Saw Chain Sharpener

[EddieWalker]

Hey Cotton,

I'll try to explain it.

Get the chain in the holder adjusted so that you push it back into the little metal back stop, it's exactly right for the grinder wheel. This should be pretty straight forward.

The chain doesn't stay real tight when you tighten it down, so I keep my fingers close to the chain where the metal backstop is. I put a little preasure on the chain with my left fingers.

The grinder is mounted on a plastic pivot point and has way too much play to be accurate. When you lower the grinder wheel, make sure it hits inside the curve of the cutting edge. Once you touch the chain, give the grinder a light amount of preasure towards the cutting edge.

I'm pulling down the grinding wheel, then pushing it sideways for just a second. When it's done right, you can feel the edge on the chain. It's a sharp chisel edge.

If you do it wrong, the cutting edge of the chain will be dull.

It's more of a feel you get after doing it a bit than anything exact. There is just too much sideways movement with the plastic parts and the chain lockdown isn't very secure.

Hope this helps,
Eddie

 

[Cottonhawk]

Eddie,
Thanks for the explanation.
I saved your post and will learn how to sharpen my chain saw right.

 

[turnkey4099]

Eddie,
Thanks for the explanation.
I saved your post and will learn how to sharpen my chain saw right.

Same here. I should get good results the next time I sharpen...I might even resharpen the 5 I just did 2 weeks ago and haven't used much.

Harry K

 

[Charlesaf3]

Just got it - am now going to try to set it up and sharpen using what I've learned in this thread.

 

[Charlesaf3]

So I've been using it. Mounted it at chest height, per the advice above, which is a great idea.

I set the length to the shortest tooth - since I've hand filed this chain a LOT there is substantial variation between the longest and shortest teeth, so I've really had to grind some down. Did all the teeth on one side and it came out nicely.

Now am doing the teeth on the other side, and oddly enough (I haven't changed the stops) the teeth seem to be coming out .02 of an inch shorter per my calipers. (.21 v .23). I can't figure out why this is. Hopefully its a small enough error that it won't start pulling my saw in a curve.

Definitely worth $30 though - I can see where when I get the hang of it sharpening will go really fast, even if I have to reset the length gauge with a caliper each side.

 

[Cottonhawk]

........, even if I have to reset the length gauge with a caliper each side.

Measure each tooth with caliper? I just eye ball mine. May be that's why I don't get the best result.

 

[turnkey4099]

So I've been using it. Mounted it at chest height, per the advice above, which is a great idea.

I set the length to the shortest tooth - since I've hand filed this chain a LOT there is substantial variation between the longest and shortest teeth, so I've really had to grind some down. Did all the teeth on one side and it came out nicely.

Now am doing the teeth on the other side, and oddly enough (I haven't changed the stops) the teeth seem to be coming out .02 of an inch shorter per my calipers. (.21 v .23). I can't figure out why this is. Hopefully its a small enough error that it won't start pulling my saw in a curve.

Definitely worth $30 though - I can see where when I get the hang of it sharpening will go really fast, even if I have to reset the length gauge with a caliper each side.

Be careul not to spend much time on one tooth. They overheat easily and that ruins the temper so the edge will never again last long.

Harry K

 

[Charlesaf3]

I'm pretty good with temper generally, whenever I'm sharpening anything. I bounce the grinder to give it time to cool.

Just tried the chain I ground last night - really sharp. Chips flying everywhere. The HF did a nice job.