Best Chainsaw Sharpner?

[ArlyA]

I keep thinking I should get a quality sharpener of sorts, but never get around to it. We have a few chains, maybe 6 to 8 of them but I'm not really sure of the number. When we go into the field, we have about three (give or take) sharpened chains along and many chain files. By sharp, I mean chains that were sharpened at our local shop who I believe has a Stihl brand chain grinder.. While in the field and we dull a chain which commonly happens with us over the course of the day, I just touch it up as required with those files. (just files, no holder) If it gets to dull or beat up, I simply replace it with one of the sharpened ones we have along. Since my local shops grinder does not have a rake grinder on it, (ya, its old) I'll take my dremil grinder to knock down the rakes a bit when its obvious they've become to tall to allow teeth to properly cut.

Are we living the simple live to the extreme?? :laughing:

 

[GeneV]

You need to reread what I said, here let me explain better.

the HF sharpener is a flexomatic POS that flex's too much to be a good sharpener for the teeth, so as a last resort I figured I'd use it for taking down the rakers, but it won't even do that!

My Oregon sharpener will adjust to take down the rakers, and this thread is about the best, not worst!!

SR

What part is flexing on you? The only part that's floppy on mine is where I clamp it onto a bench, but that has no effect on the actual chain sharpening. You adjust the angle, stop and depth. After that, you hold the chain against the stop, clamp it down with the grip level, and lower the disk to sharpen the chain. Then, just pull the chain along to the next tooth, pull back slightly on the chain so that it rests against the stop, and repeat the process. Sometimes you gotta adjust the stop to take off a little more or less, but that's about it. It's fast and easy.

Again, you're either using it wrong or you got a messed-up unit...not exactly unheard of that Harbor Freight sells a janky unit.

Yesterday I took down a buckthorn using the same chain I used when cleaning up from that derecho storm in the summer. That's a whole lot of chainsaw use w/o swapping chains. I'm sorry, but if my chicago electric flexomatic pos can put a lasting edge on my chain to handle that much use, I can't imagine any other system doing it any better. But whatever, we all have mental blocks to certain things, I guess.

 

[WranglerX]

Well I can not wait for my HF flexopathetic to die.... The side plate angles on my Stihl chains are 75° and believe the flexopathetic is 60° (and not adjustable).... Also it so easy to pull head down on to stop and the flex sideways for wheel to contact tooth than trying to do precision fiddly with "adjusting screws"....

There is good reason why a good a quality sharpener starts at over $100, its all metal construction over HF's plastic...

Dale

 

[GeneV]

Well I can not wait for my HF flexopathetic to die.... The side plate angles on my Stihl chains are 75ｰ and believe the flexopathetic is 60ｰ (and not adjustable).... Also it so easy to pull head down on to stop and the flex sideways for wheel to contact tooth than trying to do precision fiddly with "adjusting screws"....

There is good reason why a good a quality sharpener starts at over $100, its all metal construction over HF's plastic...

Dale

Well why don't you just chuck it then Dale, and go buy $100+ sharpener? Why are you working with a tool that ain't working for you? That ain't smart. Work smart, not hard, Dale.

 

[CADplans]

The best sharpener I have ever used is located inside Stihl's shop,,
I pop a new chain out of the box, install it,, and give the old chain to a needy neighbor,,

Win, Win,, I am happy, the neighbor is happy, and considering my usage, probably cheaper than trying to find where I put the sharpener, if I bought one.

Ahhhhhhhh,, a new Stihl chain puts a smile on my face!!

 

[whistlepig]

I have tried a few sharpeners over the years. I got a Timberline a couple of years ago and it's the thing I have ever used.

 

[John_Mc]

The best sharpener I have ever used is located inside Stihl's shop,,
I pop a new chain out of the box, install it,, and give the old chain to a needy neighbor,,

Win, Win,, I am happy, the neighbor is happy, and considering my usage, probably cheaper than trying to find where I put the sharpener, if I bought one.

Ahhhhhhhh,, a new Stihl chain puts a smile on my face!!

Are you seriously getting rid of a chain as soon as it gets dull?

 

[xyz123]

Friends shop north of me. Most shops cant afford 1 of these let alone 5.

I hooked him up with #3 when I found it used north of him few years back. He just bought #5 this year.

This might be the best out there. But not in the reach of homeowner or even most shops.

He does online sharpening mostly and local stuff. HOME | razzorsharp

Pricing shipping etc Pricing and Shipping | razzorsharp

 

[dodge man]

I would hate to buy a chain every time it needed sharpening. I sharpen mine sometimes after every tank of fuel or every other tank.

 

[EddieWalker]

I recently switched from an Oregon file that was fairly worn out to a brand new Stihl file that is night and day better. I think the Oregon file was the wrong size too. It's smaller in thickness then the Stihl file, and was probably bought for a different sized chain. The new file takes about five minutes to run through the chain, and then I'm good for the day.

I used to take my chains in to be sharpened when they charged $5 to do it, and that would last for a couple of days. No doubt that they did a better job then I can with my file, but I had to have a second chain to use while one was being sharpened, and then there was the time going to drop off the chain and pick it up. Not just the driving, but the waiting at the store all added up.