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.
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.
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.
how to chainsaw sharpen 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’s 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 hard to sharpen chainsaw chain?
Chainsaw files are made in specific sizes that match up to the size and shape of the chainsaw teeth. If the file is too large or too small then it can be difficult to properly sharpen the blade. While there are many sizes, the most popular file sizes are 4 millimeters, 4.8 millimeters, and 5.5 millimeters.
How often does a chainsaw need sharpening?
You can mount your sharpener if you use your chainsaw throughout the year as it makes it easy to sharpen the tool and also helps to avoid accidents. In most cases, sharpening the chain should happen after ten times of being in use, while in other situations, you have to sharpen it after every session.
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.
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.
What is full chisel chain?
A full chisel chain is designed for the fast cutting action. In comparison to the semi-chisel chain, this chain has square-cornered teeth which makes it more aggressive when cutting.
What degree 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.
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.
How often should I change my 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.
Why does my chainsaw bar smoke?
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.
Does Ace Hardware sharpen chainsaw blades?
Schedule an Appointment with a Chainsaw Sharpening Expert Chainsaw sharpening can sound daunting at first and if you are nervous about doing it yourself we understand. Leave it to us! You can schedule an appointment with a Chainsaw Sharpening Expert at either one of our Owenhouse Ace Hardware locations.
Why does a chainsaw cut crooked?
One major reason a chainsaw curves to either the right or left during a cut is that it was unevenly sharpened. The unequal teeth of the chain cause it to take a different-sized bite into the wood. What is this? The uneven sharpness of the chain is mainly due to manual sharpening, especially with the use of a file.
Does dirt dull a chainsaw?
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.