Looking for a decent Chainsaw sharpener?

[JOE.G]

Hi, I am looking for a decent chainsaw sharpener, I am a home owner with a lot of land, I use my saws often but not professionally. I do them by hand now but would like a electric one. I have no idea what I am looking for or at, Is there one that can do different blades easily? Thank you

[Skeans1]

First question what kind of cutter? What gauge and pitch? Do you want to do depth gauges as well? And how many chains do you think you'll be doing?

[barbender]

And how much are you willing to spend?

[Dave12]

Stihl 2 in 1.  Not electric but does an excellent job and very easy to use.

[Greenhighlander]

I have been very happy with my Granberg precision grinder. It does a great job and is easy and fast to use.  Worth ever penny

[JOE.G]

I run a few different size/ pitch chains, Most of my saws are in my signature.How do I determine what size file I should use and the pitch/Degree I should be filing at? I am using files and advice on angle I received years ago. My chains seem good and cut well but, The electric grinder would be for once in a while use on bad chains. I do run mostly Stihl chains.

Electric Grinder I would like to stay under $200 If I go that route.

[Skeans1]

Myself I grind nightly and prefer a ground chain to a filed chain because they are predictable. You might look into the Oregon 410 or it's equivalents that are out there they'll be fully adjustable to do cutters as well as rakers. Now if you're looking for square grinding that cheap it won't happen.

[Greenhighlander]

The Grandberg is well under $200 .  Pretty sure it is $80 something and they have all the stone sizes for all the different chains .  The stones seem to last a fair amount longer then files.  Also the grinder itself is fully adjustable for all angles. I always use it to sharpen now and find it much faster then hand filing and it does a much better and accurate job then my hand filing. I do still do my rakers by hand. 

[Lostinmn]

Stihl 2 in 1.  Not electric but does an excellent job and very easy to use.

I second this, makes it very quick and easy.  We used to just free hand and had tried a few sharpeners over the years, but this new stihl sharpener is really something.  Highly recommend it!

[lxskllr]

1/4" = 1/8" file
3/8lp(picco) = 5/32" file
.325 = 3/16" file 13/64" will work in a pinch if there's decent chain life left.
3/8" = 13/64" or 7/32". Stihl specs 13/64", and I prefer it, but 7/32" will work too.

[JOE.G]

Does the stihl 2 in 1 have interchangeable files to cover all of my chains or do i need ones for each?

[lxskllr]

I'm 90% sure you'd need need one for each pitch of chain. I don't use the guide, but it seems to be very popular. You might be able to save a little money getting the Pferd guide. They're the ones that make them for Stihl. They're blue instead of white/orange.

[barbender]

Yes you need a seperate one for each pitch. They work well, I've only used mine once since I got a Tecomec bench grinder though😊

[teakwood]

they're the best thing invented since sliced bread. i use them since over a year, fast, accurate, cheap, perfect for 95% of chain saw users. don't buy the chinese knock offs, buy the real, pferd or stihl product, it's only like 35$. I bought a orange one for 3/8 and a blue one for .325, so i can identify them easily.

a tip, the round files need to be turned a little every other use, so they worn evenly   

[JOE.G]

Is 30 Deg the pitch I would want? Thank you guys for all the help, I have been using 30 Deg on everything for years, And use the files that were given to me when i bought the chains. I did switch the 55 Rancher over to the same chain as the 562 XP but in a 18  so I can use the same chain and bars, I run a 20 on the 562.

[lxskllr]

I think there's a terminology problem here. Pitch would be the size of the chain; one dimension of it anyway; eg ⅜", ⅜"lp, .325...

Angle of the top plate I believe is what you're asking. I use whatever is stamped into Stihl chain as a witness mark. I think it's 30°. That value isn't absolute though. You can play with it to see if something else works better for you. Increasing the angle will give you faster cutting, but also faster dulling. Perhaps better for softwood. Decreasing the angle reverses that. On the extreme end, I use 5°-10° for my milling chains; almost straight across.

[kantuckid]

The box my Oregon chains come in has a handy dandy chart printed on the back with specs for many chains. I buy my chains made up from saw shops who sell on ebay in bulk.
 In the woods I use a file until the chain is in need of a serious re-do. I tried an electric sharpener some years ago that has the small diameter cylindrical stones but found that they glaze over too easily so a file is always my 1st option. 
  
Like said-don't waste money on a Chinese HF or no brand elec grinder as they just don't last.
 
 My Made in Italy grinder is an ebay buy lightly used, but new it will not make the price you ask for. 

[barbender]

There is a lot of terminology with chain, but to keep it simple it sounds like you are running 3/8" pitch chain, which uses a 7/32 file. That is what you need to know if you buy a Pferd/Stihl 2 in 1 sharpener. Most 60cc+ saws run 3/8 pitch, most less than 60cc run .325 pitch until you get into the really small saws.

[Nebraska]

My electric grinders sit unused, since I bought the 2 n1 jigs. I do much better sharpening them.
 

[JOE.G]

I purchased 4 Stihl 2-1  in the following sizes So hopefully I should be good to go and I like them because they do add up.
1/4" = 1/8" file
3/8lp(picco) = 5/32" file
.325 = 3/16" file
3/8" = 13/64" . Stihl specs 13/64",

[JOE.G]

My 009 and HT 131 Pole saw both have 3/8 Pico chains, i thought they were different, so I have one 1/4 2-1 that I don't need. I used one of them today and have getting used to it I like it quite a bit.

[teakwood]

but to keep it simple it sounds like you are running 3/8" pitch chain, which uses a 7/32 file

actually 3/8" pitch chain uses 13/64" file, unless you're a pro, some start with a 7/32 then 13/64 and later even go to 3/16

[Stephen1]

I am going to the sthil store today to purchase a 2/1 1 to try. I find it a pain to change a chain out when I'm on travelling job. I'd rather just spend a few minutes to sharpen .

[lxskllr]

I *really* hate swapping chains. If my day went right, the chain only comes off after the work's over to clean under the clutch cover, and clean the bar out.

[welderskelter]

lxskllr. Do you really take the bar off your saw to clean out the sawdust under the cover and clean the bar? If I done that my saw would probably quit altogether from shock. You must really take good care of your equipment. Good for you.