How often to sharpen.

[dodge man]

How often do you sharpen your chain? I find I usually need to sharpen mine after every 1 or 2 tanks of gas. Sometimes I just touch it up with a file, while sometimes I use my electric sharpner. Is this too often?

 

[rdln]

Every other tank seems to be the standard.

 

[/pine]

It really depends on what you're cutting...

Guy's that have never tried to cut something like a 'Queen Palm' (Cocus Plumosa) would not know what to think...

If you've never done it you would think you were cutting into a hunk of metal...the viens in the trunk of the palm are big enough to allow fine grains of sand with water which make them (palms) notorious with tree cutters for destroying chains...a new chain will be dull before the first cut is complete on older larger trees...

in the same respect the bark of most other trees will contain some solid minerals and is often harder on chains than the core wood...

 

[westbrooklawn]

Assuming you haven't hit any dirt, rocks, or metal in the wood, every other tank of gas will work very well.

 

[20 20]

I don't bother with a time frame so to speak{every gas fill or every other etc}. Different wood and different circumstances cause different ways of wearing. I'd rather touch them up to much then not enough. A dull chain can raise cain with a bar causing premature wear.

 

[studor]

How often do you sharpen your chain?

When it gets dull??
Seriously I look at the chain everytime I stop to fill the saw -- you can feel a dull chain when cutting but the frequency of sharpening is dependant upon what you are cutiing and what you hit. This weekend I was cutting old piles of cedar -- ran though about three tanks of gas and did not have touch the chain. Weekend before that was cutting ironwood (Hop Hornbeam) --- sharpened every tank

 

[SPYDERLK]

Feel the chain teeth [both sides] with the back of your fingernail. When it wont grab your nail sharpen it.
larry

 

[beenthere]

I sharpen (touch up with the file) after every tank, regardless.

I find the "touch" test doesn't tell much.
Take a look at the edges of the teeth with a 10x hand lens after sharpening, and again after a tank of fuel. You will see the difference quickly, even when good clean cutting with no dirt on the logs.

A good edge makes for great cutting.

But I've noticed over the years, that different sharpness is ok for different folks. But I'll go with more strokes.

 

[20 20]

I'd also like to add, if your having to force/work the saw through the wood it is dull. My saw is running correct and properly sharpened when it basically cuts under its own weight. You should be able to set the saw on the wood and it will dig in and cut. If you're applying pressure then IMO it is dull.

 

[MMagis]

I'd also like to add, if your having to force/work the saw through the wood it is dull. My saw is running correct and properly sharpened when it basically cuts under its own weight. You should be able to set the saw on the wood and it will dig in and cut. If you're applying pressure then IMO it is dull.

That's my rule of thumb, if I have to force it, it's dull. Also, you can look at the chips and tell if it needs touched up. If it's making something closer to saw dust than wood chips, it's dull.

 

[MarkV]

I think what some miss is that when your chain gets dull it generates heat. Too much heat and the metal will lose its temper and never hold a sharp edge well again. I do every other tank of gas unless I am cutting real tough wood. Then more often.

MarkV

 

[arrow]

Much depends on the hardness of the saw chain itself. I find I can go from 2-3 tanks with a Stihl chain but no more than two with a Husky chain when sawing oak. Oregon, Carlson and the like somewhere in between. In my mind, sharpen a chain only when it needs it and to me , that does not mean when you are making dust as opposed to chips. Anyone who has cut wood to any degree can feel when you are losing cutting efficiency. It is at that point where I mean as needed. The best edge comes from the factory. I like to keep that edge as long as possible. I once got 4 tanks out of a Stihl chain but that is not the norm.

 

[NIXON]

My sharpening frequency varies with the type and condition of the wood . If it's something like Locust with a lot of dirt , I may only get at tank out of the chain . In clean wood , I'll go until the chain starts to loose cutting performance . Generally I don't sharpen a chain while cutting, I just change it out .
At the end of the day , I sharpen the chain (s) in the shop . At this time I go through things like cleaning the bar groove , check the air filters ,etc.

 

[RobertN]

My sharpening vries by chain, and what I am cutting.

Stihl chain is the best, and holds an edge better than anything else I have seen.

I sharpend a little less frequently now. I thought I was doing a good job with a basic file and guide. Wrong... I got an Oregon clamp on sharpener. My chains are sharp sharp sharp now. Amazing the difference.

I still touch up a little with just a file, but put it on the jig every other sharpening.

I also carry at least one extra chain, that is sharp.

I found:
- use good bar oil
- use good chain
- use a good sharpening guide; I thought I was doing good before the Granberg style jig...
- Keep the chain out of the dirt, rocks ect
- If you do ding a rock or dirt, swap the chain right away till you can clean/sharpen
- Dont let the chain get dull. Then it usually gets hot too, which affects the temper of the cutting edge. Then it will never hold an edge
- Keep the bar clean, groove maintained, sides filed ect.
- Read the Oregon sharpening and chain care webpage. Great info and resource

 

[s78wingrider]

WHEN IT GETS DULL, LOL

 

[dodge man]

One reason I asked this question is I somehow thought a chain should stay sharp for several tanks of gas. I've found out I pretty much need to sharpen it at least every other tank of fuel. Like others have said, it just depends on what your are cutting.

 

[RobertN]

More information on when to sharpen, how to sharpen ect than you can shake a stick at

OREGON Maintenance and Tips

OREGON Maintenance and Tips

http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/SharpAdvice061301final.pdf

 

[D7E]

As said it depends on the type of wood and wether it's dirty from skidding etc . Personally i just go by the way it's cutting but on a normal day of 7-8 tanks of gas cutting poplar i'll sharpen 2-3 times but cutting oak thats been dirty from skidding i'll sharpen every tank of gas. I do like to sharpen by hand to get it just right and must admit that i have now put stihl chain on all my Jonsered,Husky,dolmar and stihl saws for many reasons, Dont know why but the oregon chain we've been getting of late has been very poor quality.