who sharpens by hand? who uses a sharpener?

[nate379]

I'd hate to be out cutting wood and end a day short because of a broken chain.

 

[kennyl70]

back when i was taught i didnt even know they made a guide for hand filing lol. i have used one .....once..... and i felt like it was in the way more than helping so i gave it back to the guy who let me use it and said thanks...... that thing works great......

 

[kennyl70]

I'd hate to be out cutting wood and end a day short because of a broken chain.

Same here. i keep one extra chain around...... for then dangit moments

 

[Leroy_B]

I sharpen by hand when out in the field. Make my chalk mark on the first tooth and watch for the shine. When I'm in my shop I'll sharpen them all on the grinder. The wood chips bury my boots cutting a 2' diameter red oak in no time.

 

[WellSeasoned]

I'm fairly new at hand sharpening with a file. I still use a guide, but am extremely happy with the results.

 

[NH_Wood]

I sharpen by hand - got sick of the poor job done by my local shop - never seemed very sharp and they never touched the rakers. Cheers!

 

[Dairyman]

I hand sharpen, don't think the local shops know what rakers are.

 

[tlc1976]

I sharpen with a hand file and have gotten really quick at it. I just keep a glove on one hand to hold and advance the chain, keep the other hand free for filing and for checking the sharpness with a light touch. I can sharpen out in the woods or wherever if needed. My dad uses a grinder and it takes him way longer and mine still cuts better.

 

[smokinj]

I do both. With monster logs and you need a stright line through 55 inchs of oak grab the fresh ground chain!

 

[onetracker]

hand file everything.

for knives, plane blades etc i use a diamond stone to keep my waterstones flat. sometimes i'll use a jig or guide depending on the purpose.

 

[John_M]

Have always (46+ yrs.) sharpened chainsaw chain by hand with very satisfactory results. My current inventory is one saw, two chains, and two files. Take good care of your saw and chain and they will not disappoint.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'd hate to be out cutting wood and end a day short because of a broken chain.

In 50+ years, I have yet to experience that.

 

[nate379]

In 50+ years, I have yet to experience that.

I've broken 3 chains in the last 2 years. Came apart at a rivet or a link broke.

 

[osagebow]

Finally getting the hang of handfiling, wasted a lot of metal previously. Use a flat guide, didn't like the husky contraption at all. Starting to do freehand if i'm focused and 100%. Also starting to realize that touching up frequently is the way to go, instead of waiting to long to re-sharpen.

 

[MasterMech]

I've broken 3 chains in the last 2 years. Came apart at a rivet or a link broke.

That's a whole lotta flying chain. Once they get noticable play in the rivets, I toss 'em.

 

[midwestcoast]

I've always hand filed. Watched & copied my dad. Thought I was doing well, but have since learned that I'm not great at it & my dad was worse! Flat guides didn't help. I've now used the Husky roller guide thingy for a few years. Not sure if my chains are better, but I'm faster anyway.
After a half dozen or so sharpenings I think my angles get off. They cut well to start, but dull quicker. So I just bought a cheapo HF grinder to use every once in a while when I need it. Everyone I've asked says local shops would charge $12 or $13 to grind the crap outta my chains.

I've broken 3 chains in the last 2 years. Came apart at a rivet or a link broke.

That's a whole lotta flying chain. Once they get noticable play in the rivets, I toss 'em.

Unless you're hitting junk I'd be buying my chains somewhere else. Are these pre-packeged loops or are they looped at a saw shop? Makes me squirm just thinking about that loose end of chain flying off.

 

[gzecc]

Kenny, I learned how to file many, many moons ago and would hate to know the count on how many times I've sharpened a chain. I learned how to sharpen without any thing except the file; no guides. Then I also remember learning to sharpen those big circular saws in the mill (which I never liked to do). But time and injuries sometimes take a huge toll on the body. My hands just do not like sharpening with a file and a couple years ago I finally got one of the little dremel type sharpeners. I wondered for sure at first how good I could get the chain and of course worry about the temper. So far I have not ruined any chains and sharpening is quick and much easier on my hands. I know some put these things down but there is a time and a place. They do the job well. Yes, a good filing by hand by someone who is good will do a tad better but not much. So I happily carry my sharpener to the woods every time I go. In fact just today I had to drop a couple small trees but first had to sharpen the chain. No problem. They do have their place.

EDIT: I own one chain saw and one chain. That is all I need now and can not see any need to tie up more dollars having several chains. If one wears out, then I buy another.

Savage, I am also using the dremel. While sharpening do you angle the dremel slightly (up or down) or do your best to keep it square to the chain?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Savage, I am also using the dremel. While sharpening do you angle the dremel slightly (up or down) or do your best to keep it square to the chain?

Keep it horizontal and you'll do fine. Just don't hold that thing on the tooth very long either.

 

[peakbagger]

I use the Husky filing gauge, when I hand filed, I eventually would end up with uneven angles. I still havent figured out how to use the depth gauge part of the Husky rig and neither can the shop I bought it from.

 

[WellSeasoned]

Haven't tried the husq, but the stihl one is easy. If I bought a stilh brand for the husq chain, is this ok our different pitch?

 

[jlightning]

I like using both the file and the electric sharpener. The file for maintenance sharpening ever 2-3 tanks and the electric sharpener for when I rock the chain. Seems to work pretty well for me.

 

['bert]

I have both the grinder and the files. Use the file on my 3/8 chain and the grinder on the smaller ones. Both produce good results and I am just to lazy to change the stone on the grinder for one larger saw chain.

 

[mikey517]

I hand sharpen using the Stihl file guide. I get better all the time.

 

[Nixon]

I don't own a grinder , but I would like to some day . (Silvey ) but, I do use a Timberline a lot . Having said that, I also use a Husky roller guide ,a Stihl file guide guide , Pferd file guide occasionally , and even free hand just to stay in practice .

 

[nate379]

Bound to hit junk in the wood. When I'm cutting, I cut. I don't spend hours marking off lengths, cleaning the wood, x rating, MRI, pap smears etc etc!

3 chains in 3 years isn't bad. Roughly around 50 cords of wood cut.