How to Sharpen a Chainsaw Chain — the Right Way

It’s been a while since we took a look at chainsaws, and particularly sharpening the chain. In the past we’ve looked at using a cordless drill with a standard file, and even making a field vise using a tall tree stump and a felling wedge. But what about the basics of sharpening a chainsaw?

In this video, Canadian Steve of “Steve’s Small Engine Saloon” spends 19 minutes talking about how to sharpen a chainsaw chain, covering the ins and outs pretty well. He even covers the “raker” or depth gauge, which isn’t something you hear about in every saw-sharpening tutorial.

One thing I feel he got wrong was that he says it doesn’t matter what angle you sharpen at, as long as you sharpen every tooth at the same angle. In my opinion, it does matter — you want to match the factory angle for your chain. Aside from that, I think he does a pretty good job here.

I used to keep a bunch of chains on hand, change them in the field when dull, then sharpen them up at home with an electric sharpener. I haven’t done that in a while — in fact, not since I got a larger Stihl saw. These days I touch it up with a file every so often and it cuts like a champ. I haven’t even had to use the spare chain I bought when I purchased the saw.

Anyhow, check out the video and weigh in with a comment down below. What do you think he gets right or wrong?

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.