Bench grinder/sharpener. Recommendations?

[moresnow]

Would prefer buying a higher quality unit. Once. Maintain my own collection of chains as well as for a few buddies. This will be basically for personal use for the most part. Opinions will be considered. Thanks

 

[greg13]

I see a few Foley machines around, They are pro quality machines built to last.

 

[Jon1270]

Silvey all the way. (Sadly out of business)

 

[CTYank]

I've had good results with the ~$100 grinder from NT- can be easily made to do just what I want with it. Of course I use it only on rocked chains of mine, and buds' chains. (They do some ditch-witching.)
IME a grinder just cannot do as good a job as a properly-guided file, even on a just-off-the-reel chain loop. After grinding, file makes it ready to cut.

 

[DodgyNomad]

Look at the Italian made grinders, like this Carlton:

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/CARLTON-CHAINSAW-SHARPENER-MADE-IN-ITALY-SHARPENS-1-4-034-325-034-3-8-039-404-034-/180785235262)

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tecomec-Italy-LR-36941-Reversible-Motor-Chain-Saw-Sharpener-FREE-SHIP-/322504242671?hash=item4b16c035ef:g:OroAAOSw7GRZCpb1)

Over the years, I've heard lots of good feedback on these Italian made chain grinders, and they've been sold under many different names. Good tolerances and repeatability.

Personally I use a couple of Stihl 2 in 1 easy files these days, and couldn't be happier. I chuck my bar up in the vice and pay attention to all my angles and think it's quicker and easier than anything I've ever used. Plus, closest thing to factory new chain sharpness that I've been able to reliably repeat.

 

[Sean McGillicuddy]

Personally I use a couple of Stihl 2 in 1 easy files these days, and couldn't be happier. I chuck my bar up in the vice and pay attention to all my angles and think it's quicker and easier than anything I've ever used. Plus, closest thing to factory new chain sharpness that I've been able to reliably repeat.

I have also done the same. Since using my 2in1 I have not used my grinder.
Can't say enough about the 2in1's

 

[blades]

i do about a 100 chains a month- none of the current grinders in the under $600 class stand up to that. The silveys were good units stood the test of time as mentioned no longer made. Pro and cons to all of Italian or copies there of, for the average person they are ok.

 

[DodgyNomad]

i do about a 100 chains a month- none of the current grinders in the under $600 class stand up to that. The silveys were good units stood the test of time as mentioned no longer made. Pro and cons to all of Italian or copies there of, for the average person they are ok.

Depending on how many chains OP is maintaining for he and his friends, the italian ones do a solid job. I wouldn't rely on one solely for a sharpening business, but for personal use, they can do a nice job. Used Silveys come up from time to time, but they get a lot of attention, and don't go cheap, and often can have a lot of hours on them by the time they get sold off.

As mentioned, for personal use, the new Stihl (Pferd) 2 in 1 file system works great. You don't have to take the chain off the saw which saves time for me when doing 1 chain, but if you're getting a bunch of chains from a friend to sharpen, you'll need a chain holding vice or old bar clamped up to keep things solid and secure while you sharpen. Do a search online as there's a lot of simple homemade setups for clamping a chain for sharpening, you can just make your own with or without an old bar, or a vice, etc.

This Oregon in particular gets a lot of love, and would be precise enough and solid enough to run a sharpening business. Depending on OP's budget, this one's a known winner:

(broken link removed to https://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=142316478876&&&chn=ps)

Here's the Northern Tool grinder page that will show a lot of popular options. 10 years ago, Northern Tool was the hot ticket for a lot of guys who bought their $100 grinder, and really great results, especially when they were shimmed and dialed in. They have sold a ton of them over the years and I've never heard anything bad about the higher level Oregon's that are shown here:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...insaw-sharpeners-grinders+sharpeners-grinders

Good luck.

 

[Ashful]

Here's the Northern Tool grinder page that will show a lot of popular options. 10 years ago, Northern Tool was the hot ticket for a lot of guys who bought their $100 grinder, and really great results, especially when they were shimmed and dialed in. They have sold a ton of them over the years and I've never heard anything bad about the higher level Oregon's that are shown here:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...insaw-sharpeners-grinders+sharpeners-grinders

Good luck.

This is what I've been using the last 6 years, or so. It's definitely a cheap POS, but it's a cheap POS that gets the job done. I won't be leaving this heirloom to the grandkids, but sharpening chains in a warm garage with the radio or TV going on a Tuesday night is far preferable to wasting valuable daylight in the field on a Saturday, while you dick around with hand files and a chain.

I get out cutting maybe a half dozen days each year, always in cold weather to avoid the bugs and poison ivy. I cut until noon, eat lunch, swap all my chains, and then cut until near dark. No way I'm going to sit down to hand-sharpen chains on three saws in the middle of that day.

 

[MDFisherman]

I use this one

(broken link removed to https://oregonproducts.com/pro/products/accessories/BenchGrinder_410-120.htm)

I have had good success with it, just have to take your time. I still do a quick touchup in the field with handfiles but eventually I do throw them on the grinder. It is a life saver if you hit a rock and have to take a bunch of meat off all of the teeth. But we don't ever hit rocks or dirt with our chains do we...

 

[Ashful]

I use this one

(broken link removed to https://oregonproducts.com/pro/products/accessories/BenchGrinder_410-120.htm)

I have had good success with it, just have to take your time. I still do a quick touchup in the field with handfiles but eventually I do throw them on the grinder. It is a life saver if you hit a rock and have to take a bunch of meat off all of the teeth. But we don't ever hit rocks or dirt with our chains do we...

I've always been told it's difficult to hand-sharpen a chain after it's been done on most bench grinders, as the profile left by the grinder is not usually a great match to the perfect half-round of the file. I'm sure there's some truth in this, but I do not know how significant a problem this really is, as I've not tried myself.