how to sharpen a chainsaw by hand with a file

Using a chainsaw makes cutting through trees or any other wood so much easier, but over time your chain will begin to dull. If using your chainsaw becomes difficult, you have to apply pressure for it to cut through anything, it might need to be sharpened. By knowing the right tools to use and the right way to use them, you can easily sharpen your chainsaw and get in back in working condition.

So you need the three step to sharpen a chainsaw by hand with a file:

1.Clamp the bar of the chainsaw to your work surface.

Use a tabletop clamp or a vise to hold the chainsaw in place on your work surface. This will prevent the saw from shifting as you sharpen it, and result in a much more consistent and easy sharpening process.

If you don’t have a clamp or vise that will keep your chainsaw in place, you can remove the chain and secure that in your vise instead. This will require a little more adjustment but is an easy alternative.

You might find it easier to secure the chainsaw upside down on your work surface. There’s no one right way, so find the method that works best for you.

2.Have the Right Tools on Hand

Buy four tools for freehand to use as a chainsaw sharpener:
A round file that matches the cutter diameter.
Note: Popular diameters for medium-duty chainsaws are 5/32, 3/16 and 7/32 inch. Check the owner's manual for your saw's requirements, or use the chain identification number stamped on the drive link. Small-engine dealers and hardware stores have charts to match this number with the right file diameter.
A file guide to hold the round file at a uniform depth as you sharpen each cutter.
A depth-gauge guide for resetting the depth gauges.

Pro tip: Don't use a standard rattail file as a chainsaw sharpener. Its tapered diameter and coarse teeth will ruin your chain's cutters.

3.Set your file in the notch on the front of the cutter. 

This is the angled “tooth” on the front of the flat surface of the chain link. Place the tip of the file just inside the notch on the tooth you have marked so that roughly 20% of the file’s diameter is above the top of the tooth.

The chain will have two types of cutters facing alternate directions. Choose one type of cutter to focus on first before moving onto the other type.