Save Money with a Chainsaw Sharpener

If you ever use a chainsaw you know that one of the most important features is a sharp chain. Chains have a tendency of becoming dull. When the chain gets dull it makes the job of cutting a lot harder for you.

When the chain gets to the point where it is just too dull for you to use anymore, there are three options when sharpening a chainsaw. Option one is to buy a new chain. Depending on the saw this can get quite expensive.

Option two is to take the saw to someone and have them sharpen it for you. Again this can be expensive. Also if you take it somewhere to be sharpened then you have to wait for the chainsaw sharpener to get the chain back to you. This could take days and even weeks. If your chain is dull it means you where probably using it and need it to finish the job.

Option three is to sharpen it yourself. Now in order to sharpen it yourself you will need to purchase a chainsaw sharpener. There are many different chainsaw sharpeners on the market today.

A chainsaw sharpener can cost as little as $10 and go all the way up in price to $500. Besides price there are many different styles and brands to choose from. Some examples are an electric chainsaw sharpener or a Stihl chainsaw sharpener.

First you have the type of chainsaw chain sharpener that attaches to the bar of the chainsaw. You then use a small file with the sharpener guide to sharpen each tooth by hand. This may take a little time to do however if you are out in the woods this is usually a quicker option then going to get a new chain, or have this one sharpened by someone else.

Next we have the bench mounted chainsaw sharpener. This one is usually mounted on a wall or bench in your work area. To use this type of chain sharpener you simply take the chain off the bar and place it in the vice. It has a small electric motor and stone wheel for sharpening the saw. Mark the tooth of the chain you started with and continue around the blade till all teeth are sharp.

When you are looking to sharpen your chainsaw blade you should note that the blades are set a specific pitch when you buy the chain. Some chainsaw sharpeners are set to sharpen blades at a specified pitch or degree. They will only sharpen at that specified angle.

Other chainsaw sharpeners can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of pitches. The reasons this might be a better option for you when sharpening your chainsaw blades is the angle makes a big difference how the saw performs.

Changing the pitch determines the size of wood chips that are being cut. The angle on the saw blade also determines how fast the saw will cut. There may be times when you want the saw to cut out smaller shavings to make a finer cut.

If you found this article helpful or interesting, be sure to check out my stihl chainsaws and stihl saw articles!