Chain saw sharpening advice sought

[Creamer]

If you think about it - the dealers main purpose is to make the chain sharp. They have no vested interest in making the chain last longer. The only way you will complain is if the chain does not cut when you get it home. They are not going to take a chance so they will take extra off just to be sure.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

If you think about it - the dealers main purpose is to make the chain sharp. They have no vested interest in making the chain last longer. The only way you will complain is if the chain does not cut when you get it home. They are not going to take a chance so they will take extra off just to be sure.

Also if that chain touched ANYTHING hard they have to cut a new edge to each affected tooth, if the edge angle is wrong from someone trying to resharpen that chain incorrectly in between sharpenings then they have to take a lot of the tooth out to make the chain correct.

 

[bigtiller]

I have always hand filed my chains while still on the saw. I clamped the blade in a bench vice and pushed the file from the inside out. Is that the correct way? I ask because one of the the mechanics at my stihl dealership said it didn't matter which way the file traveled. He would file the chain inside-out on one side and outside-in on the other side.

Is he correct in saying it doesn't matter what direction the file travels?

 

[atsah]

I sharpen one side then turn the saw around and go in the same direction on the other side. I have used one of these for the last 35 years, I find it works best for me. I send the file down the tooth in one direction 4-5 times and it cuts like it was new.

 

[bigtiller]

You lost me....

Do you go inside to outside on both sides of the bar?

 

[atsah]

With your bar on the saw and the bar closest to you, you file outside to inside, turn the saw around, your bar will be furthest from you, your file should go inside to outside. If you take your file and put it in the tooth, it's evident which direction your file should be going in. The file guide above has two slots, one for the file sharpening from one side and one slot for the other side.

 

[Creamer]

Theoretically if you hold you file perfectly straight and with the angle of the tooth on each stroke it should not make a difference. Going outside in makes it easier to "catch" the edge which is the cutting edge therefore I prefer to go inside out.

 

[bigtiller]

Thanks Creamer. I don't have a bar like atsah has pictured, I file my chains free hand only. And I think I will continue filing from the inside to the outside.

 

[Deere Dude]

On the electric sharpeners has anyone made theirs so you can spin the wheel in either direction?

I am not sure I understand the question. On bench mounted sharpeners the wheel stays at the same angle for both sides of the chain, but the chain rides in a guide that swivels so both sides can be sharpened.

Most of my chains I set the wheel at 60 deg. and the angle at 30 deg. I do one whole side at 30 deg. then swivel to do the other side at 30 deg. I must have sharpened one chain 25 times before I threw it away.

If you meant to run the sharpener motor backwards, nope.

 

[TomSeller]

If you meant to run the sharpener motor backwards, nope.

yes, I was referring to running the motor the opposite way to be consistent in the wheel's direction of cutting relative to the chain tooth.