Saw Chain Sharpener

[InlineDieselFan]

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

steve

 

[krue]

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]

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

 

[turnkey4099]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Bedlam]

I had the same problem today. brand new chain, about four sharpenings from the HF sharpener and when I tried to cut, it just didn't want to"bite" and the dust was just that dust.
I then went and filed the teeth with a file, and tried it again. Not much better. I went back to the vice, and clamped the saw in it, I found my beginning point. ( where there are two cutters together) Then I started my 4 inch angle grinder, and lightly grazed the rakers a few times. Careful not to get the sharp teeth. I will admit some will think this crude, but, Ive done it for over 20 years, and it works for me.You can overdue it . I have int he past. You will know because the saw will"bite: and not want to spin up.
After I did the rakers, I went and cut about 15 19" stumps with it . the shavings were real big, and cut quite well for the horizontal cut in the stump.
Next drill and salt them for the winter.With a small amount of the powered milk on top.(so they will rot this winter)
Hope you get it back to tip top shape. It sure is better with it as sharp as can be..
Allan

 

[turnkey4099]

I just redid the rakers on my Stihl 041 24". Didn't need to take off much. Will be using that tomorrow or the next day and see what happens. Going to give the Stihl 310 20" another try to see if I am imagining poor cutting after I had hand filed it.

The pleasure of cutting with a truely sharp chain is wonderful. Just hold on and let the saw self feed. I touch mine up whenever I find myself having to put down pressure on a saw.

Harry K

 

[Charlesaf3]

I've got a husqvarna 350 (18" bar) that I've been hand filing with the Husqy round file kit. Works well, but I'd love to have an automatic. Will the Harbor Freight sharpener put the 'hook' in like a round file does, or does it cut the teeth flat?

 

[Bedlam]

Just a quick 'plug' for Harbor Freight. I recently attempted to put on a 'new' disc on my HF sharpener, and it chattered to pieces.I was about to just throw it out, but took several small pieces and sent a letter, and included the stock number. A couple of weeks later I received an envelope with a replacement .
Al tho their stuff may be lower quality , they make up for it in customer service.
Ive never had a problem getting things made right. Ive only had a couple of bad times, and I but often from them.
Only grip I have, is they don't let you choose a carrier. I had a running problem for 6 months with UPS. Even had a 'claim' number and email issued by them , and they eventually denied that it ever existed, even tho I could still 'bring' it up on line .
UPS obviously is too big a company to need to care for the customers...OH not the drivers, of course they themselves are under their own pressures.
But, in my opinion, you wont be saddened by the service from HF
Al

 

[Charlesaf3]

Yeah, I've bought a lot of stuff from them and their customer service theoretically seems quite good. I say theoretically, because they promised to ship out some parts, but they were on backorder and I haven't received them yet - we'll see if they come in...

 

[turnkey4099]

I've got a husqvarna 350 (18" bar) that I've been hand filing with the Husqy round file kit. Works well, but I'd love to have an automatic. Will the Harbor Freight sharpener put the 'hook' in like a round file does, or does it cut the teeth flat?

Yes! It is a fixed angle which is a big bennie for me. When hand filing I have to fight the tendency to put on too much of a hook. That grinder won't allow it. One of the big mistakes on filing is having too much hook, doesn't make it cut any faster and dulls a lot faster.

Harry K

 

[Charlesaf3]

Yes! It is a fixed angle which is a big bennie for me. When hand filing I have to fight the tendency to put on too much of a hook. That grinder won't allow it. One of the big mistakes on filing is having too much hook, doesn't make it cut any faster and dulls a lot faster.

Harry K

So it does allow some hook though? Seems to me that the chain comes new with a decent hook. Which raises the issue of where I stashed my new chain. Hmmm.

 

[turnkey4099]

So it does allow some hook though? Seems to me that the chain comes new with a decent hook. Which raises the issue of where I stashed my new chain. Hmmm.

Yes, it pretty well matches the average new chain angle. I used to keep a couple links of new chain to remind me of just how little angle there really is to the "hook".

Harry K

 

[randy41]

i usually touch up the chain before using it by hand. just one or two strokes per tooth.

 

[Bedlam]

I have to agree, I use the sharpener to bring them back to the right angle and sharp.It does remove a lot of the tooth.
I have been cutting alot lately, and after each day, I run the file over the teeth, and as said only a couple of long even angled strokes is all it takes to bring back the sharp edge.
Lighting is the key, I set mine in the vise with a desk light directly over the tooth, and I can see the metal filings come off of it.
Even with the machine lighting is important. I accidently took too much off on one whole side of the teeth, so my rights had more 'life' than the left. So I now have to think before I sharpen it, and remove more for the the teeth with more meat left, and spare the other ones.
So, My opinion is not to let the chain get completely dull before filing, or using the sharpener. A combo of the both, not only makes the chain sharp, but prolongs the life.
Al