Chain saw sharpner

[20 20]

If you can keep the angle, save yourself a bost load of money and get a dremel tool with proper grinder size{sold at walmart etc.}some even have giudes. You can also get the 1 that hooks to your vehicles battery{12V} with different size grinders. I've been using these for years {20+} and I can get any chain just as sharp, if not sharper, then the high dollar big guns. I cut any where from 10-20{full} cord a year{heat} plus logs for milling. I also believe in hand filing even if it seems sharp a little touch up at the end of a load will go a long way. Better to stay on top of sharpening then wait until it's binding, cutting to one side, or fighting to make a cut. A sharp chain will add life to a bar clutch and engine, not to mention your back.

 

[okie350]

If you can keep the angle, save yourself a bost load of money and get a dremel tool with proper grinder size.

+1 on the dremel tool. I use a 12 volt power inverter that plugs into my power outlet in the truck and just plug the dremel into it when out in the field.

 

[MotorSeven]

I had the HF one. It worked fine, but the motor made some really strange(I'm going to blow up) noises. Northern Tool had there's on sale for $89 so I bought it. It's a pretty good machine, but like mentioned the wheels are junk. Go to Baileys and get good wheels. I also had to grind a little off the bottom of the angle/clamp plate because it had a slight wobble when tightend down. For less than a hundered bucks, I think it's a good value.

RD

 

[radioman]

I also had the HF one, I didnt care for it. I just passed it off to my father and let him use it. He says he likes it but i hate it. OK- whatever makes him happy.

 

[dodge man]

Update, I ended up buying an Oregon sharpner, its basically a Dremmel with a guide. I used it the first time today and I'm pretty happy with the results. Its 12 volt, which I didn't know when I bought it, but its O.K. because I usually have a vehicle parked near my work bench in my shop, plus I can take it in the field and use it if I want.

 

[BigE_]

Dodge Man,

I think you'll be happy with the Oregon sharpener. It's a pretty good little unit.

There are a few things you'll want to keep in mind.

1. Being a motorized tool, it's pretty easy to blue the teeth on the chain. Use a light touch and you'll avoid doing so.
2. There is a tendency to take off varying amounts on each teeth. With a file, if you keep with the "3 strokes per tooth", they'll generally all stay the same height/width. With the motorized, it's more like "X seconds per tooth", and that time will vary. I bought a cheap caliper to use when sharpening. Every 2-3 sharpenings, I find the smallest tooth and lock the caliper to that setting. (It doesn't matter what the actual reading is). Then I make all the teeth the same width. This will make all of the teeth cut equally, giving you a better cut.
3. Don't forget the rakers! You'll be taking off more metal, so you'll have to file down the rakers a little more often.

 

[jinman]

Update, I ended up buying an Oregon sharpner, its basically a Dremmel with a guide. I used it the first time today and I'm pretty happy with the results. Its 12 volt, which I didn't know when I bought it, but its O.K. because I usually have a vehicle parked near my work bench in my shop, plus I can take it in the field and use it if I want.

I have the Oregon for touchups, but my main sharpener is now the HF after one sharpening. I've never had a chain that cuts as well as the one I did with the HF and then filed down the rakers a bit. This saw powers throuh oak with just its own weight. I may come to hate the HF at some point, but for now I'm a believer.

BTW: I hook my Oregon into a jumper pack lighter 12 volt socket or the 12 volt socket on our Kawasaki Mule. Being a 12 volt tool is why I bought mine.

 

[20 20]

Update, I ended up buying an Oregon sharpner, its basically a Dremmel with a guide. I used it the first time today and I'm pretty happy with the results. Its 12 volt, which I didn't know when I bought it, but its O.K. because I usually have a vehicle parked near my work bench in my shop, plus I can take it in the field and use it if I want.

You should be fine with it. Like someone else said take your time and go light with it. Any sharp chain on a saw should do the cutting, if your forcing at all then it's time for a touch up. Rakers can be tricky, grind off to much and the saw can pull itself to a stop. To little and the teeth don't get the chunks/bite they want. When you do the rakers just take a VERY small amount untill you get use to what they need. Oh and make sure you get the right grinding stone for your chain/s

 

[WayneB]

You should be fine with it. Like someone else said take your time and go light with it. Any sharp chain on a saw should do the cutting, if your forcing at all then it's time for a touch up. Rakers can be tricky, grind off to much and the saw can pull itself to a stop. To little and the teeth don't get the chunks/bite they want. When you do the rakers just take a VERY small amount untill you get use to what they need. Oh and make sure you get the right grinding stone for your chain/s

Good advice on the right stone for the chain!!!! where are you located in the Adriondacks? We have a summer place near South Colton.

 

[dodge man]

The Oregon electirc sharpner came with a gauge, I just figured out what hole my manual file came with and used the correct stone. I still file the rakers with a manual file plus I have a gauge for them.

 

[buckle97]

Its 12 volt, which I didn't know when I bought it,

I have this Oregon Sharpener from Lowes and I love it! It came with jumper cable type clamps on the ends and can be hooked directly to any battery to use it.

Maybe I should have put the word battery in bold when I recommended the Oregon Sharpener.

 

[20 20]

I still file the rakers with a manual file plus I have a gauge for them.

That's the way I do it also, just feels better.

 

[20 20]

Good advice on the right stone for the chain!!!! where are you located in the Adriondacks? We have a summer place near South Colton.

I'm at the other end{south}. I was stationed at Drum and lived in lowville, allways wanted to go back. I also drove tractor trailer up that way from time to time, BEAUTIFULL COUNTRY to say the least.

 

[Piperflyer]

Dremel tool make a sharpener that works great.

 

[actionaj]

I start using a Dremel a couple of years ago haven't picked up a file since. Does a really good job.

 

[BigE_]

Re-opening an old thread here...

I have several different sharpening methods (Oregon 511a clone, files, Dremel, Oregon bar clamp / guide). Anyway, I had a mess of stuff I needed to store for the Dremel method, so I made a quick little box to store them in.

No finish, didn't even sand the box. It's made from old fir flooring material, with box joints on the corners.

Items to store

Box

Carved out areas for guide so it would stay in place.

 

[RobertN]

Nice work!

Re-opening an old thread here...

I have several different sharpening methods (Oregon 511a clone, files, Dremel, Oregon bar clamp / guide). Anyway, I had a mess of stuff I needed to store for the Dremel method, so I made a quick little box to store them in.