from them again.

 

[Deere Dude]

I received one as a gift a few years ago. It broke promptly and they refused to do anything about it because the person who gave it to me hadn't sent me the sales receipt. I'll never buy anything from them again.

Sure you will.

 

[RandyT]

Wow. Lots of good information.

I'm not out cutting down a forest or using firewood for home heating. Just whenever a tree falls, I drag it out & cut it up. My wife actually enjoys splitting wood and I think it's good exercise occasionally as well. So I cut up the occasional tree, split & stack the wood, and just let it accumulate. A little goes for small fires on the property or to keep the burn barrels going for a long time, but otherwise I'm cutting trees just because they are there. I even tried giving some away a few times but apparently people who burn wood in their homes only want hard woods - even if it's already split, dry, and free.

I use a chainsaw maybe few hrs every other month and am not relying on it to make a living or provide heating fuel. So with that light use, I kind of like the dremel tool attachment idea as a starting point. That looks like the fastest and simplest for a novice like me and i already have a couple dremel tools lying about.

If Oregon makes several grades of chain, how do I know if I'm getting a long-lasting one? Is what they sell in Lowe's/HD good or the crappy version?

If the chain comes off of a roll, and the person has to take a piece off and then spin the rivets back together to make loop that is at least middle grade chain. if it comes premade in a box with a part number that starts with like E,S,T etc. then that is the homeowner low grade chain. The only way that a person would know what grade chain they have is to know what box it came out of and know how to read the Oregon part numbers. Even some dealers that sell oregon chain can't determine one chain from another from the part numbers.

 

[TerryR]

Sure you will.

Why would you say that? I've never bought anything from them 'til now, since the chain sharpener doesn't count because it was a gift. I consider everything they sell junk.

 

[Deere Dude]

The last two chains I got I had the Stihl dealer just make some up from a roll he had. Maybe I got lucky with wood but I am on the first chain and it seems to be running forever. Much longer than the previous chains from the pack. Coincidence or not, I don't know.

 

[Deere Dude]

I received one as a gift a few years ago. It broke promptly and they refused to do anything about it because the person who gave it to me hadn't sent me the sales receipt. I'll never buy anything from them again.

Sure you will.

Why would you say that? I've never bought anything from them 'til now, since the chain sharpener doesn't count because it was a gift. I consider everything they sell junk.

It's a guy thing. Harbor Freight is just like a testosterone magnet.

I was just kidding with you, but I never met a guy that has never bought anything from them. Let me know if you cave in, I am by nature curious.