Little Bit of Green

Despite the fact that chainsaws have a deserved reputation for being extremely destructive tools, they are actually precision instruments. As such, they must be kept in tiptop condition in order to be productive and to ensure 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.

When in perfect condition the chainsaw will produce large chips of wood whereas when the chain is in need of maintenance it will produce sawdust instead. Another sign that the chain is in need of maintenance is when the chainsaw tries to veer off to the left or the right while cutting vertically downwards.

The cutting tips of the chainsaw chain have a thin coating of chrome on the cutting edge. This chrome plate is the bit that does the actual work. As the chain gets worn down, it’s the chrome which is being worn away which is why the chain becomes less effective over time. To get the chain back to its best condition it needs to be filed. One of the most important factors of this operation is to ensure that the right sized file is used to match the chain being filed. Chainsaws are expensive pieces of equipment and will give long and productive service if maintained diligently.

To maintain the chainsaw chain and get it back to its ideal condition one should use a roller guide. You can file a chain freehand, but in most scenarios this will not be as good as using the roller guide unless one is extremely experienced in filing by hand. If the chain has become worn through typical problems such as hitting the ground or coming into contact with the solid object it must be filed down in order to produce a new chrome plated edge. You can file away a good part of the chainsaw chain but there must be approximately 1 mm left on the heel of the cutter.

Rather then shelling out for a brand new chain unnecessarily, it is wise to keep re-sharpening your chainsaw chain as much as you can in order to get the most use out of it as possible – not least because once the chain is sharpened it is as good as new. You can pick up a chain sharpening kit for around $30 which will contain the rounded file, a file gauge, and also a flat file. It’s not a bad idea to also have a small brush. For this you can just use an old toothbrush.

The rounded file is used to file down and sharpen the chainsaw chain. The flat file is used to file the depth gauge on each tooth of the chain. The file gauge is used for adjusting the top plate cutting angles of each tooth on the chain. The brush is used to brush away any pieces of debris on the chain before sharpening commences.

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.

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