I finally bit the bullet. I ordered an electric sharpener. A while back, I got a decent price on 8 chains for my Husky 372...I've only got 3 chains on the go for my 445E. I've also got 3 for the old Stihl 051AV that I use as a milling saw (36" bar - 404) The pile of chains that need sharpening is starting to add up. I only cut wood for myself, so it's not like I have to sharpen everything 20 times a year, but hand sharpening all those teeth is getting to be a drag. I just couldn't justify the extra cost of getting into the higher end models, but I didn't want a plastic $20 rig that was complete junk either. So.....has anyone got one of these things ? Did I buy something suitable for a home owner running 3 different size chains, or is it frustration in a box ?
Nope you did fine, that fancy ax version is all headaches in the vise area, and the others with various auto clamping are kind of a pain when things start wearing. Just for an idea of where I come from . I currently have 2 ax units ( converted back to 120 style) a Sylvie 310 , 2 foresters ( same as 120) and a no name ( same as the Foresters) + one old Folely. I wear out the head return springs at a rate of about 2 for each unit a year. I wear out the vises in about a year also. This weekends push is 9 - 8'loops of 404 full chisel full compliment, 5- 28" bar 3/8 FC, and a couple dozen 14-16" bar 3/8 semi chisel chains. 2 sets of three grinders one set for left one for right ( or back and front) the third for the depth gauges. I just might bite the bullet on a Simington Square grinder and I am toying with the idea of the Franci automatic unit ( BIG BUCKS for that). Starting to feel like a mushroom spending so much time in the basement at the grinders. 2nd set of three is at my shop for those quickie walk in jobs. Sooner or later the bubble with the Ash trees & EAB is going to burst, so some of this will fade away.
It sounds like you'll be sharpening more chains next week than I will in the next decade. Lol. Thank you for the feedback sir.
You did fine. It's more than adequate for a homeowner. I love mine. The hardest thing for me to get used to was how to shape the wheel. Also, if the chains are all oily, clean them before grinding. Be easy taking rakers down. It's very easy to take a little too much and then you have some ultra grabby chains. You will love it! Here's 15 pages of info regarding me learning how to use it properly. Getting started in chain grinding
I just finished reading that entire thread. Oh dear lord, what have I done ?!?!?! To understand why I say that, you have to know a little bit more about me and my mentality. I'm a competitive target shooter and reloader. One of my TOO many hobbies. I've got about $8k into my main long range rig, and that doesn't include the parts that I made myself. I've probably got $15k in reloading gear downstairs. I cast my own bullets...Lyman lubrasizer...make my own dies and top punches....I took my reloading/precision to the point of weighing every projectile/case, neck turning, and indexing each case in the chamber...heat gun to measure barrel temps. You name it. I've got a complete fabrication shop out in my garage including a lathe, vertical knee mill, Miller dual tank welder, etc, all because sometimes I'm just not happy with what the commercial market offers on (insert whatever here) so I'd just make my own, but better. I thought that this grinding thing was set up the right angles, and go. NOW, I find out there's that much more to it ? That it can be made into a hobby of it's own with multiple levels of experimentation to be done to achieve exacting results ? Guys...I DON'T HAVE ROOM, OR TIME FOR ANOTHER HOBBY LIKE THIS !!! It's too late now though...I've already ordered the sharpener !!!!! If in 2 years, there's 40 different grinding wheels, and 50 different flavors of chain in my garage, I'm just going to blame you guys for enlightening me...yep...your fault...completely your fault !!! LOL !!!
i am doing this commercially- not a hobby and like you am a long range and everything else type of shooting competitions. yep got a whole machine shop here as well. Nothing fancy with blinking lights and all. 3 vertical mills , horizontal mill, lathe, tool and cuter grinders up the ying yang, welders, compressors to 3000psi, media blast, cabinet saw, planer jointer,, shaper, Anvil, torches and enough trophies , placks and ribbons to cover the average size living room wall.I am still a decent shot even though I do not compete anymore.
Oh baby.....where have YOU been all my life ? This little sharpener is the cats meow !!! I seemed to be able to keep the wheels in shape easy enough and get a proper looking cut. I tried out a couple of chains on my 445 and 372. They cut like butter ! I can see the ongoing need for wheels though, so I bit the bullet and ordered 2 of the CBN ones from diamond wheel. I'm planning on doing this for a long time, so I figured I might as well just get it out of the way and get the good stuff. This way, I can sharpen in the basement as well with minimum dust being stirred up. For anyone who was thinking of buying one of these electric sharpening machines.....JUST DO IT !!! You will NOT be sorry.
Even with all the sharpening I do I just can't get on board with the CBN wheels. I dress the vitrified wheels to different profiles depending on the type of chain. pico, micro pico, and 325 really do not work well with the 1/8" wheel in the standard configuration another one is the low pro full chisel, 3/16" wheel is a bit to thick and the 1/8" is way to thin so I dress the 3/16" to somewhere in between, for the pico series 1.5mm , 2 mm, or2.5mm seem to work pretty well.
