Saw Chain Sharpener

InlineDieselFan · Sep 9, 2006

I havethe stihl 12v dremel type sharpener and hand powered files. But for $29.99 that seems hard to pass up.

steve

krue · Sep 9, 2006

Wish I had read this a couple of hours ago. I just ordered some HF stuff, I think I'll check the store when I go down next week, if they don't have it I'll order it.

billbill1 · Sep 10, 2006

I have the HF sharpener, works good. I think I paid $59.95 on sale a year or two ago.

turnkey4099 · Sep 11, 2006

Hmmm...I see no reports of problems with the sharpener. I bought one and must be doing something wrong.

I set it up and did 5 chains (for 3 saws). Took to the woods and got nothing but 'bug dust'. Wouldn't pull chips at all. Examined with a magnifying glass and can't see anything wrong, the angles and sharpness all look like about what I get hand filing. I'm not a great handfiler even using a jig as my eyesight has deteriorated and I can't really tell what I am doing anymore. I'll be doing some more testing soon. My best guess is that I am being too 'gentle' for fear of overheating the teeth.

Has anyone found a technique that allows you to do the rakers on the machine?

Harry K

Bedlam · Sep 11, 2006

Sounds like the rakers are a bit high. I use a flat file and file them down a bit. I hope someone else posts in here. As Id like to know how everyone deals with the rakers too.

knute_m · Sep 11, 2006

Bedlam said:
Sounds like the rakers are a bit high. I use a flat file and file them down a bit. I hope someone else posts in here. As Id like to know how everyone deals with the rakers too.

Oregon sells an inexpensive jig for setting the height of the rakers. You get the jig and a flat file for about $7.00. Most every place that sells Oregon chains has these kits. In this area, Lowes and Home Depot both sell them.

Just make sure that the right depth jig is purchased. My chains have raker depths of 0.020 and 0.025, so I have two of them. You should be able to look up the chain characteristics in the cross reference at the chain display.

Just place the jig on the top of the chain with the raker sticking through. Generally, one pass with the file over each raker is all that is needed. Even a 24 inch chain only takes a minute or two.

turnkey4099 · Sep 12, 2006

Bedlam said:
Sounds like the rakers are a bit high. I use a flat file and file them down a bit. I hope someone else posts in here. As Id like to know how everyone deals with the rakers too.

That would have been my guess but I did the rakers after using the HF grinder. My guide takes them down to .030. Even after touching them up with a file the other day, the one I used still doesn't seem to cut worth anything. Will be giving it another try on the weekend.

I've never had this problem in over 30 years of cutting.

Harry K

Wesdor · Sep 12, 2006

I found an excellent tutorial on using the harbor freight chainsaw sharpener at the American Association of Woodturners.

http://www.woodturner.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=751

I hope you find it useful

turnkey4099 · Sep 13, 2006

Wesdor said:
I found an excellent tutorial on using the harbor freight chainsaw sharpener at the American Association of Woodturners.

AAW Forums - Chainsaw sharpening with Harbor Freight electric sharpener

I hope you find it useful

Thanks. I found the manual less than helpfull. Has almost no 'how to' in it at all. I was giving it the quick 'bounce' method I see the pro's use in the shops.

Harry K

Bedlam · Sep 14, 2006

Just a quick note. I finally decided to replace my wheel. I had bought some replacements from HF before, and Wanted to warn people the wheels are very fragile with sideway movement.
I removed the plastic nut that hold the wheel on the shaft.There is no way to "lock" the shaft. So I had to apply some side pressure to the wheel to hold the shaft while I loosened the nut. The wheel just cracked to pieces.
When I placed the new on on the shaft, I used a bit of grease on the threads , and screwed the nut on. There was still slop in the wheel, so I tried to hold the wheel and tighten the nut. I cracked to pieces the brand new wheel.
thats 8 dollars gone.

just wanted to pass that along. I think I will just buy a whole new unit.They are cheap enough.
Allan