The chainsaw has become a handy tool in the woods. In the market, you will easily find the most suitable model for the job to be done. The operator of this machine must be able to choose, use and take care of the maintenance work required by this machine, as this will depend on the economy, excellent performance and safety at work.
Adequate maintenance is the first requirement for the saw to achieve optimum levels of performance and safety. Sharpening the chain of the chainsaw is part of maintenance.
Characteristics of a Chainsaw
Each link in the chain acts like a small gouge. You can determine the function of the chain when cutting by the height between the cutting teeth and the incidence protrusion. The height determines the depth that the tooth will hit the material to cut.
The incidence protrusion is about 0.5 - 0.8 mm less than the cutting tooth.
How to Sharpen the Chain of a Chainsaw
For efficient, precise and safe cutting, it is essential that the chain always has the right cutting edge.
Professional loggers sharpen their chains regularly during work because they know that a well-sharpened chain is much more efficient than a powerful motor.
Equipment Needed for Sharpening
To sharpen the chain, you need a round file, a flat file, a depth adjustment gauge, and a matching template for your chain.
Also, a vise will make the job much more comfortable since it will be enough to secure the sword and you will have both hands free to work.
Cutting Teeth
The first thing to sharpen is always the cutting teeth. Place the template on the chain; the template has arrows that should point in the same direction of rotation of the chain. Sharpen by making a light and uniform pressure, with gentle strokes outwards at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the sword. To keep the edge at the same level, make the same number of passes on each tooth.
It is advisable to sharpen two teeth from the right and two from the left.
Incidence Protrusions
With the depth gauge on the chain, use the flat file to lower the protrusion to the gauge.
Remember that if you sharpen the incidence protrusions without using the template, you run the risk of grinding them too much; the result will be that the chain will make too deep an incision, increasing the risk of throwing and vibrations and decreasing accuracy.
