sharpening saw chain off the bar

[DRH]

I do quite well hand filing the saw chain whether it is mounted in the vice, or on a stump in the woods.
my question though is , does anybody have a jig made up for holding the loose chain for hand filing the extra spare chains?
right now I have only one spare chain to swap in, I may end up with another later on.
I would like to devise a way to make a jig to clamp in the spare chain for hand filing.
I usually just touch up the one on the saw and don't bother to swap in a spare, but some day I will need to touch up both of them and do not want the bother of remounting the second chain just to sharpen it.
Den

 

[davbell22602]

I sharpen all my chainsaw chain on a chain grinder.

 

[reynoldston]

My vice I have a pair of soft aluminum pads I made to hold something like a chain saw chain or anything I need soft jaws for. I also have a chain saw sharping grinder but that is a big expense if you don't use it very much and all you need is a hand file to keep your chain sharp.

 

[DRH]

I sharpen all my chainsaw chain on a chain grinder.

I sharpen all my chainsaw chain with a properly sized file. by hand.

 

[DRH]

I was hoping for a jig of some sorts that would be wider than the jaws of the vice. able to sharpen a few teeth before having to advance the chain through.
maybe some vice jaws such as yours only lots wider?
funny how there is nothing easily found on the internet regarding it.
almost everyone does the hand filing while mounted on the saw. or benchtop grinder method for spare chain.
so far I haven't found anything about a clamping jig for hand filing spare chain.

 

[pugaltitude]

Dont need to make any jig.
Just use an old guide bar that is mounted in a vice.
Fit the chain to the guide bar like it is on the saw and file away.

Also everytime you fill your oil and fuel then you should sharpen your chain so in theory no need for an extra chain.
By the time you swap a chain over after running out of fuel, you can sharpen a chain.

 

[DRH]

I admit I haven't tried simply mounting an old bar in the vice. I presumed that there would need to be some moderate tension on the chain , probably assisted with my free hand to keep the tooth from wobbling. that is why I thought I would be needing a clamp of sorts to steady the chain teeth, then I could use both hands on the file.

 

[reynoldston]

Dont need to make any jig.
Just use an old guide bar that is mounted in a vice.
Fit the chain to the guide bar like it is on the saw and file away.

Also everytime you fill your oil and fuel then you should sharpen your chain so in theory no need for an extra chain.
By the time you swap a chain over after running out of fuel, you can sharpen a chain.

I would say that would be a little on the overboard with your sharping. I sharped mine on the start of the day and if I hit something to dull it.

 

[pugaltitude]

I admit I haven't tried simply mounting an old bar in the vice. I presumed that there would need to be some moderate tension on the chain , probably assisted with my free hand to keep the tooth from wobbling. that is why I thought I would be needing a clamp of sorts to steady the chain teeth, then I could use both hands on the file.

You could use an old sprocket assy with chain brake and a guide bar and bolt it to wood.

I just use an old guide bar to mounted in a vice.
Just takes technique.

 

[pugaltitude]

I would say that would be a little on the overboard with your sharping. I sharped mine on the start of the day and if I hit something to dull it.

Thats not overboard but what chain manufactuers will recommend.

A chain will dull everytime you use on one tank of fuel.

To make your saw last longer and save money then sharpen every time.

All it takes is probably 3 strokes on each tooth instead of over and over again at the end of the day.

All that cuts wood is the chromium plating. The rest of it is a vehicle to get the plating to the wood.
A sawchain can be razor sharp but without the plating it doesnt cut. Thats why when a chain is dull it show very fine sawdust and no plating showing on the teeth.

I think it was Black and Decker found this out back in the 80s.
To bring price down on there saws they made a chain without the plating.
They sold loads but all were returned due to not being able to cut.
Customers thought it was a faulty saw but all it needed was a sawchain.