Like most things, sharpening a chainsaw can be as difficult or as easy as one chooses to make it. STIHL. Hand sharpening the snaggle-toothed cutters of a chainsaw chain is a bit of an artform. If hand sharpening your chain seems a little daunting and you don’t want to invest in an automatic grinder, a bar-mounted sharpener is a happy medium.
Tips on keeping your chain saw sharp and how to buy the right saw. Successfully sharpening a chain saw involves three steps: shaping the chisel-like teeth that cut wood; adjusting the parts of the chain that regulate the bite taken by each cutter; and fine-tuning the tension of the chain so it runs freely, with no slack, around the bar. Practice sharpening on a saw chain that’s almost new, ideally a chain that has become dull for the first time.
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 offer a range of chain sharpening options to ensure your chainsaw chain gives you optimum cutting performance every time. The newer ‘all singing, all dancing’ Stihl EasyFile is a fantastic addition to any chainsaw owners kit! The settings ensure your chainsaw chain is filed at the exact right point and angle to ensure the best cut, and lowers the depth gauge at the same time to the correct depth below the cutting edge – ensuring that not too much or too little wood is cut into by each tooth, thus giving a good smooth cut. “Both of these kits are available to match the Stihl chain on your chainsaw in a full range of sizes:- ¼”p; 3/8″p;.235″; 3/8″ and.404” – ensuring that if you are a homeowner doing light work with your domestic chainsaw or a professional user the right filing kit will enable you to correctly sharpen your chain.
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 to keep a chainsaw sharp 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.
How long will a chainsaw 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 often should you flip the bar on a 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.
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.
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.
How do I make my chainsaw chain more aggressive?
In general, if you want to have an aggressive cut, you are going to need a chainsaw chain that operates as quickly as possible. A chainsaw chain with full chisel teeth means that you are cutting with a very high speed. Speed being one of the main ingredients behind an aggressive chain, this is clearly vital.
What’s the best angle to sharpen a chainsaw blade?
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.
What angle should a chainsaw be sharpened?
STIHL saw chains are generally filed to an angle of 30° – parallel to the service mark for the filing angle. Hold the file so that one quarter of its diameter projects above the top plate.
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.
Why do people turn their chainsaw bars upside down?
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.
What chainsaw chains do professional loggers use?
Stihl is the most popular chainsaw for professional loggers. It has a long-lasting chain, and you can also enjoy the exceptional cutting speeds available with this brand of chainsaw. Additionally, the chains are high-performance, low vibration, and quiet in their performance.
Can you over tighten a chainsaw chain?
There is a tension screw located near the base of the bar on the chainsaw. To tighten the chain, turn it clockwise, and to loosen turn it counterclockwise. Don’t over-tighten the chain as this could cause it to break.
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).
Can I grind a stump with a chainsaw?
A chainsaw, however, can grind up a stump and leave it all but gone; still, you can’t use a chainsaw to completely grind away a stump. After much of the stump is gone, however, dirt and other material can cover the stump so it won’t be noticed.