Chain sharpening

[Tractorman46]

I don't know if the Stihl Pro chain I have seen referred to in this discussion is the same thing in the USA but here in Europe Stihl do a tungsten chain which although you can't sharpen yourself (it needs a dealer who has an expensive diamond equipped sharpener machine) the chain last ages. I got a couple for my 18" and 14" Stihls at the beginning of last year. They are still cutting fine and although I haven't tested it are supposed to be tolerant of touching soil. In fact there is a Stihl YouTube film which compares an ordinary Stihl chain with a tungsten one sawing a log filled with sand. That said, I have yet to find a Stihl dealer round here who can sharpen the things but I may decide just to buy new again when they pack up.

 

[Lem]

They have a lil pack that has a file and a guide to keep you on the right angle and wont let you go deeper than need be. Works good. Sharpen my chain in 3 minutes probably. Like to go deeper than the drag guide lets you file them

 

[aczlan]

I don't know if the Stihl Pro chain I have seen referred to in this discussion is the same thing in the USA but here in Europe Stihl do a tungsten chain which although you can't sharpen yourself (it needs a dealer who has an expensive diamond equipped sharpener machine) the chain last ages. I got a couple for my 18" and 14" Stihls at the beginning of last year. They are still cutting fine and although I haven't tested it are supposed to be tolerant of touching soil. In fact there is a Stihl YouTube film which compares an ordinary Stihl chain with a tungsten one sawing a log filled with sand. That said, I have yet to find a Stihl dealer round here who can sharpen the things but I may decide just to buy new again when they pack up.

They have something similar here that the fire departments use on their chainsaws that they use to cut through roofs and such. Spendy, but when you need it, you need it.

Aaron Z

 

[Appyacres]

For what your using your saw for, I would think 2 or 3 passes with a hand file every tank of gas would suffice in keeping the blade tuned.

For more in-depth sharpening, I use a dremel with carbide bits I bought off amazon. A 5 pk for $4. I don稚 use a guide because I I do this quite often and have developed a feel on field dressing chains.

 

[RandyT]

They have something similar here that the fire departments use on their chainsaws that they use to cut through roofs and such. Spendy, but when you need it, you need it.

Aaron Z

Most of the fire saws that I have seen use Rapco brand carbide insert chain.

 

[arrow]

I've yet to try square ground. The files are insanely expensive and I already know how to file and grind regular chain. If I cut a lot of big wood I'd be more inclined to try it.

Let me help you out with a decision as I learned to use square ground for one type of situation and one situation only and that was for "felling". Nothing cuts faster than square ground and nothing dulls faster as well.
When we were harvesting mill wood, I would for the most part attempt to use square ground as I know I would only be felling and sawing off crowns. On firewood days, I could not substantiate its use as it dulled too quickly in bucking skidded wood. It was just too much of a pain to keep up with including the sharpening so after awhile, I stuck solely to semi-chisel.

 

[DieselBound]

For occasional use and a low learning curve I' suggest this:

2 in 1 Filing Guide & Saw Chain Sharpener | STIHL USA

I'll second this. Actually, I've been through quite a few different sharpeners and this is the only one that I've found is worth using. Not hard to use in the field either. I stay away from powered units because I worry about removing too much material. In general, it's best to be touching things up as you go, much like a professional chef will always be steeling his knives as he works.

I can cut up a LOT of wood before I need to sharpen: not cutting the hardest wood, maple, but not exactly soft either- type of wood make a big difference. I'm running a Husky 562XP (modded) with an 18" chain (Husky chains- got a great deal on a pile of them). Pretty much as long as you keep them out of the dirt they'll cut well for many cuts.

 

[Buggs67]

It appears that the Stihl 2-in-1 is MSRP $37.49.

Is that what they are actually getting?

A search on Amazon shows one called "PFERD" for $44.84! Amazon.com: PFERD 1734Pferd CS-X Chain Sharp Filing Guide - 7/32": Home Improvement

And the Stihl are $54 and up.

 

[Buggs67]

The Best Way to Sharpen a Chainsaw Ever! - YouTube

 

[woodlandfarms]

The Best Way to Sharpen a Chainsaw Ever! - YouTube

$109???? Nope.. I have seen them and they do produce a really nice and acurate sharpness, but they are time consuming. To much futzing. I would consider one to put on my "once a year tune up" but that would take me too long to get my between trees sharpening done.

 

[Jstpssng]

$109???? Nope.. I have seen them and they do produce a really nice and acurate sharpness, but they are time consuming. To much futzing. I would consider one to put on my "once a year tune up" but that would take me too long to get my between trees sharpening done.

My "once a year tuneup" usually involves a new chain or two.

 

[BeeferMan]

My brother got me a HF one for Christmas one year. It has sharpened a lot of chains over the years and still works great. It ain't rocket science! ;-)

 

[Buggs67]

My FIL gave me his clamp-on-bar jig. I use it occasionally to get everything back to even. Mostly I use the Oregon file guide.

My new neighbor has a bench unit. We'll see if he'll let me use it occasionally. The hardware store sends them out at $8 a clip.

 

[newbury]

It appears that the Stihl 2-in-1 is MSRP $37.49.

Is that what they are actually getting?
<snip>

Yup, Stihl rarely cuts prices.

There's a guy around here routinely selling used Stihl chains, the latest ad was 3 for $40.

Set of 3 STIHL Oilomatic 3 Chainsaw Blades 20" size (USED and NEW)

I do not know which ones are new or not but one of them looks very new. Price is negotiable
Cash only. Serious Offers Only Please. Proved cell phone number for quickest response.

I guess if you like dealing with CL people that's one way to go, but the bull of

one of them looks very new.

is ridiculous.

 

[Jstpssng]

Here's the best tool which you can invest in, if you want to get better at saw sharpening. . Watch Chainsaw Sharpening - The Art & Science of Sawchain Sharpening Online | Vimeo On Demand on Vimeo

 

[goeduck]

Yup, Stihl rarely cuts prices.

There's a guy around here routinely selling used Stihl chains, the latest ad was 3 for $40.

I guess if you like dealing with CL people that's one way to go, but the bull of is ridiculous.

Well he gets a gold star for creativity in selling his worn out chains. But flunks the integrity test. Too bad CL does not let you GONG them. (Gong Show for those that might have forgotten)

 

[Todd727]

It appears that the Stihl 2-in-1 is MSRP $37.49.

Is that what they are actually getting?

A search on Amazon shows one called "PFERD" for $44.84! Amazon.com: PFERD 1734Pferd CS-X Chain Sharp Filing Guide - 7/32": Home Improvement

And the Stihl are $54 and up.

Seems that people are buying them and reselling on Amazon, betting that some Amazon shoppers never check prices. I bought mine at authorized dealer for MSRP.

 

[John_Mc]

Here's the best tool which you can invest in, if you want to get better at saw sharpening. . Watch Chainsaw Sharpening - The Art & Science of Sawchain Sharpening Online | Vimeo On Demand on Vimeo

I have that on DVD. I basically bought it to lend out to friends who were interested in learning to sharpen their own chains. I'd give them a few pointers, and send them home with the DVD. Next time we got together, we'd go over it again.

I know the author of this. He is a professional logger and is one of the instructors from Northeast Woodland Training (they do the Game of Logging in Vermont and surrounding area). He definitely knows his stuff. Following these techniques, you can get results that cut better than many new-out-of-the-box chains (and you can definitely beat the job done by the hardware store flunky with 15 minutes training on their chain grinder).