Off-saw bar tensioner for sharpening

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riptide

riptide

New Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2022
Messages
3
Location
06378
Hey all,

Awhile back I came across a device that allowed one to sharpen chains using a CS bar without the powerhead. IIRC, it had a threaded T-handle, and probably a sprocket of some sort, that kept tension on the chain while the bar was clamped in a vise. But for the life of me, I cannot find it, and apparently I didn't bookmark it.

Anybody seen such a device?

Thanks in advance!
 
NSEric

NSEric

ArboristSite Guru
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
Jun 16, 2018
Messages
839
Location
Nova scotia
I have an old bar and a weight to hang off the chain so I can sharpen spare chains that are not on the saw.
Simply clamp a bar in the vice and hang a 5-10 pound weight with some type of of hook on it off the chain on the bottom side of the bar. It holds it tight enough for me.
All my good ideas are stolen I seen this set up on youtube.
 
riptide

riptide

New Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2022
Messages
3
Location
06378
I have an old bar and a weight to hang off the chain so I can sharpen spare chains that are not on the saw.
Simply clamp a bar in the vice and hang a 5-10 pound weight with some type of of hook on it off the chain on the bottom side of the bar. It holds it tight enough for me.
All my good ideas are stolen I seen this set up on youtube.
Makes sense to me. I’ll try that if I can’t find the gadget I’m searching for. Keep innovating though; youtubers need the inspiration!
 
nathan4104

nathan4104

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
170
Location
Up North!
I use a bungee cord to tension a chain on a bar clamped in the vice, for off the saw sharpning. I have a few screws in my bench leg to hook the bungee to....its that simple and works fine enough for me
 
ericm979

ericm979

ArboristSite Guru
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
940
Location
Santa Cruz Mountains, California
There are at least two chain vices out there. One is sold by Forester. If you have .050 I would not get it. The slot is too wide and the design does not clamp down hard enough to hold the chain in place.It might work on .063 chain but I did not try it.

The other is made by Mike Manley who used to post here and now can be found at the other place that we can not name. It is very well made and clamps the chain so that it does not move at all when filing. I have always used one hand to hold the bar and hold the chain down on the bar so it does not rock in the slot. With a functional vice I can file with two hands like you're supposed to.
 

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