How to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw at home?

A chainsaw is one of the most important appliances in the household, if its owner is a real master and monitors the condition of his house and land. It is especially useful for those who live in private homes or spend most of their time in the private sector (cottages). With its help, you can very quickly and efficiently cut boards and trunks of dried trees. But like any other home appliances, a chainsaw requires timely care and proper operation. Particular attention should be paid to the device circuits, since it is the efficiency of work that depends on them. Owners of such gardening equipment very often ask themselves: how to sharpen a chain of a chainsaw at home? To implement this procedure, it is necessary to take into account recommendations for the correct sharpening and selection of tools.

to contents ↑

Causes of wear on the cutting edge of the chainsaw

Any cutting devices tend to taper over time, and a chainsaw is no exception. The more often you use it, the higher the likelihood of its early wear.

Important! Experienced lumberjacks and foresters sharpen chains three to four times a day, since their activity is associated with the constant use of such a device. And for some, once a year it’s enough to sharpen the edge of the device.

Consider the main factors indicating chain wear:

• Increased cutting time. If earlier it took only 30 minutes, now there’s not enough hour to cut the boards. This indicates blunting of the saw teeth.
• A saw with blunt teeth leaves small trimmings and heterogeneous chips. Carefully inspect the sawdust. They should be the same and neat.
• Sometimes the device pauses its work. This symptom also indicates the wear of the cutting teeth of the device.
• In the process of sawing trees, smoke comes out of the appliance. Suspend work immediately and grind the teeth.

If you encounter at least one of these symptoms, you need to take action immediately. In case of fear or inexperience, you can contact a specialist who will help to deal with the problem.

to contents ↑

Chainsaw sharpening methods

You can grind the cutting teeth of a chainsaw in several ways and tools: with a special machine, file, grinder, etc. But when using these tools, some tips must be considered:

1. Stock up on a pair of tight gloves.
2. You will need a set for sharpening chains of the saw. Including a template for adjusting parameters.
3. Prepare a vise.

You can buy all these tools in special stores.

Training

Before sharpening the edge of the saw:

1. Grip the bar in a vice.
2. Then remove dirt and debris from the teeth with a solvent and brush.
3. Then, using the equipment you want, start sharpening the chains.

Important! The teeth are considered sharp when there are no spots left after sharpening at all.

Following these simple recommendations, you will learn how to properly sharpen the chain of the chainsaw yourself.

We use a special sharpening machine

In order to sharpen the chainsaw chains well, you should choose the right file.

Important! Most often, in order not to bother, people use an automatic machine. Its use does not require additional intervention.

All the links of the grinder work the same way, so all the saw teeth are sharpened evenly.Such a device has a limiter, which you should not forget about. It begins to function only after all the teeth are ground. Replace the round file with a flat one.

Important! On an automatic device, this process is reduced to automation. Therefore, you will not need to replace anything manually.

When using a grinder, some nuances should be taken into account:

• Edge sharpening should only be done with sharp angle.
• Carefully fix the chain on the machine, as deep sharpening can impair the operation of the chainsaw.
• After sharpening the teeth, grease them with engine oil and leave for several hours.

Important! On a manual grinding machine, the control tooth is determined using an automatic device.

We use files

Files are used by experienced craftsmen, as you should be very careful and accurate when working with them. That is why they say that an inexperienced specialist is unlikely to succeed in doing the job efficiently and quickly.

Such a procedure using a file is rather difficult and difficult:

• First you need to sharpen the cutting edge by attaching a special template to it.
• Do not press hard on the teeth, the movements should be light and smooth.
• You need to move at an angle, gradually approaching the saw bar.
• The angle of sharpening can be the most diverse, depending on the pitch of the cutting blade.

Important! Do not rush when working with a file. It is much better to write down on the leaflet the number of processed teeth and how many movements you made.

At the end of the process, do not forget to sharpen the limiter. To do this, it is better to use the template so as not to cross the mark. A flat file is used to sharpen the limiter.

We use a grinder

If you have no idea about using such a tool as a grinder, then it is better to entrust the work to an experienced specialist. But if you still decide to use it, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules of its operation in this process:

1. The chain does not have to be removed from the saw.
2. The angle of sharpening is selected by eye.
3. Place a wooden blade between the cutting edge and the underside of the saw bar.

Important! The advantages of using a grinder include speed. That is, sharpening is done quickly and does not require much effort. The main thing is not to forget about safety measures. When working with a grinder it is necessary to wear protective gloves and a mask for safety reasons.

to contents ↑

Chainsaw Care Tips

If you ensure timely care of a chainsaw and any other gardening equipment, then you can significantly increase its life. You can consult with specialists and figure out for yourself how to ensure proper care. You can also regularly refer the device to the master for diagnosis and preventive measures.

Consider several recommendations for avoiding experts:

• Keep the sharpness of the teeth so that they do not completely grind off.
• Lubricate the teeth regularly with machine oil to improve sawing quality.
• Sometimes rearrange the tire to the other side so that it wears evenly.
• Before working with the tool, check the bolts and nuts to prevent injury.
• Check the condition of the fuel in the chainsaw for debris.

to contents ↑

Stock footage

Compliance with these recommendations will reduce the risk of damage to your garden equipment and allow you to perform all garden work quickly, efficiently and safely for your health.