Some amateur sharpening questions

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

Not me, but I have an older friend who needs some help, I have never understood people who burn wood their whole lives and don’t know how to care for their tools. He burned up a Jonsered 2152C and ended up with a 545xp I stopped to visit today and while helping bring in wood i picked up the 2 year old saw and checked it out.
I gave him a hard time, and took his chain, bar, and spare to grind it. But he has requested a filing tutorial, which I intend to give him. Along with my standard lecture about proper cleaning and fuel maintenance.
I see the timberline sharpeners and they look relatively simple, some of the threads here I see talk about the holes getting wallered out. Others say you will damage the cutter if you turn backwards. I do wonder if he would do better with it.
Does anyone have firsthand experience with one? Are they easier or just not worth troubling with.

 

[SteveSr]

First he needs to stop hitting the ground!... And start using semi-chisel chain.

 

[mudfly]

I have a Timberline. Thought it would be the ticket to getting a sharp chain. Controlled sharpening almost like a machinist. Found out they are pain in the rear to set up, and you have to keep all your cutters exactly the same. Might be ok if starting with a factory chain and only using the Timberline, but it was near impossible to start on a chain that had been hand filed. Used it twice I think and went back to hand filing.

For a novice I recommend the Stihl 2-n-1 sharpeners, or the pferd brand. Seems to me that they are the easiest to learn and most foolproof, although I’m sure there is someone out there that can mess them up also.

 

[PV Hiker]

I bought the Timberline years ago to give it a go. Takes some time to align it while mounting. I have used it when needed to take a good amount of cutter back on other's used rocked chains and used a variable speed small cordless drill helped. I just have not used it the last few years as with a file can get through just as fast or faster.

I have heard good things on the 2-n-1 filers. If that can be used by your friend might get a sharp usable chain.

I have seen online that using them you don't have to use the round file and flat file at the same time. Lift the flat to get the cutter shaped then set depth gauge with a few more passes with the flat file laying down.

As SteveSr said, teach him saw/tip control to keep it out of the dirt. That will go a long way having a sharp chain longer. Show the user that a flat file can be used on a rocked cutter to file it back, then use the round file to get the angles correct. Then set depth gauge for the material taken back to clean up the rocked cutter distance.

Your correct to lecture him and good for you to take the time to cover saw usage, maintenance and filling chains. I hope it sticks and becomes a habit for him.

 

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

First he needs to stop hitting the ground!... And start using semi-chisel chain.

That is semi chisel… now…

 

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

I have a Timberline. Thought it would be the ticket to getting a sharp chain. Controlled sharpening almost like a machinist. Found out they are pain in the rear to set up, and you have to keep all your cutters exactly the same. Might be ok if starting with a factory chain and only using the Timberline, but it was near impossible to start on a chain that had been hand filed. Used it twice I think and went back to hand filing.

For a novice I recommend the Stihl 2-n-1 sharpeners, or the pferd brand. Seems to me that they are the easiest to learn and most foolproof, although I’m sure there is someone out there that can mess them up also.

I have to go to the Stihl dealer this week and will look at the 2 in 1.

 

[Patrick62]

no substitute for practice. All the gadgets in the world won't help if you don't really know what you are looking for.
I am a big fan of learn to freehand file. Atleast well enough to make some chips.
That chain is bad, but I have seen worse. a lot worse.