A chainsaw needs regular care and maintenance for it to work effectively and efficiently. However, you also need to take care of the chainsaw’s bar and engine amongst its other components. An essential part of a chainsaw is its blade, without which it would practically become useless. A sharpness is needed for cutting the wood, and the sharpener for the chainsaw is an ideal thing for keeping the blade sharp and active.
It’s not hard to sharpen a chainsaw blade yourself as long as you know how an electric sharpener works. Read along and follow the steps on how to sharpen a chainsaw blade with an electric sharpener.
Choosing a Power Chainsaw
Chainsaws are saws, which are mechanical and portable, and they cut with a set of teeth, which are attached to rotating chains that run along guide bars. There are different types of chainsaws, depending on various activities. For example, there are separate ones for cutting unique materials such as ice or concrete. The majority of the times, however, chainsaws are used for limbing, tree felling, for pruning, or harvesting wood for a fire.
While there are many different manufacturers of chainsaws, depending on your needs and your requirements, some of the best-known manufacturers are Worx, Husqvarna, Remington, Black and Decker, Dewalt, and more.
Deciding which chainsaw is the best varies from job to job and person to person. However, one of the most popular ones is the Worx electric chainsaw, which is designed for easy jobs and can be used by an average homeowner for cutting firewood and for limbing and pruning jobs. It can also handle larger tasks in case there are fallen trees after a storm or felling smaller trees.
When you have to get the best chainsaw on the market, you would need to review different products and brands. There are many kinds of chainsaws in the market, so it shouldn’t matter who makes the best chainsaws in the world as it should depend on your unique requirements.
How to Sharpen a Chainsaw Blade – Step by Step Guide
1. Measuring
Firstly, you need to find the exact specifications from the blade. These will help you to gauge, and the pitch will affect the blade. You can find out about these specifications from the chainsaw box or the instruction manual, which comes along with the chainsaw. In case you are unable to find out from the box or the manual, then you can either lookup on the internet or call the manufacturer on their helpline to find out. Once you know the specifications, you can get the correct stone size for sharpening.
2. The Position
When you have the specifications in hand, you can position the electric sharpening tool appropriately. To prevent movement or shaking during use, it is best to place the sharpener on the ground. It is crucial to put the sharpener in a position that is firm, which will make it easier for the installation of the blade on the sharpener. The positioning also helps to make the sharpening process smoother.
3. Sharpening Stone Installation
When the chainsaw sharpener is positioned accurately, you have to install the sharpening stone. Since you have the specifications already, you have to ensure that the width is accurate, and it easily fits in the gap between the chainsaw’s blade’s teeth. Usually, the sharpening stone width is somewhere between 3/16 inch. There are various sharpening stones, so you must get the right one, which fits the blade’s specifications.
4. Swivel
Once the blade is inserted in the sharpener’s holder, you then have to adjust the angle. The standard angles are generally between zero to sixty degrees, but in some cases, it may even go up to eighty degrees.
5. Angle
Next, you have to refer back to the specifications to find the tooth angle, which can be adjusted by making the knob loose that is located in the chainsaw sharpener’s blade holder. The knob should be moved around in different directions for a perfect setting.
6. Depth Adjusting
There is a depth stop, which should be positioned correctly for the prevention of the grinder for cutting very deep. In case you do not fix the depth precisely, it can lead to the sharpener’s grinder to cut the metal, which is in between the blade’s teeth, and it can also damage the blade. The blade may even overheat if the depth is not adjusted correctly.
7. Sharpen
Once everything is done and set, it is time to sharpen. The grinder has to be lowered slowly on the first tooth of the wheel as soon as possible, or else there will be some sparks, as it comes in contact. Once it is in contact for some time, you should lift it and see the inner surface of the tooth for some shiny finish. If it does, this means the first tooth is sharpened and have around sixty still left!
You can then move on to sharpen each tooth that is on the other side. As one set of teeth has been done, you will have to adjust the grinder again and then move on to the next set.
Bottom Line
Chainsaw sharpening is essential for the proper working of your chainsaw. Unless the teeth of the chainsaw are not sharp enough, it will not be able to do its job. So, the next time you wonder how to sharpen a chainsaw blade with an electric sharpener, know that it’s quite an easy task, as long as you follow all the steps. You have to ensure, however, that you wear protective gear for your safety!
