How to Properly Sharpen a Chainsaw

If you have a house with a yard or property that contains trees and heavy brush, you already know that it can be tough to keep all of that foliage at bay. Pruners, hedge clippers, and loppers work well for smaller diameter limbs. But for trees, stumps, and larger limbs, you need a chainsaw.

Electric- and gas-powered chainsaws cut those large items like a dream. When the cutting gets tough again, it just might be time for a sharper chainsaw chain. New chains can get expensive, but fortunately, you can sharpen your own chainsaw with just a couple of simple, low-cost tools.

Basics of Sharpening a Chainsaw

A chainsaw's chain rotates clockwise if the saw is viewed from the right side. Or, when viewing the chainsaw from above, the chain moves forward (away from the user) along the top of the bar. Under the bar, cutting teeth bite into and abrade the wood.

With heavy wear and tear, the chain will dull quickly. It is important to sharpen your chainsaw because a dull chainsaw forces you to press harder on the saw, a dangerous move.

So, sharpening your chainsaw should be incorporated into your routine. There are three ways to go about this:

• Electric Sharpener: If you use your chainsaw more than a few times a year, it might be worth purchasing an electric sharpener ($50 to $100). Electric sharpeners have built-in angle guides to automatically situate the sharpener in the correct position.
• Guide and File: Metal files with matching guides help you to manually file the chainsaw teeth and the chain's depth gauges.
• File: You can use a file only, determining the angle with a Speed Square and estimating how far to file down the depth gauges.

When to Sharpen Your Chainsaw

Take a visual check of your chainsaw's chain while it is in place. When the leading edges of the teeth are rounded or out of the required angle, they should be sharpened. When the depth gauges on the chain are too high, this also is an indicator that it is time to sharpen the chain.

You can also lightly run your finger down the length of the chain, toward the cutting edges of the teeth. A sharp chainsaw will feel similar to the dull point of a paring knife: sharp but not quite sharp enough to cut your finger. A dull chainsaw's teeth will feel smooth.

Safety Considerations

When working on an electric chainsaw, always do so with the saw unplugged (or with the battery removed). With a gas-powered chainsaw, make sure that the chain brake is engaged. Wear heavy gloves when handling the chain.

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