Making Money Sharpening Chainsaw Chains?

[zogger]

Start by hand, do your own first, get used to it, then think about it some more.. I can freehand file with individual round and flat files (cheapest), or I now prefer using the pferd (husky rebranded) sharpforce (round files the same price, flat ones are spendy, but it is much faster to use the tool)

Bailey's - Husqvarna Sharp Force 5/32" File Guide


practice practice practice, then practice some more, and keep your peepers peeled for a used grinder cheap, go from there. Rental places and shops and perhaps word of mouth, get your hands on free chains, practice on those as well. learn to ID common chains by the numbers on them. Also learn when to go "that chain is too dang whipped to bother with".

handy links from the FAQ sticky area

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw-stickies/217414.htm

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw-stickies/148248.htm#post2364135

there are other various brand hand filing guides, which are a compromise from pure freehand and a grinder in price and speed

There is also this hand grinder which looks spiffy, It's a grinder, but you are the motor. A previous discussion

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/180488.htm

ya, you have zilch experience..so, get practicing if you are serious!

another thing to consider is selling new chains/repairing old chains, down the road. that will get more spendy buying rolls and breaker/spinner, but if there is a niche in your area for a chainshop, whut the heck. ya gotta start someplace.

 

[Eightweight]

I also wanted to get a grinder and was lucky enough to get a deal on 2 used Silveys one is a 300 and the other a 510. now these are not the newest or state of the art but they work great. the 300 I use for the .325 smaller chain and the510 I use for the 3/8".
When I went to the shop I also asked for a "lesson" on how to sharpen a chain. WOW the 30 minutes I spent with Phil was great answered all the questions and I got a 20" stihl chain sharpened also . previously the chain was fully rocked it was on a 1983 Stihl 028AV saw.
while I was there also found the missing part for the air cleaner and got the 028 up and running. it cut like a new saw!!!

I am not starting a business but can say that the old Silveys beat any of the new grinders hands down. he had a Stihl , Oregon 511ax there also but the reversible motor was the key for me . both of the grinders also have rebuilt motors on them in the last 1-2 years.

Take the time to have someone show you its invaluable.
I could not be happier with my Silveys!!!

Bill

 

[TK]

Take three chains. Cut wood until the first is dull. Run the second in the dirt for 5 seconds. Run the third in the dirt for 10 seconds. Go sharpen all three chains while keeping track of performance of the file/grinder, and time how long it takes to sharpen.

Then see if you can make a profit doing it. Around here, chains 2 and 3 are far more common than chain 1.

 

[Mike from Maine]

I don't know why you guys are holding out on the OP.

We all know the powersharp is the secret to a profitable chain sharpening business.

 

[deepsouth]

I'm just worried how the poster will go even choosing the right file or wheel for a chain handed over....

.325, 3/8lp, 3/8 or .404.... What angles to use.... How to keep teeth even..... How to keep each side equal, how to get the point back on semi chisel.... Etc :msp_biggrin:

 

[Scooterbum]

Are you just a guy who cuts for personal use or have a business or something? You are about an hour away from me.

Your not too far from me. If you want come on down and I'll give you some hands on with a grinder and hand filing.We''ll see what you have. You may pick it up pretty quick. I get $6 a chain here and that's cheap for this area.

 

[apn73]

One other thing to consider might be the fact that a lot of homeowners will run a dull chain to the point that it will heat temper the cutter rendering a file nearly useless. If this were the case, a grinder may be a better option. It only takes a few strokes to ruin a good file on a "blued" cutter.

Amen, and amen. I know this because I have done it:msp_blushing: As a matter of fact the chain that I did this disservice to is still hanging on the wall awaiting a trip to the grinder to be saved, maybe; I have spent hours trying to correct the thing by hand (using a file-n-joint anyway). If you're going into business, then a grinder is absolutely necesssary to correct the chain that I am speaking of. I don't know jack in the overall scheame of things when it come to chainsaws, learn something new evertime I log on to this site, and I think you should listen carefully to what these guys are telling you. I have participated in a lot of different forums around the web and I can tell you this is by far and away the best forum there is, and these guys are not trying to belittle you, they're trying to save you from the boulevard of broken dreams. You want to sharpen your own chains, maybe some friends and family members chains, then get yourself a good jig (like the one previousl mentioned) or figure out how to free hand if you'd like. But investing a lot of money in a new grinder and the other necessary equipment, that may soon be sitting, collecting dust, or sold to one of the members here for a song, just doesn't seem like your best option at your level of experience. And, as said previously, chainsaw sharpening is not a high profit margin business, it's a complimentary service offered by saw shops and OPE's (outdoor power equipment dealers).

 

[Scooterbum]

Wow!! what a discouraging bunch. Young man wants to start a small business and ya'll just shoot him down..................

In today's economy with everyone getting shut down below 30 hrs a week and at minimum wage to boot. The revenue from even doing 2 chains an hour would be welcome.

I applaud him for even having the gumption to go after it. It appears he's doing his research right.

Ya'll should be ashamed !!!

OP I'm down in Edinburg, shoot me a PM and come on down. We'll spend a day learnin' ya'

 

[apn73]

Wow!! what a discouraging bunch. Young man wants to start a small business and ya'll just shoot him down..................

In today's economy with everyone getting shut down below 30 hrs a week and at minimum wage to boot. The revenue from even doing 2 chains an hour would be welcome.

I applaud him for even having the gumption to go after it. It appears he's doing his research right.

Ya'll should be ashamed !!!

OP I'm down in Edinburg, shoot me a PM and come on down. We'll spend a day learnin' ya'

Scootebum, your point is taken and encouraging a young man to go out and get it is never a bad thing. But warning somene of the pitfalls of their choices isn't a bad thing either. There is one shop in the area, a little over 20 miles away, that I trust to sharpen chains and I think he charges $7 or $8 per chain. I don't know what the cost of living is in WV or VA, probably less than it is here in NH. But I don't think two chains an hour is going to justify a big investment in grinding equipment, or put much for groceries in the refrigerator. I know what you're driving at, but I think that most everyone is trying to be real with the man and keep him from cutting off his nose despite his face. Who knows, he may make all of us nay sayers eat crow, he won't be the first or the last to do that.

 

[Yukon Stihl]

Hi Hexa Fox
Your best bet now is to find out Scooterbum's beverage of choice,then spend a day with him watching and learning.
Gather up as many chains as you can get your hands on,hopefully all different type of cutters and damage.Then you can try different methods to save or repair them by filing or using a grinder.
Will probley be the best day you spend getting into your new business venture.
Thomas

 

[Scooterbum]

If he gets it to even 2 or 3 chains a day that will buy groceries.

So what your sayin' is he shouldn't do it cause he might make mistakes?

He could start with this one Northern Industrial Bench- or Wall-Mount Chain Grinder | Chain Saw Sharpeners, Maintenance Repair| Northern Tool + Equipment
A handful of files and a depth gauge.
It wouldn't be hard for him to out sharpen most of the shops around here.

 

[Oliver1655]

Hex Fox,

You can't get a better chance to learn than hands on. You can read books, watch YouTube videos & learn a lot, but hands on with someone to guide you is invaluable! Take Scooterbum up on his offer! Even if you decide this is not your forte, you can use the knowledge for you own benefit.

Have fun learning & spending time with a new friend!
John

 

[dsell]

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it."

W. C. Fields


I agree with Scooterbum, you guys are too negative. <$500 is a low investment for a business. If you fail, you have a grinder to sharpen your own chains that will last your lifetime. You can't fail or learn if you don't try.

 

[Saw Dr.]

Sharpening a chain how hard could that be? best thing here would be to try it some day crazy I know...Best to start on a chain thats only half as dull as a homeowners chain by cutting a brick in half or some steel railway track, if you can get it back cutting good as new your got it licked....

Wish I could like this more than once.

 

[heyduke]

The big question I want is am I going to get a more quality job from the Oregon Grinder or the Hand Files? Also if someone brings me a square tooth chain and I have a $300.00+ investment (Oregon Grinder) and can't sharpen it, what do I do then?

Another big question is if a lot of people start bringing me chains and I am stuck with a bunch of Hand File how fast am I going to get sick of doing it? Even if I learn how to use either of these tools properly. I do not want to go out and spend around $400-$500 on a nice Oregon Grinder with a nice bench for it to sit on and then not know what the hell I am doing at all and not have anyone to guide me through it.

So another question you guys have agreed that I can not sharpen the "full chisel" or "square tooth" chains on the grinder right? Is there no wheel that I can buy that will get me at the angel I need to be at to sharpen it? So if someone brings one in how do I sharpen it?

first about filing chains, only a precious few operators really know how to sharpen chains with a file and you won't be dealing with them. you'll be dealing with guys that bought a 40cc saw at home depot and ran it into a rock. if you get a chain that has been sharpened with a file a few times, it's going to be screwed up too because most guys can use a file about as well as they can play the piano. get a good grinder and spend the time to learn how to use it. and learn what makes a cutter work.

regarding square ground chains, just put them out of your mind. you'll probably never see one and if you do, the customer will probably want you to grind it round. i've done that a few times. a guy using a square ground chain probably filed it that way from a round ground full chisel, and he won't let you touch it.

i think you mentioned diamond wheels. they are for carbide cutters only. don't try to use one on steel.

learning to grind a chain well takes time and aptitude, maybe some luck too and definitely some patiences from your victims.

this might help:

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/240705-4.htm

good luck with your enterprise

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

We charge 7$ per chain any length teeth and rakers, since 95% are 20" or smaller anyway.
At that price we barely break even. Sharpening chains is a way to get people in our store and revenue
but it's not the money making cash cow every thinks it is.

 

[showrguy]

Wow!! what a discouraging bunch. Young man wants to start a small business and ya'll just shoot him down..................

In today's economy with everyone getting shut down below 30 hrs a week and at minimum wage to boot. The revenue from even doing 2 chains an hour would be welcome.

I applaud him for even having the gumption to go after it. It appears he's doing his research right.

Ya'll should be ashamed !!!

OP I'm down in Edinburg, shoot me a PM and come on down. We'll spend a day learnin' ya'

good for you scooter, i was hoping someone closer to him than me would step up...
i was gonna tell em if he wanted to drive to pennsylvania i'd spend some time with him and my usg grinder, jus to show him what to do, and what not to do, and how the end result should look....
ya know guys............if we had more people like the original poster in this country, trying to do something to help himself, we'd be in ALOT better shape !!!!!!!!!!!!

nuff said.....

 

[Philbert]

I don't think that folks are discouraging him as much as suggesting that he needs to get some basics right before jumping in with both feet.

Scooterbum's offer is both generous and a valuable opportunity for someone trying to get started with this.

Philbert

 

[TheJollyLogger]

I don't think that folks are discouraging him as much as suggesting that he needs to get some basics right before jumping in with both feet.

Scooterbum's offer is both generous and a valuable opportunity for someone trying to get started with this.

Philbert

Agreed. Knowing the right questions to ask is a first step in every endeavor, and the op isn't there yet. Step one would to be to do a search on here for every chainsaw sharpenong thread and read em all. Should take about a week. At that point he will at least know the right questions, and maybe have some of the answers. Jeff

 

[SierraWoodsman]

At this point, if your daughter shows up with a bearded french model wearing a fanny pack to hide his gut, welcome him into the family.

Sharpening chains using any method is a skill that takes a long time to master, and you won't learn it on the internet. As far as square chains go, if a guy is running square cut, he's sharpening his own. Running a sharpening service, your customers are going to be for the most part poulan wielding weekend warriors who have hit the dirt every other cut and trashed their chains, and some metal is gonna have to come off to fix em. That's grinder work. Not to mention a good file job takes a lot longer and way more expertise than a grinder on that kind of damage. Sorry bud, just trying to be honest but you're in over your head already. Jeff

I can agree with the poulan wielding, rock cutting, weekend warrior customer base. Most have not even heard of square around here.
When you do come across a knowledgeable customer who can appreciate a truly sharp square ground chain it makes your day.
Also can agree that there is no real $$$ in it.