The Best Chainsaw Sharpener

Buying Guide

A chainsaw can be a powerful tool, but over time, it can gradually lose its effectiveness as the chain dulls. As with a knife, stopping to sharpen your chainsaw occasionally can make it much more useful.

But a dull chainsaw doesn’t just add extra work to your tasks. It can become dangerous. A dull chain forces you to push it through the item you’re cutting, which will start to wear you out. When you’re worn out, you can make mistakes that put your safety at risk.

The good news is, with the right tools, you can sharpen your chain without even removing it from the chainsaw. To properly sharpen your chain, you’ll need four major tools:

• A round file in the same diameter as the cutter. The most common cutter sizes are 5/32, 3/16 and 7/32 inches. You can find the exact dimensions in your chainsaw’s user manual.
• A file guide to keep the round file in position while you sharpen.
• A flat file
• A depth-gauge guide. This will help you reset the depth gauges.

But how do you know if your chainsaw needs to be sharpened in the first place? One of the best ways to tell is to look at the wood that’s expelled by your saw. If your chainsaw is sharp, the shavings will be thinner in nature. Over time, as it starts to dull, those thin shavings will gradually turn to fine dust.

If a file seems like a slow way to go, there’s another option. You can buy motorized chainsaw sharpeners that will get the desired results without the manual labor. Ideally, this type of tool will mount to your workbench to solidly ground itself while you’re sharpening. You can find chainsaw sharpeners with strong motors and a cordless design for efficiency and convenience.

• A guide is essential when you’re sharpening a chainsaw using a file. This guide will make sure your results are consistent.
• Most chainsaw-sharpening kits come in a pouch that makes storage easy. This comes in handy if you take your sharpening kit on the go with you.
• Before you buy a sharpening kit, pay close attention to the dimensions of your chains in your user manual. Most kits have multiple sizes, but you’ll want to make sure your size is included.
• For best results, file away from your body. You should also make sure the chainsaw is secured before you start working.
• When you start sharpening, mark where you start. Then, rotate around. File using slow, steady strokes, with five to six strokes per cutting tooth. The marking will let you know when you’ve reached the position where you started.
• Protective gloves will help keep your fingers safe while you’re working.
• Ergonomic handles on your files will keep your hand comfortable and reduce the risk of your hand slipping during the sharpening process.
• You’ll know when your chain is fully sharpened by the shine. That silver shines through once the sharpening is complete.
• Although there is a learning curve with chainsaw sharpening, once you’ve had some practice, you should be able to complete the task in less than 15 minutes.
• A quick-release mechanism can make it easy to lock the file into place for greater control while you’re sharpening.
• There is a limit to how many times you can sharpen your chain before it will need to be replaced altogether. You should be able to sharpen at least 10 times before you start to notice that your chain is too short.

If you’ve sharpened your chainsaw and still find that your wood turns to sawdust or you’re having to put extra labor into your cuts, it may be time for a new chain. But if you see smoke while you’re cutting or teeth are missing from the chain, it’s definitely time to start shopping for a replacement.