How do you sharpen your chainsaw?

[TRAPnHUNT]

Yesterday I had a conversation with one of my neighbors. He owns a chainsaw and went to go have it sharpened by some local hardware store. When he came home, he fired it up and the saw did nothing but burn the wood. He went out to another place where they talked him into buying some jig that you attach a rotary tool to in order to sharpen the teeth on the chain. He brought that home after buying the rotary tool. He waved me over to his garage and asked if I could help him figure it out. I seen what he had bought and the money that he had paid. I looked at this old boy and told him right off the get go "Bring all of this back to the store and return it".
I proceeded to tell him that I'd be right back. I went back to my house and grabbed a rat tail file. After walking back to his garage, I told him that this file is all that you need. I showed him the proper angle to hold it as I sharpened the first 10 teeth and then he took over. After the chain was sharp again, he took it to a log and went through it like a hot knife through butter.
Needless to say, he was thrilled to find out that his chain was in top notch shape but pissed off because he realized that he was ripped off. Well he got his money back and bought himself a rat tail file now that he knows how to use it.

[cowdawg]

All I use is a Dremel Tool with a round grinder bit and get a good eyeball for my cutting angle.

I tried one of those fancy chain saw sharpeners from Harbor Freight only to return the darn thing. It was too cheaply made for my likings. And it also removed too much chain metal during use, I went through a brand new chain in no time.
Nothing against Harbor Freight as I do like the store and purchase other tools and gadgets from there but the Chain Saw sharpener was crappy.

[TRAPnHUNT]

That Dermel can take a lot of steel off too if youre not careful.

[cowdawg]

Gotta develop and light touch and feel when usin' it.

[TRAPnHUNT]

Yes Sir! ;D

[trapperandhunter]

i didn't know there was any other way other that the "rat tail" file or chain saw file we call it up here lol,

[ninedeer]

Rat Tail file for me that the way grandpa taught me many years ago been doing it every since.

[Admin]

Rat tail file here too and a flat file to knock the rakers down every now and then. Just gotta have the right size file for your chain and keep the proper angle ;D

[watershedman25]

Excuse me, a prude I am not, nor am I very smart, nor am I trying to be, but a rat tail file is not for chain sharpening. A chain saw file is for that. A rat tail file is tapered from the handle, smaller as you get to the end like a "rat tail" , it is for shaping holes in metal/wood, depending which one you have. A chain saw file is the same size all the way one end to the other, except for the part the handle goes on. JMO

[Admin]

That's what I get for using the wrong terminology

I mean I use a chainsaw file

That's why I said it had to be the right size for your chain

[watershedman25]

Mar 30, 2011 15:57:05 GMT -5 Admin said:

That's what I get for using the wrong terminology

I mean I use a chainsaw file

That's why I said it had to be the right size for your chain

Of course you do, I know you did. Just tryin to stir a little somethin up

[brian81]

All I have ever used is a chainsaw file..

[TRAPnHUNT]

Mar 30, 2011 14:01:47 GMT -5 watershedman25 said:

Excuse me, a prude I am not, nor am I very smart, nor am I trying to be, but a rat tail file is not for chain sharpening. A chain saw file is for that. A rat tail file is tapered from the handle, smaller as you get to the end like a "rat tail" , it is for shaping holes in metal/wood, depending which one you have. A chain saw file is the same size all the way one end to the other, except for the part the handle goes on. JMO

I stand corrected! ;D For that comment I had to give you another karma!!!

[lilweasel]

For the little bit of wood I cut up I just use a "chain saw file"

[dennis78]

Chain saw file ;D

[cowdawg]

Guess I'm the only Dremel man with the chain saw sharpening bit.

[mountainman59]

I cut a lot of wood and timber.3 years ago i invested in a sharpener made by timber harvester....about 250 . dollars..it has a small "chopsaw" looking grinder on it ..it also has auto adjusting guides so that it doesnt overcut...still works great,havent even had to change more than a couple blades yet. well worth it in the long run....always carry a file with me tho...

[fibros100]

Have a climbing business and do alot of felling. All my chains are oregon or stihl. They have a mark across the back of the tooth. The file follows that angle that is scribed. The rake needs a kiss every once in a while to allow for proper height. All this can be done with a chain saw file and a flat file. Also if your chains are a skip tooth they are better for bucking logs for firewood. A full comp chain has a tooth about every inch. They are used for felling and won't "chatter" as much as the skip. For swinging trees this is very helpful. Long story short use files they are cheap. Cheaper than a chain. Use a vice or a stump to hold your bar. Good luck


This is the correct angle parallel with line

Not correct angle

[jacktheknife]

Gentlemen,


I haven't heard anyone mention the chain saw sharpening file holder, the thing with a wooden handle and two screws to tighten the file in the holder, that has the correct angle that is marked on the saw blade. You can never see it on the saw blade because it is all greasy, dirty and oily. One would have to clean the blade off every time it is sharpened.
But it doesn't get dirty on the file holder.
It costs a few bucks but one knows what the correct angle is at all times. I wore one out and bought another the next day. I love them and with a chain saw file holder:
I am a wood cutting 'Jack'.


Thank you...


Jack the Knife

[stickbowhntr]

I have trouble trying to keep from cutting the chain below where I file [the flat top of chain]. Also how do you know when to take a file to and how do you do the rakers?

[lookout]

when you take a look at the chain sideways, you should see that the raker is just a touch below the highest point of the sharpened tooth. A couple quick touches on the raker if it is higher, to bring it down lower, works well.

also, when sharpening at the correct angle, don't press down - press back, towards the motor housing.

I always seem to touch the chain itself every now and then but don't worry about it too much.

[TRAPnHUNT]

Ok we now know how to properly sharpen our chainsaws.

Here is another question.... How long should a bar last on a saw? I've had the same bar since I bought my stihl 20 years ago and another neighbor says that I should think about replacing it. It's still straight as an arrow and I'm trying to figure out what he meant. He isnt the brightest apple on the tree!

[trapperandhunter]

why would you replace it if its straight. the real question is how the hell did you keep it straight this long ?

[TRAPnHUNT]

I dont use it as a pry bar!

[stickbowhntr]

How tight is the chain in the bar grove. That may get pinched and too tight and need opened or.......spread and the chain slops sort of left and right, maybe topples a better description.

[lookout]

I'm not sure what the process is called, but I went to a small saw shop in Thunder Bay, thinking I needed a new bar.
He put it on a machine and it trued both edges of the bar up and said "good as new".

he was right - 17 years in on this bar and it has gone through about 4 chains. I would estimate it has cut around 100 bush cord into 16" pieces.

[fibros100]

That process is called "dressing the bar" the chain actually rubs a groove on the bars riding face. You should always flip your bar as you change chains. This way it wears both sides evenly. Unless you cut wood every day all day for a living a bar should last you a long time. You can dress your own bars with a belt sander with a perpendicular table attached to it. I do it on my belt disc sander. If you do use your bar as a pry bar then im afraid to see what people who do this actually use a pry bar for. I use oregon bars. They seem to hold up while my crew trys to destroy my equipment. Ahh