Although a chainsaw is capable of destruction on a large scale, you might be surprised to be told that it is a high precision tool and needs to be kept in perfect condition in order to remain productive as well as maintaining the safety of the operator.
The chain on a chainsaw must be kept in peak condition. There are only really two conditions for a chainsaw chain to be in - either perfect, or useless. It’s easy to tell whether a chain needs sharpening or replacing, because instead of acting like a knife cutting through butter, the chainsaw will require some kind of downward pressure in order to cut through the wood.
If the chainsaw chain needs maintenance it will start producing sawdust, instead of the large chips of wood that it will produce when it is fine. When cutting downwards, if chainsaw tries to veer off to the left or the right this is another sign that the chain needs attention.
The main cutting edge of the chain is coated with a very thin coating of chrome plate. This is the part of the chain that comes into contact with the timber does the actual cutting. And it’s the chrome which gets worn away over time which causes the chain to become blunt. In order to revert to chain back to pristine condition it must be filed. It is essential to use the right sized file for the chain that is being filed. Chainsaws are expensive pieces of equipment and will give long and productive service if maintained diligently.
To file a chain ideally you should use a tool called a roller guide. It is possible to file a chain by hand, but in most cases the results will not be as good unless the person doing the filing is particularly experienced. If the chain has been ground down by poor usage - for example - when the chain has hit some solid material or the ground, it needs to be filed back in order to give a new chrome edge. They can be filed down quite low but one must ensure that there is still about 1 mm left on the heel of the cutter.
Even though it can be a time-consuming and fiddly job to re-sharpen an older chain, it is still wise to get as much life out of the chain as you possibly can. Most chain sharpening kits can be snapped up for around $30 and the only other thing required is a pair of protective gloves. Your chain sharpening kit should contain a chainsaw file gauge,a rounded file (which obviously should be the correct size for the chain question) and a flat file to file the depth gauge on the teeth. It is also wise to have a small hard brush at hand (for example an old toothbrush) and a can of resin solvent in order to maintain the chain and prolong it’s life.
The chainsaw file gauge is used for checking the cutting side and the top plate cutting angles of each tooth on the chain. The round chainsaw file is used to file down and sharpen the chain. The flat chainsaw file is used to file the depth gauge on each tooth to the right height and shape. You can use the brush to clear any rubbish off the chain before sharpening.
One problem which means that you need to replace the chain rather than sharpening it is if you find that the chain has been stretched. When heading to the store to buy your replacement chain if you’re not taking the chainsaw itself you should write down the make and model number and also if possible take the old chain with you. With these tips you should be able to get the most bang for your buck from your chainsaw chain.
Remember - Chainsaws are very useful, but are also extremely dangerous. Please take advice from a qualified professional before using a chainsaw yourself.
