A chainsaw, which was initially designed for childbirth, later became an essential instrument used by the timber industry to make woodcutting faster and easier. However, when you notice that your saw can’t cut as quickly as before, this may be because the blades are dull and need sharpening. A dull or rough chainsaw can make work tiring and time-consuming. Sharpening a chainsaw blade (whether it is electric or gas powered) may seem daunting to beginners, but it’s not as difficult as it seems.
If you know how a chainsaw works and cuts, then you would probably know how to sharpen it and can make an old, ragged chain cut smoothly. You can sharpen the chainsaw with a file, electric sharpener, or hand. All methods work well if you know how to do them. Let’s go through them one-by-one.
First Method: Sharpening Chainsaw with a Hand File Guide
Things you need: A file handle, and a guide to sharpening a chainsaw.
Set the chainsaw on a vice or clamp fitted on a log or your work table. A chainsaw has two types of teeth in opposite directions. Start sharpening the chainsaw with one-direction teeth, for starting the sharpening of the chainsaw with the advanced tool file guide. Hold the file guide 90 degrees to the flat side of the bar. The teeth are filed from inside to outside at a 30-degree angle.
You will hit every other tooth in this direction. After sharpening a couple of teeth, rotate the chain forward. Continue sharpening the teeth and turning the chain until you reach the beginning point. After filing the one side, it’s time to switch to the other. Now, file the opposite side teeth with the inside-out direction with the file guide.
The file only cuts in one direction, the push stroke. Do not apply pressure on the push stroke. In the last, sharpen the depth gauge. The depth gauge determines the depth of the cut that the chainsaw makes on cutting different types of wood.
Set the depth gauge tool on the chain, revealing one of the depth gauges. If the depth gauge shows above the tool, it must be flattened with the provided flat file. Depth gauges should also be filed from the inside-out direction. File all the depth gauges by turning around the chainsaw.
Second Method: Sharpen up your Chainsaw with Electric Sharpener
Things you need: You need just an electric sharpener for this method.
An electric sharpener also works quickly and easily to sharpen a chainsaw blade. First, mount the sharpener on a surface to perform smoothly. Hold the chain in the electric sharpener’s chain holder for sharpening. You need to sharpen one direction of teeth and start the process by marking your beginning point.
Let’s talk about how the electric sharpener works. The grinding wheel above spins around and gives the shape we want to the teeth by sharpening. It chops down and grinds the edge of the tooth with a 30-degree position. So, set the chain holder at a 30-degree to point the upper teeth in this direction.
You can adjust the chain according to the grinding wheel with the chain adjustment nob. When you have set the chain in the chain holder, mark the tooth where you start sharpening a chainsaw. Pull down the grinding wheel and place it on the blade’s edge that needs to be sharpened. Now, one by one, sharpen the blades.
After sharpening the teeth in one direction, loosen the tightening nob and set the opposite direction at 30 degrees. Now, sharpen the teeth one by one in this direction. It will take almost 2-3 minutes, and you will be all done.
Last But the Most Accurate One: Chainsaw Chain Grinder
If you’re working with a very dull chainsaw or simply need a faster, more accurate sharpening technique, grinding is a good bet, particularly for professionals or heavy users.
First, though, what you want to do is disconnect the grinder and ensure you’re properly equipped—goggles and gloves, please. This is also an opportunity to take off the chainsaw chain if you’re grinding on a bench grinder. Always mark or label the first tooth that you’ll be sharpening. This will keep you aware so you do not unintentionally go through the same teeth twice.
The majority of chains call for a sharpening angle of 25° to 35°, but look for your chain’s specifications. Tilt your grinder accordingly, or if you’re sharpening with a Dremel, hold your hand steady at the right angle. Turn on the grinder and press the tooth against the grinding wheel for a few seconds. Don’t grind too much—grinding too much can wear out the teeth. Do this for every other tooth on one side.
When one side is complete, turn the chain (or change your grinder angle) and sharpen the teeth on the other side. Once sharpened, it’s a good idea to inspect the depth gauges (the little lumps in front of every tooth). If they’re too high, take a deep breath and file them down slightly so the cutting action will be right.
Pro Tip: Grinders work fast, so take it slow and steady. A couple of seconds per tooth is usually enough. If you’re new to this method, practice using an old chain before working on your main one.
Precautionary Steps to take Before Sharpening Chainsaw
Before starting the chainsaw sharpening, do these things for your convenience and safety:
- Before starting working on your chainsaw, make sure the power is off. Remove the battery or disconnect the power if it’s an electrical saw.
- Now, figure out which file size is suitable for your chainsaw. Files come in three sizes. To check out file size, check out the instruction manual.
- To prevent injury, wear heavy-duty gloves on your hands before sharpening the chainsaw.
- When you are sharpening the chain, it won’t be so loose. So, tighten it before sharpening.
- The next step is to secure the saw bar in vice.
- Clean the saw and remove dust before sharpening with a wire brush.
- Now, before starting, mark your starting point with a marker or crayon. This will prevent the blades from over sharpening.
How to Know if your Chainsaw is Dull?
When it comes to chainsaws, regular sharpening is essential for top performance. Keep an eye out for these signs that indicate the need for sharpening:
- When your saw produces dust while cutting.
- When you see smoke coming out on cutting anything instead of chain te nsioning and lubrication; in such cases, it’s also worth checking if you’re using a suitable chainsaw bar oil or not.
- It bounces and chatters while cutting, making it too hard to hold and maintain the chainsaw position.
- When a chainsaw cut becomes crooked instead of straight, the chainsaw is pulled in one direction because the teeth on one side are uneven or ragged.
Conclusion
A chainsaw is a useful tool for homeowners, but it may need to be sharpened if it is not operating effectively. In this guide, we have provided you with the best and most convenient ways to sharpen a chainsaw. Now it is up to you which method you like and which suits you best.
FAQs
Usually, it will take 4-5 strokes to sharpen the blade of the chainsaw. But if your chainsaw is too old and ragged, it will take 12-13 strokes to sharpen.
The chainsaw gets dull quickly if it comes into contact with rocks, sand, dirt, and nails while cutting. So, if you want to keep your chainsaw for a long time, try avoiding all these things in contact with the blade while cutting.
The best way is to Sharpen the chainsaw chain with a round file and guide matched with the angle of the cutters to ensure that all teeth are even. Consider a chainsaw sharpener for faster and more accurate work.
Yes, chainsaw blade sharpening is worth the effort. It prolongs the blades’ life and increases cutting efficiency. Simultaneously, it saves money because more frequent chain changes are costlier. Besides, regular sharpening means smoother and safer work.
