How-to Sharpen a Chainsaw Chain

1. Top Plate
2. Cutting Corner
3. Slide Plate
4. Depth Gauge
5. Gullet
6. Toe
7. Heel
8. Rivet Hole
9. Clearance Angle
10. Depth Gauge

If you don’t know your chain’s type or number, ask your Oregon chain dealer or call our technical services department 800-223-5168. Refer to specifications for sharpening chain with an Electric Grinder or by hand with a Round File.

Step 3

Put on your protective gear, including gloves and eye wear.

Step 4

If you are sharpening chain while it is attached to the chain saw bar, make sure it’s tensioned properly first.

Step 5

Make sure your chain saw is turned off before you perform any maintenance.

Step 6

Wipe oil and grease off the chain. This step will prevent build-up from occurring on the file’s teeth or the wheel when grinding.

Step 7

Inspect the chainsaw chain for damage.

Here’s what you should look out for:

• Proper installation of tie straps and drive links
• Cracked or broken cutters, cutter top plates or tie straps
• Bent, cracked or burned drive links
• Severe abrasive damage
• Abnormally worn chain
• Wear patterns that may indicate a worn bar or sprocket. Refer to the Oregon Saw Chain Safety & Maintenance Manual for more information.
• Loose rivets (Try rotating the rivets with your fingers – if you can do this, they are too loose.)

Step 8

If you are filing your chainsaw chain by hand, select and use the correct file guide and file for your saw chain.  This is the easiest way to file saw chain.

  
Step 9

If the chain is broken, repair or replace it.

Step 10

Check and adjust depth gauges.

Step 11

Sharpen your chain to manufacturer’s recommendations, keeping it balanced.

Step by Step: How to Sharpen with a Round File 

The goal of filing is to remove all damage, while keeping the chainsaw chain balanced.

What You Will Need

• Gloves

• Protective eyewear

• Chainsaw filing kit

• Chainsaw chain 

Step 2

If you are using a file guide, place it over the cutter with the file in the gullet (between the cutter and the depth gauge). Make sure the file guide has two points of contact, one point of contact on the cutter top plate and two on the depth gauge.

Step 3

Hold the file in the correct location so that 1/5", or 20%, of the file’s diameter is positioned above the cutter’s top plate. Using an Oregon File Guide is the easiest way to hold the file in this position. 

Step 4

Check to see if the top plate filing angle should be parallel to chainsaw chain centerline.

Step 5

Locate the cutter with the most damage. Sharpen using steady, even strokes (the "full file length") to remove the damage while counting the number of file strokes.

You’ll know the damage is removed when the cutter has a shiny, silver face. File all of the cutters with the same number of strokes per cutter from the inside to the outside so that the cutter lengths are equal. 

Step 6

Complete all the cutters on one side of the chain, before turning your chain to switch sides.

File from the inside of each cutter to the outside. Complete all the cutters on one side of the chain. Once you are done, turn your saw around to repeat the process for the other side of the chain. Remember, keep all cutter lengths equal.

Step 7

File back to remove damage and keep top plates equal in length.

Step 8

Recheck depth gauges.

Step by Step: How to Sharpen a Chainsaw Chain with an Oregon Electric Sharpener

These instructions are meant to be general guidelines. Refer to your grinder manual for set-up use and instructions.

Grind your chain so that it meets the recommendations of the manufacturer. Use a quick tapping motion to minimize over heating of the ground surface.
 

Step 1

Check the grinder wheel shape.

Paso 2

Coloque el conjunto de prensa en el ángulo correcto de limado de la placa superior.

Consulte el manual de su afilador para conocer la mejor forma de hacerlo.

Paso 3

Use el ángulo de corte de placa superior recomendado para establecer el ángulo del cabezal del afilador correcto.

Paso 4

Compruebe que la empuñadura de bloqueo de la prensa esté ajustada y que la cadena esté bloqueada.

Paso 5

Encienda el afilador eléctrico.

Paso 6

Afile el cortador bajando la unidad de motor con brazo.

Paso 7

Cuando haya terminado de afilar el cortador, eleve el brazo y afloje la empuñadura.

Paso 8

Haga circular la cadena hacia adelante para posicionar la siguiente cortador para afilar.

Paso 9

Bloquee otra vez con la empuñadura y afile.  

Paso 10

Cuando haya afilado todos cortadores, apague la máquina y desenchufe el cable de energía.  

Paso 11

Use discos de afilado vitrificados con frecuencia para mantener la forma correcta.

Use un desbastador giratorio o bloque afilador.

Paso a paso: qué debería hacer después de afilar una cadena de motosierra

Paso 1

Compruebe y ajuste los calibres de profundidad usando estas instrucciones.

Paso 2

Limpie cualquier residuo, luego lubrique toda la cadena con aceite para barra y cadena. Para obtener los mejores resultados, sumerja la cadena durante la noche.

Paso 3

Almacene la cadena de motosierra afilada en un contenedor con lubricante para que esté lista para su siguiente uso.