Sharpening chainsaw chains

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Been doing alot of land clearing and cutting down walnut tree that fell onto our barn couple of weeks ago. Lot of hard cutting, sandy, dirty wood, lots of stump cutting in the dirt, etc.... just generally hard use on the saws.
As a result I've run through 4 chains on two different saws.
I'm able to get replacement Oregon Speedcut chains for around $12 a piece.

Is it worth sharpening those and future chains, or just run and toss?
If they are worth sharpening, does anyone know of a good place to have them sharpened around Sanford? I've looked at a couple of online sharpening services, but don't think I'd see a cost benefit until I get probably 4-6 more chains to make shipping and the cost worth it.

No, I'm not interested in sharpening them myself.
 
I think there is a small shop over near the gun locker that sharpens chains.

I have used a dremel and the grinding rods before for bringing back severely dull chains to useable condition.
 
The cost of a small round file and some
Elbow grease is gonna save you a ton of cash over the long haul. But to each his own.
 
Try your local chainsaw dealer or Ace Hardware store. Also Town & Country Hardware. Lots of places like that can sharpen them and usually at a reasonable price. I usually wait until I have four or five needing sharpening and then take them in.
 
Sharpening chain saws is one of the easiest tasks in the world of sharpening. I like to do it in the field, while the chain is on the saw.

But if you don't want to do it, $12 is not bad for a good, new chain.
 
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Spend the money and get you one of these. It’ll teach anyone to sharpen a saw. Stihl 2 in 1 file guide
 
Any shop that sells and services saws will have someone to sharpen them. I think I paid $7 or $8 bucks for mine.

No matter how I try I can't sharpen one that'll cut a straight line.

And yes I have the Stihl file above.
 
Oregon makes a PowerSharp chain and sharpener system. Never used one but it looks interesting.
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The elcheapo harbor freight sharpener is what I use. Once set up for a specific chain it's less than 2 minutes to sharpen both sides
 
You can sharpen a chain SEVERAL TIMES. It might be awkward at first........but once you get the hang of it, sharpening a chain is not a big deal. Just so there is no damage to the chain from hitting a rock or nail or such...... Maybe 10-15 minutes or so with a hand file for a 16-20 inch bar chain. There are several youtube videos to help you get started.
 
The key to sharpening a chain is to run the round file out of each tooth, not in.

In other words, work the file the opposite direction from what you would do with a knife.
 
New chains aren’t really that sharp, kinda like mass production knives.

Taught my brother to sharpen a chain just last week, how he got to be 50 without ever running a saw is beyond my comprehension.
 
View attachment 159153
Spend the money and get you one of these. It’ll teach anyone to sharpen a saw. Stihl 2 in 1 file guide


Best thing right here. Have a grinder on a bench, a hand file jig that mounts to bar and still prefer that little tool most of the time for a quick touch up of a chain. After several others tried mine they went out and bought one. You can get a one from the mfg who makes it for stihl thats a little cheaper on amazon usually comes up if you search the stihl one.
 
Bobby's Small Engine. He's right down the road from my shop....which is right down the road from Gun Locker.

Good guys at Bobby's.

I couldn't think of the name. Thanks.
 
Buy some diamond coated rotary bits of the correct diameter for your Dremel tool and learn how to freehand the cut. Fast, accurate and easy.
 
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Old school, file while on saw. Three minutes for an 18" chain. Stay out of the dirt, away from rocks. Never had more than two chains at a time.
my dad gave me a dull saw, a file and a large, dried, oak log to cut into firewood. Learned in an afternoon to sharpen and keep one sharp. Touch it up before it gets dull.
CF
 
I'll probably give the sharpener @Burt Thumber pointed out, if not I'll take them to Bobby's.... I had a complete blank on his shop even though he has repaired stuff for me in the past...
 
I'll probably give the sharpener @Burt Thumber pointed out, if not I'll take them to Bobby's.... I had a complete blank on his shop even though he has repaired stuff for me in the past...
Once you figure that file system out. It’s foolproof.
 
If you cannot use that file you probably shouldn’t be using the chain saw to start with.

The sharpener is more dangerous in my hands than the saw.... I assure you of that. You've never seen me try to sharpen a knife.
 
If you cannot use that file you probably shouldn’t be using the chain saw to start with.
I agree with this 100%. I taught my whole crew to use one that way they could fix their screw ups
 
The sharpener is more dangerous in my hands than the saw.... I assure you of that. You've never seen me try to sharpen a knife.
Go buy one, don’t you live in Siler? I’ll ride down and show you how. Or we can meet somewhere
 
Used to re clear right of ways for power company when I lived in the Ozarks. Crew boss made us sharpen 10 minutes for every hour of cutting. Just left it on the bar -it gets to be instinctive after some practice. Always carry a small flat file too in addition to round one in case side cutter teeth get damaged.
 
If your in Siler Belk building supply beside the old scooters cafe did carry the stihl sharpener pictured above. Also don’t forget to flip your bar periodically to keep it wearing even.
 
The sharpener is more dangerous in my hands than the saw.... I assure you of that. You've never seen me try to sharpen a knife.
Get a pair of Kevlar fish-cleaning gloves or heavy leather gloves when you sharpen sharp stuff if you have problems cutting yourself. If you are at home and have a vice, put the bar in the vice so you can advance the chain more easily and can control your file strokes with greater uniformity. File from the back of the tooth to the front of the tooth on both sides of the chain..
 
Best thing right here. Have a grinder on a bench, a hand file jig that mounts to bar and still prefer that little tool most of the time for a quick touch up of a chain. After several others tried mine they went out and bought one. You can get a one from the mfg who makes it for stihl thats a little cheaper on amazon usually comes up if you search the stihl one.
Is this it? Looks the same other than the color?

Pferd 17300 CS-X Chain Sharp Filing Guide - 5/32" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047A0RUC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rsmNDbEEGSVXK

401AE980-92DB-4EF3-AC83-6DCDB48E31DC.png
 
Get a pair of Kevlar fish-cleaning gloves or heavy leather gloves when you sharpen sharp stuff if you have problems cutting yourself. If you are at home and have a vice, put the bar in the vice so you can advance the chain more easily and can control your file strokes with greater uniformity. File from the back of the tooth to the front of the tooth on both sides of the chain..

LOL...you think I may hurt myself sharpening the chain.... I'm more a danger to the chain or whatever I'm trying to sharpen.
 
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