how to sharpen carbide chain

[fin460]

Hello all,

we had a job yesterday of digging in a basement footer for a garage up next to an existing basement and house. There was a nice long set of steps against the house and half of them atleast had to go.

I had my ms460 in the truck that I usually keep with me, but I decided to grab my ms241cm since I knew it had the carbide chain and wouldn't be as aggressive as my ms460 with low rakers.

I was being careful but sure enough I found a screw with one side of the chain, I glanced at the damage and I thought I saw a cutter gone and some in bad shape. It was 109 degrees with the 200% humidity and I just kept going to get the rest of the deck steps off the side of the house.

The chain may be junk, but I would like to know what type of file, or dremel stone I can buy to try and salvage the chain, I know there is an expensive grinder wheel out there, but I don't really want to go that route.

The chain is 16" picco, I only paid 50-55$ for it, so its not the end of the world

 

[Moparmyway]

A diamond wheel is the only thing that will sharpen the carbide chain, sorry fin

 

[redoakman]

They do make files to sharpen them ask your dealer I forget what there called .

 

[Del_]

Carbide dust is very hazardous.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

My dealer can sharpen them, they have a special wheel...

 

[Del_]

My dealer can sharpen them, they have a special wheel...

I have one, too.

It's a diamond wheel for the Stihl USG.

 

[Philbert]

If a cutter is gone, a replacement can be spun in. If it is infrequently used, find a dealer willing to sharpen it, but be prepared to pay a lot more than for standard chain.

Philbert

 

[wde_1978]

Actually tungsten-carbide can be processed using a grinding wheel , but depending on how and what is being grinded the wheel will require to be dressed frequently.

I sharpen carbide drills at work , without diamond wheels!
The stone wheels we use are very fine gritt , usually bluish-grey in color , I'd have to look what type number they are.

Never seen a carbide chain real life , lest tried sharpening one - thus I am not sure whether a stone grinding wheel would hold its grund , but I imagine it could.

If one is willing , one could try salvage/sharpen a damaged/dulled carbide chain by free hand grinding , would take some time though as tungsten-carbide is very abrasion resistant and pressing harder only causes damage to the grinding wheel used.

 

[Del_]

Actually tungsten-carbide can be processed using a grinding wheel , but depending on how and what is being grinded the wheel will require to be dressed frequently.

I sharpen carbide drills at work , without diamond wheels!
The stone wheels we use are very fine gritt , usually bluish-grey in color , I'd have to look what type number they are.

Never seen a carbide chain real life , lest tried sharpening one - thus I am not sure whether a stone grinding wheel would hold its grund , but I imagine it could.

If one is willing , one could try salvage/sharpen a damaged/dulled carbide chain by free hand grinding , would take some time though as tungsten-carbide is very abrasion resistant and pressing harder only causes damage to the grinding wheel used.

Dressing a wheel frequently PLUS resetting of the grinder settings as the wheel is dressed.

In a saw chain the importance of each cutter having the same dimensions is going to make this a lot of work but of course it can be done.

Just my opinion.

 

[MustangMike]

I have not tried sharpening my carbide chain yet (don't use it often), but when I do I plan to try the hand held 12 V sharpener with the diamond stones. Not sure, but I hope that will do it, and likely the cheapest option.

 

[drf255]

They have diamond Dremel bits on Amazon. Pretty cheap and work fine on Duro chains.

 

[wde_1978]

I have not tried sharpening my carbon chain yet (don't use it often), but when I do I plan to try the hand held 12 V sharpener with the diamond stones. Not sure, but I hope that will do it, and likely the cheapest option.

You shouldn't wait till the carbide inserts are completely dull.
A precautionary touch up will require very little material to be removed and give the cutters their edge back.

I don't know about carbide chainsaw chains , but a tungsten-carbide drill dulls/deteriorates very fast once it loses its cutting edge - a small touch up does wonders on long term usage.

 

[MustangMike]

I think I only used it once, for 1/2 a tank. I'm not sharpening it for that, but thanks for the advice, I agree with it.

 

[harwester]

Hello all,

we had a job yesterday of digging in a basement footer for a garage up next to an existing basement and house. There was a nice long set of steps against the house and half of them atleast had to go.

I had my ms460 in the truck that I usually keep with me, but I decided to grab my ms241cm since I knew it had the carbide chain and wouldn't be as aggressive as my ms460 with low rakers.

I was being careful but sure enough I found a screw with one side of the chain, I glanced at the damage and I thought I saw a cutter gone and some in bad shape. It was 109 degrees with the 200% humidity and I just kept going to get the rest of the deck steps off the side of the house.

The chain may be junk, but I would like to know what type of file, or dremel stone I can buy to try and salvage the chain, I know there is an expensive grinder wheel out there, but I don't really want to go that route.

The chain is 16" picco, I only paid 50-55$ for it, so its not the end of the world

I am so sorry to hear about your problem. But you have fixed your problem. So congrats.

 

[Franny K]

The story in post 1 is going to be replacing cutters. A diamond cylinder of appropriate diameter in a Dremel 1/8 collet for those not being switched out.

 

[Stihl_Dealer88]

Hello all,

we had a job yesterday of digging in a basement footer for a garage up next to an existing basement and house. There was a nice long set of steps against the house and half of them atleast had to go.

I had my ms460 in the truck that I usually keep with me, but I decided to grab my ms241cm since I knew it had the carbide chain and wouldn't be as aggressive as my ms460 with low rakers.

I was being careful but sure enough I found a screw with one side of the chain, I glanced at the damage and I thought I saw a cutter gone and some in bad shape. It was 109 degrees with the 200% humidity and I just kept going to get the rest of the deck steps off the side of the house.

The chain may be junk, but I would like to know what type of file, or dremel stone I can buy to try and salvage the chain, I know there is an expensive grinder wheel out there, but I don't really want to go that route.

The chain is 16" picco, I only paid 50-55$ for it, so its not the end of the world

Diamond wheel USG Grinder. Boom!