Help with Stihl/Oregon Sharpening guide

[Scooby074]

Steve,
What model grinder from northern do you have? They list several from 199 to $449?

I always wanted one of those chain grinders. Too bad we dont have Northern tools up here. I know at my local dealer, an Oregon grinder would be 2 times those prices.

 

[BigE_]

Scooby,

I got this one: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200327449_200327449

Right now it's on sale for $90. I think I paid $100, but I got free shipping, so it works out. Heck, maybe I paid $120.

For the consistent grinds (teeth length, etc), I get out my calipers and set them to the smallest tooth. Then, I go through and file all the teeth until they are all the size of the smallest (on both sides).

I've also got the $10 Dremel tool sharpener attachment, and it works pretty slick as well. I used to use this and the caliper to get close to the size, and then grab the file to fine tune it.

Now I do 3-4 sharpenings (usually out in the woods with the chain on the saw) by hand and I'll take the chain off and clean everything up with the Northern Tool sharpener.

Heck, I can sharpen the chain faster by hand then I can take the chain off the saw and put it back on. But, when I take the chain off to clean up the saw at the end of the day, that's when I'll put it on the electric sharpener.

One place where the electric grinder really excels is doing the rakers. I took off a little extra on the rakers to make the saw cut faster, but having them all the same height quickly and easily is really nice.

 

[Smalljobs]

I bought the one for roughly $180 under OREGON name but made in Italy. I also bought extra wheel and vise bracket. My neighbor is a SERIOUS wood cutter with John Deere 4WD tractor, big chainsaws, splitter...the whole deal. He came over today and we sharpened one of his chains in 8 minutes off the saw. He called me this afternoon and could not say enough about it! Up until now he'd been using jigs and hand files for years. He's sold now. Me too!!!!

 

[Smalljobs]

BigE makes a VERY good point with measuring the smallest cutter first and then sneaking up on the others. If you have been handfiliing, you might find them all over the map. By finding the smallest one first, and then taking off the minimum and finishing the rest...you'll be all set.