Do you use chainsaws?

[e9999]

Had an epiphany of sorts today while up in a tree and cutting a 12" limb. I have several chainsaws of various sizes and do all my own sharpening. I have a 25 or 30 y.o. or so Stihl 025 that I took up there for that limb cuz it was a bit too big for my mini arborist pruning saws. I had sharpened it not too long ago. (I tend to sharpen them after every few (couple?) hours of use.) Well, I started to cut it and -lo and behold- there was a flurry of beautiful large snow flakes coming off the saw. Had not seen that in a while. I just had it rested there, not pushing at all, and it did cut that thing with no effort whatsoever. And those big chips were flying out in dense clouds, it was a beautiful sight. ASMR! I don't know what I did that was different this time when sharpening it, but dang, it hit the spot for once ...

So, anyways, if you use chainsaws and you don't sharpen them often, or at all, or not the best way; it's really worth it to learn how to do it well. Still learning myself TBH. It makes such a difference! It's like carving a fine roast or eating a great steak with a dull knife vs a really really sharp one. Life is too short, sharpen your chain, it is such a pleasure to use then!

 

[Bob Morazes]

Alright, you made me look up ASMR, and you are 100% correct. Euphoria.
I know what you mean when you get a new chain and the saw does all the work. And like you, its a rare treat when you can duplicate that experience your self.

Also, I took a Culinary 101 class at the local college a few years ago and the prof was a stickler for sharp knives. And I NOW really appreciate a sharp knife and never cut anything without running it across a steel. WHAT an amazing difference it is.
consequently when I visit my kids that always 'let' me cut veggies, meat, bread, because they know I will sharpen all the knives in the house before I leave.
Thanks for the Zen moment this morning
Bobmo

 

[e9999]

LOL! Yes, yesterday, I had to pick a knife to cut a tri-tip. It has been a while since I sharpened the house knives and I'm running out of razor sharp ones. That did put a damper on things until I found one forgotten one that was still plenty sharp. Time to get on with it, it seems.
Strangely, my SO and kids don't quite fully appreciate the need for the effort. I even gifted a diamond sharpener to one but I think it was relegated to a drawer. Wonder if they would notice it missing....?

 

[Big Ed]

Yes.

 

[D'Animal]

Dull things ruin the enjoyment

 

[ff347]

Love my old .025. I use the Stihl 2n1 for my blades because it takes out my ability to mess them up. Sweet when the blade just pulls itself through and the chips are flying.

Had to google ASMR myself.

 

[D'Animal]

My wife sharpens saw chains better than most of my friends do.

 

[bigredmachine]

the worst was when i was doing fences and installing some sort of post and rail fence and the chain saw was dull. i did a repair job that i had to cut all of the rails and the chain was so dull all i got when cutting was saw dust, took forever to do the repair

 

[stayalert]

Dull chains on chain saws = unsafe, I sharpened by hand for years. I recently got a bench grinder with a nice wheel and have subsequently determined that I sucked at hand sharpening

 

[e9999]

I have toyed previously with the notion of getting a power sharpener. But it never seemed that compelling given the limited number of times per year I need to sharpen a chain, maybe once a week if that in the summer. But even so I could be convinced if there were a decent one in the sub $100 range that would give better results than my hand sharpening. (Please tell us if you know of a good one.)

 

[cc93cruiser]

Chainsaws? Look up buckingbillyraysmith on youtube.... you'll get a kick..

 

[e9999]

^ yes, IIRC he has at least one vid on sharpening by hand. That is a good channel, he's very down to earth. Does seem to favor longer videos, though.