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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
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For those of you that sharpen your own chains with a grinder.... Which grinder do you use? I know how to sharpen my chains with a file but it gets old and it's slow. I'm done paying someone to do it because they aren't always the same. Sometimes you get the right guy doing it and sometimes it is like it was his first day. I plan to buy a grinder, I'm just looking for suggestions. I have 4 saws that get used occasionally. I don't make a living with a saw everyday but I do some land clearing for my construction business. I have probably 20-25 chains for the 4 saws....
Thanks in advance....
I sure could go for some $2.50/gal gas and a mean tweet!
NRA Benefactor member, disgruntled. Life member: Firearms Owners Against Crime. Life member: GOA Member: RMEF
TRUMP 2020
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Joined: Feb 2021
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 4,315 Likes: 1 |
I bought a chain sharpener grinder from Harbor Freight works good, faster than a hand file.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 14,848 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2015
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 60,941 Likes: 15 |
A friend has a 12v grinder.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,239 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,239 Likes: 3 |
I think WEN makes a little chop saw looking sharpener with a chain stop that makes quick work out of it. But I don’t think anything is going to dress up a tooth as well as a round file does.
Last edited by tndrbstr; 04/08/24.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 60,941 Likes: 15 |
I've used a worn angle grinder disk.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,613
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
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I use these in a Dremel. Dremel Bits
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Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1,916
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1,916 |
Run half skip chains, aquire a raker depth guide, keep new files on hand.
Ain't hard to make it easier.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children may live in peace. ~~ Thomas Paine
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 344
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 344 |
I have an Oregon 520 bench mounted grinder. Very rarely use it unless a chain is really rocked. Much easier and faster to file on the bar, with the appropriate size file. Rakers are maintained with a gauge. Worth taking the time to touch it up when refueling.
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Joined: Oct 2017
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,731 |
I have burned through 2 Harbor Fright sharpeners. But for the money are worth it. I have 2 more in shop now. Once you learn to do it piece of cake. But a file in the woods will do you good. We do a lot of clearing of fence line before bulldozer comes in so cutting a lot sell it to old veterans around here. Cheap 40 $$ a truck load. Keep me out of the bar. I am retired helps keep me fit. Somewhat LOL
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 344
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 344 |
Another thing to consider is the cutter profile. Chisel chain cuts faster but will dull faster in dirty wood or by inexperienced operators. Semi chisel will cut a little slower but will not dull quite as quickly. Lot of guys used it for bucking on the landing
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,331
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,331 |
I have been using a Harbor Freight sharpener for a couple decades at least....works good and fast correct angle and will only take off the amount of metal that you set the depth gauge at.... It has payed for it self many times over.... heat both my houses with wood .....
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 175
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 175 |
After so many years with a hand file, I like the dremel. Good compromise for me, quicker than a hand file, and with the battery powered dremel, on site sharpening. Especially if I hit a rock or something and it takes a while to hand file out. Honestly I don’t want to make room for a bench top grinder I wouldn’t use that much.
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Joined: Aug 2023
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2023
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Honestly I don’t want to make room for a bench top grinder I wouldn’t use that much. Same here. Dad gave up on the wood cutting a decade ago and gave me his ancient Oregon bench chain grinder. I only use it to straighten out a really messed up chain, so I bolted a hunk of 2x4 to the bottom of it and clamp that 2x4 in my bench vise when I need to use it. Works great. Most of the time it lives in a box under the bench.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children may live in peace. ~~ Thomas Paine
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Joined: Feb 2021
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2021
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Honestly I don’t want to make room for a bench top grinder I wouldn’t use that much. Same here. Dad gave up on the wood cutting a decade ago and gave me his ancient Oregon bench chain grinder. I only use it to straighten out a really messed up chain, so I bolted a hunk of 2x4 to the bottom of it and clamp that 2x4 in my bench vise when I need to use it. Works great. Most of the time it lives in a box under the bench. Honestly I don’t want to make room for a bench top grinder I wouldn’t use that much. Same here. Dad gave up on the wood cutting a decade ago and gave me his ancient Oregon bench chain grinder. I only use it to straighten out a really messed up chain, so I bolted a hunk of 2x4 to the bottom of it and clamp that 2x4 in my bench vise when I need to use it. Works great. Most of the time it lives in a box under the bench. Same here have mine mounted on a 2x6 use c-clamps to mount on table.
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Joined: Dec 2021
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2021
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Since I only run a chain saw occasionally and only then fir fire wood, I still use the old round (rattail?) file in a guide. I still find a sense of satisfaction in taking a chain from dull to sharp. Not only that, it also gives me a 20 to 30 minute rest period! If time was money, I'd probably have some sort of battery operated, transportable outfit.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,325 Likes: 9
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,325 Likes: 9 |
If you keep your chain out of the dirt you'll need a break by the time the chain is dull so it's nice to stop, drink some water, file the chain, and grab a snack. There's only 33 teeth on a 28" bar so it takes longer to disassemble the saw, remove the chain, clamp it in a chopsaw, sharpen them, and then reassemble the saw than it does to just sharpen them as God intended, on the saw.
Now if you are running commercially, swap the chain out with a sharp one and keep rolling then sharpen all the dull ones when you get home at night. That's a time saver.
As for the rakers, I just touch them with a Milwaukie 4" grinder to knock the tops off and rock on. Nothing scientific about it.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I use an old Foley-Belsaw model 308. Not sure how old it is, I got it around 45 years ago.
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Joined: Feb 2021
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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If you keep your chain out of the dirt you'll need a break by the time the chain is dull so it's nice to stop, drink some water, file the chain, and grab a snack. There's only 33 teeth on a 28" bar so it takes longer to disassemble the saw, remove the chain, clamp it in a chopsaw, sharpen them, and then reassemble the saw than it does to just sharpen them as God intended, on the saw.
Now if you are running commercially, swap the chain out with a sharp one and keep rolling then sharpen all the dull ones when you get home at night. That's a time saver.
As for the rakers, I just touch them with a Milwaukie 4" grinder to knock the tops off and rock on. Nothing scientific about it. I'm not commercial but have extra chains for my saws, swap dull for sharp. When I feel like it sharpen the dull ones.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,230 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,230 Likes: 2 |
these seem faster than just a file, don't know why/how that would be, but they do seem faster. if you just want to go through a pile of chains in the garage on a Sat afternoon, probably HF grinder would get you what you need
...Actually Sycamore, you are sort of right....
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