Chainsaw sharpening

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:20 pm

Has anyone found an easy, quick way of sharpening chainsaws please?

moderator2 · Post by **moderator2** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:45 pm

Moved to tool talk as not a gardening question.

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:50 pm

Frankly, for less than a tenner a pop I buy new ones three or four at a time, as I can't be bothered. I do keep the oil tank topped up with the right oil and regularly clean out the clogged drive gear, but I don't do a great deal of work with my Makita LXT 2x18v battery saw (which is brilliant).

But I think I saw somewhere, probably fleabay, a jig that holds a correct sized rat-tail file at the correct angle.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:09 pm

I have never bothered, I buy a twin pack of Rotatech blades for £15, they seem to last well and I have never had a problem with them. I have a chainsaw file but I have never used it.

DWD

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:19 pm

Yes, it's Rotatech that I buy, never any problem. Also have several files discarded by a tree feller, but don't use them for this task.

tcm · Post by **tcm** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 1:20 pm

You can get all sorts of jigs, machines and Dremel bits for chainsaw sharpening but unless you expect to be doing it often you're probably better off with a cheap chainsaw file.

APDIY · Post by **APDIY** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:40 pm

1.0 Out in the field
1.1 lots of spare, sharp, chains. - damn those hidden and embedded nails, rain splashed gritty earth
1.2 hand held round file and guide

2.0. Aldi / Lidl variation on an angle grinder specially designed for the job

3.0. A file and tool to adjust the depth of cut teeth.

4.0. A marker to designate the starting cutting tooth for the sharpening process

5.0 Usual safety equipment.