Chainsaw chain sharpening.......

[Jstpssng]

I took 2 swipes with a flat chainsaw file, regular flat files can file on the side so if one used that might end up hitting the just sharpen tooth.

For years I've taken 3 swipes per raker with an 8" bastard file, a few times over the life of a chain. I never could get the hang of using a raker gauge. I also prefer to file by hand, as I like to run a file across the teeth at least every other tankful. I do put it in a vise and file with a guide occasionally. I did that yesterday with a new chain which cut through a nail the first time I used it , then after sharpening I proceeded to drive it into the dirt while cutting a dead Alberta Spruce off my mother's front lawn. Somehow I don't think that chain's going to last very long.

 

[John_Mc]

Do you actually have pros available to sharpen a chain? 9-10 saw shops do an equivalent job as putting the chain on backwards and cutting a rock.

That's becoming a problem around here. The guys who sharpened chains for others ad knew hat they are doing are all retiring, moving, or passing away. So many of the ones who are doing it now appear to have had about 10 minutes of training on the grinder, most of which probably involved "here's the on/off switch" and "Keep your hands away from here."

 

[Oldpath05]

For years I've taken 3 swipes per raker with an 8" bastard file, a few times over the life of a chain. I never could get the hang of using a raker gauge. I also prefer to file by hand, as I like to run a file across the teeth at least every other tankful. I do put it in a vise and file with a guide occasionally. I did that yesterday with a new chain which cut through a nail the first time I used it , then after sharpening I proceeded to drive it into the dirt while cutting a dead Alberta Spruce off my mother's front lawn. Somehow I don't think that chain's going to last very long.

Hate that when that happens, happy filling on that chain as you go around it 15 times trying to straighten it out, can we say chainsaw chain grinder yet...................

 

[Oldpath05]

Maybe I should start a chainsaw chain sharpening service..... I figure I could sharpen 10 saw chains/day, if I charge only $100.00 for each 16"-18" saw chain, I should be able to make a living at it...................

 

[4570Man]

Maybe I should start a chainsaw chain sharpening service..... I figure I could sharpen 10 saw chains/day, if I charge only $100.00 for each 16"-18" saw chain, I should be able to make a living at it...................

I loosely thought about it but after I had to shim the wheel for my 3/8 chain it’s not changeable very easy and I figured 99 percent of the work would be 1/4 chains. Next problem the chains need to be cleaned if they’re a mess and if they’re in really bad shape like I figured most would be it takes a long time to make them right. So I haven’t gotten in the chain sharpening business.

 

[Molalla1]

That's becoming a problem around here. The guys who sharpened chains for others ad knew hat they are doing are all retiring, moving, or passing away. So many of the ones who are doing it now appear to have had about 10 minutes of training on the grinder, most of which probably involved "here's the on/off switch" and "Keep your hands away from here."

I feel fortunate John . . . I have a saw shop in my small little city I live close to that is my Stihl dealer he is 72 and also has his son there, now that man can sharpen a chain!

 

[rangerfredbob]

I like when other people sharpen their chains and give up on their "junk" chainsaw... I've gotten several $5-10 chainsaws that way... I'm very devoted to doing things by hand and manually when possible but gave up on saw chains since I'm not the last person that did it most of the time. I just went with the Harbor Freight grinder almost a decade ago and haven't looked back... Of course it's not perfect and you can't look at the angle markings on the front and all that fun stuff that they get flack for, but with some common sense and repetitivity you can get a very evenly ground chain that will cut straight. I've gotten saws that couldn't cut through a 2" branch without jamming... then fixed them with the HFT grinder...

I try to remember to give the rakes a couple passes with a file while I'm at it

 

[PILOON]

Friends of mine had a rental center and serviced chain saws as well
They had a professional chain grinding tool and let me tell you it is not a 5 min training.
First there are 3 or so stones for different gauge chains.
Then there are 3 different angles to set the grinder to and the rakers call for another jig.
Then you don't simply grind away full force as that heats up the teeth so it calls for light taps. (very much like sharpening drill bits)
Also you have to reverse all those settings to do the other side teeth.

Now that grinding jig (tool) was somewhere in the $200 or so range and probably more these days and the stones weren't cheap either.

 

[buickanddeere]

Once you start using a properly setup power sharpener to obtain a square, true factory fresh sharpened chain . You will wonder why anyone fools around with a handheld file .

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Friends of mine had a rental center and serviced chain saws as well
They had a professional chain grinding tool and let me tell you it is not a 5 min training.
First there are 3 or so stones for different gauge chains.
Then there are 3 different angles to set the grinder to and the rakers call for another jig.
Then you don't simply grind away full force as that heats up the teeth so it calls for light taps. (very much like sharpening drill bits)
Also you have to reverse all those settings to do the other side teeth.

Now that grinding jig (tool) was somewhere in the $200 or so range and probably more these days and the stones weren't cheap either.

My Oregon grinder was that much, many years ago...

As to 3 different stones ect.. That's one BIG reason why all of my saws are now using the same 3/8 chain! One setting and one stone on the grinder!!

You aren't suppose to use it like a "chop saw"!! Just use light taps and go around twice if needed, chains last a long time...

BTW, I bought one of those HF grinders, took one look at it and threw it under the bench some ware!! Dam flexing POS...

SR