A chainsaw just like any other cutting tool gets blunt with time and usage. That means unless you sharpen it regularly, its efficiency will decline until it will finally stop cutting or you get injured forcing it to work. A dull chainsaw consumes lots of fuel while doing less cutting. It also gives kickbacks and therefore can easily cause accidents. Sharpening your chainsaw should not be difficult if you know what to do and when to do it. In this chainsaw sharpening guide, you are going learn how to sharpen your chainsaw with a file or with chainsaw sharpening tools.
- Stihl Chainsaw Sharpening Roller Guide
- Chainsaw Sharpening Guide Stihl Trimmer
- Chainsaw Sharpening Guide For Stihl Chains
- Chainsaw Sharpening Guide Stihl Chainsaws
How to Sharpen a Chainsaw with a File
Filing your chainsaw using a file is little bit different filing using a filing machine. Just like any other manual task, it needs you to make some preparations and carry out some measurements to complete the tasks correctly. This guide applies to all chainsaws in general. However, it’s best to always check your chainsaw manual for any tips that the manufacturer of the chainsaw recommends.
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You will the need a round file and a flat file. The round file will be used to sharpen the curved hollow part of the cutting link. The flat file is used to file the cutting link to the correct depth. You will need a filing guide as well. The filing guide helps you to get the right filing angle when using the round file. The filing guide will also help you to determine the proper cutting depth to which you will file the cutting link.
How to use a Chainsaw Sharpening Guide
One of the easiest ways to learn to sharpen your chain is to use the sharpener guide mounted on the chain saw. These take as much time as the manual method without a guide, but they are accurate even for beginners. You just need to position them onto each cutting link to file it. They are easy to position. Hold the chainsaw bar in a vice. Place them chainsaw sharpening guide on the bar, and start filing. The sharpener guide will control your filing angles and position. They offer you an easy step to learn how to file your chain the traditional way discussed in the eight steps below.
Sharpen a Chainsaw by Hand
Find the size of the chainsaw link also called the pitch. There are several saws in the market, and they all have different pitches. You can easily check out the pitch using the code etched on the side of the cutting link. It is usually found on the outer side of the depth gauge.
Use the number in step one to get the matching file from the conversion table. Each pitch number is matched with the correct file diameter for the chain that has that number. It is best to buy files from suppliers and tool shops recommended by manufacturers. Using the wrong file will irreparably damage your file.
Step 3The next step is to thoroughly clean your chain to remove debris, sawdust, and dirt. You can use mineral spirits and detergents readily available in conventional stores to get rid of oils. You should only use those cleaners that are less aggressive to avoid damaging the plastic housing and seals of your chainsaw.
You need to find out any cutting link that has been excessively damaged, chipped or bent. Such cutting links should be replaced with new ones. Using broken cutting links is dangerous and can lead to accidents due to kickbacks. Observe or measure the upper plate of cutting link. It should at least be 1/4 an inch long. If it’s shorter, then you need to replace it. An overly worn cutting edge can break easily during the cutting motion.
Now fasten the chainsaw and its bar to make sure that it won’t move when filing. Position he bar in the vice such that it allows the chain to rotate freely.
Step 6
Hold the file with both hands. One hand should hold the handle while the other holds the other end of the file to guide its motion. If your chainsaw bar is horizontally oriented, then the file should also be held horizontally. Keep the angle between the file and bar at 30 degrees when you view it directly from the top.
Filing Angle Image Link: http://www.stihl.com/p/images/content_zoom_480x320/teaser-saegeketten-schaerfen-schaerfen-feile-fuehren-3-zoom_rdax_85.jpg
While filing, a 1/4 of the file’s diameter should be above the top plate. It’s important to keep in mind that the file only sharpens on the forward motion.
1/4 Filing Position Image Link: http://www.stihl.com/p/images/content_zoom_480x320/teaser-saegeketten-schaerfen-schaerfen-feile-fuehren-4-zoom_rdax_85.jpg
If you try sharpening on the backward motion, you will dull the file. When filing, you want to make sure that all cutting links are filed precisely to the same height. That ensures all teeth will chip out woodchips of the same size and therefore cut the wood uniformly.
Forward Filing Image Link: http://www.stihl.com/p/images/content_zoom_480x320/teaser-saegeketten-schaerfen-schaerfen-feile-fuehren-1-zoom_rdax_85.jpg
You also want to restore the cutting link’s angle as it was machined in the factory. Make sure that file rests at 90 degrees on the chain as you file.
Vertical Filing Angle Image Link: http://www.stihl.com/p/images/content_zoom_480x320/teaser-saegeketten-schaerfen-schaerfen-feile-fuehren-2-zoom_rdax_85.jpg
When you are filing, you should rotate the file as you do so to make it wear out evenly. It’s also important to make sure that the cutting link you are sharpening is positioned in the middle of the bar. You can achieve that by rotating the chain to move the cutting links to the middle position. That will help you to maintain the proper cutting angle.
Once you file the cutting link, check to confirm that it is filed evenly. The cutting edge surface should be uniformly bright.
Sharpen a Chainsaw with Power Tools
Manual sharpening is demanding, but it is a safe method to ensure you don’t wear off too much material from your chain cutting links, which could in turn shorten the lifespan of your chain. However, if you have many chainsaws to sharpen or you want an easier way to work, you can use an electric chain sharpener as an alternative. Electric chain sharpeners are both quick and accurate with their only downside being they can easily file off extra material from your chainsaw chain.
The electric chainsaw sharpener has a motor that is running continuously unlike your manual filing action. That is why electric chainsaws are fast and can file extra material easily if you do not set them correctly. However good ones aren’t too hard to use if you take the time to follow the user manual and set them correctly per the type of chain you want to file. Always follow the product instructions for chain-specific guides.
How Do I know The Cutting Edge is Worn-out?
Cutting Link Markings: http://blog.stihl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160125_STIHL_Blog_Rundfeile_Service-undVerschlei%C3%9Fmarkierungen.png
The cutting edge has markings that enable you to know when it’s time to replace it. The manufacturer etches these markings onto the chain after having done some quality control tests on the chain.
Mark 1
Mark 1 marking indicates the right cutting edge angle of the upper plate’s cutting edge. It also gives the minimum cutting link length. Should that length become shorter, then the cutting link should be replaced. When you notice that you have filed the cutting link up to that mark, it is time to replace it.
Mark 2
Mark 2 gives the circular angle that should be maintained when sharpening the cutting edge. The cutting link should be replaced when it has been filed up to that point.
Mark 3
Mark 3 marks the correct depth gauge angle and wear. When the depth is being reset, that resetting should be parallel to that mark.
Stihl Chainsaw Sharpening Roller Guide
Mark 4
Mark 4 is used to check the extent of wear of the running faces of the cutting link. If the wear is consistently parallel to that mark, then the chain wear is normal. If the wear is not consistently parallel, then there is a problem, and you should do and inspection and replace that cutting link.
How Often should a Chainsaw chain be sharpened?
The question of how often the chain cutting links should be sharpened is not so clear. However, one thing that we recommend is that you need to sharpen your saw chain before it becomes dull and dangerous to use. Some say you sharpen after cutting a certain number of trees, others recommend after ten uses, while others recommend you do it after a certain number of hours of use. We recommend you do it after 40 hours of use or when you hit a rock, soil, or you cut a hardwood tree. Those three can make your chain dull easily. Rocks, in particular, can blunt the saw instantly. Overall, you should keep a watchful eye on your chain. Keep in mind what it looked like when it was new. It should never look so different from that because when new, the manufacturer optimized it for cutting.
When does my Chainsaw Chain need to be Replaced?
Your chainsaw will get dull with time no matter how sharp it was when you bought it. That will cause it to become inefficient and dangerous to use. Knowing when it is time to replace your chain will save you time, energy and money. A chain that is in good condition does not require you to spend much energy as you use it to cut wood. It does not cut fine wood chips that cause you to spend more fuel to get a deep cut into the tree or lumber. You should, therefore, pay attention to the signs below to keep your chain in shape at all times.
Chain replacement signs
- You have to apply pressure on the saw to make it cut wood. A good chain pulls itself into the wood when placed on it.
- You notice that when cutting vertically, the saw does not make coarse chippings. Instead, all you see is fine sawdust.
- You see smoke even when the chain is well lubricated, and the chain is well tensioned.
- You find it difficult to position the chainsaw precisely because it rattles and bounces when cutting.
Conclusion
Those are the top signs that you should use to replace your chainsaw. Of course, if you also notice other signs such as a chipped cutting link, you should replace the link or if they are all chipped, replace the chain. You should not wait for the cutting link to be totally blunt before you sharpen it. You should make sharpening a regular thing. As soon as you notice a slight bluntness or wear of the cutting edge, sharpen your chain. That will help you to avoid spending much time and energy sharpening the chain because it is excessively worn.
You should also make it a habit of inspecting your chain at the end of each day or before you store it. That will help you to identify defects early enough. You will also become familiar with your chain in its good working condition. We hope this guide has been helpful and you will find it easy to maintain your chain.
In a hot summer day of 2012 when I was using a chainsaw to cutting wood gradually I found my chainsaw tooth gets dull. In this sequence of getting tired and weaken the tooth takes more pressure from me to cut and eventually the cutting finish is not so well. At that time replacing it needs much more money than I decide to sharpen it from local sharpening shop. I give it to them and get it back after two days. They sharpen it well, and the teeth also shine but never follow the Chainsaw sharpening angles, I wondered when using it. The tooth much sharpened but it never cuts so well. I see the inside and outside of top plate looks sharpen, but it’s not at a proper angle. Anyway, at that time I don’t know about the teeth angle and other maintenance.
I went to my father as he was using the chainsaw last two-decade and expertise one. In his reply, he shows that angles and their benefits, what I am going to reveal today to you.
Contents
Chainsaw Sharpening Guide Stihl Trimmer
- chainsaw sharpening angles basics
- Chainsaw tooth angles
The chainsaw is nothing else a steel bar unless there have teeth. The teeth also useless when it does not sharpen or never cut the wood. For having well furnished cutting we always busy with sharpen the chainsaw teeth and mostly forget to secure the proper angle of a tooth thus helps us for having excellent cut in a short while. Chainsaw teeth angles are the angle of inside and outside of your top plate and the side plate of every tooth. You might think why it’s so important? It’s important because when the teeth plates cut into the teeth, these angles help it to cut fast and quite easy also help not to stop or stuck on wood in time of cutting. So why in time of sharpening a chainsaw chain be careful about these sharpening angles for getting better performance.
For having, the perfect angle in the cutting tooth see the manufacture of your chainsaw or see the manufacturer website to know the diameter. Then pick the perfect diameter round file that attaches perfectly to your saw cutter and maintains these angles.
http://www.madsens1.com/GRAPHICS/chain/angles.jpg
In every tooth, there have two angles in both top plate and side plate. Everyone has different works destination and working tactics though all of them work to help each other.
- Inside Top Plate angle: Looking into a cutting tooth from above, the horizontal angle of the cutting tooth you see is the top plate inside angle. When your cutting wood is clean and soft and it seems easy to cut then this angle would be around 35˚. If the wood is much hard and frozen, then this angle should be blunter. The blunt angle may reduce the cutting efficiency but help the edge and gives strength to work longer period.
Most user says,” 30˚ sharp fast even also dull fast”
- Outside side plate angle: It’s the outer edge of vertical part of the teeth. In cutting this outside side, plate plays the vital role, and it should be 90˚ and not less than 85˚. This angle makes a small back slop in the side plate, and it helps the chain feed. This back pile also helps develop the cutting efficiency, but it seems difficult when it goes into the wood so why some people also grind small beak in this area. But I always recommend to go with this beak and sharpen it 90˚ angle.
- Outside Top plate edge: The outside of the top should be sharpened in 15˚ angle. My father also says about this angle that most of the operators work with his claim that it should be more angle like 20˚ or more thus the back corner works fast to go through the wood. The outside top plate helps to keep the same pressure on every tooth.
Chainsaw Sharpening Guide For Stihl Chains
- Inside side plate angle: In looking into the front tooth, the vertical angle you see is the inside side plate angle. It should be around 45˚. It should reduce for soft and clean wood in keeping a proper innovative balance. For frozen timber, it needs little more angular to maintain the balance of cutting edge. This angle prevents the flow of cutting toothy inside the wood.
Benefits of these sharpening angles
- It helps to sharpen faster in time of sharpening.
- It maintains a balance in cutting teeth and helps each other part.
- The cutting edge performance developed in following the angle.
- This angular combination makes the teeth ninja
These angles help the cutting tooth to cut quickly.
The final summary of my father’s explanation is that we can’t avoid these angles in sharpening the chainsaw teeth.
Chainsaw Sharpening Guide Stihl Chainsaws
Daddy strongly recommended keeping these angle and from next time I sharpen the chainsaw at home following this guide of how to sharpen a chainsaw at home. I always follow these chainsaw sharpening angles, and now my power tool works like a ninja. Now I’m quite satisfied with my chainsaw and its performance. If you Here is Details Guidelines Best Chainsaw Sharpener
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