Chainsaw Sharpener? What is the best?

I haven’t really looked into whether it is better to get a new chain or get a sharpener and sharpen it? I have a Poulan WILD THING !!!! Any suggestions??

Find a good sharpener (person)… I have one of the little grinder type… save your money I have found buying the 2 packs at Mills Fleet for $29.99 a real bargain. That and training myself to cut 7/8 of the way through and rolling em over to finish

big G

Going price around Hudson is 5.00 to sharpen a blade. For me thats worth it.

If you get a hand file of the correct dia. you can do a reasonable job yourself. I sharpen mine with a file 3 or 4 times before I take it in and have it done at a shop. Clamp the bar in a bench vise so the chain still rotates. Line up the file with the existing tooth angle and push the file towards the outside of the tooth. Do all the teeth facing the one side, then turn the bar in the vice to do the other half. Same number (2 or 3) of strokes for each tooth.

They make a guide kit for a moto-tool that’s pretty effective. I just replaced the chain and bar after four years of doing my own with this nifty little rig.

I use the attachment that goes on the Dremel tool. In between I touch – up with the hand file, works fine for me, it’s not rocket science.

A hand file is all I’ve ever used. You can get a lot of life out of a chain. Keep the tip out of the dirt and you are set. Make sure the rakers are just a hair lower than the highest point of the cutting edge.

Just keep a back up or 2 with you and bring them into someone who can sharpen them when they’re dull. Keep the saw out of the dirt and it should stay sharp for more than a few outings.

edit: I don’t want to hijack the post, but since we’re on the topic, I figured I’d give a few chainsaw safety tips that should be considered.

1) Always wear chainsaw safety chaps! if you don’t own them, buy some!

2) if your saw comes with a chain break, use it. anytime I take a single step between cuts my chain break is engaged. with your finger on the trigger you are likely to tense up and squeeze if you stumble resulting in your saw running at 12000 flesh and bone cutting RPMs.

3) ALWAYS wear your chainsaw safety chaps!

4) never ever cut with the saw between your legs. If you look at the back handle of a chainsaw, its designed to be used off your right hip. the reason is, if you’re cutting between your legs and it kicks back, say bye bye to your nose IF you’re lucky. with the saw positioned to the side and it kicks back, you walk away without needing plastic surgery and your better half won’t mind being seen in public with you. (insert BK or Kooty jokes here)

5) Always wear your chainsaw safety chaps!

A hand file is all I’ve ever used also. Sthil has a file guide that just clamps on the file so you get the right angle. They also have a handy little blade vice that drives into any log or stump to hold the saw while you sharpen it. Big thing I have noticed is to watch your chips as you saw, when they start to get dusty, it’s time to touch up the blade…..easier to do more often and it’s easier on the saw and you. Fill the saw up with bar oil and gas at the same time. Let the saw do the work, you shouldn’t ever have to force the saw to cut.

While you are talking safety…don’t forget your eyes and ears. Get a forestry helmet…it will have a face shield to keep the chips and stray limbs and brush out of your face and earmuffs to save your hearing…above all…wear your safety glasses !

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While you are talking safety…don’t forget your eyes and ears. Get a forestry helmet…it will have a face shield to keep the chips and stray limbs and brush out of your face and earmuffs to save your hearing…above all…wear your safety glasses !

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the forestry helmet is definitely the way to go.

What about chainsaw safety chaps…do you think that it’s a good idea to wear those?

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What about chainsaw safety chaps…do you think that it’s a good idea to wear those?

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I don’t top out trees without them. Saved my legs once, and I’m a firm believer in them

As stated above, a rat tail file in the correct diameter is a must have. The idea is to touch up the blade before it is dull. While cutting, if you notice your getting saw dust instead of chips, it is time to sharpen. Don’t burn yoour blade. If it is turning black or dark blue, you got it too hot. To sharpen it, a lot of material will need to be filed off.

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What about chainsaw safety chaps…do you think that it’s a good idea to wear those?

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I’ve never cut into mine, but I had an employee who I had a heckuva time getting to wear chaps. I went out and bought him his own pair one morning on the way to the job site thinking if he had some to call his own he might feel more inclined to wear them.. I got to the job site and threw him the chaps and he put them on. About 15 minutes later he came to me with a sick look on his face. He tripped and ran a Stihl 066 into his left thigh. the saw went clear through the chaps and bound up before it tore into his jeans.
I brought those chaps back to the power shop and said here’s some good advertising for you. they’re still on display with a sign that say “66 bucks or 66 stitches, you decide”

so yeah. always wear your chainsaw safety chaps