Ozark,
To start, you will need some round files that match your chain and a flat raker file. You should also get a raker gauge for your particular chain. That's probably ten bucks worth of tools.
The key to chain sharpening is to do it frequently. Most pros sharpen after every tank of gas. You want to be touching up a sharp chain all day long, rather than attempting to sharpen a dull one once. That's too much work and the results won't be nearly as good.
Hand sharpening is the best way to sharpen a chain, but it takes a fair amount of practice to get consistently good results. But if your future includes cutting wood, the steep learning curve is well worth the effort.
Right off the bat, you want to maintain the proper cutter angle (30 or 35 degrees, depending on the chain) and the same on all the cutters. I think the best way to do that is to start with a new chain and then try to maintain the original angle every time you file it. When it gets out of whack (which it eventually will), then you can use a gauge or some other method of restoring the proper angle.
Try not to hit rocks or other major obstacles. As you probably know, it doesn't take much to throw a chain really far out of whack, and then it's a lot tougher to restore it.
It's not essential that you keep all the cutters the same length, but it is important to be sure that each individual raker (depth gauge) is filed to the proper height for the cutter it serves. That's what the aforementioned raker gauge is for. When you buy one from the dealer, have him show you how to use it. It ain't hard, but it's important to get it right.
The only other thing I would stress to get you started is that as you push the file through the cutter, you want a slight amount of upward pressure on the file so that the actual cutting edge is dressed up when you file. Don't push the file down; push it into the cutter body and slightly up. I've seen people push down as they file and what they wind up doing is removing a lot of steel from the foundation of the cutter, but not from the actual cutting edge. So they think they're sharpening the saw, but all they're really doing is making a bigger gullet, weakening the chain and ignoring the business end of the cutter.
That ought to get you started. Check back here when you have questions--there's some guys on this forum who really know what they're talking about when it comes to chain shapening, and I'm sure they can add some tips and suggestions that will keep you on the right track.
Here's an old thread with a tip for getting your angles consistent from side to side. The hardware will set you back another five bucks.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/1264/
That is why you buy quality tools
