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. Chainsaw files are made in specific sizes that match up to the size and shape of the chainsaw teeth. Because the chainsaw chain comprises a series of teeth, you need a chainsaw file that precisely matches up with the size of an individual tooth in the chain. Learning how to sharpen a chainsaw isn’t difficult, making it a great task for avid DIYers. Learning how to sharpen a chainsaw is a helpful skill set for frequent users, reducing the tool’s downtime.
When you have to sharpen your chainsaw chain dependent on the quality of the chain and how often you use it. It is good to note the life expectancy of a chainsaw as that determines how often you need to sharpen it. The professionals use grinders to remove the imperfections from the chainsaw so, ensure a grinder is not used regularly to sharpen your chainsaw chain.
How often does a chainsaw need to be sharpened? My hubby says every 4-5 trees and this seems ridiculous to me…but I could be wrong…that’s why I’m asking. He keeps buying more chains and after reading some posts on this forum I’m gonna see if I can interest him in sharpening his own rather than buy, buy, buy. He is rather good at fixin’ and repairing things so he’ll likely be good at taking care of them chains too. I have a gal friend who can cut more trees with less trouble and I’ve used her chainsaw under her supervision but I’ll be if I can advise hubby. I do know that he’s cut into the ground and as I’ve read that’s not a good thing. We have plenty of hard wood…a large oak that needs to come down, let alone cut up what has already…also plenty of black walnut trees that need to come down. So is only 4-5 trees a reasonable number before a chain needs to be resharpened? Or is it the user? I’m thinking he’s forcing it to cut more rather than letting the chainsaw do most of the work…but that’s JMHO too of course, based on what I learned from my friend.
The life expectancy of a chainsaw chain is determined by it’s use and maintenance, not by a pre-determined timeline or expiration date. Second, if I sharpen a chain and only take off 50% of the metal that you do when you sharpen, then that would mean I can sharpen my chain 50% more times before discarding it. If you sharpen a chain past those lines, you risk the chain falling apart, or even flying off the chain while you’re using it.
In order for a chainsaw to perform at its best, the chain has to be sharp. Obviously, some wood is going to be easier to deal with than the other, so you may not need to sharpen the chain that frequently; that being said, i think this is more about forming good habits that’ll only make the cutting aspect more efficient. You don’t need to lower them every time you sharpen the actual teeth, but they have to be hit up every so often too.
how long before a chainsaw needs sharpening Related Question:
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.
How much does it cost to sharpen chainsaw chain?
A typical chainsaw can be sharpened up to 10 times before it’s time for a replacement. The cost to have a chainsaw sharpened ranges from $13 to $16. The average cost per chainsaw sharpening is $14.50 for people who choose to have their chainsaws professionally sharpened.
Does wet wood dull a chainsaw?
Does Cutting Wet Wood Dull a Chainsaw? Using your chainsaw to cut through wet wood will not dull the chain any faster than using it for other types of wood. When you think about it, your chainsaw chain is already wet. True, it is not wet with water.
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.
Why do loggers run upside down bars?
Every chainsaw bar has been designed to be mounted right-side up or upside down. The reason for this is that it allows the user to extend the life of his chainsaw bar by 50%. Flipping the bar will give the heavily-used areas some relief from wear and tear.
Is it better to sharpen chainsaw chain or buy new?
Sharpen before replacing If your chainsaw chain becomes dull after a long lifespan, it will struggle to cut through the wood at the efficiency it once had. This is why, where possible, you should be looking to keep the will be chain sharp, as sharpening a better course of action than sourcing a replacement.
How often should you change chainsaw chain?
The chain sprocket must be replaced if the depth of the wear marks reaches about 0.5mm, i.e. the wear limit. A seriously worn chain sprocket can cause the chainsaw chain and guide bar to wear at an increased rate, as well as reducing cutting performance too, so it’s important to keep an eye on.
Does Ace Hardware sharpen chainsaw chains?
Our experienced professionals will machine sharpen your chain saw for pitch-perfect cutting edges: tooth-after-tooth. Bring your chain saw into Steadman’s Ace Hardware and let one of the friendly, experienced mechanics give it a tune up.
What is the best angle to sharpen a chainsaw?
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 is my chainsaw blade smoking?
This most commonly is a result of a dull chain and exerting to much pressure on the bar and chain trying to make the chain saw cut. This could also be either a lack of bar and chain oil ( tank empty, restricted oiler hole ) or an inferior type of oil that is being slung off the chain and not lubricating.
What type of chainsaw chain cuts the fastest?
A full chisel chain is a chain with square cornered teeth, and they’re known for being the fastest cutting blade shape available. A full chisel chain also has a higher number of teeth than other chain options(full chisel is also known as a standard chisel chain).
Is dry wood harder to cut?
Dry Wood Is Typically Easier to Split Regardless of the tree species from which it was harvested, dry wood contains less moisture, so there’s less resistance when cutting and splitting it. An ax or log splitter blade will easily cut through dry wood thanks to its low moisture content.
How long does it take for wood to be seasoned?
It can take 3-12 months or longer to season firewood. On average, it usually takes around 6-months to dry out the cut-firewood that you purchased from a store or supplier. Depending on the original timber’s moisture content, it can take more or less time to season.
How much does a Stihl 881 cost?
$2,029.99. The largest and most powerful chainsaw in the STIHL lineup. For the largest, toughest and most demanding jobs, professionals can find the performance they need in the MS 881 chainsaw.