When I sharpen my son's Stihl 44 couple months ago with my Granberg, I had to go around that 6 times to get the correct edge on it because it was so dull. I thought it sharpen harder then my Oregon chains, after the 5th time I was about ready to take a hand grinder on it, even saw files ware out quicker on Stihl brand chains, the good part is they stay sharper longer.
Chainsaw chain sharpening.......
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Molalla1
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Sawyer Rob
Super Member
Then you either don't use many chains in a year, OR your rich!
I'd go broke if I had to take my chains in to be sharpened...
SR
4570Man
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That is why I take my chains to my local Stihl dealer . . . .
If it’s that bad any saw shop even the ones that could do a good job are probably going to do a lousy job. You have to take a light touch with the power grinder to not ruin it and they’re probably not going to make 6 passes. Next problem to be addressed is the need to make 6 passes. Everyone hits something besides wood occasionally but if your chains routinely look that bad you should probably just give your saw to someone that knows how to use it.
goeduck
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Tough crowd.
ArlyA
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I agree.. funny how most subjects descend into ^@?_(. Returning to chains. We work in the dirt and dull them very quickly but thats what trail work is like. We carry sharp spares and freehand file them in the field. Maybe we aren't all that smart :ashamed:
John_Mc
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Been there, done that (both myself and taking the saw to an expert with the grinder). Went back to sharpening by hand for all but severely rocked chains. I'll sharpen in the field as needed, but generally carry a spare in case a more serious problem develops. I like the break that sharpening forces me to take (because I'll notice when the chain is dull long before I notice that I'm getting tired or dehydrated). I also like the better performance with a hand sharpened chain.
Not everyone makes the same choice, and that's fine with me. We all have our own trade-offs in cost vs time spent vs. performance. We end up settling on what works best for us.
The equation definitely changes a bit if you are doing this for a living. I suspect the majority of the chainsaw users on here don't use them as heavily as you.
In my book, that would take them of my list of "good shops" for sharpening. A good one is one who does the job right every time.
Molalla1
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SR, I shall say we are OK
. . . but yep I do not down that many trees anymore . . .
shooterdon
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John_Mc,
I learned a lot from your comments on this thread and appreciate your efforts to makes some sense of this topic. As a "weekend warrior", (and I suspect 95% of us are), we do not know what we do not know. I am guilty of using a chain well past when it should be sharpened. I will no longer do that as the Pferd tool will be easy for a novice like me to use. Like you said, it is not perfect, but good enough and way better than an ignoramus like me attacking a chain with a hand held file.
Although it is interesting to learn what heavy users do, their needs are different. I find too many of them rabid about "their way" and believe everyone should do what they do. But many of us, lack the skills, intelligence, motivation, or are too lazy to learn. I am one of those "training wheel" guys. Makes more sense (cents?) to invest $35 in the Pferd and get a decent sharpening job for the 6 cords of wood a year I process. Sometimes good enough is good enough.
Again, thanks for your input.
I learned a lot from your comments on this thread and appreciate your efforts to makes some sense of this topic. As a "weekend warrior", (and I suspect 95% of us are), we do not know what we do not know. I am guilty of using a chain well past when it should be sharpened. I will no longer do that as the Pferd tool will be easy for a novice like me to use. Like you said, it is not perfect, but good enough and way better than an ignoramus like me attacking a chain with a hand held file.
Although it is interesting to learn what heavy users do, their needs are different. I find too many of them rabid about "their way" and believe everyone should do what they do. But many of us, lack the skills, intelligence, motivation, or are too lazy to learn. I am one of those "training wheel" guys. Makes more sense (cents?) to invest $35 in the Pferd and get a decent sharpening job for the 6 cords of wood a year I process. Sometimes good enough is good enough.
Again, thanks for your input.
This saw sharpening video is as good as any............. How the Pro's sharpen a chainsaw - YouTube