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[Pointblank]

Been looking at getting an electric chain sharpener and wondering if anyone can recommend a good one. Northern Tool has several for sale and they range from $100 for a generic model, to anywhere from $200-$500 for an Oregon.
Anything in particular i shold be looking for?  Any recommendations?

[dukethebeagle]

learn to sharpen off hand.you`ll be harther ahead in the long run

[hondaracer2oo4]

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Buy the cheap o harbor freight one, they are 29 bucks with a coupon. Unless you are a small engine or sharpening business it will work great for you. I have been using mine for 4 years. 

[Farmer Blue]

 I have the cheap one from Harbor Freight. It works fine. I believe that when you sharpen by hand it leaves an edge that will last longer. That could be due to the fact that the electric sharpener can heat and take some of the temper out of the teeth. When I use the electric sharpener I try to take as little as possible at a time so not to over heat the teeth.

[pullerbob]

I too have one of those harbor freight ones and it works just fine.

[mlappin]

I watched Ebay and picked up a used Oregon for about the same a brand new generic one sells for.

Take very small cuts with it, like what has been pointed out, real easy to overheat the cutting edge.

Sometimes if the chain is bad enough it may take me two or three times thru the sharpener before I’m satisfied.

[BoilerHouse]

I had an Oregon dremel style sharpener.  The type whose power leads clipped to a 12 volt battery.  After a couple years the thing self destructed for no good reason.  I checked the original packaging and it was.....made in China.

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.....    I hand sharpened my chains for well over 40 years,....
It's just hard to keep consistent throughout a chain on a 20" bar, on both sides,...
My hand sharpened chains always cut good, But,.....

I bought one of the harbor fright chain grinders, 'n loved the speed, 'n reasonable consistencies,...
But bein' all plastic, tolerances soon faded to distant memories,...

After much searchin' for a steal of a deal, I bought the top of the line Oregon with the hyd. vise,....

So far, so Great,...   Love the adjustabilities of it,...

Consistent angles, in every angle of the cut, 'n Consistent tooth lengths,.....

Still learnin' some of the finer points, but my new to me 460 Magnum is now one 'ell of a sawdust machine, even in 4' round hard maple logs,....

[Trint]

Have the harbor freight model and it leaves some to be desired, but works for the price.  A better vice and more modes of adjustment would be nice (only one angle of adjustment on them).  Still beats a file, unless you are real good with one like some on this site claim.

[Pointblank]

Ayuh,.....    I hand sharpened my chains for well over 40 years,....
It's just hard to keep consistent throughout a chain on a 20" bar, on both sides,...
My hand sharpened chains always cut good, But,......

This is kind of where I'm at too.  I can do a decent job touching up by hand with a file, but nothing compares to a fresh chain on my 440 Stihl.  That saw is amazing with a professionally sharpened chain. Hoping with a decent sharpener I can get that level of performance doing it myself.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[dukethebeagle]

i file chainsaws everyday offhand so you get good at it
takes like 5 minutes

[mlappin]

This seemed to be all the rage last year on this site:



https://www.timberlinesharpener.com/how-does-it-work

[U.P. Doug]

I have been using a Dotco air pencil grinder with both carbide burrs and stones. It spins at 25,000 and works well for me, but I have used this at work most of my life on tooling so I am comfortable with it. Does not take long at all to sharpen on the saw.

[Bluegrass Wood Burner]

I'm ready to order me a Timberline sharpener. What sight do you all recommend and should I get all the angles that are  at extra cost? Really all I saw with is my Husqvarna rancher 460. Am I right that the 7/32 carbide cutter is what I need?  Excited to get it in. Getting an early advancement on Father's Day with a little help from me obviously. Will be a nice gift

[ralphxj]

I have a timberline and LOVE it!!! Will never go back to hand sharpening, once it's set right, you can get razor sharp teeth in a couple minutes every time!!

The biggest thing I've learned is make 2 passes on each side. Set the adjustment so you are barely taking anything off and they are all the same, then make another pass and really get it razor sharp!!

Careful using the cutter when it's really cold, I managed to break one when it was super cold and I had the adjustment off (was in a hurry) and it caught.