How to Sharpen a Chain Saw

A chain saw can be sharpened with the help of a chain saw file, a rotary grindstone or by a machine. Grindstones are available in different diameters i.e. 5/32, 3/16 and 7/32. Mechanical chain saw sharpening is carried out with the help of machines in which the saw is fitted at an angle of 25 degrees.

How to Sharpen a Chain Saw
Before sharpening a chain saw, it must be cleaned thoroughly. The dirt, oil and other debris should be removed with the help of detergents or mineral spirits. Cleaning solutions should be used carefully so that the chain saw parts don't get damaged. The chain should also be inspected for worn out teeth and links. The teeth might get bent, chipped or break in the course of time. The flat surface at the top of the teeth is called as the top plate. It should not be less than 1/4 inch in length. If so, the chain saw should be discarded, as there is no point sharpening a damaged and weakened saw. It would be risky to use such a saw which might break while operating.

Sharpen a Chain Saw Blade
The process of sharpening a chain saw blade includes the following steps. These steps include activities like setting the saw, leading the cutter, sliding the file, etc. Sharpening is one of the chain saw repair activities that helps improve its functioning.

Setting the Saw
Before one starts sharpening the saw, it should be fixed on a stable platform. This makes the process of chain saw sharpening easy and accurate. The saw should be placed in such a manner that the bar is clamped in the vise and the chain rotates freely.

Leading Cutter
Once the saw is mounted properly, the next step is to locate the leading cutter. The leading cutter is probably the shortest of all cutters. During the filing process, care should be taken to see if the 'flat' located above the cutters are equal in their length. It facilitates proper cutting by the even sized cutters. After this step, the file should be fitted in the notch of the cutter. It should be fitted in a way that the curved portion of the file gets aligned properly with that of the cutter. The angle at which the file is held should be the same at which the cutter is ground. The angle is usually 25 degrees.

Sliding the File
The process of sharpening actually starts with the sliding of the file against the face of the cutter. Pushing the slide from the shorter side of the angle towards the long point is the recommended way of sharpening the saw. Every tooth should be worked at the same angle. The process of sharpening should be continued by reversing the sides. The hook-shaped links called rakers, should be checked for clearance. The cutting edge should be cleared to a depth of 1/10 th of an inch lower than the cutter. The gauges that are too high, should be filed. After the above process gets completed, the chain should be oiled. The chain saw can be used for cutting after oiling.

Sharpen a Chain Saw Blade Mechanically
Machines are used for sharpening a chain saw automatically. These machines are set at an angle of 25 degrees. Use of gloves and eye protection is necessary while mechanically sharpening a saw. In order to sharpen a saw mechanically, the chain should be placed on the chain saw sharpener. The chained should be 'looped' properly, so that it fits into the provided track. After starting the machine, the sharpening edge should be lowered to the chain. Rotating the chain helps sharpen every tooth. Changing the blade position helps sharpen the lower side of the teeth.

The above procedure helps us understand how to sharpen a chain saw. It is difficult to sharpen a worn out chain saw. Many people opt for discarding an old chain saw instead of sharpening it. However, if the proper steps and procedures are followed, it is vary easy to sharpen a chain saw.