Chain Sharpening

[karri0n]

I like the dremel sharpener as well. I mostly hand file, and pull out the Dremel for good dings. Easy to overheat- watch out with any power grinder.

Good point. I did fail to mention that with the dremel sharpener, it's a quick tought on the chain and that seems like all it needs. probably less than half a second, and if it's not done, multiple quick touches.

I will admit that I do not wear gloves when sharpening the chain as I feel the tips with my finger to determine the sharpness.

 

[smokinj]

I like the dremel sharpener as well. I mostly hand file, and pull out the Dremel for good dings. Easy to overheat- watch out with any power grinder.

using the right grinder and wheel or using dressing on the stone wheels really helps a lot and very cheep

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=46440&catID=9805

 

[DanCorcoran]

I received a Harbor Freight flyer in the mail today advertising a sale starting today and running through March 25. Their $49.99 chain sharpener is on sale for $29.99 with a coupon (which are available as you walk in the store). Also on sale is their $59.99 laser IR thermometer for $25.99. I have both and don't have any problems with them, but you can pay more and (sometimes yes, sometimes no) get more.

 

[LLigetfa]

...using dressing on the stone wheels really helps a lot...

When I used to sharpen hockey and figure skates, what we called dressing the stone was to profile it with a diamond dresser. To help keep the grinding cool and to put a finer polish on the steel, we applied something called a Gleam Stick to the blade and stone.

 

[smokinj]

...using dressing on the stone wheels really helps a lot...

When I used to sharpen hockey and figure skates, what we called dressing the stone was to profile it with a diamond dresser. To help keep the grinding cool and to put a finer polish on the steel, we applied something called a Gleam Stick to the blade and stone.

same concept you get a cooler grind if you will. Skates I am sure would also been for the shine as well.

 

[hareball]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

 

[smokinj]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

holly crap thats small. I bet its going to be hard!

 

[jp savage]

I was paying $6 per chain, for a short period. After doing the math I went to Tractor Supply and bought a electric bench chain sharpener for $130. I am very happy with it. I have already sharpened enough chains for myself and friends that it has paid for it self. I also picked up a raker guid and hit them every other sharpening. Doing this also alows me to play with the tooth angles and so on. Might be worth looking into, if you cut alot of wood.

 

[hareball]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

holly crap thats small. I bet its going to be hard!

I'm the only guy on the boat with my own fighting harness too haha
I might have to have them made. I was never into safety but being a 30 year diabetic with a ding in my shin and a scuff on top of my foot I think it's definitely the right move now.

 

[DiscoInferno]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

I'm 5'4" with a slightly larger waist . I got the regular (32") size of these:
(broken link removed to http://www.labonville.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=405&idcategory=0)
Fits me fine, if anything maybe a tad short so you might want the "long" depending on how much instep protection you want. The waist is fully adjustable.

 

[70marlin]

Hand file, every tank of fuel!

 

[Tony H]

I have great luck with a chainsaw sharpening stone for a dremel tool. The technique is nearly the same as hand filing; match the angle of the top plate and insert the tool at that angle, keeping it parallel with the table or perpendicular to the bar. The only difference is, instead of 3-5 strokes per tooth, and needing to apply the pressure at the right angle, it's less than a second for each tooth an the angle seems perfect every time. The bit alone is basically the cost of a file, and it comes with two. The bit and the guide is on par with a file and a guide. I had never sharpened a chain before, got this tool, and it came out perfect on the first try. I give it the karri0n reccomendation.

If you don't already own a dremel, it's less cost effective, but my dremel tool is one of the best 35 bux I've ever spent. it has saved my @$$ on many projects.

Just picked up the dremel kit looks pretty nice and should even work in the field because I have a cordless (and corded) dremel.

 

[zzr7ky]

Hi -

I also have Dremel set-ups. I found that a stroke or two after each tank keeps the saws ready to go all the time. I a 'situation' due to weather, timing crunch etc. I can push them further. The Dremel is pretty much used to repair badly worn or damaged chains. On a good month the Dremel gathers dust. It's nice to have both.

Don't forget to check and dress down the rakers. I hit mine about every 5-6 tanks.

All the best,
Mike

 

[hareball]

What exactly are the rakers?

 

[smokinj]

What exactly are the rakers?

they are the the thing that sticks up in the air between the cutters and they clear the way for the cutter to do there job!

the raker is to the right of the cutter

 

[zzr7ky]

The bump-like things sticking up from the chain that are before and after each shart 'cutter' tooth. They serve to limit the depth of the bite that the cutter can take so the saw doesn't bog down, and also 'rake' chips from the kerf. If you keep sharpening the cutters and don't take some of the rakers the chips will be thiner & thinner, production will drop.

 

[hareball]

Ahhh thanks guys! So do you run the file just across the top of them?

Jay, is that a full chisel chain? I keep seeing them on some big saws.

 

[smokinj]

Ahhh thanks guys! So do you run the file just across the top of them?

Jay, is that a full chisel chain? I keep seeing them on some big saws.

yep round ground and hand file rakers.When I do rakers I like to round them with a swoop to the left.(if your looking at the pic)

 

[ChillyGator]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

Going down to the saw shop today to pick up the Extender for the chaps I bought.....40" was too small :red:

 

[smokinj]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

Going down to the saw shop today to pick up the Extender for the chaps I bought.....40" was too small :red:

wow you should be playing basketball not chainsaw! lol

 

[hareball]

The company I'm dealing with found me a pair that goes from 30-36 waist.
On the way will be:
chaps
chainsaw gloves
splitting and stacking gloves
2 chains
file and guide
1 gallon bar and chain oil

 

[ChillyGator]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

Going down to the saw shop today to pick up the Extender for the chaps I bought.....40" was too small :red:

wow you should be playing basketball not chainsaw! lol

I do like to bang with em under the boards BUT my 2" vertical leaping ability is keeping me out of the NBA :lol:

btw: just picked up the chaps, extenter and safety helment w/ faceshield and earmuffs

 

[smokinj]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

Going down to the saw shop today to pick up the Extender for the chaps I bought.....40" was too small :red:

wow you should be playing basketball not chainsaw! lol

I do like to bang with em under the boards BUT my 2" vertical leaping ability is keeping me out of the NBA :lol:

btw: just picked up the chaps, extenter and safety helment w/ faceshield and earmuffs

your set, and your 2'' vertical is about double what mine was dont want to check where Iam at now.

 

[Redskins82]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

Funny, I used to have trouble finding a heavy duty carpenter's belt that was small enough to fit me. I'd go to the store and tighten them all the way and do a little hula dance and they'd be laying on the floor. I've put on enough weight over the past five years so that's no problem anymore. It looks like in this day and age there's not enough skinny people to warrant making many items small enough.

Oh yeah, you can save a lot of money buying boys instead of mens clothing. I wore a lot of boys clothing until my late 30s. I miss being so lean and mean.

 

[hareball]

I was happy with the chain and made it 2.5 tank fulls before she started throwing dust. I was gonna make an order next week but my scrounger is back in action and dropped off 2 truckloads of red oak today so I called today and ordered 2 more chains and a file and guide kit. Also ordered Husky chainsaw gloves and bar oil.

I'm having a hell of a hard time finding chaps. I can't be the only guy at 5'6" with a 30" waist!?!?
The guy said he will make some calls and get back to me though so my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for all the help fellas

Funny, I used to have trouble finding a heavy duty carpenter's belt that was small enough to fit me. I'd go to the store and tighten them all the way and do a little hula dance and they'd be laying on the floor. I've put on enough weight over the past five years so that's no problem anymore. It looks like in this day and age there's not enough skinny people to warrant making many items small enough.

Oh yeah, you can save a lot of money buying boys instead of mens clothing. I wore a lot of boys clothing until my late 30s. I miss being so lean and mean.

Yeah that seems to be very true. I never really noticed because my clothing never changes since it's always levi jeans and t-shirts. My fishing gear was not too hard since there was plenty of medium sized bibs on the shelves and alot less of the larger sizes since those are sold more.
I was a Mason by trade and could lay 8" block all day long but when it came to 12" block I would build corners and leave my crew to fill in the walls while I ran off to set up flat work or run the kubota to dig some footings lol