In that location is an erstwhile loggers maxim which goes along the lines of: If your concatenation is precipitous the chainsaw does the work, if it isn't you practice . This pretty well sums upwards what happens if you allow your chain to go dull. Performance will be severely hampered and edgeless cut equipment can not only cause you extra work simply also be chancy as it increases the chances of kickback.

Modern bondage used on homeowner saws are relatively inexpensive and some people might be tempted merely to supercede the chain or become information technology sharpened locally – simply the costs tin still add up. The skilful news is that provided you lot take the correct equipment (which is reasonably cheap), sharpening your ain chains is something which you can easily learn. It volition also salve you a great deal of money in the long run and go on your saw working at its optimum level.

Chain-sharpening

With a bit of practice you'll before long find information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to sharpen upwardly in well-nigh 10 minutes and in one case you've mastered the fine art your chain will be good for years. A slight note of caution is that sharpening a dull chain from normal apply is relatively straightforward. On the other hand, if the chain has become ho-hum because of harm caused by striking dirt, rocks or other hard objects and so yous may need to become it sharpened professionally or alternatively invest in a replacement.

When to sharpen

If you lot e'er find yourself having to push your saw into the wood the chain is not sharp. In that location are likewise other signs that it is time to acuminate upwards and looking at the waste matter which comes from your cuts is a good starting place.

If the waste is in the grade of chips everything is fine. If information technology is dust then this is a sure sign that it is dull and that it'southward time to get out those tools.

Brief description of a chainsaw chain

Before looking at what tools required and the techniques yous volition need to use to behave out this task, let's look briefly at the construction of the chain.

Chain-Parts

Equally you tin can see from the diagram above, at that place are both left and correct cutters which are effectively the cutting teeth. The left and correct cutters alternate around the chain to go on the cutting straight. The depth gauge is a minor shark's fin shaped piece of metal which controls how deep the cutters can cut into the wood.

On the cutters there are semi-circular cutting edges and these accept a specific diameter depending on the type of chain. These are sharpened using a round file (run across next department).

The depth approximate tip is a fraction shorter than the top of the cutter and after the cutter has been sharpened several times they tin can become the same level. This will prevent the saw from cut so the depth gauges need to be lowered to the right height using a flat file and file guide.

Finally the diagram shows the bulldoze links, which attach the chain to the guide bar.

Tools Required - Chainsaw File Kit

If you don't already possess the necessary tools yous will need to invest in a chainsaw file kit. Some of the tools required were mentioned in a higher place and these include:

  • Round file used to acuminate the cutting edges of the cutters. This needs to lucifer the cutter'south diameter and the nigh popular sizes for homeowner saws are five/32", iii/sixteen" and 7/32".

WARNING: although they may look similar, don't utilise a standard rattail file for the job every bit it's tapered shape and coarse teeth will damage the cutters.

  • A file guide (holder) which will go on the round file at the same depth ensuring consistency when filing each individual cutter.
  • A flat file and estimate which volition exist used occasionally to reset the length of the depth gauges (shark fins).
  • Chainsaw filing vise (optional). If y'all have a workbench and vice you probably won't demand this but it is useful for using in the field. Simply strength information technology into a log and you accept a ready-made vise which volition agree the guide bar.

How to determine file size

As indicated above, you will demand to ensure that you lot get the correct circular file to friction match the concatenation you are sharpening. But how do you know which one is correct?

You will demand to know either the Id number or the pitch of the particular chain beingness sharpened. The table below will give you some guidance in this regard. Then, for the concatenation shown above which has an Id number 72, a seven/32" round file would exist used.

Chain Type

File Size

File Size

mm

inches

25, 91

4.0

5/32

90

four.v

11/64

20, 21, 22, 95

iv.8

3/16

xvi, 18, 26, 27, 72, 73, 75

5.5

7/32

If you are not sure of the chain's id number, the pitch will give you an indication of the size of tool required. The table below gives a general indication of the size of file you volition need.

Chain Pitch

File Size

File Size

mm

inches

ane/4"

4.0

v/32

0.325"

4.8

3/16"

3/8"

v.v

v/32 or 7/32

0.404"

five.5

7/32

You should ever bank check the manufacturer'southward recommendations for a particular chain every bit sometimes a different size tool to the specifications outlined above might be recommended.

How to acuminate a chainsaw with a file

Here are some tips almost how to properly sharpen your chain.

1. Always wear gloves to comport out this job.

2. Make certain the brake is engaged to stop the chain moving.

3. Gently clamp the guide bar in a vice.

4. Place the file guide (holder) betwixt the rivets on the chain ensuring that the arrows on the guide are pointing towards the front of the chain. Unlike that being used in the video, yous volition notice that some guides are similar the picture below.

5. Use steady even strokes to file the cutter equally demonstrated in the video below.

half dozen. Subsequently sharpening a couple of cutters release the brake and move the chain along. Then reset the brake and sharpen some more cutters.

7. After all the cutters on 1 side of the saw have been sharpened, plow the saw around so the cutters on the other side of the chain can be sharpened.

8. After the cutters have been sharpened move on the depth gauges. These are the shark fin shaped pieces of metal. Utilise the depth estimate tool and file to adjust the pinnacle of the gauges on the chain. Basically if these gauges come above the cutters, file them flush with a flat file. If these gauges are too high the saw won't cut.

I hope you found this article useful. If you need to get hold of a file kit, some pop products are listed below.

4.0, four.viii, five.v mm

(five/32, 3/16, vii/32 Inch)

4.0, 4.8, 5.v mm

(five/32, 3/xvi, vii/32 Inch)

4.8mm (three/xvi Inch)

4.5mm (11/64 Inch)

But one more thing............

Y'all'd call back that someone somewhere could come up with a self sharpening chainsaw. Well the good news is that they accept. Check out our review of the Oregon CS1500 cocky-sharpening chainsaw.

You lot'll never have to worry about filing your cutting equipment always again!