XTo sharpen a dull chainsaw, clamp the bar of the chainsaw to your work station and tighten the chain using the tension adjusting screw to make sure it won’t move. Use a permanent marker to draw a line on the link where you’re going to start filing, and get a specialty chainsaw file that’s the same diameter as the chainsaw teeth. To file, hold the file between the teeth at a 30 degree angle, and slide it across the face of the cutter 3-10 times until it is sharp.
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.
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.
how sharpen chainsaw chain Related Question:
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 angle do you sharpen a 3/8 chainsaw chain?
What degree do you sharpen a 3/8 chainsaw chain? If you don’t know, or cannot figure out which chain you have, you can use the ‘default’ angles that most shops will use when sharpening chains that customers bring in: 30° / 60° / 0°, with a 0.025″ depth gauge offset.
What part of the chain do you sharpen on a chainsaw?
The angles ground on the cutters alternate between left and right to keep the saw cutting straight. The cutters have semicircular cutting edges in specific diameters; to sharpen them, use a round file of the same diameter. In front of each cutter is a “depth gauge,” a piece of metal shaped like a shark fin.
How often should a chainsaw chain be sharpened?
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.
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.
What is the down angle on a chainsaw chain?
According to the chain’s manufacturer, the chain should be sharpened with a 10 degree down angle, but with a note that when sharpening with a hand file to use a 0 degree down angle.
What angle do you file a chainsaw chain?
Always hold the file at a right angle (90°) to the guide bar. The file only sharpens on the forward stroke – lift the file off the cutter on the backstroke.
How much does it cost to sharpen chainsaw chain?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR YOU TO SHARPEN MY CHAIN PROFESSIONALLY? If you bring the chain into our shop off your saw, our average chain sharpening price ranges from $13- $16.00, depending on the number of cutters.
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.
Why is my chainsaw bar 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.
Do you flip the bar on a chainsaw?
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.
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.
What will dull a chainsaw blade?
The dirt and mud can be a factor that will cause your blade to dull. Whenever you’re cutting dirty wood, it might be appropriate to expect the chainsaw blade to dull a bit faster than usual. You can be ready to sharpen the blade after finishing and you won’t be surprised.
What kind of file do you use to sharpen a chainsaw?
While some professional loggers use square files like the ones to sharpen knives, almost all other chainsaw owners use round files for sharpening. There are three common sizes of chainsaw files: 5/32, 3/16 and 7/32.
What are top plates on a chainsaw?
The top plate is the cutting surface located under the top of the cutter and is perpendicular to the direction the chain spins. Many of the manufacturers of chains today scribe the correct filing angle into the top of the cutter.