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(OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249791]

Thu, 15 May 2014 09:54

GMC_LES

Messages: 569
Registered: October 2009
Location: Montreal

Karma: 0

Senior Member

HF has their chainsaw chain sharpener on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/electric-chain-saw-sharpener-68221-8346.html

Has anyone here used one and is it worth the bennys?

I wonder how it compares to the brand name machines that the saw shops use?

I'm pretty good at filing my chains, but occasionally I hit foreign objects resulting in a fair amount of work to bring the teeth back in shape. I'm thinking a grinder might make that job easier, while possibly providing some additional precision.

We have 5 saws and they get used(and abused) often, so chain sharpening is a routine task for me.

Les Burt Montreal 1975 Eleganza 26ft A work in Progress

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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249800 is a reply to message #249791]

Thu, 15 May 2014 11:42

Nelson Wright

Messages: 147
Registered: May 2004

Karma: 0

Senior Member

I have one , but I much prefer my dremel tool as I can sharpen the chain without removing the chain from the case.
HTH
Nelson

Sent from my iPhone
Nelson Wright

Orlando Fl.

> On May 15, 2014, at 10:54 AM, Les Burt wrote:
>
> HF has their chainsaw chain sharpener on sale.
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/electric-chain-saw-sharpener-68221-8346.html
>
> Has anyone here used one and is it worth the bennys?
>
> I wonder how it compares to the brand name machines that the saw shops use?
>
> I'm pretty good at filing my chains, but occasionally I hit foreign objects resulting in a fair amount of work to bring the teeth back in shape. I'm
> thinking a grinder might make that job easier, while possibly providing some additional precision.
>
> We have 5 saws and they get used(and abused) often, so chain sharpening is a routine task for me.
> --
> Les Burt
> Montreal
> 1975 Eleganza 26ft
> A work in Progress
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249801 is a reply to message #249800]

Thu, 15 May 2014 13:10

Harry

Messages: 1888
Registered: October 2007
Location: Victoria, BC CANADA

Karma: 3

Senior Member

That looks like a good idea.
I wonder what they use for the grinding wheel.

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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249803 is a reply to message #249800]

Thu, 15 May 2014 13:32

mickey szilagyi

Messages: 273
Registered: January 2013

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Nelson,

Is there a special tip that goes in the dremel tool or are you using a jig that uses the dremel as the power source? I do mine by hand and if my chains get really bad I use a close by service that will do a chain for $5.

Mickey 1977 Kingsley, 403, Lansing, MI

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Re: (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249806 is a reply to message #249791]

Thu, 15 May 2014 13:40

rcjordan

Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Like Nelson, I prefer sharpening while on the bar.

http://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Tools-Diamond-Chainsaw-Sharpener/dp/B000P8VTNY/

Somewhere, I picked up a 12v dremel-like tool with some of the above. Works great.

SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC

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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249811 is a reply to message #249803]

Thu, 15 May 2014 14:12

Don A

Messages: 895
Registered: October 2008
Location: Dallas, TX

Karma: 0

Senior Member

"Is there a special tip that goes in the dremel tool "

Yes Mickey. Dremel #453 for 5/32" dia, $6 at Home Depot for package of two.

Don Adams Dallas, TX
'76 26' Glenbrook, '90 Sidekick
rebuilt by R Archer, powered by J Bounds, Koba
[IMG]http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6109/G2.jpg[/IMG]

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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249813 is a reply to message #249811]

Thu, 15 May 2014 15:18

mickey szilagyi

Messages: 273
Registered: January 2013

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Thanks everyone. Or here. I bought the same ones but 3/16. Made a $5 offer and it was accepted, included shipping. I'll see what quality they are when I use them. They all look the same to me however made in China... aren't they all????

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RT2CS-4-pc-5-32-DIAMOND-CHAINSAW-SHARPENER-BURR-Stone-File-fits-Dremel-1453-/400577891660?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5 d444d8d4c

Mickey 1977 Kingsley, 403, Lansing, MI

[Updated on: Thu, 15 May 2014 15:21]

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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249816 is a reply to message #249803]

Thu, 15 May 2014 16:10

Nelson Wright

Messages: 147
Registered: May 2004

Karma: 0

Senior Member

As others have answered , I just use a standard 3/16 or 1/8" dia tip in the dremel tool. And like RC i just clamp the saw in a vice and eye ball the angle. Also I think the rotary grinding tip gives me a better tooth shape than the straight cut HF tool.
Nelson

Sent from my iPhone
Nelson Wright

Orlando Fl.

> On May 15, 2014, at 2:32 PM, Mickey Szilagyi wrote:
>
> Nelson,
>
> Is there a special tip that goes in the dremel tool or are you using a jig that uses the dremel as the power source? I do mine by hand and if my
> chains get really bad I use a close by service that will do a chain for $5.
> --
> Mickey
> 1977 Kingsley, 403, Lansing, MI
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Re: (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249820 is a reply to message #249791]

Thu, 15 May 2014 19:14

rjw

Messages: 697
Registered: September 2005

Karma: 4

Senior Member

GMC_LES wrote on Thu, 15 May 2014 10:54

HF has their chainsaw chain sharpener on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/electric-chain-saw-sharpener-68221-8346.html

Has anyone here used one and is it worth the bennys?

I wonder how it compares to the brand name machines that the saw shops use?

I'm pretty good at filing my chains, but occasionally I hit foreign objects resulting in a fair amount of work to bring the teeth back in shape. I'm thinking a grinder might make that job easier, while possibly providing some additional precision.

We have 5 saws and they get used(and abused) often, so chain sharpening is a routine task for me.

I bought one recently (like two weeks ago) and thought for less than $30 with 25% off etc. it would be worth the gamble. It works sort of. I ended up giving it to my son, after sharpening the chain on my old chainsaw that I give him (I bought a better one from a friend) and will in the future go back to using a Dremel tool. It really is kind of cheesy. Took longer to figure out how to set it up than it should have. You get what you pay for.

Richard
76 Palm Beach
SE Michigan
www.PalmBeachGMC.com

Roller Cam 455, TBI+EBL, 3.42 FD, 4 Bag, Macerator, Lenzi (brakes, vacuum system, front end stuff), Manny Tranny, vacuum step, Tankless + OEM water heaters.

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Re: [GMCnet] (OFF TOPIC) HF Chainsaw chain grinder [message #249847 is a reply to message #249820]

Fri, 16 May 2014 08:29

GMC.LES

Messages: 505
Registered: April 2014

Karma: -2

Senior Member

Richard,
Did you by any chance read the reviews on the HF site about the tool. There are several comments on how to overcome the adjustment and set-up issues. The problems you experienced seem to be common complaints with workable solutions if you don't mind a bit of initial tinkering.

You also mentioned a better machine. Were you referring to a chain grinder and if so, what did you get and how do you find it compared to the HF machine?

I also prefer filing my chains while still installed. My problem is when a saw finds a nail or other foreign object embedded in the wood, or the operator accidentally hits a rock hidden in the dirt under a log. That usually results in quite a few mangled cutters. We will normally swap out the chain rather than waste log cutting time on trying to repair the chain. The damaged chains get fixed up at home when I have some free time.

My experience with a chain grinder (local saw shop) is that operator skills and patience have a lot to do with the results obtained. If the machine is set up to grind the cutter to the proper profile, the chain cuts as well as when hand filed. (I had to show the shop what a good profile was) The cutter profile has a lot to do with cutting performance as well as cutter longevity provided foreign objects don't interfere.

Since we go through several chains a year, having a chain grinder would save me some filing time trying to recover severely damaged cutters. The HF unit would easily pay for itself as I presently have the local shop fix up the worst chains for me. Buying a top notch grinder for several hundred $$ is harder to justify for personal use.

Still wondering if the HF unit is worth the gamble/trouble. I have spent more money on worse things, so this wouldn't be my biggest fumble.

Les Burt
Montreal
1975 Eleganza 26ft
A work in Progress
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