Timberline Chain Sharpener - "Group buy"

[BrianK]

Hi Folks,
I contacted Phil Krantz, owner of Timberline Chainsaw Sharpeners, and asked if he would offer a discount for Hearth.com members (i.e., a "Group buy" discount.)

He said to use this code: hearth
in the "Apply Promo Code" box during checkout for a $15 discount.

He also reduced the retail price $5 from last fall. The original price was $129.95, now it is $124.95.

I'll be ordering one soon. (Since I have no adult experience sharpening a chainsaw by any method, I should be a good guinea pig.)

 

[Dakotas Dad]

Dangit.. I just bought the Husqvarna roller getup two days ago..

 

[muncybob]

cool, thanx for the info!

 

[ScotO]

Brian, is there a deadline on the discount? I want to get one but its gonna be a couple weeks til I can. Thanks for your work getting with Phil!

 

[BrianK]

Brian, is there a deadline on the discount? I want to get one but its gonna be a couple weeks til I can. Thanks for your work getting with Phil!

I'd imagine he'd let it run for a while. I'll ask him if there is a deadline, but he didn't mention one.

 

[MasterMech]

Sounds like Phil is a smart businessman. Making this community happy is a sure-fire way to sell a chit-ton of product. Super Cedars or a Fiskars anyone?

EDIT: And BrianK, nice avatar and helluva nice job on securing the group discount!

 

[Nixon]

If any of You buy the Timberline , You'll find that after a short time that the other systems were archaic ,and crude .

 

[HittinSteel]

That looks pretty slick

 

[punchy]

very interested. thought about grinder, but not sure if i could justify it. i don't do terrible hand filing, but it would be nice to true with exact angles.

 

[DexterDay]

I just tried it. With PayPal and Credit Card (Debit), and it keeps saying something is wrong with my address. I have triple checked Everything.

The Promo does work though. Gonna try again in a bit...

(EDIT: It worked after a few more minutes. But still wouldnt work through my PayPal account. Only thru my Debit the 2nd time around.)

BrianK- Thanks for the foot work in getting the discount. That was a stand up thing to do... Going out and using my new 460 tomorrow. Review will soon follow after delivery. Thanks.

 

[BrianK]

BrianK- Thanks for the foot work in getting the discount. That was a stand up thing to do... Going out and using my new 460 tomorrow. Review will soon follow after delivery. Thanks.

Thanks DD. I wish I could say I did something altruistic, but frankly money is really tight, and I really wanted to get one of these. When I'm buying equipment, tools, etc., I tend to research it into the ground. A little bit of OCD in that regard, probably. But I've looked at every available option for chainsaw sharpening, since I'm essentially starting from scratch, and my research indicates that, despite the initial cost, the Timberline Sharpener is the best & quickest (because you don't have to remove the chain), and the closest thing to idiot proof on the market. It looks like it takes all the variables out and provides consistent, factory level sharpening every time, and it can be done in the field without a power supply, using a tool easily carried on the belt.

Here's a review from the ArboristSite thread. I've consistently seen statements that once its set up and you know how to use it, you can sharpen a decently maintained chain in 3 to 5 minutes:

My official review of the timberline chain sharpener

Ok, Below is my personal official review of the Timberline Chain Sharpener.​

​

My credentials and experience are as follows; I am a professional Firefighter for a DOD facility and volunteer on my days off. I am a amateur/semi-skilled at tree felling and cutting. I also am an amateur OPE mechanic. I have firm love/understanding for chainsaws and their components. With that being said take this review for what its worth and again these are my opinions only.​

​

Before I go any further, I want to also mention that Phil (Rockstock) provided me with this unit as a demo. I have no affiliation with Timberline, or Phil.​

​

I will try to keep this short yet informative. All the chains I sharpened were in decent shape, and attached are the chains that were sharpened.​

Pros;​

1. Well built and easy to use​

2. Quality material​

3. Easy to understand directions​

4. Can do 20 inch chain in less than 5 min once versed with device​

5. Takes the variances of hand filing out of the picture​

6. All cutters are precise and same in all ways​

​

Cons;​

1. Initial setup/out of box cost a little high​

2. Tips and angle dies not marked with appropriate size/ angles.​

3. Carbide tip has area which will never be used​

4. Can't adjust for the 10 degree down angle a lot of chains are supposed to be sharpened with.​

5. Need second setup for filing rakers (or not, its all in what you want)​

​

Possible improvements;​

1. Etch/mark all "loose" pieces (not to difficult to figure out but would be nice).​

2. Create a way to adjust carbide tip so that when one area is dull can be adjusted to use rest of tip. (part closest to the angle chuck)​

3. Create a way to adjust from 0-10 (or more) down angle​

​

At the end of the day....​

1 being poor, 10 being excellent....​

​

Packaging- 9/10​

Quality of Material 9/10​

Craftsmanship 9/10​

Ease of instructions 9/10​

Ease of use 9/10​

Price of Package 7/10 ( You get what you pay for though)​

Price of accessories 8/10​

At the end of the day 9/10​

​

I want to add that while sharpening my chains i could certainly tell how bad of a hand filer I really am. I even was using the Husqvarna combo tool prior to this. Some of the teeth would need no additional grinding, some a little, and some were horrendous. Again I am no professional hand filer to begin with, but I think this tool could be used by a novice to a pro with the same end results.​

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Below are some pics I took. Please comment or ask questions that I may have forgot or didn't remember to talk about.​

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P1020124.JPG​

P1020125.JPG​

P1020126.JPG​

 

[toonces]

i want one

 

[DexterDay]

The Timberline came in today. Along with a couple things for the 460... Talk about Fast Shipping....

Hope to get time later to try it. Son was up sick last night. We both stayed home. Gotta take care of him 1st.

 

[jotul8e2]

Anyone have any idea how long the carbide tips last? Even approximately?

 

[BrianK]

Anyone have any idea how long the carbide tips last? Even approximately?

On the ArboristSite thread, the owner of the company said the carbides are good for sharpening a minimum of 20 chains. However, he also said he has sharpened over 100 chains with one carbide he takes to trade shows and other venues and its not worn out:

Everyone always asks me right from the start how long the carbide cutters last. I've had many customers tell me they are very happy with the cutters after 20+ sharpenings. I've done demonstrations at trade shows using 1 carbide and after well over 100 sharpenings I would still not consider it worn out as it still does a good job. The longevity will depend on how it is used, just like a chain. Use it correctly and it will last a very long time. I've used these on air tools at 4000 rpms and they work great! Very precise at removing small amounts of metal because of the high flute count.

So I think we'll get a lot of mileage out of these carbides. I'm ordering one tomorrow.

 

[Nixon]

On the ArboristSite thread, the owner of the company said the carbides are good for sharpening a minimum of 20 chains. However, he also said he has sharpened over 100 chains with one carbide he takes to trade shows and other venues and its not worn out:



So I think we'll get a lot of mileage out of these carbides. I'm ordering one tomorrow.

I've done about 40 chains , some multiple times on one carbide cutter . A word of caution though , Do not turn the handle backwards . It will damage the cutter .

 

[DexterDay]

I've done 2 chains so far this morning. Taken me longer than expected. After doing it a few more times, I'm sure it will get easier. One thing is for sure. That carbide cutter will remove material in very short order. I did a chain on my Husky that had found an old Eye Bolt. Cutters were pretty bad. Took about 10 minutes to do the entire chain, but took me 10 minutes to get it properly set-up. There is only 8 steps to get it set-up. But they must be done precisely and properly.

The second chain was a little faster. Definitely an value added product to an arsenal. IMO. I also bought the 25° & 35° angle inserts. Have yet to try them. But for what they cost, the discount basically paid for them.

 

[buddylee]

How sharp is the chain after sharpening compared to a new chain and one sharpened with a grinder ?

 

[DexterDay]

How sharp is the chain after sharpening compared to a new chain and one sharpened with a grinder ?

Never had one sharpened with a grinder... Only had new and hand sharpened.

I did a chain w/ the 35° angle dies and it flew through the wood. Large chips.. Very Large Chips... But it did take me 2 times to get the cutter to take the 35° angle. Maybe it can be done in one pass. But it felt like to much being takin off. So I did it in 2 steps. Half on the 1st round and the next half on the 2nd.

Is one better than the other?? Prob not. I am not the best hand filer. I will admit that. I have only been self sharpening for a lil over a year. So this is my way of getting a very good edge on the 1st try. I still intend to hone my hand filing. But until then, this definitely does the trick.

 

[ScotO]

Never had one sharpened with a grinder... Only had new and hand sharpened.

I did a chain w/ the 35° angle dies and it flew through the wood. Large chips.. Very Large Chips... But it did take me 2 times to get the cutter to take the 35° angle. Maybe it can be done in one pass. But it felt like to much being takin off. So I did it in 2 steps. Half on the 1st round and the next half on the 2nd.View attachment 65113 View attachment 65114

Is one better than the other?? Prob not. I am not the best hand filer. I will admit that. I have only been self sharpening for a lil over a year. So this is my way of getting a very good edge on the 1st try. I still intend to hone my hand filing. But until then, this definitely does the trick.

Don't forget DD that over the course of several sharpenings, you are going to need to file the rakers down by hand. Does the instructions for the Timberline go over that detail?

 

[ScotO]

One more note........is that Timberline not the sexiest little gadget you ever saw?

 

[DexterDay]

Don't forget DD that over the course of several sharpenings, you are going to need to file the rakers down by hand. Does the instructions for the Timberline go over that detail?

I know to file the rakers... One more thing I have learned here. Burning pellets requires more maintenance on the stove and less work on getting fuel... Burning wood requires more work and maintenance on getting fuel and less on the stove.. Exact opposites. But they both have a spot in my home.

And yes.... Its Sexy.

 

[MasterMech]

This thing should produce rediculously sharp chains that hold an edge well. Nice to see a device that works and there's no chance of overheating a tooth like there is with a grinder. Closest thing I've seen to "idiot proof" too.

 

[ditchrider]

This thing should produce rediculously sharp chains that hold an edge well. Nice to see a device that works and there's no chance of overheating a tooth like there is with a grinder. Closest thing I've seen to "idiot proof" too.

This gives me a question about angles. I've always gone with 30 degrees because that's how my chain was manufactured. Could someone answer what the advantage of a 25, 30 or 35 degree maintenance would be? Thanks.

 

[MasterMech]

This gives me a question about angles. I've always gone with 30 degrees because that's how my chain was manufactured. Could someone answer what the advantage of a 25, 30 or 35 degree maintenance would be? Thanks.

I'd start a new thread for that one.