How to Sharpen a Chainsaw | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook demonstrates the right way to keep a chainsaw sharp.

Time: Less than an hour

Cost: $20

Skill Level:
Moderate

Tools:
Gloves

Shopping List:
Round File
Flat File
Chainsaw sharpening bracket

Steps:
1. Whenever working around a chainsaw, always wear gloves.
2. Use the line on the chain to set the correct angle of the file and work back and forth until the tooth is sharp again.
3. A bracket can also be used to keep the file at the correct orientation. The tooth will be labelled with the correct angle.
4. The raker must be lower than the tooth. It can be filed down with the flat file.

Resources:
All chainsaw sharpening accessories, including metal files, and file guides can be found at the local home center.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Sharpen a Chainsaw | Ask This Old House

[dfresh]

Answered all my questions and shorter than the Russian guy and other videos who didn't explain everything before I found this one. Thanks

[jazzyjazz]

Don’t even know this guy but right off the bat i can tell he is from New England. Thats a heavy Boston accent right there! I love it!

[salvo_surfside]

Pretty straight forward demonstration. Thanks for the video.

[BabyBalrog_RJTC]

Thanks for this! I'm buying my first mini chainsaw for yard work, and wanted to know about maintenance. This was very helpful.

[RuxerHusky]

Love this format, thanks a bunch for the info!

[angels]

I really enjoyed the rusty file 👍🏻 glad to see some non pretentious craftsman lmao 😂

[pilotguy]

I used to do it by hand bought the electric chainsaw sharpener from Harbor Freight for 20 bucks works like a charm.

[temporaryscars]

"You need to sharpen in two different directions, but we won't show that or how it's different or anything lets just move on to this other thing." Gee...that's helpful.

[Mainly-boy-outdoors]

Thank you for posting this it was helpful.

[boots]

RIP Roger.
FWIW, there are a number of 10-15 min videos that go through the process which both explain in a bit more detail and show you the how and why of things much better.
If you're thinking of just buying a new chain, it can't hurt to spend $10 and get the file/guide and try it out. Even just with the file, just try to match the tooth angle and try to push 'back' against the tooth and not 'down'. Pushing down while filing will screw up the cutting geometry/gullet. 6-7 even strokes on each tooth for a decently worn chain should be do-able in 5 mins. Do every other tooth on one side, then switch position and do the remaining. File on the push stroke, don't scrape on the pull-back.
First or second sharpening shouldn't require filing down the rakers.

[jongray]

You need a vise to do this right! I’d be surprised if this saw cuts anything after this guys done with it!

[Blobjonblob]

Chainsaw chains dont have rakers they are depth gauges, Rakers are found on old crosscut saws used in times gone by. Also that angled mark on the head of the tooth will also tell you when to change your chain.

[tazmun]

I grew up with the saw clamped between my legs/knees starting at about age 13 years old in the Northwoods of wisconsin cutting pulpwood for my pocket change. I can confirm old pros do this well enough with no guides etc....I can also confirm the odds of someone who does this just for a hobby to be slim as h*ll. However the main reason for my comment today is about raker teeth.... it should have been said that this can be a quite critical adjustment and a metal guide is usually included with your saw, a new chain or from your dealership. First of all it's important let that the adjustment be even ... we used too often count Strokes with newish sharp files to assure balance. Deviating from what the gauge says is done by Pros for different types of wood but for the average guy use with gauge says. Again on the angle part of the blade counting Strokes is key to keeping your blade even even though it might seem a single tooth needs more, this will help keep you cutting straight even on on old worn out chain.

[LogicAndReason]

That tool is pretty good, but I prefer my Dremel tool attachment.

[Lawn_Care]

A spare chain comes in handy in the meantime. Sharpening your own chain is time consuming but can be worth it.

[RAMESH-czro]

Why did it just cut of without the bit when Kevin says thanks roger good information

[kristiandawe]

Is roger feeling better, or is this a old recording, hope all is well with him

[lunchbox]

What's the name of that tool?? If anyone knows, I appreciate your time!

[neillillo]

Roger died and pbs never had a program outlining the years he was on this old house ……….WOW !

[Thecheezypoofable]

Using a 2 in 1 file makes it easier because it takes down the raker and sharpens the tooth in one pass