No more sitting on my saw!

I have been sharpening my saw for 5-6 years now on the ground, sitting on it.

I finally broke down and got a vise



I am actually looking forward to sharpening my saw next time, lol.

 

That ought to make it easier.

 

Interesting. I have never sat on a saw to sharpen the chain. Don’t know anyone who has.

 

Well... not exactly sit, more like straddle and hold it between knees / legs.

 

I made a portable c-clamp vise with open cell foam stapled to the bottom of the noodled slab. It stays put and doesn't slide around on most surfaces. I use it mainly on either my table saw or the tailgate of the truck, both a pretty good height to be stable and comfy for sharpening.

 

I learned on a bench mounted vise, so it was hard to adjust to another method. I have seen guys hug the saw, cradled with legs and kneeling down and it looked impossible. You would need a fairly fresh file on hand.

 

I think you will like that

 

If I got down to sit on my saw I'd probably slice a artery getting up!

 

I do

 

I use a vise at home holding either chain itself or the bar. In the field I use a log or my tailboard (what's left of it)

I'm liking that C clamp vise that MAF143 made.

 

I started with one of these:


Then used my bench vise till I learned to square file. Then it was clamping the vise grips in the bench vise, which held each individual tooth, like this:



Did that for many seasons till I bought a grinder.

Seen a lot of guys use these with great success.

 

That's how I do it in the field. It is so much easier in the vice.

 

It's legit though I've never done it. Skip to 8:50.

 

I bought a vise bar off a guy on OPE forum. Game changer if you hand file.

 

^^^^This. I don't hand file anymore. I take extra chains with me when I cut; if one gets dull, I just replace it. The dull chains go to the grinder when I get home. Hand filing used to be therapeutic until my wrists and fingers started bothering me.

 

Interesting technique. Looks effective to me. I agree sharp cutters are important; but a chain with all the same angles and cutters the same length, or close, cuts better IMO

 

It's a little hillbilly, but the man has laid down more trees than half this forum combined, I'd wager. A saying I learned from him is 'good enough for who it's for'. Something I need to remember in many circumstances of my own as I tend to set standards higher than I am able to achieve or properly utilize.

 

Unfortunately, kneeling is not an option for me after knee surgery and uncle Arthir arrived.