TSC Chainsaw Sharpener

[ovrszd]

If you look at a bar that has a chain that doesn't fit well , wrong number, or has not been tightened correctly you will often find a ruff/sharp bent over burr along the outside edge of the bar. You can file the bur off and on some saws put the bar on upside down to even out the wear. A rolled edge on the bar can also keep the chain from cutting straight even if it is sharpened properly.

Yep good point. Normal wear will also put that burr on a bar eventually. I flop my bar over frequently to spread the wear. I also don't run a dull chain. It will build up a lot of heat and transfer that heat to the bar. Easy to see when the bar starts to "blue" or "scald".

 

[pacerron]

I also don't run a dull chain. It will build up a lot of heat and transfer that heat to the bar. Easy to see when the bar starts to "blue" or "scald".

Dull chains put extra wear on everything including the engine and the operator.
Trying to force a dull chain through a cut, just to get done, rather than putting a sharp spare on can be very expensive in the long run.
That's why it is not a good idea to loan your saw to someone. Every minute it is run is wearing it out anyway, and running it wrong just speeds up the death of the saw. With everyone being sue crazy these days you could be sued for lending it to someone if they get hurt.
So it is better to go cut something for them yourself unless you drop a tree on their car or house.

 

[grsthegreat]

one other thing to remember..... just keep some extra chains handy. What ive been doing is keeping half a dozen chanes with me. As i dull them (I do lots of tree trimming and cutting over a season, i simply swap out chains and stockpile the dull ones.

After i have 5-6 dull ones, i set up sharpener on my steel work table and sharpen away. Doesnt take very long to do all them at one time. They really just fly right thru the machine.

I take this time to thoroughly clean the bar , blow out all oil ports, etc. Just thoroughly clean the saw.

Also, i generally have 3 saws with me while working. My 20" Stihl, a 16" Echo and my Stihl pole saw. So i tend to get quite a pile of chains over time.

 

[DarkBlack]

I buy all my bars and chains at the local Stihl shop. One time I bought a chain for my 361. When I got it home it fit the bar very loosely. I took it back. The store owner was there and showed me that they make two different thicknesses of chains. First I'd ever heard of it??? Got the right chain and it fit right. Learned something that day!!!

You probably have an 058 bar and got a 050 chain. 050 is becoming more popular.
Also, If you have a really badly worn 050 bar you can mistakenly wedge an 058 chain in it by mistake.

 

[DarkBlack]

Thank you, good information:thumbsup:

If you search for my tip in post #12, you might find via google, a very nice pdf manual you can use.

 

[MossRoad]

Thread pruned. Get it? Pruned. A chainsaw thread pruned! Get it? hahahaa
Anyhow, too many folks affected to send individual notices to.
Please continue the discussion regarding the sharpener per the O.P's timeline. Thanks.

For what its worth, I have a sharpener and I also sharpen by hand. By hand, I get O.K. results for in the field. However, I have about half a dozen sharp chains in an oily ziplock bag. As I cut through the day, I just change out chains. When I get home, I fire up the electric sharpener and go through them all at once and toss them back in the bag.

I will say, if you are not careful, you can go through a lot of chains with the electric grinder. Its very easy to take too much off. Its also very easy to overheat the teeth with the grinder.

As someone else mentioned, just a little kiss of the wheel is all it takes.

Also, as the wheel wears down, your teeth angle will change. So replace the wheel if it gets significantly smaller. I change mine out after they lose about 1/4 inch of diameter. They are cheap at Harbor Freight.

 

[murphy1244]

bump.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Well, my assistance was demanded for Christmas shopping this Saturday and Sunday.

So I was unable to try out my sharpener but did find a nice old school desk to mount it on. Once I put casters on the legs it will be the perfect height to sit at with a chair to work. I did not have the right length bolts to mount it with and will pick those up Wednesday. I also found a couple more old chains so I now have a total of 6 to work with.

Will update with pics and review ASAP.

 

[catskinner]

one other thing to remember..... just keep some extra chains handy. What ive been doing is keeping half a dozen chanes with me. As i dull them (I do lots of tree trimming and cutting over a season, i simply swap out chains and stockpile the dull ones.

After i have 5-6 dull ones, i set up sharpener on my steel work table and sharpen away. Doesnt take very long to do all them at one time. They really just fly right thru the machine.


I take this time to thoroughly clean the bar , blow out all oil ports, etc. Just thoroughly clean the saw.

Also, i generally have 3 saws with me while working. My 20" Stihl, a 16" Echo and my Stihl pole saw. So i tend to get quite a pile of chains over time.

Your the type that the grinder was designed for. :thumbsup:. I'm to cheap to buy more than one spare chain, I'd rather buy a spare saw! :confused3:

 

[pacerron]

Well, my assistance was demanded for Christmas shopping this Saturday and Sunday.

So I was unable to try out my sharpener but did find a nice old school desk to mount it on. Once I put casters on the legs it will be the perfect height to sit at with a chair to work. I did not have the right length bolts to mount it with and will pick those up Wednesday. I also found a couple more old chains so I now have a total of 6 to work with.

Will update with pics and review ASAP.

Mount it with the sharpener sticking out over the edge so the chain can hang in a free loop under the clamp.

Clumping up the free chain doesn't work well.

Does your grinder have a reversing motor?
I notice some of the ones offered today do not.
I have a reverse switch on mine and like it. It is like filing in one direction from the outside of the tooth in on both sides.
You will get the feel of it when you do some sharpening. It is probably still an AC/DC motor so a reversing switch would be possible
if it doesn't have one.