sharpen chainsaw? It's Easy If You Do It Smart

What We Have Covered in This Article

Last Updated on March 9, 2019 by woodcutter

If you are a causal chain saw user, you can either pay for your chains to be sharpened or you can go on buying new chains when the current chains get blunt. Nevertheless, knowing how to sharpen chainsaw is vital as it not only helps you save a couple of bucks, but also improves efficiency and convenience. Dull chains make cutting woods very inconvenient as you would have to put more effort than is necessary. It also causes a lot of strain on the engine and sprocket, and so hinders the longevity of your chainsaw. It is therefore very important to avoid cutting with dull chainsaws, if not for the speed and efficiency it hinders, then your safety should be paramount to you.

However, a lot of chainsaw users have problems going about sharpening their chainsaws. In this article, we have outlined steps and tips you can easily follow and will help you learn how to sharpen chainsaw and you would never have to go through the inconvenience of using a dull chain.

It is therefore essential to have a good working machinery that makes up our morning oak ash down much less severe and quicker. The saw chain length of the blade depends on the type of machine you need (there are small machines about 30 cm for private use or large chainsaws for forestry). The chainsaw chains link have two teeth, one that engages the sword and another that is ripping wood. Gouge type are called teeth and were designed by German engineer J. Cox.

There are several types of chains. Depending, as we have seen, the machine type and length of the sword. But the most common is the one that sharpens with a file of 3.8mm. Since the chain is usually carry all nonprofessional small chainsaws. Other chains usually reserved for more powerful machines.

If the chain is new, do not forget to clean it well with gasoline to prevent rust, lubricate pertinently and, once assembled, rotate it in the air and tension.

Typically, chains, due to continued use and rub with stones or soil, it is best to settle the edge every time in the working day. And, of course, sharpen each week. This is not a quantifiable measure since the need of the chain depends heavily on the use to be given. If daily, if we cut the day, we should calculate the chain under optimal conditions takes about three days.

Keep well maintained and sharpen a chain is very important. First because it involves less physical effort, it works less and faster. And secondly because we reduce the risk posed by the use of an apparatus similar characteristics considerably. When a chainsaw does not cut by the operator requires greater force and tension, which can lead to a certain lack of the machine.

Chainsaw chains come standard with a special heat treatment, “quenching “that improves the properties of the metal to wood cutting more effective. Machine sharpening is done using an abrasive disc that overheats the metal, altering the original temple and thus losing the qualities that brought the chain manufacturer. Most workshops sharpening chainsaw chains, make a machine simply because it is faster, or more comfortable, but not because it is better.

When to Sharpen Chainsaw

It can be difficult to know when it is time to sharpen your saw, especially if you are new to using chainsaws. The most obvious criterion that your chains needed sharpening is the extra force that dull chains require. A dull chain would demand that you put in more pressure on the chainsaw bar; while on the other hand, a sharp one is smooth to use. However, waiting till you have to put in more effort to cut through wood shows poor maintenance of your saw and would also hinder efficiency, It is best to see sharpening your chainsaw as part of maintaining and should be done whenever you fill your gas tank.

You can also detect when your chain needs sharpening by observing the byproducts while you cut. Dull chains produce hot dusts while sharp chains bring out chips, but as earlier noted, it would be time-efficient to sharpen your chains whenever you put in gas into the tank of your chainsaw.

Broadly speaking there are different ways to sharpen chainsaw:

Grinding machine

We can use a professional industrial Chainsaw bench grinder. Which they are those with specialty shops. The big advantage is that it is absolutely automatic. They put it in the machine and give a button. End of process. Well, the process ends when you pay.

Drawbacks to sharpen chainsaw with the Grinding machine:

The chain is intemperate,
It is more than necessary tooth wear,
Efficiency is lost in cutting,
Difficult or impossible that it can be re-sharpened with lime.
If you lose the edge in the bush, you need to change the chain.

A file sharpener

You can use a template that manufacturers sell chainsaws and guides to us. To do this we set up a unit in the sword of the chainsaw is what guides the file.

Use a guide with a file. This is faster and more usual. While it is true that there are some specialists who are able to sharpen unguided, without template without machine. We must iron out pushing the teeth, not dragging. And do not forget that you must first iron out iron out one side and then the other.

Advantages sharpen chainsaw with a file:

The chain keeps intact its qualities throughout its use, until the last sharp.
The chain can be sharpened more often (increases the life of the chain)
Maximum cutting efficiency is achieved (maximum performance)
It saves gasoline.
The life of swords lengthens.
If you lose the edge in the bush, you can be recovered in the workplace without having to change the chain.
For these reasons among other facilities, it is better to sharpen the saw chain with lime, just do it right.

Necessary Tools that are needed too

Pair of gloves
Filing kit made for chainsaws; Use a; Use a 5/32’’ file for both ¼’’ and 3/8’’ chains. Use 3/15’’ file for a 13/40’’ chain; 6’’ flat file; a file guide.

Chain Sharpening Tips

Sharpening your chains can be done using two methods; Manual method and the use of motorized sharpeners. Motorize chain sharpeners come in varieties of designs and forms; coming in either simple devices that can be held in the hand, or complex gadgets that need to be mounted on a bench. While some people prefer the automated ways of sharpening their chainsaws, some other ones who are a bit conservative like to manually sharpen their chains. So, there is no better way of sharpening a chainsaw, however, this article would be directed towards manual methods.

Steps: How to sharpen a chainsaw

Your Chain size should be checked so that they are consistent with your filing devices
Make sure that all chain teeth are equal in size
It is important that you use a Caliper to improve on your consistency.
Sharpen each cutter, using the same procedure, by moving the chain forward.
After you have sharpened all the cutters, the vice should be loosen and put in the guide bar so that it is positioned in the opposite direction.
File the cutting tooth using a forward motion strokes, use between two to five strokes for efficient sharpening.
The file guard should be held 90 degree from the chainsaw bar.
Determine the proper filing angle and then make sure the mark on the filing gauge tallies with your guide bar and chain.
Make sure your chain is clean; free from dust. Make use of a bristle brush to thoroughly clean the chain.
Make use of a vise to hold the chain so that you can have complete access while the chain moves.

Knowing how to sharpen a chainsaw is highly beneficial as attempting to sharpen your chain teeth can be very disorienting and confusing. The sharpness of your chainsaw is vital to the efficiency and speed needed in cutting through wood. Sharp chains also make cutting a safer activity as they are less likely to get hooked in the wood and cause a kickback. Also, dull chains have high chances of binding on the wood, hence, can easily get broken. This is very dangerous for you – the operator. Following these tips provided in this article would definitely put you on your way to handling your chainsaw better and making it serve you better.

Our advice, for those who are not very familiar with the chain saw is employing option two. It is certainly the best, because it is not expensive and can shatter prevents the chain. As you find on the Internet there is enough information on the process of sharpening, but it is much better to teach you some professionally. Professionals do not use sharpening machine.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU SHARPEN CHAINSAW CHAIN?

A chain saw must regularly and frequently sharp to keep it moving through the wood. A properly sharpened chain should gently pull the chain and bar through the wood, making the task less arduous operator. Dull or damaged teeth force the operator to push down on the bar to get cut through the wood.

Sharp teeth

The amount needed to sharpen the saw chain will depend on several factors. If cut regularly in dirty conditions, hit the chain against dirt, rocks or soil, or if more hardwoods are cut, the chain will need to be sharpened more frequently. Overall, sharpen the chain before seeing, at each stop tanking and after each use. This will reduce the time of each chain, like the teeth will not be so boring if you wait until after each use.

Sharpening depth gauges

Sitting in front of each cutter depth gauges measure the depth of each cut are dug into the wood. This will measure the size of the wood chip taken out. These require filing depth gauges after five to seven times to sharpen the cutting teeth. However, only a small amount of metal must be filed outside the depth gauges every time. Too Presentation chain will pull too through the wood and can even pull the operator into a moving chain.

Fixing damaged teeth

Every now and then, one or two teeth damaged heavily. He shook the chain or cut a lot of hardwoods, these teeth will have to be set before using the chain again. The blades should be equal in size, length and angle of the presentation of the chain cut properly. If the teeth are out, even a little, the cutting chain to the left, right or require more force to cut down wood. Fixing these damaged teeth will be much overtime as needed each other tooth to the same length, angle and file size.

Sharpening tips

Sharpen your chain regularly for long-term savings time. If you wait until the teeth are chipped heavily, bent, will have a lot of sharp teeth to get online. Sharpen as often as possible and make as little metal as possible with each file movement. This will help maintain strong and sharp teeth. Always start with the tooth that has the heaviest damage; submit that tooth until it is clear. Count the number of strokes used in the first tooth and that number is applied to all teeth.