Not a hand filer anymore

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Butcher

Minister of Fire
Nov 2, 2011
530
N. central Ia.
Got my TimberTuff electric chain sharpener set up this morning. Unfortunatly I only had 1 chain that kinda sorta needed attention. It was still throwin chips just fine but had seen about 3 tailgate tuneups and was due for a grinder. Ran it through the ES and was humbled as I always thought I was pretty good with a file and guide. Normally I will go so long and then take the chains in to have a guy in the biz do them and now that he is going out of bizness I needed my own sharpener. It is also going to save abunch of money at work and make some beer money as well I'm thinkin. As a landscaper I almost daily have to remove trees and shrubs all the while leaving a small footprint on peoples lawns. That means removing stumps by hand with sharpened spades or log chains streched out to the closest pavement or the old stihl .025. I have a toolbox that goes with me on any grubout job with a saw. It has any tools I may need and 20, yes 20 chains for that old saw. I can easily go thru 5 chains on 1 stump since they mainly cut roots, rocks and telephone lines. I useta take then to get sharpened to my guy and pay for it. Now I can do it myself and pocket some beer money.
 
Do you have the bench mount $50 model or the more expensive model? Just curious. I was thinking about getting one and there were a few bad reviews on the tractor supply web site for the cheaper model. I read that the angle and instructions were difficult to find on the cheaper model, but then sometimes you have to take those reviews with a grain of salt.
 
Do you have the bench mount $50 model or the more expensive model? Just curious. I was thinking about getting one and there were a few bad reviews on the tractor supply web site for the cheaper model. I read that the angle and instructions were difficult to find on the cheaper model, but then sometimes you have to take those reviews with a grain of salt.
This is the higher priced model. I dont have alot of money but when it comes to buying tools that I need and will take good care of I dont scrimp on the stuff. Like I said, I've only run 1 chain thru it but spent about 2 hours getting familiar with it before I did that. It seems well built and easy to adjust. The instructions are somewhat confuseing but anyone with some inteligance should be able to get started with it. I hear ya on interweb reviews. Some folks couldnt get a pair of bathroom slippers to work right cuz they cant figure out which foot to put them on.
 
Don't get me started about online reviews. Bought a cart from Tractor Supply last week and most of the reviewers were talking about it taking 2+ hours to put the thing together, and some were at 6+ hours, with modifications to struts, etc. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that if you have to modify something in one of these builds, you probably need to go back and look over the directions again and see what you screwed up. Needless to say, with the "help" of my 3 year old and father in-law, of which my father in-law probably knocked 10 minutes off the build time, it took me 45 minutes to put the thing together.

Had no idea Tractor Supply sold electric chain sharpeners. Headed to its website right now to check it out. Been looking at the Oregon one that Northern Tool sells. Hemming and hawing between $200 and something like $350 between the models there. Off to Tractor Supply.

Edit to add: That was one of the ones I had been thinking about before deciding on the Oregon ones. For $150 and available down the road at Tractor Supply, I am reconsidering. Think the reviews on the directions scared the heck out of me, but I should know better about people, their ability to assemble stuff, and their ability to use stuff correctly. Going to take a look at it at Tractor Supply the next time I am out that way. Have 4 chains in need of sharpening, and pretty sure my dad has even more. On my last set of sharp ones, so something has to be done about it somewhat soon.

Thanks for the thread.
 
Don't get me started about online reviews. Bought a cart from Tractor Supply last week and most of the reviewers were talking about it taking 2+ hours to put the thing together, and some were at 6+ hours, with modifications to struts, etc. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that if you have to modify something in one of these builds, you probably need to go back and look over the directions again and see what you screwed up. Needless to say, with the "help" of my 3 year old and father in-law, of which my father in-law probably knocked 10 minutes off the build time, it took me 45 minutes to put the thing together.

Had no idea Tractor Supply sold electric chain sharpeners. Headed to its website right now to check it out. Been looking at the Oregon one that Northern Tool sells. Hemming and hawing between $200 and something like $350 between the models there. Off to Tractor Supply.

Edit to add: That was one of the ones I had been thinking about before deciding on the Oregon ones. For $150 and available down the road at Tractor Supply, I am reconsidering. Think the reviews on the directions scared the heck out of me, but I should know better about people, their ability to assemble stuff, and their ability to use stuff correctly. Going to take a look at it at Tractor Supply the next time I am out that way. Have 4 chains in need of sharpening, and pretty sure my dad has even more. On my last set of sharp ones, so something has to be done about it somewhat soon.

Thanks for the thread.

This is the 1 I got.
http://www.farmandfleet.com/product...e=googlebase&gclid=CKiRmvPQx7QCFQVgMgod-WYAug
I mounted mine on 2- 2x6's so I can clamp it in a vice. Since I will be using it at home and at the shop at work I needed to be portable.
 
Think the reviews on the directions scared the heck out of me, but I should know better about people, their ability to assemble stuff, and their ability to use stuff correctly.

Having been in business* for a few years I have found that most people that write reviews have had problems. Of the ones that come back to the shop the problems are usually because they either did not read something or they did not understand what they read and did not call to ask. People that buy something and don't have any problems rarely write reviews. What I have also found is for a lot of sites the five star reviews are usually paid for. I have received more than one offer to create a "positive web image" for my site.

KaptJaq

* Not stove or wood processing equipment but related to the internet market place.
 
What angle do you have the head at? 60* is what most others use. What size wheel are you using? Have you "Dressed" the wheel? Does your 025 use safety chains? If so then the "shark fin" in front of the raker will have to be removed. How about your rakers? What angle are you using on the cutters? Chisel, semi chisel, chipper chains? What brand of chain? Trying to help you here, Ken
 
What angle do you have the head at? 60* is what most others use. What size wheel are you using? Have you "Dressed" the wheel? Does your 025 use safety chains? If so then the "shark fin" in front of the raker will have to be removed. How about your rakers? What angle are you using on the cutters? Chisel, semi chisel, chipper chains? What brand of chain? Trying to help you here, Ken
Huh???
 
What angle do you have the head at? 60* is what most others use. What size wheel are you using? Have you "Dressed" the wheel? Does your 025 use safety chains? If so then the "shark fin" in front of the raker will have to be removed. How about your rakers? What angle are you using on the cutters? Chisel, semi chisel, chipper chains? What brand of chain? Trying to help you here, Ken

Yeah, who are you trying to help? That is a lot of questions. It is my understanding that the chain dictates the grinder wheel size and there is no option. Same goes for the angle, etc.
 
I am trying to help the man that asked the question.On the back of the grinder their should be a wheel to loosen and tighten the head. On the front side their should be a numbering system.From say 10 to 90 degreese. Set this (the head) at 60.This is the setting for most chains.How many wheels came with the grinder?For your 025 you will be using a 325 chain. This will be the 1/8th wheel, or you will have to use what was provided.The wheel has a flat side that comes into contact with the chain. This will have to be "dressed" with a stone, hopefully one was provided.You do not want the flat corner coming in contact with the chain.On the vise set the angle to 30`. This should get you in the ball park.You are going to make mistakes. I still do but not as often. Now find an old chain and get some practice. Do not get the chain hot as the temper will be taken out of the chain.You want to get the wheel down into the center of the gullet and take off as little as possible. Less is better than more.I hope this gets you started.It takes practice. read the owners manual, Ken

 
Might want to
Sharpen some junk chains first ;)
But either way
Have fun ;)
 
Had no idea Tractor Supply sold electric chain sharpeners. Headed to its website right now to check it out. Been looking at the Oregon one that Northern Tool sells. Hemming and hawing between $200 and something like $350 between the models there. Off to Tractor Supply.

Fabs, I think the TimberTuff @ TSC is the same grinder Northern sells under it's own label (Northern Industrial Tools). I've seen the Northern grinder go on sale once in a while.
 
Fabs, I think the TimberTuff @ TSC is the same grinder Northern sells under it's own label (Northern Industrial Tools). I've seen the Northern grinder go on sale once in a while.

The Northern Grinder is $10 off right now, and with shipping it comes to $134.99. Plus, I like red better than green. lol Think I am going to break down and splurge today. Fiskars X27, Fiskars X7, axe sharpener, and chain sharpener. Life is good.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.