 | Home > Off Topic > Chainsaw Sharpening |
 
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| hank Member Since: 12 Sep 2016 Location: South Wales Posts: 2300   
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Following the success of bear100's Pressure Washer thread I wondered if anybody could recommend an electric chainsaw chain sharpener?
With chains being so cheap I have (ashamedly) been buying new rather than sharpening which means I have quite a collection of blunt chains. Is there a fast, idiot proof way of sharpening them? The machine needs to be good quality rather than Aldi middle aisle I already have a collection of chainsaw files and various guides/gadgets but it's slow going. I did look to have them sharpened locally but the cost per chain exceeds the cost of a new one. > 110 XS Double Cab |
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24th Apr 2024 8:53am |
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| AJC Member Since: 30 Nov 2015 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1362 
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i am in same boat, i currently sharpen manually and would prefer a quicker method.
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24th Apr 2024 12:05pm |
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| Zed Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: In the woods Posts: 3287 
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Honestly it’s best if learn how to sharpen by handfile, once you get the knack it takes very little time. However if you don’t want to do that then buy an Oregon professional machine, don’t bother with any cheapo gadgets they’ll take longer and likely do a worse job than by hand.
https://www.buxtons.net/fuels-oils-mainten...gLUmvD_BwE Alternatively find a different garden machinery shop, my local charges £8 per chain for sharpening. WARNING. This post may contain sarcasm. |
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24th Apr 2024 12:33pm |
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| v8bob Member Since: 14 Mar 2018 Location: Midlands Posts: 317 
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I fairly recently, a couple of years back, started using a Husqvarna file guide. Less than £15 each.
It was recomended when on a lantra refresher course. You will also need the correct size file. They guides come in sizes to match the chain. These people do a decent range of them: https://www.lsengineers.co.uk/chainsaw-spa...uages.html Takes about 10 mins or less to do (not much different to changing a chain). Doesn’t need much concentration. Just keep aligned to the guide and it sorts the depth. |
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24th Apr 2024 1:26pm |
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| shanecl Member Since: 20 Mar 2013 Location: Louth Posts: 506  
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I use these
https://www.eastbrothersmachinery.ie/produ...-sharpener i'm no professional but told the electric sharpeners put too much heat into them |
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24th Apr 2024 1:51pm |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1052  
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Gives you some idea's maybe. Project Farm is pretty intensive in their product reviews. |
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24th Apr 2024 2:45pm |
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| RobKeay Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Stafford Posts: 1579 
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Practise. I just use a normal oregan files. Set the saw up in a comfortable position. Just keep at it until the muscle memory kicks in. I can do a 16inxh bar in ten minutes or so. You’ll also need a flat file to sort the depth gauges.
Also Learning not to ruin the chain. If you take the edge off, sharpening it straight away. It will be quicker to sharpen. Keep any timber of the floor. Soil is terrible for the chain. The better you are with the saw the less you’ll need to sharpen. |
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24th Apr 2024 5:49pm |
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| lohr500 Member Since: 14 Sep 2014 Location: Skipton Posts: 1316
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I bought a drill powered sharpener thinking it would be quicker and easier than using a file and guide.
But after the first use I decided it was more hassle than it was worth 
As others have mentioned, once you've got the hang of hand filing the teeth and setting the depth it doesn't take long at all. And very satisfying when you use the saw after sharpening it and find it cuts like a hot knife through butter. |
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24th Apr 2024 6:23pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20371
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Would a precision Dremel work? I’d have thought by hand would be safest though. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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24th Apr 2024 6:40pm |
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| RobKeay Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Stafford Posts: 1579
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Like most things there’s too many gimmicks. It doesn’t take that long to sharpen by hand. Also pretty satisfying.
You often get better one side than the other. The saw then bananas off. Once you can do it you’ll save loads of money. |
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24th Apr 2024 7:33pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10756 
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Agree with the above comments, best to stick with the file, that's what i used when i sharpened my saws and once you know what you are doing, it takes no time at all
 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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24th Apr 2024 8:49pm |
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| hank Member Since: 12 Sep 2016 Location: South Wales Posts: 2300
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Exactly. Whereas I've been buying 3x chains for £21.99! As a result I must have 25-30 of the things Seems I will have to set aside an afternoon to sharpen them by hand. > 110 XS Double Cab |
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25th Apr 2024 6:39am |
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| MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 462 
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You already have the skill to know when it’s blunt, take a look at the teeth, learn what they look like when they’re sharp, then your good to go. I put the saw blade in the vice, then using the correct size round file take usually three swipes per tooth, turning the file as I go to use all of it. The depth doesn’t need to be done every time on the rakers. Having recently bought a battery saw I’ve found that they have to be super sharp to work, unlike the more powerful petrol saws which will still cut with a less than perfect chain.
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25th Apr 2024 7:03am |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972
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Re the electric sharpeners, it isn't really a mechanical process, you've got to look at each tooth and guide rather than a standard 3 strokes with the file. The more you do the easier it gets and you develop a feel for it. As others have said it is quite satisfying.
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25th Apr 2024 7:14am |
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