Chainsaws are one of the most useful tools you can have on your property. But if they are not cared for properly, they will quickly become useless. The most important maintenance for any saw is sharpening the blade. This will keep it running smoothly and prolong its life.
It can be a little intimidating to put a file up to the saw blade. But you will be quite surprised how easy it is to sharpen a chainsaw with a Dremel. In this article, we will provide you with a guide on how to sharpen a chainsaw with Dremel and some FAQs. Read on!
Preparations
Contents
Before you start sharpening your chainsaw with a Dremel, you should follow some preparations. This way, you will gain better control over the process, and you will be able to sharpen your chainsaw with a Dremel better.
The first step is to take a look at the saw and try to understand what needs to be done. If you don’t see any visible problem with the chain, then you should go to the sharpening part.
If you notice that the chain is too loose or too tight, you need to check if the guide bar is straight. If you can see that there’s something wrong with the guide bar, you need to fix it before sharpening the chain.
It’s advisable to tighten the chain a bit more than usual before sharpening it.
How to Sharpen a Chainsaw Blade With a Dremel
- Step 1: Get all the parts together. You will need a Dremel tool for chainsaw sharpening, a marker, gloves, a guide, and a grinding bit.
- Step 2: Turn your chainsaw on and let it warm up. Once it is warm, turn it off and pull the chain a little bit.
- Step 3: Put on your gloves and use a marker to mark the chain where you want to start sharpening. The chain should be warm and not running.
- Step 4: For the right angle, attach a sharpening guide to the Dremel and grinding stone and start grinding and sharpening the tooth. You will need to make sure you are grinding at the right angle, or else you may ruin the tooth.
- Step 5: Sharpen all the teeth in the chain with your rotary tool chainsaw sharpener and be sure to pay attention to the direction of the chain and the direction the teeth are pointing. Go slow and stop in between to check the tooth.
Note: Sharpen each tooth for the same amount of time and make sure to go slow and not heat up the tooth. Keep grinding till you have done all the teeth. - Step 6: Remove the guide and grinding stone and clean the saw. Use a rag to wipe off any filings left on the saw or guide.
FAQ
Here are the questions that are asked most often about sharpening chainsaw chains with Dremel, and saw chains in general.
How do you know if a chainsaw chain is dull?
A dull saw chain will damage the wood as it cuts. It will leave an uneven cut with deep ridges. The cut will be slow, and the chain will overheat.
Is it worth sharpening a chainsaw?
Absolutely yes! If you take care of your saw and sharpen it regularly, you will extend its life and reduce the costs of buying a new one. Moreover, it is dangerous to use a dull chain as it’s more difficult to control, especially for a beginner.
What is the easiest way to sharpen a chainsaw?
There are many ways to sharpen a chainsaw, but Dremel is one of the easiest ways to do it. It is a popular tool used to cut, grind, and polish objects. It is used by many professionals, and many people like it because it is user-friendly and has a tool-free design.
Why does my saw chain dull so quickly?
There are a number of reasons for this. First, you may be cutting wood that is too hard. A chain is only going to last a short time, cutting through hard maple, for example. Always make sure you are cutting wood that is appropriate for the chain you are using.
Most chainsaw chains dull quickly because the chain has been improperly tensioned. In most cases, the chain is too loose, and this causes it to wobble. This reduces the amount of material the chain can remove from the wood and causes it to dull quickly.
How often do you need to sharpen a chainsaw?
It depends on the environment you work in. If you work in softwood like pine, you can sharpen it once in a while. But if you work with hardwood like Oak or Ash, you might need to sharpen it more often. Say, after about every ten times of use.
The Bottom Line
Now you know how to sharpen a chainsaw with a Dremel. It will take you less than 10 minutes, and you will have your saw cutting like new again. If you’ve got a chainsaw that’s been pulling to one side, or if you’re just looking to sharpen the chain after a few uses, this is an inexpensive solution that works well.
I hope you liked my tutorial. If you have any questions, suggestions, or opinions, feel free to share them with us.
