How to Use a Chain Saw Sharpener
You have noticed your chain has become dull and you decided you are going to sharpen your chain yourself, now what do you do?
If you are at all concerned about working through this process, remember you can easily take your chain to a qualified professional to the sharpening done for you. However, if you are going to do it yourself, here are some simple instructions to get your started. Remember to check the instructions for your particular model and make sure you follow them.
The first consideration when sharpening your chainsaw chain is to take all necessary safety precautions. This includes wearing safety glasses during all sharpening. Make sure your sharpener is securely fastened to a stable surface, and all the pieces are firmly connected.
After you have checked all your safety precautions you want to make sure your chain is securely attached to the sharpener. The way this is done will vary depending on sharpener model, but the key is to make sure it is securely attached no matter what model you are using.
Next you will turn on the machine. You will then lower the grinding stone toward the first tooth of your chain. Make sure you sharpen the tooth slowly and steadily. You want to have an even sharpness across the entire tooth. You can also get more refined sharpening on many models by tightening refining screws.
Once the first chain tooth is finished you will return the grinding wheel to it’s “idle” position. You will then loosen the chain and move the next tooth into sharpening position. A guide is provided to make sure you are sharpening your chain on the appropriate angle.
Go through and sharpen all the teeth angled to one direction first. It doesn’t matter whether they are the left or right angled teeth, but do all one direction at the same time.
Once you have finished all of the right or left angeled teeth go back and do all of the opposite angeled teeth. This is a time consuming process, but it is best to be methodical about it. You do not want to miss teeth, or find some are sharper than others. This will make your cutting more difficult and in fact, more dangerous.
You may be able to find attachments that will help to automate the teeth feeding process, making it go a little more quickly. Whether these attachments are available will depend on what model chain saw sharpener you are using.
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Taking Care of a Chain Saw ~ Chain Saw Maintenance
If you want to be able to take your chainsaw out of the garage and use it without trouble you will have to maintain your chainsaw even when it is not in use. There are a few basics you need to complete to make sure you maintain your chainsaw well.
Sharpening:
You must keep your chainsaw sharpened. You can easily do this with a chain saw sharpener. You can tell your chain is dull in a couple of ways. Is it biting through the wood? Chainsaws should grab the wood and pull itself through the cut. When it fails to do this it is probably due to a dull chain. Also a sharp chainsaw should throw out decent sized wood chips. If you find your chainsaw is throwing out nothing more than saw dust you need to sharpen your chain.
A sharp chain makes cutting easier, and quicker. It also decreases the chance of accidents.
Fuel System:
Make sure your fuel is always free of moisture and other contaminates. Chainsaws use a mix of oil and gas. The exact ratio for the mixture will depend on the model chainsaw you are using. Make sure to label the gas can. It can be confusing with other small yard appliances around all with different gas/oil ratios. You do not want to use gas mixed for another appliance.
During high use times the fuel filter can become clogged. This decreases the flow of fuel going to the saw. Make sure you clean your fuel filter regularly and change it when needed, which may be up to once a week if you are using your saw a lot.
The Chain:
In addition to keeping your chain sharp there are other factors that need to be checked to make sure your chainsaw is running optimally and safely. You want to check the chain for appropriate looseness. If the chain is too tight or too loose it will cause problems. When the saw is off the chain brake is released you should be able to manually feed the chain through the saw. Make sure you frequently check the bar retaining nuts as they can come loose with all the vibration.
Visually inspect your saw before each use. Look for bent teeth, or bends or crimps in the bar. Make sure the chain flows easily around the bar.
Check the bar and chain oil level frequently during use. There is no warning light when you are getting low, and you may be surprised how quickly go through it. Add more before you see the smoke coming from your saw.
Air Filter:
Chainsaws are always used in dusty environments, it’s just part of the job. Due to this you must clean the air filter after every use. Before you expose the air filter, thoroughly clean the outside of the saw and move it to an area away from sawdust or other materials that could fall into the carburetor. Remove the filter and clean it with an air compressor or as recommended in your owners’ manual. During periods of heavy use you should replace the air filter once a week.
Engine:
It is best to take your chainsaw to a professional chainsaw technician if you suspect there is an engine problem. They have the tool and expertise to efficiently and correctly fix your chainsaw.
Out of Season Storage:
If you store your chainsaw for more than 30 days at a time, you need to follow special precautions to limit damage to your saw. Drain all fuel from the tank. Next, drain all fuel from the line and carburetor by starting the saw and running it until it stops. Drain all oil and remove the bar and chain. Store the chain in an airtight container that is fill with oil so that the entire chain is submerged. Apply a light coating of oil to the bar and wrap it in paper. Clean the exterior and interior of the saw. Remove the spark plug and apply a rust inhibitor into the combustion chamber. Replace spark plug and pull the starter rope slowly several times to distribute the inhibitor over the cylinder.
There’s nothing worse than needing to use your chainsaw and finding it doesn’t run. You can keep your chainsaw running in good condition no matter what with a little maintenance during use and proper storage during the off season.
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When to Use a Chain Saw Sharpener ~ Is Your Chain Dull?
The first key to sharpening your chain saw is knowing when you have a dull chain. You should stop using your chain saw as soon as you suspect your chain is becoming dull. So how do you know when you have a dull chain? Let’s take a look.
Your chainsaw chain is made of cutters. These are the teeth that cut away at the wood. These cutters are covered with a thin but strong coat of industrial chrome. Your cutters would stay sharp forever if they were always used on clean wood. However, it is rarely possible to only use your saw on clean wood. Wood is often dirty, or has been knocked to the ground. If it is on the ground it is difficult to use the saw in a way that avoids dirt and other foreign substances. As quickly as the chain rotates it doesn’t take much to dull your chain. To maintain the quality of your chain it is a good idea to try to brush off the wood you are getting ready to cut. Get it as clear of debrit and dirt as possible. This can save you a lot of time in the long run.
Here are some signs that tell you it’s time to get out the chain saw sharpener:
- The chain is no longer self feeding. This is the most obvious signal you need to sharpen you chain. A properly sharpened saw chain pulls itself down through the cut. If you find yourself pushing on the saw to make it cut, or using the bucking spikes to apply heavy leverage, it’s time to sharpen the chain.
- A change in the expelled wood. A chain saw that is properly sharpened puts out nice, square wood chips. If your chain saw is producing wood dust instead of chips, it’s time to sharpen.
- When the chain looks shiny. Look at the top plate and side plate. If the chrome plating has worn away, it will expose the steel underneath, and the cutting edge will be shiny. To restore the cutting edge, you must file the steel away until a thin overhang of chrome returns.
It’s important to stop cutting as soon as you identify your chain is dull. Making a dull chain continue to cut places undue ware and tear on all the parts of your saw, not just the chain. It has been shown that dull or improperly maintained saw chains are the real source of most bar-related failures.
Dull chains also wear out the operators, they cause fatigue, frustration and can impair judgment. This is a huge safety hazard and and the cause of many chain saw accidents. It is best when you realize your chain is dull to stop cutting, and get your saw to a chain saw sharpener.
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