I successfully sharpened my first chain tonight, and my chainsaw is back cutting chips instead of creating sawdust. To help other novices I’ve written up my thoughts and experience. My choice of sharpening tools is based on the chains I need to sharpen:
Oregon file guide and file (this is the solution I will be using). This only sharpens the cutters, but is as easy to use as the PFERD. It is too wide and covers the cutter angle witness marks, but the top plate angles are marked directly on the file guide to aid visual alignment. I quickly got used to using this, and it does not take long to use. The depth gauges need to be separately checked and filed using the Oregon .025” depth gauge and flat file. Again very easy and quick to use. The part numbers are for the cutter guide are: 7/32” kit p/n 25892 or 7/32” guide only p/n 13253, 5/32” kit p/n 25894 or 5/32” guide only p/n 37422. The part numbers for the .025” depth gauge are: kit p/n 27742 or gauge only p/n 31941. This solution is also easy to use in the field for mid-day sharpening.
Husky 3/8” FileKit. This uses the combination roller guide. Having to move the guide for every cutter made it less convenient then the Oregon file guide. Also it sets a down angle so would not work for the 90SG. Otherwise it would seem straight forward to use but for me not as easy as the PFERD or Oregon hand held file guide.
Oregon Sure Sharp. A somewhat complex mechanical clamp the allows manual precision filing of the cutters and depth gauges. It seemed very difficult to setup initially, and I was not sure what it would be like to setup on subsequent sharpenings. Overall seemed too complex for me (or my skill level?). The Oregon hand held file guide was more straight forward, and also easier to use in the field.
Based on recommendation elsewhere in these forums I did not look at any powered solutions.
- Oregon 72V (3/8” pitch, .050” gauge) 16” long (60 drive link) for a Dolmar 5100.
Sharpens with 7/32” file at 25 degree top plate angle, 10 degree down angle, and .025” depth gauge setting. - Oregon 90SG Micro-Lite (3/8” pitch, .043” gauge) 8” long (34 drive link) for a Roybi pole saw attachment.
Sharpens with a 5/32” (or 4.5mm) file at 30 degree top plate angle, 0 degree down angle, and .025” depth gauge setting.
Oregon file guide and file (this is the solution I will be using). This only sharpens the cutters, but is as easy to use as the PFERD. It is too wide and covers the cutter angle witness marks, but the top plate angles are marked directly on the file guide to aid visual alignment. I quickly got used to using this, and it does not take long to use. The depth gauges need to be separately checked and filed using the Oregon .025” depth gauge and flat file. Again very easy and quick to use. The part numbers are for the cutter guide are: 7/32” kit p/n 25892 or 7/32” guide only p/n 13253, 5/32” kit p/n 25894 or 5/32” guide only p/n 37422. The part numbers for the .025” depth gauge are: kit p/n 27742 or gauge only p/n 31941. This solution is also easy to use in the field for mid-day sharpening.
Husky 3/8” FileKit. This uses the combination roller guide. Having to move the guide for every cutter made it less convenient then the Oregon file guide. Also it sets a down angle so would not work for the 90SG. Otherwise it would seem straight forward to use but for me not as easy as the PFERD or Oregon hand held file guide.
Oregon Sure Sharp. A somewhat complex mechanical clamp the allows manual precision filing of the cutters and depth gauges. It seemed very difficult to setup initially, and I was not sure what it would be like to setup on subsequent sharpenings. Overall seemed too complex for me (or my skill level?). The Oregon hand held file guide was more straight forward, and also easier to use in the field.
Based on recommendation elsewhere in these forums I did not look at any powered solutions.