Author	[Modern View]
Joe IRL 07-25-2012 12:06:01 109.76.130.22 Report to Moderator	anybody have experience of the bench mount type? file sharpening is a skill I would like to learn but would like to know if these work before I buy a file set a mess up a few chains by doing it wrong by hand thanks [Reply]   [No Email]
greenday 07-28-2012 06:31:25 216.145.156.69 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   Chainsaw blades? lol. sorry [Reply]  [No Email]
Stephen Newell 07-27-2012 21:15:32 66.53.81.219 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   Maybe I'm just cheap but I sharpen chain saw blades freehand on a grinder with a carborundum blade. They sharpen better than new. [Reply]  [No Email]
PJH 07-27-2012 21:10:38 50.40.240.171 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   Havn't read the other posts, but a new file, with a comfortable handle is all I have ever used. I use Stihl chain, and it has a little line to guide you for the proper filing angle. It couldn't get any simpler than a hand held file. I wish you were nearby - I'd show you how to sharpen a saw chain without all the hooopla. [Reply]  [No Email]
egbinor 07-26-2012 21:10:28 184.100.130.74 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I agree with the majority. Quit cutting my own wood when i turned 65 but sharpened my own chains for 40 years. My experience is the same with drill bits, most of the time they turn out good. How many of you used to sharpen your own skil saw blades? My dad (a carpenter) would sharpen a skill saw blade in about 5 minutes. Every once in awhile he'd put the blades in the table saw and using a stone he'd take a tiny bit off the teeth and file it down to point and away he'd go again. As a side note my son just gave me a HF electric sharpener for fathers day, say's his works great after he tweeked a few things....Guess I'll find out one of these days.. Just my 2 cents worth! [Reply]  [No Email]
Billy NY 07-26-2012 09:58:41 67.248.100.3 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I will disagree with hand filing, well ok if you use a file with out an accurate guide, by eye and feel, you will not get an accurate sharpen. I totally agree with what Butch posted. I use a Stihl bar clamp bench guide, I don't need power to use it, it provides an accurate sharpen, I'll put it against any machine ground chain, (hows that for being cocky? LOL !!!) Seriously though, a guide like mentioned, properly set up, adjusted, with the correct file, will provide excellent results. Yes, you have to start with a new chain, count the strokes on each cutter, same with the rakers on the safety chain, I highly recommend a file brush to clean your file as you use it, compressed air to also clean things. I will also admit, 3/4 the way through the wear on a chain I am currently using, I screwed up somewhere, won't cut straight in the big diameter logs, now is the time to take it to the shop or use your electric grinder, you'll waste too much time singling out the shortest cutter, and making the rest match. I have on the other hand used nothing but this guide right up until a chain is at its limit. You're in the field, you have dulled all your chains, this guide, was like a $100 in '02, will get you an accurately sharpened chain in 10-15 minutes. My friend used to use a dremel with some haphazard guide, I put that chain on the file guide and it would take awhile to true it up, have done it, cut straight and toss ribbon, large chips, you can do a lot with just a file and a guide, but the guide has to be quality, tight tolerances, can't be loose and poorly made. [Reply]  [No Email]
Butch(OH) 07-26-2012 05:01:29 70.62.13.146 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I have one of the Northern Tool Chinese copys of an Oregon and after about 2 hours worth of work to make it work as it is supposed to work it does a nice job. Basicaly I just had to smooth the rough castings in the vise swivels. I dont use it much, mostly when I hit something and realy screw up a chain. If you go the China copy route you do need to pitch the cheapo wheels and get some good ones such as Oregon or from Baileys. Junk wheels are pink, good ones are ruby colored. I am not in agreement that a person canot file a chain from new to shot without loosing proper performance as a matter of fact a properly filed chain is fastest just as the cutters are nearly gone. I file all my chains from new to junk unless I hit something that requires a lot of material removal. As for your hand filing there are several glaring mistakes that almost every newbie hand filer makes and must be avoided. 1. Get the saw at an easy work height and fasten it down. I mount the saw by the bar in my bench vise when in the shop or use a stump vise in the field. Even an expert will have troubles with the saw in his lap or rolling around on a pick up tailgate. 2. File operation is a two handed job. One on the handle and one at the end of the file or holder. 3. Files are both sized to the particular chain used and are to be thought of as consumables. Dull files make for bad work. Buy at least two to begin with and when the user file wont grab the skin of your thumb like the new one does pitch it. 3. Files work one direction, pushing. Dragging them backwards on the cutter not only dulls the file it dulls the edge you just put on the cutter. Lift the file from the chain on the return stroke. 4. An experianced filer needs nothing but a file with a handle attached. People learning need one of the various jigs or file guides. The flat type file holders as sold everywhere they sell Oregon chain work very well indeed. Husqvarna sells a differant type guide similar to what Carton sells, either will work. 5 Rakers or depth gauges. About half the people I know dont mess with them at all and the other half file them down haphazardly. Shallow rakers = slow cutting. Deep rakers equals jerky cutting and danger to the saw operator. Every chanin Mfg sells filing gauges for the rakers, use them! If not then dont screw with your rakers and pitch the chains when they get slow. You needn"t worry about the rakers until the cutters are about 1/3 gone, then again when 2/3 gone but the rakers must be attended to as the cutters are lowerd from filing back to maintain cutting speed. Other than that you can go to any chain Mfg web site and get good hand filing info or punch the subject into Youtube. Just be carefull about the bad advise that abounds. Here is a guy that knows what he is doing. Proper hand filing [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 07-26-2012 04:27:11 50.104.225.241 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   My chain uses a 5/32 file and I file sharpen mine. You really can't mess up a chain that you can't fix, just need to experiment and get it right. I use a flat file too to remove some of the depth guage part of the chain. HF's grinder won't work on my small chain. I went to ebay and bought 4 diamond file like devices that go in a drill or drummel tool. Haven't used them yet, too hot. They were only $5.25 for 4 shipping included. George [Reply]  [No Email]
JF in CT 07-26-2012 03:57:15 96.32.14.178 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I bought one of those HF bench sharpeners back when it was on sale for $25 and couldn't be more happy. It not only sharpens the links quickly but, more importantly, consistantly along with the depth gauges. Jim [Reply]  [No Email]
MarkB_MI 07-26-2012 02:52:56 66.87.0.87 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I have the Oregon 510A, similar to the 511AX in JDSeller's post. My biggest complaint about this grinder is that the motor isn't reversible. As a result, it takes more material off one side, while the other side gets a wire edge that you have to hand file. Note that this isn't a cheap grinder; it runs about 300 bucks. If you spend any less than that you'll be very dissatisfied, as the cheaper units use motors that are much too small. There are grinders that have reversible motors. Bailey's sells a reversible Silvey for just under a grand. (You can buy a lot of new chain for a thousand bucks.) Most of the mid-range grinders like those sold by Oregon appear to be made by the same Italian company and just rebranded. Check out the selection at Bailey's and you'll see what I mean. Chain grinders at Bailey's [Reply]  [No Email]
2x4 07-26-2012 00:02:07 75.106.104.187 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   a great idea if you file chains for a living. If not, as others said, learn hand filing. I have 2 bench grinders & don't use either of'em. Time you take the chain off & set up, file & put chain on, you will be done by hand filing. Most people who use this type of grinder take way too much off the tooth & burn the tooth too. They're only really needed in extreme cases which you should only rarely encounter. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ted in NE-OH 07-25-2012 19:30:46 98.20.254.192 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   Check e-bay, lots of them there. [Reply]  [No Email]
JDseller 07-25-2012 19:13:24 208.126.196.144 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   It will pay for itself in short order if you use a saw much. I don't care what these guys claim about sharpening them with a file. You can't get as even a sharpening job with a hand held file. Every drag will be just a little different. Some will cut too much and others will not cut enough. I don't even touch mine up with a file any more. You can sharpen one three times as fast if it is not screwed up with a file. I have 3-4 chains for each saw. When one gets a little dull I just switch the chain. That way you don't have to take very much off the chain when grinding it to have a good sharp edge again. If you file them much then you will have to really grind the face back a lot further to get them all even again. If a chain has not be abused I can usually sharpen it in less than 10 minutes. It doe not take long once you get the sharpener set. I have a Oregon sharpener that is over thirty years old. I gave $300 then for it. My son has a cheap Harbor Freight one and it works if you take your time with it. It is not quite as tight in the pivot as the Oregon. So you have to hold it against the one side to make it repeat evenly. It is fine for the average home owner but if I was sharpening a lot of chains I would get another Oregon. The link is for a Oregon that is about the same as what I have. Northern has one that is a copy of this one for about $120. It would work for the average home owner. This is real close to what I have. Northern tool Oregon sharpener [Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in Tx 07-26-2012 16:47:52 166.147.72.33 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to JDseller, 07-25-2012 19:13:24   If you run a chain until it is dull, you are already behind in the game. Keep the chain sharp with a stroke or two of the file and you never have a dull chain. Chain stays clean and won't stretch if you don't ever let it get dull. I use ATF oil so it gets to the rivets where the lube is needed. Oil stuck to the outside of the chain does nothing. If I hit a rock or something that wears the side of the cutter, I throw that chain away. If you have to grind an eighth or mote off the teeth you are wasting time on that chain. YMMV [Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere 07-26-2012 17:38:46 216.46.134.208 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Dave in Tx, 07-26-2012 16:47:52   I'm just that cheap to try and save a few bucks. And take the extra time to hand sharpen. And never achieve the cutting speed of a factory fresh chain. My time is worth more than saving a few $$$ for a power sharpener. [Reply]  [No Email]
d beatty 07-25-2012 16:26:07 24.12.128.253 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   If your going to learn how to sharpen chains by hand start out on older chains.It is easy once you get the hang of it.I put a different pitch on the teeth than what they come with and it cuts better than a new chain.I clap my saw in vise on work bench with power head on it. With a good file you can do a 20" chain in about 20 minutes. [Reply]  [No Email]
RayP(MI) 07-25-2012 15:03:10 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   Dremmel tool and proper size grinder. Very quick, easy. You'll learn the technique real quick. [Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere 07-25-2012 14:11:43 184.151.63.237 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   A hand filing is fine for maybe 1-2 quick touch ups between proper sharpenings. A power grinder sets the every one of the edges and angles accurate, true and sharp. That no man with a file can duplicate. As for not removing the chain? That"s just lazy. The bar and saw needs the sawdust and dirt removed. To reduce wear, binding and allow oil flow. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stuart 07-26-2012 13:52:37 166.181.3.48 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to buickanddeere, 07-25-2012 14:11:43   If you think you need to remove the chain to sharpen it and remove debris from the bar, then you have never cut much wood [Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere 07-26-2012 17:36:00 216.46.134.208 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Stuart, 07-26-2012 13:52:37   I've cut firewood every year to keep warm for four decades. A saw operates and oils better when clean at least once a day. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stuart 07-26-2012 18:22:34 166.181.3.99 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to buickanddeere, 07-26-2012 17:36:00   Yeah thats what I thought, not a lot of experience on your end. ok [Reply]  [No Email]
awlknottedup 07-25-2012 14:06:47 67.142.168.26 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I have had a new electric from HF sitting on the shelf for about three years. It is just too easy to sharpen by hand. [Reply]  [No Email]
Sidekick 07-25-2012 14:05:57 216.106.48.195 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   Just learn to use a file. They're cheap and easy and you don't have to take the chain off. There's a few tricks to it but it's really pretty easy to do. Google it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ivan in Mich 07-25-2012 12:49:34 174.124.162.166 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   I have one made by Oregon and I have a cheap one sold by Northern Hydraulic. They both work good but I like the one from Northern tool better. The Oregon one is one that I bought when they first came out with them and does not have all the adjustment that the newer one has. I have sharpened hundreds of chains with and it still works good. The biggest proplem with either one is you have to take the chain off to sharpen. I use a dremil tool unless I hit something and need to get all the teeth back even. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jim in Ma. 07-25-2012 12:12:24 72.70.109.209 Report to Moderator	Re: electric chain saw sharpeners in reply to Joe IRL, 07-25-2012 12:06:01   just remember = You get what you pay for, buy a good one and learn how to use it and you will be happy with it. [Reply]  [No Email]