Recently experimented with sharpening a chain with a file - worked really well! I tried years ago and never could get it quite right, it always cut to one side and I eventually gave up. Trying to save some money though so tried again and must have got it pretty good because the chains really bit into the wood almost like new. I've read that some sharpen the chain with a file when they refill the gas tank to keep it sharp, and I've heard others say wait until there's more dust than chips coming out. I like the idea of keeping it sharp, cutting with a chain that's getting dull stinks! Any advice?
I sharpen mine every truck load (1/2 cord). Filing rakers tends to be less frequent for me. I can go every other truck load but I find I dont like the performance while Im half way through my second truck load. For me every tank full would be a bit much as I tend to go through a tank and a half with each load. Ill sharpen on my tailgate right before cutting, Ive never timed myself but Im sure it doesnt take me more than 10 minutes.
Brushing up free hand every tank makes it easier to keep the right angles. (Less to correct) I would also suggest something like a granberg file & joint. It is a jig that takes a bit of learning and is slow. But you can get excellent results and very consistent. So doing that every 5-10 hand sharpening keeps everything evened up
x2 If I can keep the chain out of the dirt I sharpen it at the end of the day. Or first thing the morning of. Thats when I'm out in the woods felling and cutting clean wood. Cutting on a pile or cleaning up a tree that was drug through the dirt is another story.....that ends up closer to every fill of the gas tank (about a little over a 1/3 cord for a 562xp)
Yeah makes sense. I was doing some cutting earlier on this summer and came across a slash pile of sorts that had a nice diameter fir tree in it but it had been dragged through the dirt quite a bit so there were lots of pebbles ground into the bark. I passed it up as I knew it wouldnt cut any better than a butter knife by the time I got through it.
It all depends on the wood and my patience. Cutting big hardwood every few tanks the chain is dull or noticeabley not as efficient. Softwood cut all day.
I really hate cutting with a dull chain. So I make sure to take a couple of extra chains with me. When the chain stops cutting and you can tell, then I switch out chains. I do not even take a file out to the woods with me. Like previously mentioned if I have to drag a log out before cutting it up then I know the chain is not going to last as long. Dirt is not your friend.
I carry extra chains. I don't even own a chain file, I use a Maxx Grinder. I've had it for years and just grind a few chains and keep them in the saw boxes. usually a grind will last quite a while unless I hit something.
I have never sharpened with anything but a file or file & guide (flat file the rakers at times). I don't have any set time when cutting, just will dress the chain if needed. If it won't go through the wood with relative ease then I'll hit it with the file. If that doesn't get it to my liking then I'll put a new chain on.
I do the same as Locust Post. I wait until I think it's starting to dull. Might be 1 tank or 3 or 4 depending on what I'm cutting. I use the Timberline sharpener and am pleased with the results. I cut some shagbark hickory yesterday with a newly sharpened chain and it was like cutting with a brand new chain out of the box.
Whenever it needs it. I hate a dull chain. It can go dull quickly if you get into some "rotten wood in the middle of the round or just even barely touch the ground". Sounds like a lyric in a song.
Average for me is every 2 tanks. My Husqvarna sips gas so tanks last for awhile, but it's normally cutting clean limbs. My Makita gulps gas, but it's normally used on the trunk and occasionally might hit some dirt, so 2 tanks still works. I always take a file and vise out in the field with me, but I've never needed to sharpen until I can get back to my garage.
X2 .... Then when u get enough that need to be sharpen.... I'll pull the grinder out to sharpen. Unless I'm bored and want to hand file for practice.... But I'm not that good at the hand file thing.
When I go out for the day I touch up the chain after every tankful just one or two strokes with the file. If I hit into dirt or something in the tree (wire, taps, nails ect.) I stop and sharpen with my granberg file and joint or put spare chain on saw as I always have an extra sharp chain with me.
Usually, I'll sharpen my chain after a full day of cutting. I use a round file and a file guide. It takes me about 10 minutes to dress up a 20 inch chain. A friend of mine uses a dremel to sharpen the chain on his Husky. He's on his third chain in a year and a half and he doesn't use the saw very much. He grinds away more material than he wears away. I try to tell him that but what do I know?
I sharpen after every two tanks unless I'm in dirty wood, or hit something. If cutting branch wood or softwood and the chain is still throwing big chips and feels sharp, I may extend that to three or even four tanks. After a couple tanks, though, it's also a good time to take a break, so I use that time to touch up the chain. I hand-file only, with a Stihl sharpening guide.
That is downright crazy. I now use a dremel but don't have to buy a chain very often. It lasts as long using dremel (if used right) as it does using a file. So perhaps rather than telling to use a file, show him how to use a dremel?!
I learned sharpening with a file. Later, I tried using a guide but that did not last long. Went back to free hand. Then when my hands got really bad and it just hurt too much filing, I tried a dremel but not until asking a few folks about them and most had good luck with them. Now it takes less time to sharpen and no problems. How often? I was taught to never sharpen a dull chain. So I sharpen before it gets to that point. It takes only a few minutes to touch up a chain and I never go to the woods without a file or dremel. A touch up after a fill up is good advice. No, I don't always but usually do. It also depends a lot on what you are cutting as to how long before you should sharpen. Cut hickory or popple. Which one will dull the chain first? Cut wood or cut dirt. Which one dulls the chain first? Cut dry wood or cut green wood. Which one dulls the chain the fastest? It also depends upon which chain you use. I've noticed a difference in how quickly things begin to dull depending on which chain. Full chisel seems to be the best for holding an edge. The little Stihl 180 with narrow kerf also seems to dull quickly and chains do not last as long either.
I try to sharpen every other tank refill. I bought the stihl 2-in-1 file tool. It works well for me unless I hit a rock and jack my chain up.
