Sharpening your chainsaw blade may appear daunting and difficult, but with a little knowledge and the correct tool, it’ll be a snap. When you need to sharpen your chainsaw blade, follow these simple procedures.
Step 1: Measure
The first step in sharpening your chainsaw blade is to familiarise yourself with all of its characteristics. These parameters (pitch and gauge) are critical to understand since they influence the chainsaw blade you can use. Fortunately, these specs are frequently printed on the chainsaw’s packaging. The manufacturer of the chainsaw sharpener usually includes a booklet with instructions that will help you better grasp the parameters.
If you can’t find the manufacturer’s documentation, you can search it up on the internet or contact the company for information on how to precisely measure your chainsaw blade. You can buy the proper size sharpening stone if you have the right measurements in your hands.
Step 2: Positioning
Once you’ve determined your chainsaw’s pitch and gauge, you’ll need to position your electric chainsaw sharpening tool accordingly.
It is recommended that you set your sharpener on the ground during operation to avoid shaking or movement.
Bench-mount chainsaw sharpeners are also available, which are secured to a workbench by a vice.
It is critical to set your chainsaw sharpener in a firm position so that you can easily instal the chainsaw blade on your sharpener. Even more, proper alignment ensures a smooth sharpening process.
Step 3: Install the Sharpening Stone
You’ll need to attach a sharpening stone after your chainsaw sharpener is complete. However, for a good installation, it is critical that Step 1 be completed precisely in order to obtain the correct measurements. With all of the requirements (pitch and gauge) in hand, you’ll instal your sharpening stone with the proper breadth to fit in the space between the teeth of the chainsaw blade.
The width of a sharpening stone is typically 3/16 inch. It’s crucial to remember that sharpening stones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so choose one that’s right for your blade.
Step 4: Swivel
After you’ve installed the sharpening stone, you’ll need to swivel it. Place the blade in the chainsaw sharpener’s holder and adjust the angle from there.
The most common angles are typically between 0 and 60 degrees. However, in very exceptional circumstances, the angle may reach 80 degrees.
Step 5: Angle
You’ll need to refer back to the specifications at this point to determine the tooth angle. By adjusting a knob on the blade holder, you may quickly modify the blade tooth angle in the chainsaw sharpener. This knob should be turned in different directions, either positive or negative, for accurate setup.
Step 6: Adjust the Depth
The depth stop must be appropriately positioned to prevent the grinder from cutting too deeply, therefore adjusting the depth is critical. If the depth isn’t adjusted appropriately, the sharpener’s grinder may cut the metal found between the blade teeth, resulting in a damaged blade. Furthermore, the blade may overheat, causing the building material to degrade.
Step 7: Time to Sharpen
Everything is now in place for you to begin sharpening. Slowly lower the grinder wheel into the blade’s first tooth, and you should see some sparks once it makes contact. Lift the grinder and inspect the tooth’s inner surface for a shining finish after keeping them in contact for a short time. You’ve already sharpened your first teeth, and there are probably another 60 to go.
Proceed to sharpen each tooth on one side of the blade one at a time. You’ll need to re-adjust the grinder once you’ve finished with a set of teeth. If you set it to 20 degrees on the positive side, for example, you must alter it to 20 degrees on the negative side. After that, you can move on to sharpening the next set of teeth.
Sharpening a chainsaw blade isn’t difficult if you follow the procedures above. Just make sure you don’t skip any steps along the way. To keep oneself safe, it’s also a good idea to wear some protective clothing.
What is the best way to sharpen a chainsaw?
Before you begin, clean the chain with a wire brush if it is dirty. Sharpening will be hampered if there is trash lodged between the teeth.
- From the inside to the exterior, file the teeth. The tip of the file should always point away from the engine, which is an easy method to recall the correct direction.
- Keep the file at a 90-degree angle to the guide bar’s flat sides. Place the file at a 30-degree angle to the chain’s straight line. Throughout the stroke, maintain both angles. Avoid varying the length of the stroke and rounding off the edge you’ve just formed.
- If you’re sharpening the chainsaw with a file, file every other tooth along the chain. Then, invert the process and sharpen every other teeth in the opposite way.
- Release the chain brake after honing a few teeth and rotate the chain ahead to continue sharpening.
- When a burr can be seen or felt with a fingernail on the other side of the tooth’s edge, the tooth is sharp. Check for burrs with caution. On unprotected flesh, they can cause a painful ripped cut.
To what degree should my chainsaw sharpener be set?
Sharpening a chainsaw’s cutters not only makes it easier to cut through wood, but it also makes it safer. The chain is less likely to snap, the saw is less likely to bind, and the bar is less likely to kick back. Sharpeners with a lot of experience file freehand, matching the file angle to the cutter by eye. Cutting angles to the chain line range from around 25 degrees to about 35 degrees; the file pitch should be roughly 5 degrees from horizontal. Invest in a sharpening kit to eliminate the guesswork associated with cutter angle matching.
How many times can a chainsaw chain be sharpened?
Before a chainsaw chain needs to be replaced, it can be sharpened up to ten times, sometimes more. The amount of wear on your chain and the amount of metal removed each time you sharpen are the two main factors. The chainsaw chain can be harmed by a variety of materials. The amount of times you can sharpen the chain is highly dependant on what you intend to use it for.
For example, if you hit a rock and your chain chips or breaks, you may not be able to fix it at all through sharpening. In addition, if you sharpen your chainsaw chain and remove 60% of the metal, you may only sharpen it another 40% before you have to discard it. It’s not a specific number or a manufacturer’s recommendation. But it does indicate that knowing how and when to sharpen your chain efficiently is a smart thing!
Of course, if you’ve worn out both your chain and your chainsaw, there’s always the exciting prospect of purchasing a brand new chainsaw! But first and foremost, make sure you get the most out of your purchase.
What is the chainsaw chain’s down angle?
The chain should be sharpened with a 10 degree down angle, but when sharpening with a hand file, use a 0 degree down angle, according to the manufacturer.
When it comes to chainsaw chains, how long should they stay sharp?
Sharpening a chainsaw is a useful skill for frequent users, as it reduces the tool’s downtime. Despite the fact that the process is simple, users have a lot of queries. Answers to some of the most often asked questions about sharpening a chainsaw can be found below.
Q: How tight should a chainsaw chain be?
Pull one or two links of a chainsaw chain down from the underside of the bar to check the tension. When you let go of the chain, it should snap back into place.
You won’t be able to draw the chain away from the bar if the chain is too tight. The chain, on the other hand, will remain slack if it is too loose. With the tensioning screws on the front or side of the chainsaw, tighten or loosen the chain.
Q: When do you know it’s time to replace a chainsaw chain?
If you sharpen and maintain your chainsaw on a regular basis, you should be able to tell when it’s time to change the chain. Severe dents in the chain, rusting, uneven cuts, and a chainsaw blade that often overheats and smokes while in operation are all symptoms of abuse or tool failure.
Q: How long should a chainsaw blade stay sharp?
The period of time between sharpenings is mostly determined by how much the saw is used. If a chainsaw is infrequently used, it may only need to be sharpened once a year, but if it is constantly used, it will need to be sharpened on a regular basis to keep the blade from becoming too dull. After 3 hours of vigourous cutting through wood, a chainsaw blade will retain its sharpness on average.
Q: Why does my chainsaw blade dull so quickly?
A chainsaw blade can get dull for a variety of reasons. Overuse, steep angled cutting teeth, cutting through unclean wood, and working with difficult woods like hickory, ironwood, and black oak are all common causes.
Is sharpening a chainsaw difficult?
The evolution of tools from the axe to the chainsaw may be the most significant in human history. Consider that for a moment. The act of felling a tree turned from time-consuming and arduous to remarkably rapid and painless, seemingly overnight.
Chainsaws are now widely used to cut down and cut up trees by both professional arborists and DIYers. A dull saw chain, on the other hand, will stop even the most powerful chainsaw from cutting. The good news is that, unlike most other power-cutting equipment, a chainsaw can be sharpened in a matter of minutes.
This is a sure sign that your chainsaw needs to be sharpened. Examine the wood that is being spit out by the saw. Thin shavings are sprayed out by a sharp chainsaw. Fine wood dust spews from a dull saw.
Why does the chain on my chainsaw get so dull so quickly?
Everyone has problems with their chainsaw from time to time, and the majority of the issues are simple to fix.
Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert on chainsaw use, maintenance, or repair.
However, I have considerable expertise with chainsaws and have come across some situations/problems that I feel are encountered by many people.
As a result, I’ve decided to share some of the knowledge I’ve gathered over the years.
To begin, I’d like to point out that many difficulties can be avoided by doing routine maintenance on your saw.
Cleaning the air filter, putting fresh gas in the saw, remembering to apply bar and chain oil when you fill up, and filing your chain every tankful or two of gas are all things to remember.
The quality of the sharpening is frequently the source of problems with how the chain cuts.
You’re filing the cutters at different angles or exerting inconsistent pressure on one side over another if the chain cuts crooked or at an angle.
Throughout your chain, the angle of the top plate and the size of the cutter should be quite uniform.
If your chain becomes dull soon, there are a few possibilities.
Make sure you’re using the proper sized file for your chain by consulting your user’s manual.
It’s also possible that you’re filing with too much pressure.
Cutting edges will become too thin and dull rapidly as a result of this.
If your rakers or depth gauges are filed down too much or too little, your chain will cut too deep or barely cut at all. Purchase a depth gauge that is appropriate for your saw and use it to sharpen your chain every time.
A saw that won’t start or runs rough may lead you to believe the carburettor is malfunctioning, but it could simply be a clogged air filter.
The carburetor’s air-to-gasoline ratio will be wrong if the filter is blocked.
This can result in a clogged spark arrester screen inside the muffler and a fouled spark plug.
Some of the finest advise I received was to never meddle with the carburettor unless you are completely confident in your abilities.
Clean the spark arrester screen and the spark plug if the engine still won’t start or runs rough after clearing the air filter.
If the problem has been present for a long time, you may need to replace the spark plug.
Finally, it may appear that your chain isn’t getting enough oil at times.
I was taught to rev the motor a little before cutting when I initially started to use a chainsaw.
When the engine is revved, a small amount of oil will fly off the end of the chain if it is getting enough oil.
Furthermore, if you don’t have to totally replace your saw with chain oil when you replenish the gas, your chain is probably not getting enough oil.
This problem has a straightforward solution.
Remove the bar and chain after you’ve finished using your saw for the day and clear up any debris that has formed around the oiling mechanism.
You may determine if you have fully cleaned the oiling mechanism by running your saw without the bar and chain attached and watching for oil to come out.
You can avoid the problems I’ve detailed here if you perform the recommended routine maintenance and sharpen your chain correctly.
How tight should the chain on your chainsaw be?
A correctly tensioned chainsaw chain should still be somewhat loose on the chainsaw guide bar, but not so loose that the drive links can be pulled out of the bar nose.
What are the signs that my chainsaw blade is dull?
When you’re about to start working, the last thing you want is a dull chainsaw chain. It can be downright dangerous at its worst, making your saw more prone to backfire. Even if this does not occur, your chainsaw’s performance will be affected. Your saw will not operate efficiently, consuming more power for less output and causing wear and tear on other sections of the machine.
But how can you tell whether your chainsaw chain is dull? Take a look at our checklist and keep an eye out for the following signs:
- The chainsaw chain does not pull through the wood on its own. The chain is almost probably not sharp enough if you have to apply pressure to the saw to force it through the wood.
- A dull chainsaw chain produces fine sawdust instead of coarse strands when cross cutting (against the grain of the wood).
- Even when your chain is greased and the chain tension is perfect, the saw produces smoke.
- The chainsaw makes a crooked cut. This could indicate that one side of your chain’s cutting teeth is dull. Alternatively, the length of your cutting teeth may be irregular.
If you experience any of these symptoms when using your chainsaw, it’s time to sharpen or replace the chain. A chain sharpening service or replacement chains are available from your local STIHL authorised dealer. Here’s where you may find a dealer near you.