My theory on why so many folks prefer "field sharpening" is because I think most folks want the security of knowing if they dull a chain they can sharpen it right then and there. And, if they dull the chain again and again....they can still sharpen over and over as needed. As for me....I take three razor sharp chains (minimum) with me every time I go out to woods. Soon as one starts showing signs of getting dull I swap chains. So here's what I find interesting....I have had several hand filers tell me they avoid having their chains ground because they want them to last longer. So what's strange is that ever since I started grinding my chains....I find they actually last much much longer than before. I can re-sharpen a chain as many as 10 times (assuming I can avoid dirt, rocks, and fence wire) before the cutters get so short they begin to break off. And the very last sharpening on a chain (before it gets tossed in the scrap metal bin) lasts just as long and cuts just as fast as a new chain. Coolest part is that the bottoms of the side plates and cutters (where they slide along the bar rails) don't seem to wear away as much as you would expect. I believe this is likely due to the fact that by keeping the chain sharp those surfaces don't see as much load or stress. If I have to push down on the saw to get it to cut...I stop and put another chain on the saw. Oh, and I have not needed to dress a guide bar on any of my saws for years. They don't get rolled edges any more. Absolutely amazes me how much less maintenance is required on bars and chains if the chains are kept sharp.
Now don't get me wrong....if you like filing your chains by hand then that's great! It's sort of an art form and there are some real artists out there who can do a wicked good job making a chain razor sharp by hand. As for me, well I'm just not that steady anymore. I need lots of mechanical assistance to keep things consistent as well as square, level, and plumb!!!
