Best Way to Sharpen a Chainsaw Step by Step

The chainsaw is one of the most useful tools for cutting woods & tree logs. The sharper the saw, the better and cleaner the cut. The blade of the chain saw becomes dull after long time use and we need to sharpen it properly.

A dull saw can make the cutting difficult rather than helping you and you have to put much pressure to slice anything. We are sharing some magic chainsaw sharpening tips to get it back to work like a new one.

Best way to sharpen a chainsaw step by step

First, we will discuss the most common steps of sharpening a chainsaw blade. In the next part, we will share some pro chainsaw sharpening tricks that can make your task quite easy.

Step 1

To ensure that your saw needs immediate sharpening, check the waste coming out from the saw cuts.

Dust waste is the indicator of saw’s dullness and chips ensure that the saw is still sharp.

Step 2

Collect and prepare the professional chainsaw sharpener equipment or tools that you will need for sharpening the chainsaw.

The four commonly used tools are:

1. A round file with the same diameter as the cutter (Generally 5/32, 3/16 and 7/32 inch for medium-duty chainsaws).
2. A file guide (For holding the round file at a fixed depth while sharpening)
3. A flat file.
4. A depth-gauge guide (to reset the depth gauges)

Step 3

When the tools are ready, engage the brake of the chain. Now clamp the bar lightly in a vice. Between the two rivets on the saw chain, place the guide such that the guide’s arrows point towards the bar’s nose.

Start following the top plate’s angle of the cutter. To restrict you from going to deep, the rollers will work out.

Step 4

Now take the round-shaped file and mount it in the file guide.

Check the angle of the cutter and hold the file horizontally maintaining 30/35  degree angle with the bar and vertically at a right angle.

Step 5

Take a log and make a 2″ deep kerf on it to rest and secure the saw bar in it.

Near the bar end, put the file and the file guide on the top of a cutter.

Use a felt-tipped pen to mark the top of the cutter where you have started sharpening.

Line up the file on the cutter maintaining the factory-ground angle (generally 30/35 degrees).

Now make a stroke on the cutter so that it’s at proper angle and parallel to the ground.

Step 6

To line up the cutter perfectly with the file, look through the file guide.

The file may seem to be nested into the cutter. File each cutter and go to another side of the bar and sharpen the rest part.

Step 7

Release the brake of the chain after you sharpen some cutters. To sharpen some more cutters, you have to rotate forward the chain. Before sharpening the new section, reset the chain brake.

Repeat this step until sharpening one side of the chain is completed.

Step 8

Now sharpen the chain’s other side and then sharpen all the cutters similarly until you reach the marked one.

Now, go to another side of the bar and sharpen the cutters angled oppositely. Use per cutter, the same number of strokes as before.

Step 9

Each time you sharpen, keep checking the depth gauges’ height using the filing guide. If they extend beyond the guide, use the flat file to file them flush.

Best chainsaw sharpening tips

1. Know your saw chain’s features. A dull chain can kickback anytime to make you hurt. Dull saw chain may catch in the material and push the saw bar up towards you.

So check it frequently whether it’s sharp enough or needs immediate sharpening.

1. Avoid using a standard rattail file for sharpening the chainsaw. The rough teeth and tapered diameter of it can damage the cutters of your chain.
2. Sharpen the chain saw at home if it’s dulled only by regular use.

If the saw accidentally contacts rocks or other objects and the cutters are badly damaged, sharpening this saw is not easy. If you are not professional, we will suggest you take professional help or to buy a new saw in such cases.

1. While sharpening a dull cutter, first few strokes may vibrate or shake your hand a little. Sometimes it seems that the guide is riding on the top of the depth gauge and cutter.

Give each cutter five or six steady strokes until the cutter’s face shines like silver!

1. While giving stroke, a burr feeling along the outer edge indicates that the cutter is sharp now.

Count how many strokes it needed and give the same number of strokes on the next cutters.

1. Must wear gloves for safety when you advance the saw chain.
2. When the cutters of one side of the saw are sharper than the other side’s cutter, the saw pulls to the first side while cutting.

To avoid this situation, try to put the same number of strokes with the same pressure on each cutter when you sharpen. As such, all the cutters will be similarly sharp and the saw will cut on a straight line.

1. You can sharpen the cutters about ten times and after that, you have to replace the chain.

After a few sharpening at home, the cutters may be worn unevenly. Then you should take professional help to regrind them uniformly.

1. If you have used this chain for some years, then you should buy a new chain rather than sharpening it.
2. File Guides clamping to the bar take a longer time to use, but ensure filing the same angle on all cutters. They also maintain the exact factory-ground angle of the cutting edge. As such, you may not need any professional sharpener to reground the chain.

Bottom Line

We have shared the secret to sharpening a chainsaw to help you in sharpening your saw by yourself. If you are not confident enough or the saw is seriously damaged by any accident, take the chain to a pro. They use power chainsaw sharpener to regrind all the cutters with the same depth and cutting angle.

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