Motorized Tool For Sharpening!!!

[shadow745]

I bought the Husky sharpening kit (3 files, aluminum guide, handle, etc) for my 455 Rancher and have found it useful, but very time consuming and can be a little difficult to get exactly the right angle I need to file at. I recently bought an Oregon jig type guide bar that ensures the proper angle, but although I haven't experimented with it yet, it looks as if it can also be time consuming to do the entire chain with it. I do like how both of these items put you in direct contact with the chain and "trains" you how to file properly.

While at Lowe's recently I did see the standard 12 volt sharpening device that I've seen at other places. Seems like a decent item, but I don't want to raise a car hood each time to sharpen a chain. I decided to get a nice Dremel tool kit, which I have known for years can be really useful for hundreds of things around the house. I noticed there was a saw chain sharpening kit available for it so I bought that as well. Have any of you used this device for this purpose? With a motor speed as high as 35,000 (no load) it seems like it will do the job without breaking a sweat. The model I bought has an adjustable speed control dial built in, so if I have to back it down a bit that'll be fine. Thanks for any info. Later!

 

[Ductape]

Sorry sir, but you must always start by hand filing. It is a rite of passage. In a couple years you will be allowed to purchase a chain grinder.:chainsawguy:

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Either hand file or get a grinder. If you're sharpening so many chains that the hand file, even with a jig is over-tedious, get a grinder. Otherwise, a file is the way to go. You're never left out in the woods without a battery and the know-how to sharpen, and for me, once I get my jig set up for an indepth sharpening, I can sharpen an entire 36" chain in no time.

JMO.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

 

[24d]

get it-he who dies with most toys, wins

 

[ASEMASTER]

file

use the file and once you get the hang of it you wont use a grinder . you can custome the cutters for what your cutting , hard wood vers. soft. use just a little different angle to get a better cut. along with all the pride you will feel when you get it right. and you will know when you do!

 

[Pablo26]

I have been rehabed off bruiser bob's grinding stones and onto the fresh new 7/32 files.No more $12 dremel knock-off for me. I I can hand sharpen all the time and not wear out a loop, and the dremel will eat them up. uneven cutters, crooked cuts, back to the shop (who charge $12 to sharpen any chain!) 3/8 is a lot easier for me to see than 325, I'm finding out.

 

[stihl 440]

+1

Either hand file or get a grinder. If you're sharpening so many chains that the hand file, even with a jig is over-tedious, get a grinder. Otherwise, a file is the way to go. You're never left out in the woods without a battery and the know-how to sharpen, and for me, once I get my jig set up for an indepth sharpening, I can sharpen an entire 36" chain in no time.

JMO.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

+1 jeff, A good sharp file will get the job done in no time.

 

[Sprig]

Touched up my chain and trued it using Oregon's file guide that a friend brought over, once I figured out how to set it up it made the job easy as pie and near as quick as any other hand method once dialed in. What did slow things was unclamping the file to rotate it and clean it. I found it did a beautiful job and the ms270 cut like a champ, throwing nice big chunks easily as it should with a good straight cut too. I'll buy one in a heartbeat when I can spare the $. I used a pneumatic hand grinder for years in the mill for chains but it ate them up pretty quick and I think burned the teeth too (the co. didn't give a rartsbh), so I won't use my Dremel for sharpening even though I have the bits and a foot control. Gotta get another File-o-plate as mine has mistapeered, great bush tool and dirt cheap (3-5$), has a raker spot and groove cleaner as well, I'm crappy free-styling and they make it soooo easy As mentioned so many times in other filing threads, rotate your file as you cut and tap it sharply and frequently to rid it of filings, do not drag it back wards on the metal, you will get much extended life out of it.
My 0.02$ for the evening, time for a wee nip of something good.

 

[046]

I've got a nice grinder that almost never gets used. it's so quick and easy to hand file. it's not worth taking chain off and getting grinder out.

now if you want to use square grind chain. that's a completely different situation. takes me forever to hand file a square chain. when I'm done... square chain is much faster than round file. but it simply takes too long to do a chain and square grinders cost a fortune!

I've switched back to round chain and hand filing...

use the file and once you get the hang of it you wont use a grinder . you can custome the cutters for what your cutting , hard wood vers. soft. use just a little different angle to get a better cut. along with all the pride you will feel when you get it right. and you will know when you do!

 

[Patrick62]

I ain't too good at this filing stuff.

I prefer a grinder for getting it straight (again).
All is not lost, A couple of files have migrated into my bag. :notrolls2:

Last week I managed to get a chain cutting again with a file :hmm3grin2orange:

I am gonna need a bit more practice on this, but there might be hope.

-Pat