stihlrookie
ArboristSite Guru
I have seen a few threads in the past week regarding sharpening saw chain and accessories, deep subject. Shops charge an exorbant amount for a task that takes mere minutes when done correctly. Most chainsaw buyers have no idea how to sharpen a chain properly, myself included when I bought my saw. So whats a guy to do?
I googled 'chainsaw sharpening'. I read instructions on how to do it. I watched a bunch of videos on how to sharpen chain. I asked my dad to show me how to hand file a chain, he is 73 and hard of hearing from running chainsaws with no ear pro most of his life. He told me how to do it, I watched him do it, I tried sharpening, he scolded me for not doing it correctly, we put the saw away.
I bought one of those nifty little orange pouches for 30 bucks, oh I guess it had a couple files in it, couple pieces of metal they call "guides" and some tiny wooden handles I suppose is what they were. So I use the guide, I follow all directions that I read, have been told, watched, and so on. Even check and file the raker/depth gauge whatever you want to callums. Chain looks sharp. Feels razor sharp too. Must be sharp. Lets put it to some wood. Dry, seasoned western larch, fairly soft wood, harder than pine though, nothing but tiny chips and dust when the saw hits it. Tiny chips and dust usually indicate dull chain right? The saw seems to go through the wood quickly but the dust and tiny chips are throwing me.
I am trying to figure out why I can't seem to get my chains back to near factory sharp. My angles appear to be good, cutters are clean looking, no ragged edges. So thats where I am at. Any tips or hints, something I may be missing? I will continue to sharpen my own chains and hopefully get better at it but until then, let the dust fly.
I googled 'chainsaw sharpening'. I read instructions on how to do it. I watched a bunch of videos on how to sharpen chain. I asked my dad to show me how to hand file a chain, he is 73 and hard of hearing from running chainsaws with no ear pro most of his life. He told me how to do it, I watched him do it, I tried sharpening, he scolded me for not doing it correctly, we put the saw away.
I bought one of those nifty little orange pouches for 30 bucks, oh I guess it had a couple files in it, couple pieces of metal they call "guides" and some tiny wooden handles I suppose is what they were. So I use the guide, I follow all directions that I read, have been told, watched, and so on. Even check and file the raker/depth gauge whatever you want to callums. Chain looks sharp. Feels razor sharp too. Must be sharp. Lets put it to some wood. Dry, seasoned western larch, fairly soft wood, harder than pine though, nothing but tiny chips and dust when the saw hits it. Tiny chips and dust usually indicate dull chain right? The saw seems to go through the wood quickly but the dust and tiny chips are throwing me.
I am trying to figure out why I can't seem to get my chains back to near factory sharp. My angles appear to be good, cutters are clean looking, no ragged edges. So thats where I am at. Any tips or hints, something I may be missing? I will continue to sharpen my own chains and hopefully get better at it but until then, let the dust fly.