It is very common to have a chainsaw if we have an ornamental garden. It is essential to use this type of tool for the maintenance tasks of some shrubs and plants. We know that a chainsaw can save you numerous inconveniences in these maintenance tasks such as time and effort. However, such a machine also needs its own maintenance. There are many people who do not know sharpen the chainsaw chain.
Therefore, in this article we are going to teach you how to sharpen the chain of the chainsaw and what are the maintenance tasks of the same.
Key features
Depending on the type of chainsaw that we have purchased, it will need one type of maintenance or another. There are some important factors when choosing a chainsaw on the market. The first thing is to know what type we are going to buy. Each one can help us better to one of the requirements that we need. The main thing is to know what we need and choose some characteristics that help us. Then you enter the design that can facilitate some types of work in particular.
There are different types of chainsaws depending on the fuel used. There are those of gasoline, which are characterized by being professional machines and have great power. They need maintenance superior to the others. This is only recommended if we have a large garden or make a living from it. On the other hand, we have the electrics. They have motors that need to be connected to an electrical current. They are machines designed to perform domestic jobs that are not so demanding.
Finally, we have the battery ones. These are the most comfortable and to use since its engine is powered by a battery that is rechargeable. These batteries are usually light in weight which makes the chainsaw lighter overall. They do not have great power and autonomy but they are perfect for domestic and occasional uses.
Types of chainsaws
Let's see what are the different types according to the design they have and the use that is raised to give:
- Logging: They are those that become powerful tools to be able to cut firewood, logs or hard trees.
- Pruning: They are these types of tools that are usually small and have a light weight. Thanks to this, it provides greater maneuverability and comfort in use. It is used to prune the branches of trees, shrubs.
You have to take into account the type of use and the frequency with which it is going to be used. The battery-operated ones are designed for momentary and undemanding use. We know that the autonomy of these batteries does not last more than an hour, apart from not being very robust. Even so, it is necessary to learn to sharpen the chain of the chainsaw to maintain good maintenance and speed up the tasks. In this way, we take full advantage of the battery. Those that consider with gasoline are prepared for longer hours of work and to perform more demanding courtesies. It has more power and robustness than the electric ones.
How to sharpen the chainsaw chain
We are going to take the main steps to learn how to sharpen the chainsaw chain. It is one of the most demanding maintenance tasks for these tools. These are the steps to follow to sharpen the chainsaw chain with a file:
- Determine the size or gauge of the chainsaw chain. This means that you have to buy a rotary grinding wheel or file to be able to sharpen the chains. This grinding wheel must coincide with the belly of the chain and care must be taken as there are different diameters of files.
- Clean the chain. Before you can sharpen the chainsaw chain it is essential that it is clean. You should use a solvent, degreasing detergent, or a little gasoline to clean the oil, dirt, and particles that may get caught in the chain. You can also use a brush to clean more thoroughly.
- Check the links to detect those that are worn or damaged. It is important to have all the links of the chain in good condition for the optimum performance of the tool. There is some danger in the event that individual teeth are chipped, broken or populated. There is a risk that the chain may break when in operation.
- Place the chainsaw on a stable surface. In order to sharpen the chain of the chainsaw we must place our chain in a stable place where it will not move that is attached.
- Sets a main starting blade. You can use a marker to be able to mark one of the teeth and not make the mistake of sharpening one of them twice. We know that sharpening the chainsaw chain increases its efficiency, but it can also wear the chain much more.
- Place the file on the front sample of the blade. It is essential to insert the file into the slope hole with a position of approximately 30 degrees. Thanks to this degree of inclination it can fit perfectly with the front curve of the tooth.
Tasks for sharpening the chainsaw chain
Once we have the chainsaw in place and everything is ready, we just need to start sharpening. Let's see what the steps are:
- Start filing: you have to slide the file while maintaining the previous position carefully and ensuring that the remains of the chain can be collected for disposal.
- Do this on all of your teeth. It must be taken into account that degree of inclination must be carried out with all the teeth to wear as little as possible.
- Reverse the sides of the saw to sharpen the teeth in another direction.
- Check depth gauges and file if necessary. To know if we want to file the depth gauges, they must have a height difference with the upper part of the teeth that are the ones that cut of more or less about 0.3 centimeters to be able to guarantee that the teeth do a correct job.
Once we have finished taking all these steps, we just have to lubricate the chain and check its tension.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about how to sharpen the chainsaw chain.