whats the best way to sharpen a chainsaw chain?
file? electric sharpener? or just pay ace hardware $5
It depends on how much you use it.I bought an electric sharpener but I have three saws and about twenty chains.A file takes a long time and you need a file guide.If not used too often I would just pay them to do it,but be sure they do the depth guides too when needed.
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US $179.00
The Unbelievable Saw by Wranglerbarn
A chainsaw is an essential tool for any home handy person, especially those that live in rural or heavily wooded areas. However chainsaws can also be extremely dangerous so it is important to maintain them properly and observe correct safety procedures.
The most regular task that you will need to do when maintaining your chainsaw is to sharpen it regularly. You will know your chainsaw needs sharpening when:
- It produces fine sawdust instead of rougher small wood chips.
- It is very difficult to cut through wood.
Fortunately, it is relatively easy to give your chainsaw a quick sharpen. Depending on how heavily you use it, you might even want to sharpen it every few hours of use, but after a few dozen times it should be sharpened by a professional to properly restore the cutting edge.
The most common (and cheapest) way to sharpen a chainsaw is to use a round file with a file guide. The file guide allows the file to be held at just the right angle, and each tooth in the chain blade is given a few strokes with the file to restore an edge.
There are various other tools that you can use to sharpen a chainsaw, including electric gadgets. You can get a bench mounted grinding device that holds the chain at the right angle, although obviously this can't be carried around with you. You can also get smaller grinding pieces that fit in a dremel or an electric drill, and these can be good options too. However the classic file with guide will be the cheapest and most portable option.
Using a chainsaw sharpener is important, but you also need to check and maintain your depth gauges. A dedicated tool can be found for this task as well.
