Innovation in machinery and equipment makes it easier for professional arborists, homeowners, or loggers to execute wood-cutting and pruning tasks. To increase the efficiency of cutting tasks, it is essential to keep cutting equipment like chainsaws in proper condition and perform regular maintenance.
In addition, keeping a pair of stihl chainsaws in perfect condition is essential for higher efficiency, excellent cutting results, and safety. A dull chainsaw makes your cutting tasks and work harder and increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Proper sharpening of your chainsaw ensures smoother wooden cuts, increases cutting efficiency, reduces wear and tear, and prolongs lifespan.
For this reason, homeowners and professional arborists find it challenging to sharpen their chainsaws properly to achieve higher cutting performance. This ultimate guide will provide you with steps to sharpen a chainsaw properly.
The Signs Your Chainsaw Requires Sharpening
If you find that your chainsaw becomes dull, there are various potential signs that your stihl chainsaw needs sharpening. The signs include the below points.
When your chainsaw becomes dull, you notice the smoke coming out of it after it is properly lubricated, and the chain tension is correct.
A dull stihl chainsaw chain produces large sawdust instead of coarse wooden strands or chips during cross-cutting wooden tasks.
When the chainsaw fails to pull itself to the woods after applying enough pressure to the saw for efficient wood cutting, the chain needs sharpening.
When you see that your chainsaw produces uneven cuts, it highlights that it has dull cutting teeth on one side. It signifies that your stihl chainsaws need sharpening.
When the stihl chainsaws periodically bounce during the cutting task, it shows that they need sharpening.
Why Sharpening Is an Important Task For Professional Arborists?
Before you proceed further in the chainsaw sharpening process, it is essential to understand why sharpening your chainsaw is necessary. A chainsaw with a dull chain can negatively impact performance with various factors like
Strain the engine due to increased resistance.
Boost the likelihood of the kickbacks.
Requires more physical effort and pressure to operate and execute wood-cutting tasks.
It directly results in an uneven cut.
For instance, sharpening your chainsaw ensures it operates safely and smoothly, making your tasks more efficient and less tiring.
Dedicated Tools You Required
To sharpen a chainsaw correctly, you will require the following set of tools:
File Guide: It directly ensures that the file is held at the correct angle
Round File: A round file directly matches the diameter of the chain’s cutters.
Flat File: It is directly used to file the depth gauges.
Depth Guage Tool: It ensures the depth gauges are filled to the correct height.
Protective Gear: This includes all safety equipment, such as hand gloves, earmuffs, helmets, and goggles, to protect against metal shavings and serious injuries.
Bench Vise: This unique equipment helps hold the chainsaw steady during sharpening.
Steps To Sharpen A Chainsaw
There are multiple steps involved in sharpening the chainsaw.
Prepare Your Chainsaw And Work Area
Before starting the chain sharpening process, examining the safe and secure work area is essential. Apart from the necessary tools, it requires additional space. It should wear protective gear, such as safety gloves, to protect it from severe injuries due to accidental cuts in the wood cutting and pruning task.
Mark the master chain area that needs sharpening with the pen. Apply tension to the chain to easily sharpen the teeth.
Inspect the Chain: This is an essential step to check the chainsaw's chain for damage or malfunction. If broken or excessively worn teeth are broken, it might be time to replace the chain.
Turn Off And Secure: If your chainsaw is electric, you can remain assured that it is turned off and unplugged. Secure it in a bench vise to keep it steady so you can effectively handle it for cutting tasks.
Clean The Chain
For effective cleaning, you can use a wire brush to remove debris, sap, or oil from the chain. A clean chain is also easier to sharpen accurately. You can also use high-compressed air and a rag to eliminate machine debris. Also, wipe the motor housing with a clean cloth to clear oil, grease, or debris.
Identify The Leading Cutter
The leading cutter is the shortest cutter on the chain, which will become the reference point to ensure uniform sharpening. For precise and accurate results, you can use the marker to mark the shortest cutter on the chain, which will be the reference point for the sharpening process.
Set Up The File Guide
For sharpening accurately, setting up the file guide is necessary and important. Attach the round file to the file guide. However, the file guide will help you maintain the correct angle, about 30 degrees, while sharpening the stihl chainsaws purchased from a Stihl Chainsaw dealer in Texas offers high cutting efficiency.
Sharpen The Cutters Of The Chainsaw Accurately
Position The File: The file must be placed in the cutter's notch at the recommended angle.
File Away From You: Push the flat file across the face of the cutter away from your body. Use smooth, even strokes and apply consistent pressure.
Count Your Strokes: Sharpen each cutter with the same number of strokes, primarily 3 to 5, to ensure uniform sharpness.
Alternate Sides: It is best to sharpen every second cutter on one side of the chain, then switch to the other and repeat.
File The Depth Guages
After sharpening the cutters, use the depth gauge tool to check the height of the depth gauges (rakers) between each cutter.
For this purpose, use a flat file to adjust any depth gauges that are too high. This unique step ensures that the cutters can effectively dig into the wood.
Rotate The Chain
During the sharpening process, rotate the chain alternatively to bring each section into position. It ensures that the entire chain is sharpened evenly.
Check Your Work
Once you have sharpened all the chainsaw cutters and adjusted the depth gauges, you can visually and manually inspect them. In this manner, it is Stihl Chainsaw’s fact that all the cutters should be uniformly sharp, and the depth gauges should be even.
Tips For Maintaining And Sharpening Your Chainsaw
Proper Storage: To prevent debris, rust, and damage, store your stihl chainsaws in a dry, safe place.
Regular Sharpening: It is advisable to sharpen your chainsaw regularly after every few hours of use or whenever you notice a reduction in cutting efficiency.
Tension Check: Regularly check and adjust the chain tension of the chainsaws. A correctly tensioned chain improves safety and performance.
Lubrication: It becomes necessary to ensure the chain is properly lubricated to reduce wear and friction.
When To Replace The Chain?
After regular sharpening, there comes a time when a chain needs to be replaced. Also, replace the chain when you notice signs like:
Difficulty in Sharpening: When it becomes challenging to maintain a sharp edge, you can replace the chainsaw chain.
Cracks or Damage: When you notice any visible damage to the cutters or chain links counsult with reputed farm equipment repair near your area and discover the requirement of repair or replacement.
Excessive Wear: When the chainsaw cutters are remarkably reduced in size.
Get Optimal Cutting Performance With Properly Sharpened Chainsaw
Knowing various ways to sharpen a chainsaw properly is valuable for homeowners or professional arborists who regularly use this tool. It ensures your chainsaw operates safely, saving you time and effort in the future. Regular maintenance, including sharpening, extends the life of your chainsaw and improves your productivity. Consulting Stihl Chainsaw dealers in Texas can provide additional support and high-quality tools for those needing professional services or new equipment.
Following this guide and sharpening your chainsaw ensures that your cutting tasks are performed accurately and efficiently.
コメント