The chainsaw can be denoted as the weapon of choice for workers in the logging industry. This nifty woodworking tool had its origins in the mid 1800's in Germany, where a smaller and rather primitive version of the chainsaw was first used as a bone cutter. During the 1920's, the chainsaw evolved into something modern and more powerful, as it was fitted with a fuel powered engine for heavy duty work.



In most homes today, a chainsaw is a handy tool to have around the house, especially for gardening and landscaping projects. For those who use chainsaws as part of their business, they probably already know how important it is to maintain the tool's blades, and to sharpen them from time to time. Keeping your chainsaw sharp helps prevent accidents while working with it, and maintains evenness on the surfaces you are cutting.

So what do you need when you sharpen a chainsaw? First of all, you must make a note about the brand and model of your chainsaw, as well as the size of your chainsaw's teeth. Doing so will help you purchase a round file that perfectly fits the teeth of your chainsaw. Clean your chainsaw using the appropriate type of chemical cleaner for the blades, clearing off rust and debris. The first part of maintaining your chainsaw requires you to shape the teeth and keep them sharp. You can do this by first securing your chainsaw on a workbench using a clamp, allowing you to rotate the chain around the saw freely with your hand.

Once you have secured your chainsaw, you need to use your filing guide and round file to sharpen each individual cutter. The filing guide ensures that your round file is honing the blade at the right angle, so that optimum cutting capacity can be achieved. After this, you need to adjust the height of each cutter on your chain, using your depth gauge. According to sources, this is often included with the instructions in your chainsaw. Keeping your cutters at the same height allows you to have smooth and clean cuts all the time.

Lastly, after you have honed your cutters or teeth with the files, and adjusted their heights with the depth gauges, you must check the tension of your chain. It must not be too tight on the saw, nor should it be too slack. This is an important safety precaution and a smart method of chainsaw maintenance.