Sharpen Chainsaw Chain Themselves Video

Sharpen Chainsaw Chain Themselves

Proper use and care greatly affect the quality and performance of the tool. For comfortable work, you need to sharpen the Stihl chainsaw chain on time. A blunted chain can be attributed to specialists or you can grind it with your own hands, especially since the whole process is not particularly complicated. It is only necessary to acquire a certain dexterity, since the teeth on it have an unusual shape.

When to sharpen and how to find out

Problems that may arise due to untimely maintenance of the circuit:

  • Crooked cuts;
  • Huge pressure;
  • Increased fuel consumption;
  • Faster wear of the leading parts of the chainsaw and a reduction in its life.

The speed of blunting the teeth depends on the frequency of use of the tool and the conditions. It’s enough to hook the earth or stones a couple of times, and you will already need to sharpen the chainsaw chain.

Signs by which you can find out that the chain is dull:

  • The tool is trying to escape from his hands, gets stuck;
  • Small shavings pour in, almost dust;
  • The saw deepens only with great effort;
  • Cutting time increases.

In addition, blunt teeth can simply be inspected carefully. Even with the naked eye, signs of dullness will be noticeable.

The earlier the chainsaw is sharpened, the less metal will grind, which means that it can last longer.

How and how to sharpen chain teeth

The chain teeth for the saw are irregularly shaped. They consist of a base, scapula and depth gauge. In this case, the blade has a vertical blade and a horizontal blade that slopes at an angle. Thanks to these blades, a chainsaw cuts wood. They work on the principle of a planer, chipping pieces, and the limiter adjusts their thickness (the difference in height between it and the horizontal blade will be the thickness of the chip). You can sharpen the chain of the chainsaw manually or using a machine.

Sharpening Kits

One of the most common methods is using a kit consisting of round and flat files, a holder, a template for a stop and a hook used to remove sawdust. For the correct location of the holder, special markings are applied to it, allowing you to determine the correct angle for sharpening. It is mounted on the upper part of the tooth and the limiter, while the round file remains under it and is located just near the blade. Thanks to the holder, the file is at the correct height, or rather, 1/5 protrudes above the blade. To sharpen the cutting tooth, only round files are used, since the tooth contour has a rounded shape.

Kits must be purchased considering chain pitch. You cannot use the same kit to sharpen different chains.

Before you start sharpening the chain of the chainsaw at home, the tire needs to be fixed in a vice or with a clamp, the main thing is that the saw does not move during processing. Having set the holder according to the markings, they begin to move the file smoothly and without too much pressure 2-3 times. Similar actions are repeated with all other teeth. The file needs to be turned over from time to time so that there is no one-sided wear. The pressure force and the number of movements for all should be the same, this is necessary for uniform sharpening of all the teeth. If they are different, then cracks can form in the chain, which will lead to its breakage.

To work more conveniently, at first teeth are sharpened on one side, and after them the saw is turned over and teeth are aligned on the other.

They begin to sharpen with the smallest tooth, so that the length of all the others is the same with it. After the work on processing the blades is completed, go to the limiters. On top of the chain, the template from the kit is installed in such a position that the stopper is in the hole. The protruding part is ground with a flat file.

The shows an example of how to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw with a file:

There is another set, which, instead of the holder, has one template, both for sharpening the blade and for grinding the limiter. Install it so that the chain gets into the holes. After that, a round file is superimposed on top of the rollers and brought under the blade. During sharpening, you need to ensure that it is always parallel to the side edges of the template.

There are 2 separate holes for the stopper, labeled Soft, which means for softwood, and Hard for hardwood. The protruding part from the slot, grind with a flat file.

Sharpening is carried out only by oneself and with smooth movements, the number of the latter should be the same for all teeth.

Powersharp System

This system allows you to sharpen the chain in a few seconds, without even having to remove it from the tire. The kit includes a PowerSharp chain, abrasive bar, saw bar, and sharpener. In order to sharpen them a chain, you need to do the following 3 steps:

  • Install the PowerSharp bus and chain;
  • Fasten the bar inside the grinding device, after which it is mounted on the tire;
  • The end of the chainsaw rests on any object and start for a couple of seconds.

The below shows in more detail how to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw with your own hands using this system:

Manual and electric machines

If the teeth are sharpened and the cutting blade has lost its shape, then aligning them manually will take a lot of time. In this case, a manual machine tool or an electric one with a grinding wheel is usually used. The first type of device has the form of a circular saw with a round file. Machines are stationary and mobile, which can be installed directly on the bus.

Set up the necessary parameters begin with the smallest tooth. After all the teeth are sharpened and aligned, the round file is replaced with a flat one to sharpen the stops.

The advantage of electric machines is that the disc is brought directly under the sharpened blade. In addition, the quality of sharpening in this case is guaranteed and all the teeth will be the same size.

The below shows an example of sharpening a chainsaw with your own hands using an electric machine.

First, the blades are always sharpened, and only then the stops.

The angle of sharpening can be changed. It depends on the purpose of the destination. For cutting hardwood, a smaller angle is used, and for soft, a larger angle. In any case, it should be from 25 ° to 35 °. A 10 ° angle is used for chains designed for longitudinal cutting.

A budget or higher class chainsaw is included in the kit of a home tool in almost every private household. The universal properties of modern models determine their application in small-scale construction, fuelwood harvesting, maintenance of garden and decorative trees.

The remoteness from service centers forces many owners to master the skills of servicing and repairing their chainsaws on their own. The list of work of increased complexity includes maintaining in good technical condition saw sets. To do this, you need high-quality sharpening chainsaw chains. How to do this with your own hands and other “tricks” of experienced masters will be discussed in this article.

Photo: mechanical sharpening chainsaw chains

Ways to solve current problems

Inexpensive chainsaw equipment is equipped with relatively short-lived saw headsets at a budget level. In the future, such tires and chains are replaced by more prestigious and durable models.

Practitioners offer an original way to increase the strength and durability of budget devices, known as stabilizing the internal structure of a metal.

The expediency of timely repair of the saw chain

It is extremely undesirable to postpone the repair of the circuit indefinitely. The saw chain with blunted working edges of the cutting links reduces the performance of the chainsaw by almost half, there are also fuel overruns and unjustified loss of working time.

The problem is solved by handing over to a specialized workshop, which is inevitably accompanied by additional costs. In another embodiment, owners of chainsaws practice sharpening the chainsaw chains with their own hands. There is no established maintenance interval for the saw chain.

Negative consequences of working with a malfunctioning headset

Sharpen Chainsaw Chain Themselves

The need to sharpen the cutting edges of the saw chain becomes apparent when there are basic signs of inefficient tool operation. It:

  • Increased vibration and difficult entry of the headset into each new cut;
  • Significant reduction in cutting performance;
  • The smell of overheated wood;
  • Fine structure of sawdust.

Even with the effective operation of the emergency brake and the broken chain catcher, working with a blunt chain saw is fraught with the risk of personal injury. Increased loads on the engine and the kinematics of the chainsaw adversely affect the life of the tool as a whole.

Benefits of Replacement Kits

In order not to carry a tool for sharpening chains of chainsaws, sawyers working at a distance from the base practice the sequential operation of several sets. This system allows you to minimize the time of downtime associated with the sharpening of the saw chains.

Practice shows that in the home workshop, the quality and efficiency of sharpening is significantly higher. Also in the field there is no need for the constant presence of the kit.

Comparison of the advantages of mechanized and manual sharpening

Mechanized sharpening on special machines with electric drive is carried out without taking into account the individual characteristics of the chain, in particular, the degree of wear. All cutting links are ground under a standard template, which inevitably affects the reduction of its working resource.

In the second case, the loss of working time is compensated by extending the service life of the chain, since each of its links is individually managed. Additional advantages of manual sharpening in saving material resources, the ability to perform work in the field.

Subject to certain requirements and the availability of necessary equipment, the quality of manual sharpening of chains is not inferior to the machine level.

Features of mechanized restoration of saw chains

Despite significant shortcomings, machine grinding is practiced in large forestry enterprises and industrial logging enterprises. In the private sector, owners of chainsaws prefer to restore the performance of sawing equipment with their own hands.

How to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw with a machine can be found in the attached instructions, but the real skill is developed gradually in the process. Thorough skills are gained after independent sharpening of 10 or more chains.

To restore the working properties of saw chains with carbide cutting links, standard methods and technologies are not effective. In such cases, a diamond tool for sharpening chains comes to the rescue. The increased cost of fine-tuning the wear-resistant chain is compensated by its 4-5-fold increased overhaul life.

Features of work on manual and automatic machines

Cordless, in particular, roller sharpening machines for chains are less productive, however, they provide high quality sharpening and the safety of the workpiece.

  • The technology provides a reliable fixation of the chain, determining the degree and angle of sharpening on the most worn tooth.
  • The automatic adaptation allows you to sharpen the chain with excellent quality with significant time savings. To get the proper result, it is enough to thread the chain into the slot of the machine, set the desired sharpening angle according to the table and turn on the engine.

The massive use of automated sharpening equipment in private non-specialized structures is limited by its high cost.

Risks of using non-standard tools

It is better to inexperienced sawers to abandon attempts to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw with an angle grinder right away. For such a job, you will need a rare commercially available disk nozzle, an excellent eye meter, hardness of hands and solid skills.

In the absence of other options, experts recommend working on a rigidly fixed saw, with sharpening of the cutting edges without dismantling the chain from the tire.

The work of an angle grinder is characterized by increased injury risk, and also requires increased accuracy. It is especially difficult to maintain the same angle of sharpening the chainsaw chains for longitudinal sawing. One inaccurate movement of an angle grinder can result in costly chain repair or poor performance.

Advantages and disadvantages of manual sharpening

To service one or two chainsaws in a private household, it is enough to have an inexpensive and simple in design device for sharpening the chainsaw chains in manual mode.

Technically correctly and correctly grinding a chainsaw chain with a file without special tools is difficult. Even with certain skills, there is a high probability of marriage and premature failure of an expensive part.

The consequence may be:

  • Violation of the smooth running of the chain and its forced wear;
  • Additional engine loads;
  • Problems with the headset entering the cut.

Spontaneous tripping of the emergency stop mechanism is also possible.

Pro recommendations

Before starting work, it is advisable to develop a sequence of operations and gain certain skills on sharpening a decommissioned chain. A small loss of time is offset by fewer common errors.

The design of the saw headset is, in principle, perfect, the manufacturer has already taken into account all the nuances, so attempts to improve something are likely to end in vain. Before the first attempt of independent sharpening, it is recommended to understand the design of the saw link.

Its simple configuration includes two cutting edges. The side and the beveled upper. The thickness of the removed chips determines the height of the limiter. Excessively low cut stops initiate additional loads on the engine, and the possibility of an injurious circuit break is not excluded.

Sequence of work and the choice of the optimum angle of sharpening

In the process, the cutting edge is corrected first, then the limiter tooth is filed according to the template. Its height is changed every 5-6 sharpening of the cutting edges.

  • Template S index sets the headset to saw softwood. If you plan to work with a solid or viscous fiber structure. The template is inserted on the index N.
  • For productive work of the chainsaw under standard conditions, a sharpening angle of 30 ° is recommended for hard and frozen wood, and an angle value of 10 ° is preferable for longitudinal and diagonal sawing.
  • If the work is done without errors, the headset will work smoothly, and the discarded sawdust will have a pronounced rectangular shape.

Savings, as a rule, should be economical, but it is not advisable to spend time sharpening an extended chain. Its performance is restored partially and for a short time. Over, the worn part loses smoothness, accelerates the wear of the crown of the drive sprocket and tensioner.

Manual sharpening technology

The choice of the diameter of the round file is determined by the step of the saw chain. Indicators 1.3 and 1.6 mm correspond to files with a diameter of 4 and 5.2 mm. A flat file is required to reduce the height of the stops of the cutting links.

  • The chain holder can be any kind of device that is included in the list of the standard tool kit. For stability of the sharpening angle, you must use a simple template, pattern or a special gauge.
  • The maximum excess of the file over the back of the tooth is no more than 1/5 of its diameter.
  • To avoid one-sided wear, it is recommended to periodically rotate the file 90 degrees, keep 90 degrees in relation to the vertical plane and 15-30 degrees horizontal.
  • For sharpening each link, it is desirable to use the same number of working passes.

Many home craftsmen prefer to work by holding the chain in a vise. There is no objection from the experts, provided that the chain is not deformed.

Finally

If the sharpening technology requires sharpening the removed chain, it is not recommended to apply excessive force to the threaded fasteners when reinstalling. It is best to use a calibrated electric screwdriver to tighten the busbar screws.

The above recommendations are fully valid for electric saw blades. Chains of the same pitch and size are interchangeable in all respects.

Before installing a new kit, make sure the condition of the drive crown. A part with significant wear when installing a new tire and chain must be replaced.

Replacing a standard headset with a more productive one is justified only with a significant margin of power and torque. Otherwise, when operating the engine with constant overload, with the full development of its resource, problems may arise.

No matter how good the chainsaw, sooner or later you will have to learn to sharpen the chain yourself. Professionals use the machine for these purposes. Their services are expensive. But in fact, you can do with a simple file. How to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw with a file, experts will teach even beginners.

How to choose the right file

In order not to sharpen the chain of the chainsaw for days, it is important to choose the right tool. Masters recommend treating the teeth with a round file. Flat is used to adjust the height of the tooth, thereby limiting the depth of cut.

The diameter of the round file may be 4-5.5 mm. Focus on the size of the teeth of the saw. Holders designed specifically for working with the file will facilitate the sharpening process. You can also try rollers indicating the angle of sharpening.

As for the flat tool, its width should be no more than 1 cm. The limiter tooth is grinded using a bar. It is mounted on a chain and determined with a depth to which you need to grind a tooth. The goal is to achieve optimal values ​​of the chainsaw functionality.

Useful sharpening tools

Beginners are interested in what a holder is. It works with a round tool and requires clamps. There are markings on the holder, each of which fixes a specific sharpening angle. When working with a toolholder, it is important to place the markings in parallel in relation to the equipment bus. This approach helps to accurately maintain the desired angle.

Also in the theory of sharpening a chainsaw, the term filing gauges can be found. Devices are used to control not only the angle of sharpening, but also the segment to the depth gauge, but only when working with a flat tool.

Clamp is another product that holds the tire during sharpening. Sharpening is carried out at the place of sawing. Manipulation consists of successive steps:

  1. The clamp is fixed in the wood or board.
  2. Then the tire is fixed in the board and pressed tightly so as to avoid possible displacement.
  3. The device is suitable for all types of tires. Their size also does not matter.

In the garage of every owner, for lack of clamps, there is a vise. So, the tire is fixed so that the jaws of the vice do not interfere with the free movement of the chain. Subsequent sharpening is carried out according to the usual sequence.

How does a file stepwise sharpen a chain

It’s time to share the secret of how to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw with a file quickly and easily. It is important to provide for the preparatory phase. You can fix the clamp, or if it is not, use logs as horizontal support for mounting the tire.

Stepwise sharpening the saw chain looks like this:

  1. Set the chainsaw on a level surface.
  2. Put a log under the tire.
  3. Bring logs to working condition.
  4. To prevent personal injury, engage the chain brake.
  5. Take a round file and move it, following from the inside of the prongs to the outside.
  6. Maintain the correct sharpening angle. The standard to which the master needs to be guided is 30 degrees, if you adhere to a file perpendicular to the tire surface.

When sharpening the chain of a chainsaw involves a non-standard cut, for example, longitudinal, the angle is made sharper. It can be 10 degrees. Then, to adjust the angle of sharpening, a holder is used, although they also use a machine tool. Filing calibers are also suitable.

Some companies that produce chains for chainsaws to facilitate the process of sharpening and determine the maximum possible value, leave a mark at the top of the teeth. Fix the file parallel to this mark, and the right angle will be able to withstand the first time. By the way, the number of working movements of tools on the teeth should be equal for each sharpened element. This will help achieve uniform grinding.

Correction begin on one side and gradually move to the other. This approach is advantageous in that the master does not need to constantly change his position in relation to the equipment.

When the main teeth are sharpened, the height of the restrictive component should be adjusted with a flat file. How to do it yourself?

  1. Lay the filing gauge on the chain so that the restrictive tooth aligns with the slot.
  2. Only then can you start file grinding.

The procedure is repeated for all, without exception, restrictive teeth.

How to make the chain sharpening easier

Expert advice on how to facilitate the independent process of sharpening a chain of a chainsaw:

  1. First of all, turn off the equipment engine.
  2. Tighten the chain to working condition. She should not sag.
  3. Lock the brake in operation.
  4. When sharpening a chain, wear gloves to protect your hands from cutting teeth.
  5. Count the number of file movements. Following the same number of movements ensures uniform grinding of the teeth of the entire chain. This is the only correct sharpening option that guarantees a quality result.

Visual instructions for sharpening a chain of a chainsaw with a file can be found below: