How to tell if your Chainsaw Chain is too Dull to Sharpen?

#chainsaw #dullchain #chainsharpening
Do you often wonder if your chain is too far gone for sharpening. Are you wasting time hand filing chains that are extremely worn? In this video I show how we bring a chain back to life by sharpening with several passes on our automatic grinder. Just keep in mind that the chrome on the cutter is what does the actual cutting.
Music: "Insomnia" by Smith and Fischer - TJ Fischer Publishing ASCAP

[@robertdouglas3456]

Great job on the chains!🤩🤩

[@bman6065]

It's really whether its been tempered too much to sharpen. Even then you can do it. It's just about how much it's worth saving that chain.

[@paulsouthgate8954]

Amazing sharpening machine.Not something I have seen before

[@fischertoolandgarden]

It is very handy, but does need adjustment checks often. It's not perfect, but when properly adjusted, does a great job.

[@eurokid83]

You must sharpen a lot of chain to warrant purchasing that grinder.

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Partially the decision to buy it was due to lack of finding skilled help that would show up for work. When we looked at the cost of it, 3 months of an employees salary covers it. Plus I can sharpen chains while working the counter. Sometimes we have lots of chains that would take the other mechanic away from other work, so this works for us.

[@HaggisPower]

Does grinding into the base link weaken the chain significantly?

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Something definitely to watch.

[@brucemccormick8635]

I recently bought a chainsaw through Facebook marketplace. The chain is incredibly dull. Luckily i have another chain. I have been trying to hand file. But it's going very slow

[@fischertoolandgarden]

If you have enough chrome left on the cutters, maybe you could bring it to a sharpening shop to get it sharp again. Then you could just touch it up hand filing as you use it. It would save you a lot of time and work. Thanks for watching!

[@escapetherace1943]

lol I got one of these basically free and she just needs a couple easy parts chain is beyond gone though, each tooth half as long as my pinky nail (pink part) and absolutely rounded all over... I'm just grabbing a new chain the one I got ain't worth it

[@brucemccormick8635]

@@escapetherace1943 that chain i had was about as short and quite dull. It seemed like a couple a chain teeth ( i dont know the exact term) were missing and a couple in a row faced the the same way. I ended up throwing it away. And buying an Oregon chain for it.

[@escapetherace1943]

@@brucemccormick8635 yeah I was gonna chuck an oregon chain and possibly chain/bar on it together if the price is right. sadly my bar and user manual have no info about the chain so I guess I'm counting drivelinks and bringing it to a shop so I make sure to grab the right one

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

I've run across a couple used but only slightly dull chains my file wouldn't cut, I believe they'd been sharpened using a wheel and this hardened the cutters?

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Haven't heard of that happening. I know you can burn the cutters if you take too much off at a time, but don't know if it hardens the steel.

[@geralddavis9236]

I get customers bringing chains that are just gone like even if I was to do a lil at a time the process of it takes to long for what we charge so I started calling it a repair instead of a sharpen cause if I have to go around more then once thank you not everyone gets that what the chain looks like when they bring it in has bearing on what it looks like after

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Yes, 4 passes through the sharpener, like these, is way too long. I figured if I just had a sharpening business, I would still need to offer replacement chains in these situations. Not worth sharpening.

[@jimzeleny7213]

Love your punctuation

[@duanereising3026]

No, I personally think that people using chainsaws have a drag racer's mentality and, all seem like racing sound defines "PROGRESS"...and, then ask??...hmmm?? I wonder why my saw wasn't no good no mo???...

[@patriciareynolds2729]

Ed, the teeth look 1/2 worn away now.

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Yes exactly. When someone runs a chain in the dirt for too long, you have no other choice than to either buy a new one, or grind it back to the chrome.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

I have several chains with cutters shorter than these, they cut great.

[@patrickcoyne1292]

i’ll grind them until they break off honestly. chains a wear item. might as well kill it.

[@fischertoolandgarden]

So true. It is a wear item worth sharpening 'til they're done.

[@burtvhulberthyhbn7583]

My neighbor dulled his chain just like that. It took 25 strokes on each tooth to fix it. I hope he listens to my advice not to do that again

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Definitely good advice!

[@billbertagnoli4226]

Just like every sharpening video I've seen. Sharpen the teeth but no demonstration on regulating the depth gauges. What's up with that?

[@fischertoolandgarden]

My other video covers depth gauges with both the Oregon and Tecomec sharpeners. Sorry I didn't cover it on this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJS7mZ17id6Le7s

[@billbertagnoli4226]

Thanks 👍

[@victoryfirst2878]

WHOEVER did this to the chain is a true YOO YOO for sure. He is probably blind too.

[@joehead1294]

I guess that machine knocks down the rakers? Not sure I would have bothered with those, sell some new. Course that don't pay for the machine now does it.

[@fischertoolandgarden]

Yes it does do the rakers, although I use another machine for that, less time to set up. If you do the rakers on the Oregon, the wheel loses it's profile and becomes a bit pointy. This customer has been cutting roots, and wants them sharpened 'til there's nothing left to sharpen. Since I'm not paying an employee to so this, I don't mind them taking a little longer to sharpen.

[@hahaha9076]

​@North County Lawnmower That explains the wear. Grit would do that. I'm new to chainsaws, so I appreciate the lesson.

[@fischertoolandgarden]

@@hahaha9076 Glad to help.

[@Trump985]

It makes me wonder how the hell people can be so out of touch with reality they they just keep running a dull chain until it gets to this point? After a tank or two of gas it’s obvious the chain is getting dull to anyone who has an IQ above 20! You take a minute to touch it up with a file. I’m no expert, but my chains cut great until they get to the point there is nothing left of the cutting teeth to file. I can’t imagine why someone would keep trying to cut with a dull chain, its clearly not cutting worth shit and it’s getting worse by the minute! Stop and spend a couple minutes with a damn file it will be a lot faster in the end! I hate to see what this guy’s bar looks like I bet he doesn’t dress it either 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@patdenney7046]

Those chains are hammered impossible to make them cut right again! The part of the chain that rides against the bar is absolutely destroyed The geometry of the chain has has been changed to the no cut geometry! You actually can cut routes without hammering your chain. Never suck dirt in your cut learn to jog your chain stop go stop go and if you’re cutting always set clean material in your cut keep your cane speed slow down

[@fischertoolandgarden]

I knew this customer was going back to cut roots again and figured sharpening a beat up chain was better than selling him a new one. I still think a reciprocating saw is better for cutting roots. It's an alternative to getting dirt in you clutch and bar area of the chainsaw.

[@sawmanbigtreeslayer2360]

Use an axe!! Then you're not wrecking chains. Wrong tool for the wrong job.

[@fischertoolandgarden]

A pulaski would work as well. I think people often don't think about using hand tools anymore. Sometimes they would rather buy a carbide chain than swing an axe or other tool.