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.
Of course, STIHL Approved Dealers will always be happy to sharpen a chainsaw chain for you and if the chain is damaged at all, then replacing the chain or the damaged cutting teeth, is the best course of action, so again, just pop into your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer. It’s really important to make sure the depth gauge is filed too, as it is the difference between the height of the cutting teeth and the depth gauge which determines how much wood is taken out by the chain. If you are working with a battery or electric chainsaw, make sure you remove the battery or unplug it before sharpening so it can’t be accidentally started, then release the chain brake so you can move the chain freely.
Since saw chains have cutters that alternate orientation along the chain, you need to use a chainsaw sharpener on all cutters on one side, then swivel the chain holder and tackle those pointing the other way. An electric chainsaw sharpener is ideal for this kind of periodic chain maintenance, though you will need to change the abrasive wheel to an extra-wide version made for this work. No matter how you use a chainsaw sharpener, it makes sense to keep an extra chain or two on hand, sharp and ready to go as you’re working in the forest.
File Sharpening Using a file to hand sharpen a dull saw chain might seem like a very slow way to go. Bench-Top Sharpeners If you use a chainsaw all year-round or if you own more than one chainsaw, then you can save a significant amount of time and energy by sharpening the saw chains with a bench-mounted sharpener. A bench-top sharpener is certainly the quickest, most accurate way to sharpen a saw chain, but just as importantly it makes it nearly impossible to ruin a saw chain by grinding away too much material.
how sharpen chainsaw blade Related Question:
Is it worth sharpening a chainsaw?
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 angle should a chainsaw chain be sharpened at?
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 blade go dull so fast?
Is the wood that you’re cutting with the chainsaw particularly dirty? Many chainsaw enthusiasts have noted that their blades dull faster when they’re cutting muddy wood. If the logs that you’re cutting up are muddy, then perhaps that is the sole reason why your blade is dulling too fast.
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.
How much does it cost to have a chainsaw sharpened?
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.
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.
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.
Is it hard to sharpen a chainsaw chain?
The good news is that unlike most other power-cutting tools, you can sharpen a chainsaw to like-new condition in just a few minutes. Here’s telltale sign that your chainsaw needs sharpening. Examine the wood being expelled by the saw. A sharp chainsaw sprays out thin shavings.
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.
Why does my chainsaw cut curves?
Two main reasons will cause the chain to cut on a curve. The most common reason is from improper hand filing. If one side of the teeth is more heavily damaged, sharpening them down will make them smaller than the other side.
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.
Does cutting 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.
Does dirt dull a chainsaw blade?
Nobody plans to run their chain saw into dirt. But when you cut close to the ground, you’re just begging for a quick dip into dirt, rocks and crud. All it takes is a second in the dirt to dull the cutters. In addition to dulling the cutters, dirt also wears out the chain links faster, causing the chain to stretch.
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.
How much does it cost to service a chainsaw?
THE AVERAGE CHAINSAW SERVICE IS $100 TO $125 If we can find ways to help save you money, we will suggest them to you. If we do not feel it is worth repairing, we will tell you so.