Chain Sharpening Addict

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JP11

Minister of Fire
May 15, 2011
1,452
Central Maine
Ok.. I finally went off the deep end.

I had files.. I did a poor job.

Then I got one of these.
http://www.timberlinesharpener.com

Did a good job, a little slow.

Then I got better with hand files. I was using them for routine sharpening. Every 3rd or 4th time I'd get a good rock, or have it messed up enough to go spend the 9 bucks for the saw shop to get em back right (they hand file, but do a way better job than I can)

After talking to the saw shop about grinders. He said.. don't get a cheap one. make sure you can set all three angles.

I went a little nuts. Found a real good price on a grinder that will even do the vice grab hands free every time.
http://www.russopower.com/products/oregon-heavy-duty-bench-grinder-with-hydraulic-assist-551462/ it's a great price on this unit compared to other places online. Even found a 10 buck coupon code in their showroom virtual tour. Neat gimmick.

I know the grinder will need some patience and a learning curve… but figure it will pay for itself.. in a few years! What can I say, addicted to good tools.

Anyone want to buy a timberline sharpener for short money?

JP
 
Ok.. I finally went off the deep end.

I had files.. I did a poor job.

Then I got one of these.
http://www.timberlinesharpener.com

Did a good job, a little slow.

Then I got better with hand files. I was using them for routine sharpening. Every 3rd or 4th time I'd get a good rock, or have it messed up enough to go spend the 9 bucks for the saw shop to get em back right (they hand file, but do a way better job than I can)

After talking to the saw shop about grinders. He said.. don't get a cheap one. make sure you can set all three angles.

I went a little nuts. Found a real good price on a grinder that will even do the vice grab hands free every time.
http://www.russopower.com/products/oregon-heavy-duty-bench-grinder-with-hydraulic-assist-551462/ it's a great price on this unit compared to other places online. Even found a 10 buck coupon code in their showroom virtual tour. Neat gimmick.

I know the grinder will need some patience and a learning curve… but figure it will pay for itself.. in a few years! What can I say, addicted to good tools.

Anyone want to buy a timberline sharpener for short money?

JP
northern tool sells an exact copy of that for $100
 
Not even close. that 100 dollar one only sets two angles, and has a manual vice.

the timberline sharpener is a neat idea. Takes the angles out of hand filing. works well, but just a bit slow to set up and use.

JP
 
JP, I may be interested in the Timberline....it's a toss up between that and a pair of good boots :)
Please pm me with info...thanx!
 
31dIW9KVJIL.jpg

I use this to sharpen all my chains. I've cut 5 or 6 cords with one chain and now it stretches so bad i'm going to throw it away. I have also been using skip tooth chains so they're less teeth to file
 
Well JP11, I know this subject has been beaten to death but, post your results of your new sharpener. I am considering doing the same when I get home. (Think I have about 15 chains to be sharpened upon my return.) Would like to see the results from a 1st time sharpener with that tool. Not that the experienced guys don't give an accurate opinion just would like to compare to myself. I always have had mine done from a shop.
 
Will do. I've been watching a few videos. seems it would be much easier to get predictable results. You know that the cutters will all be the same length, angles matching.

we'll see.

JP
 
Still need to check left and right cutter lengths, do not always come out that perfect. Particularly when the grinding wheel gets down in size. Nature of the beasties.
 
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you wont believe it but i did the exact same thing. i have a freind that is testing my old timberline to see if he likes it. how do you like the grinder, so far i like mine. are you gonna get one of those diamond wheels for it?
 
. . .

I know the grinder will need some patience and a learning curve
… but figure it will pay for itself.. in a few years! What can I say, addicted to good tools.

Anyone want to buy a timberline sharpener for short money?

JP

The toughest thing to learn with a grinder is to use a light touch - it's easy to take too much off and it's easy to over heat/de-temper the cutters.

The easiest solution is to practice on everyone else's chains.
 
I will probably eventually switch wheels. It's on it's way to me, so haven't tried the grinder yet. I have a buyer from on here for the timberline. Anxious to have an inventory of chains that are ready to go. I like sharpening.. so not bad to go down into the workshop and do a bunch.

JP
 
That is a really nice grinder - I like it!! I picked up a Jolly Mini from Craigs list for $25 and it is a real nice addition to the saw/woodtick addiction. Looks like yours but NO where near as nice. Even so - it makes the chains hum through the wood and is great for repairing the rocked chains.
 
some of the newer burners/cutters may not realize what difference a CORRECTLY sharpened chain is like..

My saw gains a lot of apparent power and uses significantly less fuel and I only have the cheapo HF model
 
I bought the 511ax about 6 months ago - very please and I'm sure you'll like your new grinder a lot. I probably hand file 3 or 4 times on a chain, then grind the angles back to perfect. I take off less of the tooth with the file and like hand-filing, so this has been working well for me. Cheers!
 
Well… I've only sharpened ONE chain. But so far.. I LIKE IT! It cut near as good as a brand new chain, and I didn't even mess with the rakers.

The stihl angles guide leaves a bit to be desired. I'll need to talk it over a bit with my chainsaw shop. I can remember him saying a few things about winter cutting and changing an angle for that.

But it's nice. Set it up.. and just go slow. That hydraulic auto vise is cool!

JP
 
Jp, I am interested in the timberline. Still for sale?
 
I bought the timberline to give it a try, if it's not what I want I'll let you know.
 
Ok. Many thanks
 
Sweet, I've been looking at the 511, is the extra 80 bucks worth it do you think for the hydraulic vice? I know if I get a grinder all the buddies will want me to grind their chains....
 
Oregon makes an excellent chain sharpener.
Silvey, Simington (square grind) and Foley Belsaw makes pro-level grinders.
 
I'm sure your new chain grinder will be very nice. I have a cheapy but am satisfied with it. I have a Husky 372XP with an 18" bar I bought new in October 2002. I also have about 10 chains. Each chain is sharpened by hand about 3-5 times (touched up with each gas fill), then a newly sharpened chain. The 10 chains usually get me through one season of cutting, and then all get sharpened on the grinder, with exactly the same setting for each chain. Set the grinder once and that's it. If a chain is slightly more worn due to hand sharpening, it goes back in the used pile for sharpening next time. These same 10 chains I have been using since 2002. I typically fell and buck about 10 cords of firewood per year plus fell trees for lumber for about 3-5000 board feet per year.

A light touch is very important. Bad karma when you see a cutter discolored by over heating.

I don't use the grinder on the rakers, my Pferd hand file sharpener automatically files the rakers each time the chain is sharpened.

cs_x.jpg
 
Sweet, I've been looking at the 511, is the extra 80 bucks worth it do you think for the hydraulic vice? I know if I get a grinder all the buddies will want me to grind their chains....
I got a really good deal at Russo on the hydro assist one. I've never operated one with the manual vice.. but boy howdy its quick with the auto one. I paid 369 including shipping.. which seems like a really good deal compared to the 511 other places.

JP
 
Ok.. I finally went off the deep end.

I had files.. I did a poor job.

Then I got one of these.
http://www.timberlinesharpener.com

Did a good job, a little slow.

Then I got better with hand files. I was using them for routine sharpening. Every 3rd or 4th time I'd get a good rock, or have it messed up enough to go spend the 9 bucks for the saw shop to get em back right (they hand file, but do a way better job than I can)

After talking to the saw shop about grinders. He said.. don't get a cheap one. make sure you can set all three angles.

I went a little nuts. Found a real good price on a grinder that will even do the vice grab hands free every time.
http://www.russopower.com/products/oregon-heavy-duty-bench-grinder-with-hydraulic-assist-551462/ it's a great price on this unit compared to other places online. Even found a 10 buck coupon code in their showroom virtual tour. Neat gimmick.

I know the grinder will need some patience and a learning curve… but figure it will pay for itself.. in a few years! What can I say, addicted to good tools.

Anyone want to buy a timberline sharpener for short money?

JP
Hey JP, I would be interested in your timberline sharpener.
 
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