sharpening a chain

[Tape]

After sharpening a chain or installing a new one how long will it last until you need to resharpen the chain again. I do not know how to judge it, by cuts or hours?? I believe I can get about 30-40 cuts out of a tree aprox 12-18" in diameter. Does this sound about right?

 

[blades]

When it starts tossing dust instead of chips it is dull. Having to lean on saw to get to cut -chain also dull. There is no set time/ # of cuts. Up in sand country here in WI you might get a dozen cuts or less due to sand being imbedded in bark of trees from the wind. Some wood species are more abrasive than others as well. Obviously you will not get as far in hard woods vs soft woods.

 

[Tape]

thank you blades good points you bring up

 

[CR888]

Very subjective question, too many variables to give an exact answer. A better way of knowing when it needs sharpening is to use your eyes & look at the cutters. A dull cutter will reflect light off its sharp edges, a sharp cutter won't. A seasoned sawyer will know by 'feel' when his chain needs touching up. You can destroy a cutters edge in 1 cut or successfully make 100. Eyes, ears & hands will tell you what's up.

 

[lknchoppers]

I can usually get through a cord of wood if the bark is clean and I stay out of the dirt.

 

[ironman_gq]

Only way to know when it's dull is by paying attention to what it's doing, in clean wood I can cut for a good part of the day without having to sharpen, in dirty wood I might get 20-30 cuts. The type of chain also makes a difference, round or semi-chisel will stay sharp significantly longer in adverse conditions than a chisel chain will but it cuts a little slower. When you notice that you have to push harder or the chips start to turn into dust then it's time to sharpen.

 

[no tree to big]

If you are real lucky you might get to sharpen 3 or 4 times for 1 cut(metal or rock) or (have not counted how many cuts it takes to remove a tree) I can go 10 or 15 big ass trees before really needing a touch up.

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[sb47]

Don't forget the rakers. They will need filling every so often.

 

[Eagle90301]

Go by sight. When I see dust I touch up/ sharpen OR change my chain. I keep 4 chains with me for whatever size bar I plan on using the most and 1spare fir each of the other size bars I bring out. ( I got a great deal on bars and chains a few years ago). I have gotten 1o, 20 or more cuts out of 1 chain or as few as 5. Depends on what you are cutting. I picked up a really cool and nice to use sharpener ( well for me it is) made by stihl. I love this thing and it makes it so easy to clean up blades. Don’t know what everyone else’s opinions are.

 

[Kel71]

Those Stihl sharpeners are nice. The Rural King by me has them for a good price.

 

[nk14zp]

And it's faster to stop and sharpen/swap a dull chain as soon as you notice it. Sawing with a dull chain is hard on you,the saw everything.

 

[ericm979]

If you run the bar into the dirt the chain will get dull in only a few cuts.

The longest I go is two tanks of fuel. It's better to sharpen the chain often than to wait until it's really dull. 90% of the time I hand file, the rest gets the grinder.

 

[blades]

hit dirt instant dull-

 

[Eagle90301]

Those Stihl sharpeners are nice. The Rural King by me has them for a good price.

one of the guys i work with at the fire department brought in his stihl sharpener i saw how easy it was I went the next day to the store and picked one up. I think i paid around $20 for it .have not looked back yet. Had the repair guy at another shop talking me into a bench mount grinder until i told him how easy this thing is he looked at me and said if you like the sharpener stick with it

 

[Skeans]

one of the guys i work with at the fire department brought in his stihl sharpener i saw how easy it was I went the next day to the store and picked one up. I think i paid around $20 for it .have not looked back yet. Had the repair guy at another shop talking me into a bench mount grinder until i told him how easy this thing is he looked at me and said if you like the sharpener stick with it

I realize this is the home owners side but let me throw this out doing production falling you want something repeatable results you can only get with grinders.


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[Eagle90301]

I realize this is the home owners side but let me throw this out doing production falling you want something repeatable results you can only get with grinders.

I truly appreciate the input. I usually "touch up" my blades a few times then toss them. i picked up a TON of chains for my saw a few years ago for around $3 each. have 14' 16' 18' and a few 20" also got bars at the same time for around 5-$7. i have looked into a grinder a few times but keep talking myself out of it.

 

[Skeans]

I truly appreciate the input. I usually "touch up" my blades a few times then toss them. i picked up a TON of chains for my saw a few years ago for around $3 each. have 14' 16' 18' and a few 20" also got bars at the same time for around 5-$7. i have looked into a grinder a few times but keep talking myself out of it.

My short bars are 32’s running square chains normally grind daily when hand falling in a six hour day I’ll have 3 or 4 chains.
This is the first tree of the day a little grabby which is pretty normal.



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[flyinfinn]

I usually sharpen my chain when I fill my gas. It's much easier to keep a chain sharp then bring it back from being really dull. Sharpen more often then you think, and after a while, you'll know when is the best time to do it.

 

[grizz55chev]

I truly appreciate the input. I usually "touch up" my blades a few times then toss them. i picked up a TON of chains for my saw a few years ago for around $3 each. have 14' 16' 18' and a few 20" also got bars at the same time for around 5-$7. i have looked into a grinder a few times but keep talking myself out of it.

What’s a “ blade”?