Chainsaw File Kit

If you do any amount of chain sharpening then you have probably tried several methods and products. What I have found throughout the years is that, unless a chain has been seriously damaged, hand filing produces great results. What I have also found throughout the years is that no matter how great of a hand filer you may think you are, you are not a great hand filer. This little jig ensures the correct angles to maintain a sharp cutting tooth. It is the perfect size to bring into the field for a quick touchup but also works well on the bench. Note: Be sure to order the correct jig for the chain size you will be sharpening.

I love this file guide... But I have some gripes... A little bit of a learning curve in the beginning because of the piss poor instructions, but you'll figure it out. Fast and easy to use, I sharpen the chain every time I add gas and oil. I have a Stihl MS460 so after a tank of gas I need time to recover and this is the perfect way to do it. Buy this, learn how to use it, do it yourself... If you're lucky, you can find a local guy that knows how to sharpen chains properly but most of them working part-time at the hardware store will butcher your chain with their grinders, you will lose half the life of your chain getting it re-ground when all it takes is a little clean-up to make it sharp again. My advise for new users is when you become comfortable with how the tool works, pay attention to make sure you sharpen your chain equally on both sides. By that I mean the left teeth and the right teeth need to be sharpened the same amount, consistently. If you don't do that then you will find that you won't be able to make a straight cut, the chainsaw will pull to one side in the cut and if it's a big enough log it will start to bind. First couple times I used this tool I didn't realize that I had been filing heavier on my strong side and the teeth were shorter than the other side. Re-filed and all was fine. I usually run the chain around, find the dullest looking tooth, sharpen it and count how many strokes I took to clean it up and make sure I do the same for the others, left and right. Five strokes is usually more than enough, three if I'm just done for the day and putting it to bed sharp. Two gripes on the kit... Throw the file handle that this kit comes with away or gift it to a neighbor you don't like, it's usable but there are so many better ones out there that it's not worth dealing with. Advice: Make sure you file only in the push direction, I only say this because I watched a neighbor sharpening his lawnmower blade with a file and he was filing away like mad with pressure on both the forward and backstroke. He was a smart guy, he just didn't understand that the file only cuts on the forward stroke and pressure on the backstroke only dulls it. Not impressed with the depth gauge on the file guide, I understand how it's supposed to work but it just doesn't do it very well at all, don't waste your time. Oregon makes a decent one (model 27742). A good file gauge is important for the next step. This step is important... As you sharpen your chain the teeth get shorter, if you don't file down the raker in front of the tooth then you will have a sharp chain that doesn't cut. The rakers control the amount of wood that gets fed into the cutting teeth, if they are not filed down as your teeth wear down through sharpening you will make sawdust instead of chips. If you are making sawdust, there is something wrong... You don't need to do it every time you sharpen but I would recommend at least every other or third time. Depends on what you cut, you'll figure it out.. Also... If you're going to be doing a lot of sawing, here are some suggestions... Buy your round files online in bulk... 12 files for $20, that's like a buck fifty per file (Oregon 70502). You're going to need them anyway and you'll save the hassle of dealing with a dull file. Give those to your wife for her craft projects, she'll love it. Get a stump vise..., it's easy to sharpen a chain in your shop on a table but sharpening a chain in the field is harder unless the bar is held properly. Put it in your chainsaw tool bag or carry it in your back pocket. It doesn't take up any space and will make you happy to have it when you need it. (Oregon 26368A). As a last resort in the woods, find a good stump or log, cut into it about 2-3", kill the saw and use that as a holder for your blade while you sharpen. I just re-read this review and it sounded like I was a sales rep for Oregon. I'm not..., their manual chainsaw sharpener that I was gifted (I smiled and said thank you... ) is the biggest plastic POS I have ever tried. (Oregon 23820) Happiness is a sharp chain, keep it out of the dirt... -

This product blew my mind with how well it works. I’ve tried several file kits and so far this one is the best all around. Extremely easy to use. Made filing four of my long (28”+) chains a snap. Had been putting those off for quite a while and gave them a thorough touch up. There are other good products out there, and possibly some better, but this file system is the best I’ve used so far.

I have had this three years now, cut 4 cord/year and sharpen every time I refuel. The files are handle are good quality but the filing tool takes a little getting used to, but once you do it goes pretty fast. I recently found I had filed too much metal off the flat of the filing tool depth gage and it now bends and is no longer is usable, but I presume that would be a problem with other gages. In the future, I think I will just use a feeler gage and a flat laid across the teeth to check proper depth.

I've used the Oregon file guides for around 30 years, but lost one, and the only thing available where I went was the Husqvarna. I decided to give it a try, but was skeptical at first. Wow, was I ever pleasantly surprised. These things are great. What I really like about it the full view of the cutting tooth while sharpening. The Oregon guide covers them up, and you are relying on the marking lines to keep the right angle. With this one, you can see the angle mark on the tooth, and the whole tooth itself. To me, this makes it much easier to keep the correct angle. Plus, it's easier to hold and file with your off hand with this tool. I could never get the same pressure left handed as right using the Oregon, so after a few sharpenings, it would get lopsided, and I would have to fix it to get it to cut straight. Now, I can get the pressure needed to remove the same amount of material both left and right handed. I have now purchased two of them for .325 and 3/8, and will buy a 3rd for my low profile chains. The Husqvarna file holders have a pressure lock that holds the file much more securely than the wooden Oregon ones that just presses on. **NOTE** I have seen several reviews that state this guide does not fit their chain. I have to think they either got the wrong guide (there are 3 different sizes), or they are not putting it on the chain correctly because I now have two different sizes, and this guide puts the file at exactly the right height for optimal sharpening. It is much faster than using the Oregon guides, and infinitely more accurate than freehanding it. I will say that there IS a certain way you have to put in on the chain or it will appear that it doesn't fit. For those who are having trouble, go to: http://husqvarna.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1186/~/video---how-do-i-sharpen-or-file-the-chain-on-my-chainsaw%3F Pay particular attention to where the top arrow is pointing in relation to the link. If you don't line it up here, it will not go all the way down. Once you know the secret, it's a snap to line it up.

Sharp chains are essential for safe, efficient cutting with a chain saw. There are many ways to sharpen, and many individual preferences. For those that hand file, some type of file guide is a practical necessity to get consistent, uniform cutters for smooth cutting. This Husqvarna roller guide supports the correct size file at the right height, and helps to guide it at a consistent angle, while allowing the user to observe the process. It also includes a progressive guide for setting the depth gauges properly. It comes complete with the roller guide, attached depth gauge tool, round and flat flat files, and file handle at an attractive price. The user just needs to supply a vise, or similar way, to hold the guide bar stable while sharpening, so that both hands can be used to control the files. Look on YouTube for videos by Husqvarna (preferably) on using this filing kit. Note that these kits are designed for specific Husqvarna and similar (Oregon, Jonsered, and Carlton brand) chains. Different roller guides and files are needed for 3/8 Low Profile, .325 pitch, and narrow kerf chains. Some users have noted that the roller guides may need to be modified slightly for use with STIHL brand chains, or the depth gauge tool may need to be modified for use with some low kickback chains. A good filing choice if it works with your chains.

I'm a professional woodsman with over 40 years experience running chainsaws and am very good at sharpening sawchains freehand with a file. I was never satisfied, for one reason or another, with various filing guides until I tried this one better than 10 years ago. It is terrific! It is small and no harder to carry with you in the woods than your file. In fact, it slides over your file for easy, out of the way storage. It also fits snugly on your sawchain guaranteeing correct filing even if your chain is a bit lose in your bar groove. Another reviewer criticized this guide mistakenly thinking that it didn't stay aligned when sharpening a chain that wobbled a bit in the bar groove. Not so! My only complaint is that the guide's rollers have plastic surfaces that wear out sooner than I'd like. Files wear out and need to be replaced, so I have grown accustomed to also periodically replacing this filing guide.

This is a useful gadget for its purpose. The trick is figuring out how to use it. The instructions are not well written and not helpful. There are some Youtube videos, and eventually you'll see how to use it. If you use your chain saw a lot, or have a large job to do, this will come in handy, and you will get used to it. The guide is fussy to get on the chain right at first, and you'll think that there's got to be a better way to sharpen a chain saw blade. Some carefully written instructions, maybe with some pictures, would make this a five star product. Bottom line: useful, works well, but a pain in the backside until you figure it out on your own.