Of course, you can hire a professional to sharpen your chainsaw, but most DIYers can learn how to sharpen a chainsaw in order to handle the job on their own and save some money in the process. If you’ve noticed that your chainsaw no longer cuts as easily and cleanly as it once did, it’s a good time to learn how to sharpen the chainsaw blade and check for dull or sharpened teeth. If you’re unsure about how to proceed, read on to learn how to sharpen a chainsaw chain and keep the chainsaw blade in good working order.
Learning how to sharpen a chainsaw may seem like a daunting task the first time. Because there are so many different chainsaw blade variables, you need to know your chainsaw blade exactly. Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener 5/32″Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener 3/16″Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener 7/32″. Oregon makes an electric bench chainsaw blade sharpener that can be adjusted to sharpen nearly any type of chainsaw blade.
STIHL Pro Tip Providing you observed these rules you will achieve perfect sharpening results, the correct side plate and top plate angles will be obtained automatically and best possible cutting performance guaranteed. The filing gauge for the next chain pitch up may be used for this purpose. Count the number of file strokes and use the same number on each cutter to obtain cutters of identical length.
which direction do you file a chainsaw Related Question:
What is the best angle to sharpen a chainsaw chain?
Always file at right angles to the guide rail. The right sharpening angle depends on the saw chain and the wood that you want to cut. The sharpening angle will generally be between 25° and 35° – the harder the wood, the greater the angle.
Why does my chainsaw chain dull so quickly?
Dirt Causes A Chainsaw To Dull If you’re cutting through logs and your angle of approach is too steep, a simple cut through could nick dirt or even worse, rocks on the floor causing your chainsaw to jerk, thus dulling.
Is it worth sharpening a chainsaw chain?
Sharpening your chainsaw chain is definitely worth it as a sharp chainsaw chain is easier to work with. It takes less effort to cut through wood and your chain will make cleaner cuts with sharp blades. A chainsaw chain can be sharpened multiple times without much of a cost.
What is the purpose of a skip tooth chain?
A skip chain has fewer cutting teeth than a conventional chain which means it won’t be dragging as many teeth through the wood you’re cutting. Less drag on the chain means less power is needed to cut through the log. That means the motor on your saw runs faster which keeps it in a more efficient power curve.
What size file do you use on a 3/8 chainsaw chain?
With that said, the Stihl 3/8″ chain is identical in size to Oregon and other brands which all recommend a 7/32″ file.
What is the purpose of rakers on chainsaw?
Depth gauges, “riders,” or “rakers,” as they are sometimes called, control the amount of wood severed by a cutter tooth. During the life of a pro saw chain, they occasionally need maintenance for top cutting performance.
What happens if you file rakers too low?
If you take your rakers down too low, on the other hand, your chain gets very aggressive and either stalls out in the cut or (worst case scenario), hangs up in the cut and kicks back at you.
How often should you flip the bar on your chainsaw?
Some professional loggers would advocate that you should flip your chainsaw bar at the end of every use, particularly when you are cleaning up. Others suggest a more relaxed approach advising that you flip the chainsaw bar only when you are changing your chainsaw blade.
How often should you change the bar on a chainsaw?
If you are looking for a general idea for how often you should replace a chainsaw bar, a rule of thumb is to replace the bar of your chainsaw once after you have gone through three chains on the same bar.
How long should a chainsaw blade stay sharp?
A chainsaw may only need to be sharpened once a year if it is rarely used, but a tool that is frequently used will need to be sharpened regularly to ensure that the blade doesn’t get too dull. On average, a chainsaw blade will retain its sharpness for about 3 hours of actively cutting through wood.
When should you throw away a chainsaw chain?
The chainsaw pulls in one direction, which results in a crooked finish. Blunt cutting teeth on one side or uneven teeth lengths usually cause this. The teeth has hit rocks or dirt and broken. If you notice the tops of the teeth are missing you will need to replace the chain.
How many times can a chainsaw chain be sharpened?
Cutters can be sharpened up to 10 times or more before the chain needs replacing. If your cutters are worn unevenly after a few sharpenings, a professional can regrind them to uniform shape. If you use the same chain for a few years, then buy a new one, the new one won’t mesh smoothly with the sprocket and bar.
What is the fastest cutting chain for a chainsaw?
A full chisel chain is a chain with square cornered teeth, and they’re known for being the fastest cutting blade shape available.
What does MS mean on Stihl chainsaws?
Every STIHL chainsaw model name starts with MS, MSA, or MSE. The common part, MS, stands for Motorsäge which is German for chainsaw. MSA indicates that it’s a battery chainsaw and MSE tells us that it’s an electric model.
What size file do you use on a Stihl chainsaw?
Amazon.com: STIHL 5605 007 1028 Complete Saw Chain Filing Kit For . 325-Inch, 3/16-Inch : Patio, Lawn & Garden.