I do this for a living in a saw shop, yes better equipment. you will get a better result by removing only just enough, over sharpen and heat will ruin temper, and shorten chain life, you were removing a lot of material, maybe go around twice taking less. sit at machine and you can have better control of pulling arm down, removing side flex, be gentle !! and watch it cut, smooth one pass, not a bunch of short, bounce cuts . Also by taking that much you will wear out the wheel much faster , not something you can reshape without proper equipment
I found that if you don't cut deep enough the side cuter does not get sharp and you end up with a dull blade. I do like how using this will help keep all cutting blades the same length. It took me a while to get it all working but now i am getting good results very easily.
Just tried mine for the first time last night. I have to do the washer fix as well but I just held the stop with my other hand on each grind and it worked well too. I guess for 28 bucks I was not expecting much. Thanks for the great video.
I've come to use the cheap build quality to my advantage. Once the set screws are all dialed in, I exploit the flex in the arm to get a deeper gullet grind. Kinda works out nice. Thanks for the video!
Hi Eric, thanks for the comment. Yah I love quantifiable data too. Was not sure how well it would work so wanted to actually record and thought others could benefit. Thanks again take care.
I bought my unit a few days ago. My unit has the same issues. I like to use the chain roller knobs to advance the chain, instead of using my hand. I also like to use gloves to protect my hands. A mask also filters out dust from the metal and grinding wheel.
Thanks. Will borrow my sons' sharpener and do all my chains next weekend. I am happy with a 90% sharp blade. Better than 5% sharp I currently own. Great comparison. I can find these sharpeners in my area for $15 used in facebook and the such if you look hard.
I own one and it works tremendously well for $31 you cannot beat it for the price and they must have fixed whatever the problem was mine works right out of the box
i just bought this from harbor freight and here in pa it was 29.99 . i thought it worked well ,but after seeing your video i may need a washer also . Ty
I have the same unit and find that with a little adjustment it will also do a fine job lowering the rakers. New blades are hard to come by right now here in Northern Colorado because of the fires. Nice VID, Thanks'
I'll have to figure out how to do that. I have never tried too deal with them. I am guessing when a chain has been sharpened a lot that it starts to be an issue.
Little tip. When you start the cut, stick pawls into the log, and use the leverage by lifting the handle. Let the saw drop and use the pawls again. Let the saw do the work. Even if it's a poulan. If that doesn't help, go buy a Stihl.
just the video i was looking for! actual comparison before and after. thank you. and with a 20% coupon the price by me drops to 30 bucks, seems to be worth it to me, since it costs me 5 bucks to get a chain sharpened and it takes a week or more to get it back. once the sharpener is set up for the chain it looks like it can crank through it pretty good.
Hi AllThingsDIY Mike, thanks for your comment. I had the unit for awhile and was not sure it would be worth using, but figured however that turned out the info would be usable to others. Glad it was of help to you. Takecare.
Sir, the two yellow knobs on the front at each end, are to be used at the same time to rotate the chain, no need to touch the chain to turn it and possibly injure your fingers. Have a Nice Day!
HF sharpeners work. Somewhat. I've had two over the years. But are so incredibly flimsy with all parts being plastic and flexing that the chain may come out sharper than before but it's impossible to achieve uniform teeth configuration. After years of struggling, I finally bit the bullet and got an Oregon 410-120 sharpener for $200 (next day the price rose to $220!). Is it more expensive? Sure. Is it 6 times better? Absolutely!!! Actually, a lot more than that. I am not being bias here - I buy a lot of stuff from HF, and some of it is not only best as far as price/value ration goes but even objectively good. For example, Hercules miter saw is cheaper AND at least as good as than Devault. Unfortunately, this item is what gives HF bad name.
I would have liked to have seen the chips. The chips tell all and I use a ripping chain on mine most of the time so I need longer curls off the blade to make sure its cutting with ease.
Good video thanks for sharing. I have two chainsaws one uses 3/8'' p and the other 3.25''. Can the same grinding disc be used for both chains or do I have to buy different discs for each one?
Its defective the Moter does not reverse to grind the opposite cutters. You don't sharpen to the inside of the cutter you sharpen to the OUTSIDE of the cutter.
Aloha, mahalo for sharing this video. I was wondering what someone else experienced with this sharpener. It is built pretty cheap, but you get what you pay for. I was wondering about making some slight modifications.
Hi Chezley, no I did not sharpen them I am assuming filing the rakers would improve the cutting speed so results would only be better but my intention was not to show how best to sharpen a chain but how well would the Harbor Freight sharpener would work for me. I think results were quite positive. Thanks for the comment.
I do this for a living in a saw shop, yes better equipment. you will get a better result by removing only just enough, over sharpen and heat will ruin temper, and shorten chain life, you were removing a lot of material, maybe go around twice taking less. sit at machine and you can have better control of pulling arm down, removing side flex, be gentle !! and watch it cut, smooth one pass, not a bunch of short, bounce cuts . Also by taking that much you will wear out the wheel much faster , not something you can reshape without proper equipment
I found that if you don't cut deep enough the side cuter does not get sharp and you end up with a dull blade. I do like how using this will help keep all cutting blades the same length. It took me a while to get it all working but now i am getting good results very easily.
Just tried mine for the first time last night. I have to do the washer fix as well but I just held the stop with my other hand on each grind and it worked well too. I guess for 28 bucks I was not expecting much. Thanks for the great video.
I've come to use the cheap build quality to my advantage. Once the set screws are all dialed in, I exploit the flex in the arm to get a deeper gullet grind. Kinda works out nice. Thanks for the video!
Exactly what I was looking for. Actual data on before and after sharpening.. Great that you had two types of used chain.
Hi Eric, thanks for the comment. Yah I love quantifiable data too. Was not sure how well it would work so wanted to actually record and thought others could benefit. Thanks again take care.
I guess I need to add a washer too. I just got the sharpener today and That chain stop is very wobbly.
I bought my unit a few days ago. My unit has the same issues. I like to use the chain roller knobs to advance the chain, instead of using my hand. I also like to use gloves to protect my hands. A mask also filters out dust from the metal and grinding wheel.
The road noise wasn’t even remotely as distracting as your accent lol. Great video, from Indiana.
i just bought one so thanks for the washer tip. nice work !
Thanks. Will borrow my sons' sharpener and do all my chains next weekend. I am happy with a 90% sharp blade. Better than 5% sharp I currently own. Great comparison. I can find these sharpeners in my area for $15 used in facebook and the such if you look hard.
I own one and it works tremendously well for $31 you cannot beat it for the price and they must have fixed whatever the problem was mine works right out of the box
i just bought this from harbor freight and here in pa it was 29.99 . i thought it worked well ,but after seeing your video i may need a washer also . Ty
I have the same unit and find that with a little adjustment it will also do a fine job lowering the rakers. New blades are hard to come by right now here in Northern Colorado because of the fires. Nice VID, Thanks'
I'll have to figure out how to do that. I have never tried too deal with them. I am guessing when a chain has been sharpened a lot that it starts to be an issue.
you have to get a washer or two to tighten the slop out of the chain stop and a little bending.
Little tip. When you start the cut, stick pawls into the log, and use the leverage by lifting the handle. Let the saw drop and use the pawls again. Let the saw do the work. Even if it's a poulan. If that doesn't help, go buy a Stihl.
just the video i was looking for! actual comparison before and after. thank you. and with a 20% coupon the price by me drops to 30 bucks, seems to be worth it to me, since it costs me 5 bucks to get a chain sharpened and it takes a week or more to get it back. once the sharpener is set up for the chain it looks like it can crank through it pretty good.
Hi AllThingsDIY Mike, thanks for your comment. I had the unit for awhile and was not sure it would be worth using, but figured however that turned out the info would be usable to others. Glad it was of help to you. Takecare.
Sir, the two yellow knobs on the front at each end, are to be used at the same time to rotate the chain, no need to touch the chain to turn it and possibly injure your fingers.
Have a Nice Day!
HF sharpeners work. Somewhat. I've had two over the years. But are so incredibly flimsy with all parts being plastic and flexing that the chain may come out sharper than before but it's impossible to achieve uniform teeth configuration.
After years of struggling, I finally bit the bullet and got an Oregon 410-120 sharpener for $200 (next day the price rose to $220!). Is it more expensive? Sure. Is it 6 times better? Absolutely!!! Actually, a lot more than that.
I am not being bias here - I buy a lot of stuff from HF, and some of it is not only best as far as price/value ration goes but even objectively good. For example, Hercules miter saw is cheaper AND at least as good as than Devault. Unfortunately, this item is what gives HF bad name.
good video
I would have liked to have seen the chips. The chips tell all and I use a ripping chain on mine most of the time so I need longer curls off the blade to make sure its cutting with ease.
Good video thanks for sharing. I have two chainsaws one uses 3/8'' p and the other 3.25''. Can the same grinding disc be used for both chains or do I have to buy different discs for each one?
Did you file the rakers on the very old chain, could be that it would work even better.
HI jjr007 no I did not and honestly years ago tried filing takers but have never continued to do it. Hey thanks for watching the video. Take care.
Thanks a lot ,great comparison, have a great day.
Looks like you need to file the rakers down a little
Its defective the Moter does not reverse to grind the opposite cutters. You don't sharpen to the inside of the cutter you sharpen to the OUTSIDE of the cutter.
It needs three adjustment. Angle degree and pivot degree and stop degree. These do not have the pivot screw.
Nice work, thank you
Thanks, I appreciate it.
13:10 - see there is a little shoulder there . Hahaha .
I Think for $30.00 its money well spent. Thank You
Aloha, mahalo for sharing this video. I was wondering what someone else experienced with this sharpener. It is built pretty cheap, but you get what you pay for. I was wondering about making some slight modifications.
1 small washer for screw fixed it for me his way does work but looks like to much work for me haha
Good video thanks
It's wicked shaaaaap....
You didn’t file the rakers??? Not a fair comparison
Hi Chezley, no I did not sharpen them I am assuming filing the rakers would improve the cutting speed so results would only be better but my intention was not to show how best to sharpen a chain but how well would the Harbor Freight sharpener would work for me. I think results were quite positive. Thanks for the comment.
It is goodnor not?
Mostly good.
Very Good!..
27:51 your welcome
30 deg !! i have seen some say 25
This video could’ve been edited to a shorter video to drawn out halfway through I forgot what actually was going on or than a man fiddling with tools
very good sharpner www.harborfreight.com