Resharpening chainsaw chains.....how many times?

[MarkV]

I sure do agree with Egon and sendero when it comes to heat and chain life. I have a friend in the tree business and was at his shop one day looking at a very high end chain sharpener he had mounted on a work bench. I was telling him I had so much trouble with chains I might have to get something like that some day. He said you can have this one we don’t use it. When I ask why he didn’t use it he explained that in the field a dull chain is going to lose it’s temper because of heat and will never hold an edge well again. He finds it much faster to take three strokes per tooth with a hand file at each gas fill up than to change chains and then have to sharpen them in the shop.

After taking his advice my chains last so much longer than I thought possible. I have also gotten lazy and let some get to hot by not filing at each fill up and they never worked well again.

MarkV

 

[turnkey4099]

Sorta back to the original question.

It isn't how many times you sharpen, it is how much you take off. As others have said, you can sharpen them until you reach the line. I usually don't go that far.

Example. My usual sharpening is 3-4 strokes/tooth. Just re-did a chain I rocked out on my logging chain (forgot it was there). Took 15 strokes/tooth to do it.

Harry K

 

[slowrev]

I sure do agree with Egon and sendero when it comes to heat and chain life. I have a friend in the tree business and was at his shop one day looking at a very high end chain sharpener he had mounted on a work bench. I was telling him I had so much trouble with chains I might have to get something like that some day. He said you can have this one we don’t use it. When I ask why he didn’t use it he explained that in the field a dull chain is going to lose it’s temper because of heat and will never hold an edge well again. He finds it much faster to take three strokes per tooth with a hand file at each gas fill up than to change chains and then have to sharpen them in the shop.

After taking his advice my chains last so much longer than I thought possible. I have also gotten lazy and let some get to hot by not filing at each fill up and they never worked well again.

MarkV

Yes I sharpen my chains by hand and all works out well. I sharpen them several times and even shorten the rakers a bit (using gauge), so that I can sharpen them more.
And yes heat will ruin a chain.

 

[JimR]

You asked how many strokes. That all depends on how dull the chain is. I use 3-4 strokes on a round file when I think it needs to be touched up lightly. 8-10 strokes will usually do the trick on a slightly damaged chain from a rock or barbed wire. For real bad chains I have a tool from Oregon that clamps to the bar. You can set it up for the angle, height and depth of file cut. I think this cost me around $30.00 many years ago. I almost bought one of the powered chain grinders that uses a round wheel. My friend that use to be it the tree business said a round file works better.

 

[sendero]

To more specifically answser the original question, I find that resharpening becomes less and less effective. I quit using a chain after 10-20 sharpens, which I initially do with a few strokes of a round file, and eventually move on to a Dremel with a stone.

After a certain number of sharpens, the chain just won't perform. Even if you mess with the rakes, I don't really know why... perhaps cumulative heat damage?

 

[MotorSeven]

Tn,
I just bought the Harbor Freight chainsaw grinder on sale for $29(Caution if you go IN the store it will cost you alot more.....$293.50 for me{tool cabinet,dolly,water pump,etcetc}) I will use it to occasionally even up the teeth from hand sharpening, and for a quicker fix from hitting metal/rocks. Just make sure that you don't heat up the cutter or it will lose all it's hardness then will not hold an edge for cr@p. I have been hand filing my chains for over 20 years, since i watched a "chainsaw shop tech" heat my cutters until they were glowing red. I ended up throwing the chain away, buying a new one and a dozen files....been happy ever since! Like Harley says don't forget the depth gauge...if your teeth can't reach the wood then it's a wast of time and fuel.
RD

 

[CTyler]

I learned my lesson about heat on a couple chains. My wife had bought me a 12volt hand held chain sharpener that uses a grinding stone. After using that and getting a number of the teeth slightly discolored it wont hold and edge anymore. It will cut good for about 2-3 minutes and like crap in about 5-6 minutes. I bought new chains and went back to using a hand file.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Thanks for all the good information. I am going to get one of the Harbor Freight sharpeners. They had them on the front page of their most recent circular for $29.00. The tax is less than the freight would be, so I'll buy at the store. And you're right MotorSeven. I may be making a mistake. Who knows what else I'll find to buy at the store.

I have never hand filed a chain before myself. I'm sure it's not terribly complicated, but I'd like to have a short lesson from someone who knows what their doing before I tried it. Hopefully the Harbor Freight tool will do the trick for me.

 

[Bedlam]

Hobbey farmer,
Just wanted to add that Ive done almost 50 or so sharpenings with the HF machine. And the wheel is just showing some wear. I bought a couple spare wheels when they were on sale. they aren't much , when you spot them on sale in the cat. But have to look through many catalogs to get the lowest price.(just like everything else)
Also another post er told me about turning the wheel around after a couple of sharpenings. that makes sense, and its VERY simple two screws on the cover plate , and a finger knob on the shaft.Where I live I don't have a store close bu so depend on the catalog .
Good luck.
Al

 

[turnkey4099]

I also have the HF grinder on the way. It is terribly easy to overheat a tooth with any powered grinder. The proper operation of one of thes HF thingies is to set it to just skim the tooth and then do it rapidly, almost just a 'bounce'. Go around the chain at that setting then set to take just a touch more of and go around again, repeat as necessary. Any prolonged contact will overheat the tooth.

Harry K