Harbor Freight Tools

[NITRO-BTU]

Hello There Fellas, I Have A Couple Of Chain Saws, One Electric And The Other Gas. I Have Been Looking At The Chain Saw Sharpener That Harbor Freight Sells For Apx. $50.00. What I Am Trying To Find Out Is Whether It Is Any Good Or Not. I Just Don't Know Anyone That Has One To Ask. So, That's Why I'm Inquiring Here To Hopefully Find This Out.
My Past Purchases There Have Been Good, But On This .... I Need Testimonials To Convince Me. Thanks-all, Jim.

 

[eschoendorff]

I've only used the one taht Stihl dealers sell that runs off a 12v battery - or handfiles. Honestly, if it's not something that you can address with a hand file, then i would just start considering a new chain. They aren't THAT expensive....


Of course this is all assuming that you use your saw like I do - non-professionally. If you are a pro, then go nuts. But i think that I'd shop around before buying the HF model. Never really stuck me as an especially high quality unit.

 

[Coach James]

How does the HF chain saw sharpener compare price wise to the one from SnapOn?

Coach

 

[wilbilt]

How does the HF chain saw sharpener compare price wise to the one from SnapOn?

Coach

Funny, I never thought of a chainsaw as a mechanic's tool.

Maybe if you are working on an old Woody?

One shop owner I knew would come out of the office if a car had been up on a lift for too long and he needed to get another one in. He would shout that if the car didn't come down soon, he would have to get a chainsaw and cut down the trees that were growing under it.

 

[NITRO-BTU]

Thanks Guys, I Am Not Professional, And Do Have The Handfiles. The Hf Saw Sharpener Would Be Much Faster, And More Percise With Angles. Everything These Days Is Made Overseas, Or South Of The Boarder. I Don't Know About Stihl, Or Snap-on Products, But Some " Craftsman " Tools Are Not Made Here. Comparing These Brands To Harbor Freight In Quality May Be Night And Day. However, I Don't Need The Best, Just Something To Speed Things Up. Thanks, Jim

 

[kblazer87]

If the question is HARBOR FREIGHT then the answer is NO.

 

[eschoendorff]

Thanks Guys, I Am Not Professional, And Do Have The Handfiles. The Hf Saw Sharpener Would Be Much Faster, And More Percise With Angles. Everything These Days Is Made Overseas, Or South Of The Boarder. I Don't Know About Stihl, Or Snap-on Products, But Some " Craftsman " Tools Are Not Made Here. Comparing These Brands To Harbor Freight In Quality May Be Night And Day. However, I Don't Need The Best, Just Something To Speed Things Up. Thanks, Jim

I am not convinced that the HF chainsaw sharpener would be more precise than a hand file....

Find a Stihl dealer in the phone book and see what they recommend... They service professionals....

 

[Rubes]

I bought one for my Dad last fall (they go on sale for $29 often). Boy did he let me have it when it took him 3 days to re-engineer it to work PROPERLY. It will grind your saw teeth, but no two will be the same. It goes work great now though. Typical HF machine...needs lots of work to work.

 

[NITRO-BTU]

I bought one for my Dad last fall (they go on sale for $29 often). Boy did he let me have it when it took him 3 days to re-engineer it to work PROPERLY. It will grind your saw teeth, but no two will be the same. It goes work great now though. Typical HF machine...needs lots of work to work.

Hi Rubes, Can you tell me in a "nut shell," what your Dad had to do to make it sharpen the teeth all the same ? thanks, Jim

 

[Rubes]

Hi Rubes, Can you tell me in a "nut shell," what your Dad had to do to make it sharpen the teeth all the same ? thanks, Jim

Basically, he added a solid shaft with bushings to the pivot that the motor swings on, modified the chain holder/indexer arrangement to index properly, and had to mount the wheel properly cause it would move side to side because a spacer was installed wrong or something like that. Also had to true up those spacers so the wheel would run true and not wobble. There is still some play in the motor bearings, so the wheel still moves side to side slightly.

I think if you understand the mechanics of what it takes to sharpen a tooth, you'll be able to make the machine work for you. It may be alot of work, but It can't be any more than filing all those teeth on two blades just one time. For $30 it may be worth a try. Who knows...maybe I just got a really bad one and they are not all that way.

 

[eschoendorff]

Basically, he added a solid shaft with bushings to the pivot that the motor swings on, modified the chain holder/indexer arrangement to index properly, and had to mount the wheel properly cause it would move side to side because a spacer was installed wrong or something like that. Also had to true up those spacers so the wheel would run true and not wobble. There is still some play in the motor bearings, so the wheel still moves side to side slightly.

I think if you understand the mechanics of what it takes to sharpen a tooth, you'll be able to make the machine work for you. It may be alot of work, but It can't be any more than filing all those teeth on two blades just one time. For $30 it may be worth a try. Who knows...maybe I just got a really bad one and they are not all that way.

Sounds like a lot of extra work. By the time you did all that you coulda sharpened 5 chains with a hand file!

 

[Rubes]

Sounds like a lot of extra work. By the time you did all that you coulda sharpened 5 chains with a hand file!

Oh jeez...another dumb lazy ***!!!! yeah he coulda...but now he can sharpen a chain off an 18" bar in less than 10 minutes and it is PERFECT every time. Not to mention the $$$$ he makes taking a few minutes to sharpen chains for neighbors. Machine is already free at this point. The time of a retired old man was pretty cheap...as well as keeping his mind and hands active rather than sitting on the porch wasting away. That is priceless.

 

[eschoendorff]

Oh jeez...another dumb lazy ***!!!! yeah he coulda...but now he can sharpen a chain off an 18" bar in less than 10 minutes and it is PERFECT every time. Not to mention the $$$$ he makes taking a few minutes to sharpen chains for neighbors. Machine is already free at this point. The time of a retired old man was pretty cheap...as well as keeping his mind and hands active rather than sitting on the porch wasting away. That is priceless.

Well, now that's a WHOLE DIFFERENT story there. If anyone else has an old retired man at their disposal....

 

[geaugafletcher]

Not lazy, he just expects a machine to function properly when it's new. I don't think that's an unreasonable request, and that work goes well beyond (for example) adjusting a table saw. Re-engineering? No thanks. If I'm willing to spend the money to automate that task, I'm not willing to re-do the designers' work for them.

Moreover, I wouldn't charge my neighbors who needed their chains sharpened.

 

[Ripp]

I would like to find a source for retired ol men here in SE Iowa.
Mine "used it all up" a few years ago..I do miss him!!
Armed with nothing more than a matchbook,screwdriver and a cresant wrench he would have my 1954 Johnson outboard running like a new one..

 

[NITRO-BTU]

Hey Rubes, I made the Mod. to the chain stop indexter. However, I used a 2'' long 1/4" dia. Machine bolt. I clipped off the plastic shank, then used a 3/16"' drill on center to drill out the hole. Threaded the bolt thru the hole, tightened the tab "curl," and installed with lock nut. NOTE: The newest Sharpeners now use a "steel" shank. I believe someone must have Bitched up a complaint, so they made the change. I am Ready for the next "Modification" PEOPLE .... Bring it on !!! Thanks, Jim

TODAY 4/18 I took some pics of the mod, but don't know how to attach them to this post. If anyone out there can help with this , Please come forward and explain how to do this. Thanks, Jim.
Also, mounted sharpener on a portable base.