The 5 minutes it takes to file your chain, shaves off often 2.5 seconds per cut. After doing this 3 times (every tank) taking a total of 15 minutes I made 100 cuts saving 40+ minutes of cut time. The total time saved is nearly half an hour. In that time of running a file over my chain it gives me a chance to plan out my activities in a calm thought provoking environment. This too saves me time. It's nice to relax early with less fatigue from forcing my saw through wood. Plus my saws last longer now.
Interesting ... I use top notch petrol and stihls ultra oil... It doesn't hesitate to start but it's interesting your mention going heavy on the oil. May I ask what you're throwing in there?
The oil comes ready to mix with 2.5 g of gas. My gas can holds a touch less than 2 g of gas. Hence, I'm heavy on the oil every time. It's not uncommon for me to run 2 cycle gas in 4 cycle engines in a pinch. Especially my seasonal stuff like the chipper and the log splitter.
I see... Have you ever tried the premixed stuff? I use Aspen from time to time and when I need to store my equipment. It's shelf life is insanely good. I haven't tried running my 4's on 2 stroke mix ... I imagine long term it wouldn't do the engine any favours at all but as a get out of jail free card I like it!
thanks, I am hoping I this fixes my sharpening issues. Same Oregon low kickback, bent over depth gauges chain. My wife's son sharpened this chainsaw at the beginning, so I am not sure if it was a chisel type or not .... putting on the reading glasses to see this chain up close.
great quality and great information , never knew about the semi and full chisel chains, i am going to buy a new chain soon so what would be the best one to buy for just general purpose use, and is there one more expensive than the other ? Thanks!!
Good video for guys like me don't use a chainsaw very often want to learn. As soon as I sell car on my car hauler going to convert it to a box trailer put a vice on the back for sharpening the chainsaw. It already has a nice 12k winch I can use to drag logs on the trailer. I live in AZ we can only get firewood with a permit from NF land 4 cords for $20 not a bad price just have to know where to go. Firewood cost $700 a cord to buy it here these guys making a killing in the winter months. It's cold enough for a fire from December through March here at night.
Hi. For a chain as damaged as this one, why don't you use an electric chain grinder? I realize filing by hand may yield a better result in the end but why not start with a base grind using an electric grinder? It will make all cutters equal length and make it a lot easier to succeed with the hand filing thereafter. Or what it your take on that?
I fear that once I hit the teeth with the electric grinder it will harden them and the file will slide across the tooth. I tried to file a friends chain once that went through the electric grinder and the teeth were like rocks. I believe if you start with an electric grinder or file stick with it the length of the chain. I enjoy hand filing because when I was a kid I wanted to be able to do it. It seemed like magic that people could hand file a chain. When I got better at hand filing I realized it got the chain sharper than a chain ground by the local power equipment shop in less time. Hence, my fascination with hand filing and desire to take the magic away from how to do it.
Great video John! Great explanations and demo. 👍👍👍 If your other chain is grabby, might be more of an issue with the depth gauges than being full chisel. Btw, what is that file guide? Also, loved the intro! Nice! Whole video is well produced! Looking good!
Thanks for recognizing the video Good Day. It definitely was mostly due to a depth gauge issue on the grabby chain. I have a hard time sticking at factory specs which is fine a little but not fine a lot. I inherited that file guide and it's probably as old as me. It has Qmark Industries stamped on the side.
I've always noticed that if I sharpen chainsaw chain by hand the saw starts cutting crooked. Lol. I always just take the chain off the saw and put it into a proper sharpener and it gets it right everytime.
*holy crap! 76cc's?!?! just ordered a used 46cc with 16" bar normally was built with a 20". this magnum @76cc is over sized for a 20" bar kinda like this 46 and 16. XD*
If you're cutting clean wood full chisel is faster. However, if the wood is dirty or you're new to sharpening chainsaws semi-chisel is the better choice. The point on the full chisel chain is quite easy to dull, ask me how I know...
I'm not trying to start poop here but is the round file to big for that chain because I got a 25in bar and it only calls for like a 16/32nd file just asking my file size might be off
bar size isn't relevant. Chain pitch determines file size. Stihl does recommend a 13/64" file for 3/8" pitch (It appears that's what he's using), but the 7/32" file is used and preferred by many professionals (I work in forestry). If you need a smaller file, you likely have a .325" or something chain.
I hate this style of chain. It will not allow the saw to do as I need. The ONLY part of the tooth that cuts is the point ! being it round or a chisel. Just pay attention and sharpen as needed. No discussion needed. I do occasionally use a Carlton plate to tune up a chain WHEN NEEDED. Do not worry about smashed cutters unless there are more than 3 in a row on ea side. Common physics there my friend. Just ignore them until the rest of the chain wears enough to catch up ! As far as rakers I generally keep them about as deep as a dime. All they need is to be equal side to side. When I am bucking all I want to do is hang on to the saw and definitely not going through all that sawing motion just put it to work and guide it as needed. All in all A good video for those that don't use a saw much. Thanks eh !
you are one of the few people making chain sharpener vids that can focus a camera great photography and instructions THANX!
The 5 minutes it takes to file your chain, shaves off often 2.5 seconds per cut.
After doing this 3 times (every tank) taking a total of 15 minutes I made 100 cuts saving 40+ minutes of cut time.
The total time saved is nearly half an hour.
In that time of running a file over my chain it gives me a chance to plan out my activities in a calm thought provoking environment.
This too saves me time.
It's nice to relax early with less fatigue from forcing my saw through wood. Plus my saws last longer now.
Great news! Thanks for sharing.
Very informative.... impressed with the start on that saw after a year. Nothing but good maintenance right there!
I can't say I do much more than use premium gas and go a little heavy with the 2 cycle oil.
Interesting ... I use top notch petrol and stihls ultra oil... It doesn't hesitate to start but it's interesting your mention going heavy on the oil. May I ask what you're throwing in there?
The oil comes ready to mix with 2.5 g of gas. My gas can holds a touch less than 2 g of gas. Hence, I'm heavy on the oil every time. It's not uncommon for me to run 2 cycle gas in 4 cycle engines in a pinch. Especially my seasonal stuff like the chipper and the log splitter.
I see... Have you ever tried the premixed stuff? I use Aspen from time to time and when I need to store my equipment. It's shelf life is insanely good.
I haven't tried running my 4's on 2 stroke mix ... I imagine long term it wouldn't do the engine any favours at all but as a get out of jail free card I like it!
thanks, I am hoping I this fixes my sharpening issues. Same Oregon low kickback, bent over depth gauges chain. My wife's son sharpened this chainsaw at the beginning, so I am not sure if it was a chisel type or not .... putting on the reading glasses to see this chain up close.
How does a file dull pulling back?
I just bought STIHL semi chisel chain, but it looking not sharp, am I have to file first?
great quality and great information , never knew about the semi and full chisel chains, i am going to buy a new chain soon so what would be the best one to buy for just general purpose use, and is there one more expensive than the other ? Thanks!!
Good video for guys like me don't use a chainsaw very often want to learn. As soon as I sell car on my car hauler going to convert it to a box trailer put a vice on the back for sharpening the chainsaw. It already has a nice 12k winch I can use to drag logs on the trailer. I live in AZ we can only get firewood with a permit from NF land 4 cords for $20 not a bad price just have to know where to go. Firewood cost $700 a cord to buy it here these guys making a killing in the winter months. It's cold enough for a fire from December through March here at night.
These are some pretty confusing depth guages to file down! So, start from the back and work towards the front until guage is smooth?
Hi. For a chain as damaged as this one, why don't you use an electric chain grinder? I realize filing by hand may yield a better result in the end but why not start with a base grind using an electric grinder? It will make all cutters equal length and make it a lot easier to succeed with the hand filing thereafter. Or what it your take on that?
I fear that once I hit the teeth with the electric grinder it will harden them and the file will slide across the tooth. I tried to file a friends chain once that went through the electric grinder and the teeth were like rocks. I believe if you start with an electric grinder or file stick with it the length of the chain. I enjoy hand filing because when I was a kid I wanted to be able to do it. It seemed like magic that people could hand file a chain. When I got better at hand filing I realized it got the chain sharper than a chain ground by the local power equipment shop in less time. Hence, my fascination with hand filing and desire to take the magic away from how to do it.
Pride makes the difference, practice makes perfect....hand sharpened is IMHO always shaper, and you don't grind away your chain.
Great video John! Great explanations and demo. 👍👍👍
If your other chain is grabby, might be more of an issue with the depth gauges than being full chisel.
Btw, what is that file guide?
Also, loved the intro! Nice! Whole video is well produced! Looking good!
Thanks for recognizing the video Good Day. It definitely was mostly due to a depth gauge issue on the grabby chain. I have a hard time sticking at factory specs which is fine a little but not fine a lot.
I inherited that file guide and it's probably as old as me. It has Qmark Industries stamped on the side.
CTSCAPER
Thanks for the reply.
I'll have to Google that, looks pretty nifty!
Thanks and take care!
Damb you peg board is organized! Great vid!
Heck yea! We all need a hobby. :-)
Dano, I have a peg you might be interested in 😋
I've always noticed that if I sharpen chainsaw chain by hand the saw starts cutting crooked. Lol. I always just take the chain off the saw and put it into a proper sharpener and it gets it right everytime.
In the last several videos I keep seeing lemon juice on your work bench and I can't figure out what it's for?
It's great to remove light rust. I used it one time and wanted to make sure I don't bring it back into the house.
CTSCAPER 🇷🇼
Great informative video!
*holy crap! 76cc's?!?! just ordered a used 46cc with 16" bar normally was built with a 20". this magnum @76cc is over sized for a 20" bar kinda like this 46 and 16. XD*
seems all the sharpening videos they're always using full chisel chain .. is that cause it's a more popular chain?
If you're cutting clean wood full chisel is faster. However, if the wood is dirty or you're new to sharpening chainsaws semi-chisel is the better choice. The point on the full chisel chain is quite easy to dull, ask me how I know...
Four stars cuz you didn’t finish with a plunge cut; bad form!! Great video brother!
fine dust = dull chain = sharpening fail
I'm not trying to start poop here but is the round file to big for that chain because I got a 25in bar and it only calls for like a 16/32nd file just asking my file size might be off
Yeah.......I noticed that too. I bought different sizes to have on hand for that reason.
bar size isn't relevant. Chain pitch determines file size. Stihl does recommend a 13/64" file for 3/8" pitch (It appears that's what he's using), but the 7/32" file is used and preferred by many professionals (I work in forestry). If you need a smaller file, you likely have a .325" or something chain.
Semi chisel was called chipper chain at onetime.
Dam every tank of gas thats f in crazy ill thro this chain in the trash befor i do that ill spend half the day sharpin and wouldn't get nothing cut
You'll do what you're told, now sharpen the chain
I hate this style of chain. It will not allow the saw to do as I need. The ONLY part of the tooth that cuts is the point ! being it round or a chisel. Just pay attention and sharpen as needed. No discussion needed. I do occasionally use a Carlton plate to tune up a chain WHEN NEEDED. Do not worry about smashed cutters unless there are more than 3 in a row on ea side. Common physics there my friend. Just ignore them until the rest of the chain wears enough to catch up ! As far as rakers I generally keep them about as deep as a dime. All they need is to be equal side to side. When I am bucking all I want to do is hang on to the saw and definitely not going through all that sawing motion just put it to work and guide it as needed. All in all A good video for those that don't use a saw much. Thanks eh !
I started using the Husky filing plate for my 3/8 chain and I won't be going back.
When ya find something that work for ya,stick with it for sure.