[AT] Chain saw sharpening

[Henry Miller]

I've never understood why anyone would pay to have their saw sharpened.   Your 
saw will work much better if you sharpen after every tank of fuel, and your 
body needs that much rest anyway.  Sharpening is east and only takes a short 
time.  (I make one excetion to why pay someone: my uncle hit a hidden iron rod 
once, and had a professional fix the damage).

Sharpening without any jigs or guides is easy, so long as you keep the saw 
sharp.   Everytime you fill the tank you sharpen the blade.  You can feel the 
correct angle by just duplicating the angles that are already there, then 
lightly push the file across the teeth at that angle.  The only other trick is 
there are two sides.   Sharpen all the teeth on one side at that angle, then 
turn the saw around and sharpen the other side - it will be the same angle, 
but the opposite direction.

Buy a few files of the right size for your chain, go slow and you are set.   
After a file has been used to sharpen about 6 times throw it away, they go 
dull, and are too cheap to think about using every last bit.  Don't forget 
that you need to buy a handle separatly (they are cheap)

The gizmos might be useful for when you have let a saw go so long that a touch 
up won't work, but you shouldn't do that. By the time you can get them setup I 
will be done sharpening.  Or if I wait until you are setup I will finish only 
seconds after you do - and then you need to pull that system off the saw... 
(when you hit a rod like my uncle did: that is a twice in a lifetime event so 
paying a professional to fix it is a better deal)

On Saturday 31 March 2012 20:49:45 Dick Day wrote:
> Greetings.
> 
> I can get the chain sharpened locally for $18.  I've seen manual file sets
> that mount on the bar and allow you to sharpen the chain. I've also seen
> electric, both 12-volt and 110.   The reviews I've read about the electric
> ones are quick to point out that the cheap ones don't last. I cannot
> justify $150 and up for a decent one, so I figured I would try my hand at
> manual sharpening.
> 
> I have an 18" electric Worx chain saw and love it.  The specifics of the
> chain are gauge=.05  length=18"  links=63  pitch=3/8"
> 
> Can anyone suggest what I should get to sharpen the chain?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Dick Day
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