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.

Step 2

Set vise assembly to the correct top plate filing angle.

Refer to your grinder’s manual to learn the best way to do this.

Step 3

Use the recommended top-plate cutting angle to set the proper grinder head angle.

Step 4

Check that the vise blocking handle is screwed in tight and that the chain is blocked.

Step 5

Turn on the electric sharpener.

Step 6

Sharpen the cutter by lowering the arm-motor unit.

Step 7

When you are done sharpening the cutter, raise the arm and loosen the handle.

Step 8

Run the chain forward to position the next cutter to be sharpened.

Step 9

Block again with the handle and sharpen.  

Step 10

When all the cutters are sharpened, turn the machine off and unplug the power cable.  

Step 11

Dress vitrified grinding wheels often to maintain correct shape.

Use either a rotary dresser or a dressing brick.

Step by Step: What You Should Do After Sharpening a Chainsaw Chain

Step 1

Check and adjust depth gauges using instructions found here.

Step 2

Clean off any debris, then lubricate the chain thoroughly with bar and chain oil. For the best results, soak the chain overnight.

Step 3

Store the sharpened saw chain in a container with lubricant so that it’s ready for its next use.