Cost for sharpening saw chain

[AKTrailDog]

Don't really want to trade, wouldn't let me post without a prefix. At any rate, I know this topic has come up before but it's something I'm in the process of doing right now..

For folks that sharpen chain for a little extra $ or to barter with, what's the charge? We all know the cost benefit of learning and sharpening them ourselves but in reality not everyone likes doing it and more importantly not everyone is good at doing it. Personally, I love sharpening chain bc I know how efficient they are when done correctly, being a fine art in many ways and I've never had a displeased customer.
"Local" shops (closest is a 3 hr drive) charge $10-14 per chain depending on length. I charge a flat rate of $9. With that, includes cleaning of chains, cutters sharpened, depth gauges set to proper tolerances and overall inspection of chain. I'll also break and make chains as needed but those are sold at more of a retail cost. I sharpen for locals, for friends and for tree care services. I realize that I could probably charge a bit more for everything I do with them but honestly when I can get 3-5 done an hr, the hourly rate is pretty good and I enjoy doing it

Cheers

 

[ElevatorGuy]

It’s been many years since I paid to have a chain sharpened but it cost $7 off the saw or $8 on it.

 

[muad]

It’s been many years since I paid to have a chain sharpened but it cost $7 off the saw or $8 on it.

This, I hand file all my own. Pretty sure the one local shop charges $8-10 to sharpen chain. Last time I had them do some the chains sucked and dulled way too fast (cutters were discolored like they were heated up too much from the grinder).

I wish you luck.

 

[Tom Woolley]

$8.50 off the saw, $10.50 on the saw for 72 drivers or less, more than 72, add one dollar to each.

 

[mudfly]

Don't really want to trade, wouldn't let me post without a prefix. At any rate, I know this topic has come up before but it's something I'm in the process of doing right now..

For folks that sharpen chain for a little extra $ or to barter with, what's the charge? We all know the cost benefit of learning and sharpening them ourselves but in reality not everyone likes doing it and more importantly not everyone is good at doing it. Personally, I love sharpening chain bc I know how efficient they are when done correctly, being a fine art in many ways and I've never had a displeased customer.
"Local" shops (closest is a 3 hr drive) charge $10-14 per chain depending on length. I charge a flat rate of $9. With that, includes cleaning of chains, cutters sharpened, depth gauges set to proper tolerances and overall inspection of chain. I'll also break and make chains as needed but those are sold at more of a retail cost. I sharpen for locals, for friends and for tree care services. I realize that I could probably charge a bit more for everything I do with them but honestly when I can get 3-5 done an hr, the hourly rate is pretty good and I enjoy doing it

Cheers

Why would anyone pay $14 to sharpen a chain? New ones are only in the $15 to $25 range and cheaper if you buy bulk chain. Makes no sense.

 

[muad]

Why would anyone pay $14 to sharpen a chain? New ones are only in the $15 to $25 range and cheaper if you buy bulk chain. Makes no sense.

I'll tell you why, because people just don't know any better. They don't know how easy it is to sharpen the chain yourself. I was one of those people that would take my chains and drop them off to get sharpened, until a good buddy of mine showed me how to hand file and then I realized that my chains lasted way longer than the ones I was paying to have sharpened.

Convenience is also another reason.

 

[cookies]

if you find yourself doing what you enjoy you will feel like you never worked a day in your life
shops often have the kid or newest hire sharpen chains when they bother the experienced workers or slack off and since the average person just takes it and leaves the blue cutters never get noticed leaving the chain blamed. 8-10 bucks around here for a sharpen...25-30 for a stihl chain...18-20 for chicoms

 

[AKTrailDog]

This, I hand file all my own. Pretty sure the one local shop charges $8-10 to sharpen chain. Last time I had them do some the chains sucked and dulled way too fast (cutters were discolored like they were heated up too much from the grinder).

I wish you luck.

Yeah, that's one of the key things. Not heating the cutters up.

 

[AKTrailDog]

Why would anyone pay $14 to sharpen a chain? New ones are only in the $15 to $25 range and cheaper if you buy bulk chain. Makes no sense.

All valid reasons this far. If someone sharpens them correctly, why pay 15-25 for a new one when you could pay around 10 for a freshly sharpened one and is like new again.

 

[AKTrailDog]

So as I previously mentioned, sharpening chain is sort of a lost art in ways. I only hand sharpen when I'm in the field and may not get to my grinder for a week or two and I typically use 2 chains in a calendar year for each one of my saws.

What are folks using when hand filing? Free hand or using a jig, which one is your favorite to use? Seems like there's 5k different options these days

 

[sean donato]

I just sharpen for family and friends. I just charge $2.00 per chain. Figured that way I have the money on hand for new stones when they are shot. Most of the shops around here are $8.00+ other then for myself I seldom sharpen over 20" chains. I dont repair them as I dont have the tools. Think last set of stihl chains i got were $25.oo ish. 24" bar 3/8 0.050. Tbh I think I would have to charge around $6.00 per chain if I was worried about making money. The rocked ones should be an extra charge as well. Takes more then 2 rounds each way to fix should be charged extra in my mind.

 

[sean donato]

So as I previously mentioned, sharpening chain is sort of a lost art in ways. I only hand sharpen when I'm in the field and may not get to my grinder for a week or two and I typically use 2 chains in a calendar year for each one of my saws.

What are folks using when hand filing? Free hand or using a jig, which one is your favorite to use? Seems like there's 5k different options these days

Free hand, I only get the grinder out from time to time to reset the chain if I feel it's way off. Normally I'm not too bad on my angles.

 

[AKTrailDog]

I just sharpen for family and friends. I just charge $2.00 per chain. Figured that way I have the money on hand for new stones when they are shot. Most of the shops around here are $8.00+ other then for myself I seldom sharpen over 20" chains. I dont repair them as I dont have the tools. Think last set of stihl chains i got were $25.oo ish. 24" bar 3/8 0.050. Tbh I think I would have to charge around $6.00 per chain if I was worried about making money. The rocked ones should be an extra charge as well. Takes more then 2 rounds each way to fix should be charged extra in my mind.

I've often thought charging more for some of the rocked chains. I've got a lot of customers that seem to like cutting rock more than logs. Kudos to the folks that take care of their chains and know how to cut properly. Always know where that tip of the bar is!!

 

[sean donato]

I've often thought charging more for some of the rocked chains. I've got a lot of customers that seem to like cutting rock more than logs. Kudos to the folks that take care of their chains and know how to cut properly. Always know where that tip of the bar is!!

It's a hard thing to keep 100% from muffling up a chain, but in the case of my neighbor, hes a pro at wrecking chains. Here's one of his last chains. Think he tries to sharpen it himself
I told him it was the last time around for it. And he paid $4.00 for that chain. Wasnt much left when I was done getting it back in shape. Should have just tossed it.

 

[AKTrailDog]

It's a hard thing to keep 100% from muffling up a chain, but in the case of my neighbor, hes a pro at wrecking chains. Here's one of his last chains. Think he tries to sharpen it himself View attachment 884095
I told him it was the last time around for it. And he paid $4.00 for that chain. Wasnt much left when I was done getting it back in shape. Should have just tossed it.

Ha, I hear ya. That's rough.

Always like taking a chain like that and bringing it back to life even if it gets down to the laser lines for one last round of use

 

[kyle1!]

Still alot of meat left on that chain.

 

[sean donato]

Still alot of meat left on that chain.

That was one of the not so messed up cutters lol. It's got a bit of meat left to it but close to the witness mark. Knowing my neighbor it will be junk next time around.

 

[muad]

Yeah, that's one of the key things. Not heating the cutters up.

I have yet to use a grinder. I free hand file.

Although, after @chipper1 showed me his filing guide, I went and bought one. Husqvarna brand.

 

[Philbert]

I sharpen for friends and groups that I volunteer with. To make me happy, this usually also involves cleaning the chain, clearing gullets, adjusting depth gauges, removing burrs on drive links, etc. Recognized that I could never compete against guys who charge $4 (and their customers who howl at paying more!); on-line companies who charge $7.50 + one way shipping; sales where some Oregon and Carlton chains are $9 - $10 each, let alone lesser known brands, etc.

Some of this is choosing your customers. Those who appreciate the difference between a full service sharpening, and blued cutters from a hardware store. Some want custom angles, or special requests. Some have relatively expensive chains that they just want 'evened up' between hand sharpenings. Etc.

There have been posts over the years about shops that price their sharpening high enough to encourage customers to buy new, replacement chains, at a higher profit margin. Some are also trying to make a $75/hour shop labor rate, which is hard with chains. Others offer this service primarily to bring customers into their shop, to maintain a relationship, and hopefully, add-on sales.

"Local" shops (closest is a 3 hr drive)

Being close certainly offers a special advantage!

Philbert

 

[chipper1]

Still alot of meat left on that chain.

No there isn't, look closely at the cutter and where it would end up at once it's sharpened properly, which to me means past the damage. If there's a 1/16" before the witness mark you'd be lucky. I wouldn't waste my time on it unless someone was down on their luck and I was doing them a favor, and then I'd probably grab one of mine and give it to them.

The chain has never been properly sharpened though in my opinion, why is the cutter ground/filed that far back and the raker has never been touched.