Hard time sharpening my Stihl chain

[CountryBoy19]

A trick that works for me is to slightly pull up against the cutter, as opposed to pushing into the link.

This is what I do as well^^^ Just slight upward pressure keeps the file from sinking down into the links etc and reduces binding a great deal.

 

[BringinHeat]

A trick that works for me is to slightly pull up against the cutter, as opposed to pushing into the link.

Also, use both hands on the file with the chain tight on the bar clamped in a vice

This is a great tip.

I was also having issues until I did this.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Trick Eric Johnson taught me here nine years ago. Sharpen one side of the chain and then flip the saw on its top and sharpen the other side the same way. Works best on a bench in a vice on the bar. Eliminates uneven angles and stopped me from making C shaped cuts in big rounds.

So does flipping the chainsaw upside down cause any issues with fluids like oil or gas leaking or spilling?

 

[BrotherBart]

Nope. My saws leak more sitting flat on the floor than they do turned upside down.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Well by golly, I think I just might give that a try! Although I have fairly good results right now; my vice is set at the end of the workbench and this allows me to do one side of the chain and then step in behind the saw and do t'other side.... nonetheless I do notice a slight difference in the size of the cutters as I get towards the end of the life of the chain, so there's still room for improvement..... Thanks for the good ideas people!

 

[CTPhil]

I went at it again with a resolve to really figure it out. I turned the saw upside down and it did help some. I slowed myself down and thought my way through it and managed to correct the unbalance, the cutters on the right had way too deep an undercut. So bottom line is operator error on my part. Beats me why I seemed to have lost my technique after 40 plus years, but it seems to be the case.