Chainsaw - Sharpening Chains

[MMH]

I have a 4 chains that I have used to cut some big stumps up out of the ground into small enough pieces so that my JD 4500 could pull the stump bits out. The chains were blistering hot as they were cutting thru clay dirt, imbedded rocks and occasionally some wood. I can get the chains resharpened but am wondering that as hot as they got, will they hold edge?

 

[sea2summit]

I'd be more worried about the bar than those chains.
Sharpen them up and if they are trashed next time you use them pitch them, if you're paying to get them sharpened probably still worth it. Unless they where glowing you're probably good.

 

[MBTRAC]

If the chain has been severely overheated for a long time there's a good chance the hardening is now lost on the chain & it won't hold an edge - if they've only been lightly heated you may be able to grind back to the hardened steel but but IMO if you've cut through clay & rocks the chain will be trashed (teeth, rakers & links) & most likely the bar as well

 

[Egon]

May as well get new chains.

 

[LD1]

As cheap as chains are, I would get new ones. But sharpen and saved those chains you trashed incase you ever have to cut out stumps again:thumbsup:

The cutters are mildly hardened, but they arent that hard. After all, a file cuts them. Its the chrome plating along the top and side of the cutter that give it the sharp long-lasting edge. I doubt getting it a little hot hurt them too much.

 

[jinman]

May as well get new chains.

Yep, and buy a battery powered or corded reciprocal saw with a long coarse blade for those stump jobs in dirt. Recip saw blades are dirt cheap. . . pun intended.

Battery Powered

Corded

 

[Gary Fowler]

This sounds like a good job for the elcheapo Harbor Freight chain saw sharpener. It will pay for itself on the sharpening of 2 chains if you are paying someone to sharpen them. It worked well for me on some chains that had hit some fencing and rocks when clearing the fence line. They came out good as new. Very simple to set up and adjust so it just takes a small bit off each tooth(just a few sparks). The plastic housing has a little flex to it which is good for putting a little side pressure on a tooth that has a ding. DONT have to adjust the machine that way for just a tooth or two. Set if for the average cut needed to sharpen and when finding a tooth in need of a bit more, just put a little side pressure on the machine, it doesnt take much just enough to remove any burr that might be there from hitting metal or rock.

 

[sandman2234]

Whatever happened to a rat-tail file and a vise, to give it a good sharpening yourself? It isn't rocket science and a few minutes will fix the dull teeth and if they don't stay sharp, all you have lost is a few minutes of time, plus gained the knowledge of how to sharpen your own saw. Addng in one of those file angle holding devices is a plus, but not required, however one will make it easier to get it right.
David from jax

 

[Gary Fowler]

I used to sharpen saws with a file and have files, angle gauges etc, but with old age comes not necessarily laziness but a will to do it easier. TRIFOCAL glasses dont necessarily contribute to good saw filing either. I can remove the chain, put it on the little sharpener and grind every tooth in less than 10 minutes on an 18" bar. It takes me at least that long to do with a file sometimes longer depending on how many cramps I get in my hands. Using a file to sharpen a saw is indicative to using a mule to plow with, or slide rule rather than a calculator. It's OK if you're into that sort of thing but I prefer the new ways rather than the old way when it is as cheap to do as the HF sharpener and it does an adequate job for me. Maybe some folks can make them cut better than new but I never could and the electric sharpener gets every tooth perfect on angle and length everytime, it super easy to use too.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I would sharpen and continue to use. Hot to your hand is not the same as hot to steel.

If you have a deep pocket, and you want to do more stumps or cut dirty logs, you might want to look into a carbide chain

Carbide Chainsaw Chain -- Longest lasting carbide chainsaw chain! Rapco Industries

The loggers in our area carry two saws, one for cutting clean and one for cutting dirty. Dirty cuts tend to be with Carbide. Different tools to sharpen with but survive the dirt much better.