chainsaw sharpening

[KFhunter]

I've never been good with a hand file, what you all use for sharpening in the field?   I see some neat doodads but don't want to waste my money.  I have some experience logging, was a landing rat and hook tender on a high lead but my sharpening skills with hand files were abysmal and still are.

Thanks!


Oh I just picked up a new 372 XP with 28" bar for some homeowner loggin and mill work

[rtspring]

Sharpening a saw is pretty straight forward.  The key is to not run it down to dull. I touch mine up when I feel it start to work harder.  Couple strokes on each tooth and shes ready to rock.

[Woodchuck]

I've never been good with a hand file, what you all use for sharpening in the field?   I see some neat doodads but don't want to waste my money.  I have some experience logging, was a landing rat and hook tender on a high lead but my sharpening skills with hand files were abysmal and still are.

Thanks!


Oh I just picked up a new 372 XP with 28" bar for some homeowner loggin and mill work

I have a 272xp, I bought from a member here with a 36in bar on it and it is a wood eating mule. You will love that 372. 

[Happy Gilmore]

use the regular file. Look for a line on the teeth and try to keep your file on the same angle. My rule of thumb is I quickly sharpen the chain between every tank of gas. just enough to remove any burs or dings and brighten up the tooth. Also, run a skip tooth so you can sharpen it faster. The safety chains are a bitch to sharpen. Use a flat file to flatten the rakers about every three or four tanks.

[KFhunter]

last time I tried to hand file saws I was getting yelled at by the foreman.  I dunno if I push too hard or don't keep consistent stroke angles or what the deal is, when I'm done I cut circles.

but then there weren't any laser lines on the teeth to follow either

[andersonjk4]

Tagging

[Naches Sportsman]

Try using a fIle guide. Takes lots of practice to get the angles right without using a guide. I'm one of those firm believers in file guides and still use them on a regular basis.

Use both hands to guide the file while sharpening.

One way you can practice sharpening is by rocking the saw or putting the saw in the dirt dulls it real fast and sharpen er back up.

With rakers, use a raker guage.

[fish vacuum]

Don't get it super dull before you file it. I do a quick touch up about every tank. Just a couple strokes per cutter. And it doesn't take a lot of pressure.

[hollymaster]

Don't get it super full before you file it. I do a quick touch up about every tank. Just a couple strokes per cutter. And it doesn't take a lot of pressure.

Man that's a fancy one! I use this guy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004RA78/ref=asc_df_B00004RA785042303/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B00004RA78&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167151490548&hvpos=1o8&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8139344447109094144&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1027581&hvtargid=pla-309219448298

[luckyman]

If the file isn't new it's hard to get a good sharp chain. Buy a box and chuck the file when it stop cutting good. 2-3 sharpening is about all I want from a file.
 After that is a wast of time.

[CarbonHunter]

It takes to long to file in the field. Carry an extra chain and swap if you ground one otherwise a sharp chain will last all day. Once back at your shop, use a chain grinder. I bought my Oregon grinder online for $300. It will pay for itself real quick if you cutting chains for a 28" bar. If an Oregon is more than you want to spend Harbor Freight puts a crappy one on sale for around $30 that will do the job.

[TommyH]

It takes to long to file in the field. Carry an extra chain and swap if you ground one

Sure an extra chain is smart, but it only takes a few minutes to sharpen a chain with a hand file and less when your getting yelled at or the skidder is allready back lol.

[TommyH]

 Cut 3/4 way threw a round of wood, that way you can lay the bar in there while you sharpen. I sit on/straddle the powerhead. Equal amount of strokes per side.Level strokes aligned with the mark on the tooth. It's not difficult, but like anything you will get better with practice... Buy a new chain and run it without hitting the dirt, that way you know how it should cut... every time it isint cutting as well.. sharpen. Most of the time you can get a few tanks before needing to sharpen.

The 372xp is a great saw that is pretty light and good power. I want one.

[Bofire]

if you are "cutting in a circle" one side is sharper than the other, are you counting your file strokes and doing the same on both sides? Match the existing before its dull as hell. Otherwise change chains, leave 2-3 at the saw shop, when your are dull take the dull ones in get the sharp ones, two or three should run quite a while.
Carl

[huntingfool7]

Cutting in circles doesn't mean that one side is dull.  Put a caliper on the teeth and check them...you are filing one side more than the other.  That overly ground side is not doing any real work. 

This-
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y0S88Y8/ref=asc_df_B00Y0S88Y85042770/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00Y0S88Y8&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076851563&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12921248880502675032&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033489&hvtargid=pla-320836411855

+this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KL3OJ8/ref=asc_df_B005KL3OJ85042769/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B005KL3OJ8&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167125219398&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10021758507272068844&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033489&hvtargid=pla-311057806051