Ax-man
Addicted to ArboristSite
Learn to file by eye and by hand with a file. It is not hard but does take practice. I have a hard time understanding why people find hand filing so difficult.
Grinders are a pain to me. You have to take the chains off and then put them back on.
I do this for living so filing by hand is no big deal. I have a grinder and have tried some of the guides that are out there. I still get the best results with a file and find myself going back to filing by hand simply for the simplicity and speed of hand filing.
I have tried to teach my son who is also in this business of ours. He just doesn't have my touch and uses a guide that clamps onto the bar. He gets good results, better than I could ever get using one. I have been impressed with his improved sharpening. He has the patience for using a clamp on file guide. It is a slow going affair though. I can do two large saws to his one.
This might be an option for you.
Grinders are a pain to me. You have to take the chains off and then put them back on.
I do this for living so filing by hand is no big deal. I have a grinder and have tried some of the guides that are out there. I still get the best results with a file and find myself going back to filing by hand simply for the simplicity and speed of hand filing.
I have tried to teach my son who is also in this business of ours. He just doesn't have my touch and uses a guide that clamps onto the bar. He gets good results, better than I could ever get using one. I have been impressed with his improved sharpening. He has the patience for using a clamp on file guide. It is a slow going affair though. I can do two large saws to his one.
This might be an option for you.