The Best Chainsaw Sharpener – Complete Buying Guide & Reviews

Keeping your chainsaw as sharp as it needs to keep on cutting is essential. In our guide to the best chainsaw sharpener, we’ll find the right one for you. 

We have a selection of the top chainsaw sharpeners that suit different situations like household projects, professional landscaping, and fieldwork.

 Whether you need a portable, wall-mounted, or bench-mounted chainsaw sharpener, there is a good option for you in this comprehensive guide to the best chainsaw sharpener on the market. 

STIHL Chainsaw Sharpener

The STIHL is manually operated; an efficient tool for anyone who wants a reliable and portable chainsaw sharpener. It is especially easy to carry around due to its compact and lightweight design. It weighs 12 ounces so you can carry it in your pockets. Above all, it delivers impeccable consistency and accuracy in sharpening the chainsaw cutters. It is the right way to go when you want to focus on your work and start rolling quickly instead of carrying out cumbersome maintenance. Because it’s manual, you may use it wherever you go since no power source is required to operate it.

The upside

  • Highly portable
  • Precise sharpening

The downside

  • Doesn’t come with a user manual

The XtremepowerUS Miniature Chainsaw Sharpener

​This is an affordable mini electric grinder and a perfect choice if you are searching for an 85W chainsaw sharpener. You will particularly love its performance thanks to the bench mounted design that provides a stable working base.

Its 85W motor gives a maximum acceleration of 4200RPM. As a good option for both domestic and professional uses, it ensures that your chainsaw teeth are always in their perfect conditions.

Other exclusive features of the XtremepowerUS are the brakes that hold the chain in the right position when sharpening plus the pivoting head with adjustable angles that turn 35º on either side.

When it comes to setting up this chainsaw grinder, the process is extremely easy. It delivers more than what you would expect from an inexpensive chainsaw sharpener.

Things We Like

  • Ease of use
  • Easy setup
  • Good value for the money
  • Extremely efficient piece of machinery

Things We Don’t Like

  • Its working mechanism makes it harder for the chain to get into the correct spot for sharpening

Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener

This is another product we highly recommend for reliability and ease of navigation. Its lightweight body makes it a good option for contractors who travel from one place to the next. It is made up of durable materials which ensure durability, making it one of the trusted tools you can have in your garage.

Some of the remarkable characteristics of the Timberline grinder include a high sharpening efficiency and quick working mechanism. Within a few seconds, you can have your cutters sharpened, helping you to save a lot of time. Apart from its quick working system that saves your time, it is very strong and a good money-saving option.

Things We Like:

  • Swift sharpening
  • High efficiency
  • Top-notch accuracy
  • Portable
  • Doesn’t require a power source

Things We Don’t Like:

  • Very difficult usage for a beginner
  • Difficult set up

The Oregon 410-120

The Oregon 410-120 chainsaw sharpener should be a great addition to your workshop tools whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional contractor. It features an inbuilt light, a 404” pitch chain, three sharpening wheels, dressing brick,wheel wear indicator, and quick check grinding template.

The Oregon 410-120 is a favorite chainsaw sharpener for most users due to a solid build,good controls for various chains,proper design, and easy setup. The general appeal of the grinder is decent.

Things We Like:

  • Straightforward setup
  • Solid make
  • Ability to sharpen a plethora of chains

Things We Don’t Like

  • The assembly instructions are not the most clear

Oregon 520-120

Are you a professional looking for a bench chainsaw sharpener? You can get your saw blades in their proper working conditions with Oregon 520-120. It is an electric grinder designed for professionals who do their jobs onsite or near studios. It is ideal for multiple chain sizes including ¼”, 325”, and 404” pitch.

 It comes with three distinct sharpening wheels to get your chainsaw cutters to their original status quo. Thanks to the inbuilt light, you can see clearly what you are doing to ensure consistent angle and sharpness of the cutters.

This robust tool is an excellent choice for heavy grinders. However, it is not automatic, so you must align the teeth manually, something that might take up your valuable time when on a tight schedule.

Things We Like:

  • Delivers precise sharpening
  • Numerous sharpening options
  • Perfect teeth alignment
  • An inbuilt light

Things We Don’t Like:

  • Its alignment is not automated

Granberg Bar-Mount Sharpener

Here is a budget-friendly option for those who are in dire need of a reliable and mobile chainsaw sharpener. This bar mounted sharpener is designed meticulously with a huge and straightforward ingenuity that allows you to perform your work much easier. It is a wonderful tool for outdoors projects that require a lot of time to accomplish.

Moreover, you can carry it with ease from one job site to the other while getting your cutters sharpened accurately, fast, and safely.

You can concentrate more on your projects and leave the maintenance aspect to this efficient tool.  All you need is to put the sharpener with the nose blade and file down the cutters. Within no time, the cutters will become sharp without necessarily exerting a lot of force.

The sharpener is designed for all standard pitch chain sizes and is very efficient when it comes to setting the proper depth gauge of your cutters.

The strong and long-lasting materials that make up this tool ensure that you are not weighed down when working on a chainsaw. Measuring about 2 pounds, you might not even notice the weight as you relocate from one site to the other.

Things We Like:

  • Lightweight design
  • Affordable
  • Efficient and quick sharpening
  • Suitable for any standard pitch size

Things We Don’t Like:

  • Not easy to set up initially

Stihl Chainsaw Sharpener .325″

The Stihl 2 In 1 Easy File Chainsaw Chain Sharpener .325 is known to be absolutely perfect among user. The tool has lines etched that you line up with the bar to keep the right angle, so that you ensure that you are sharpening your chain the right way.

A unique, easy-to-use filing system that sharpens your cutter and lowers your depth gauge with a few simple strokes.

Stihl USA

The Stihl is amazing for quickly and effectively sharpening your chain. Most people don’t understand the need to file the rakers along with each teeth, but with the Stihl, it’s easy. To be honest, this tool is a bit clunky to use at first but after the first few uses, it becomes very clear that sharpening your chainsaw chain is the way to go.

Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener

According to the manufacturer the “Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener is a newly patented tool that takes precision and accuracy to a new level”. We agree.  With the Timberline, the chain remains on the saw and the tool clamps on the bar, allowing the chain to be pulled through the sharpener as each tooth is sharpened. There is a high-grade tungsten carbide cutter that is hand turned with a handle which makes sharpening easy to do and control.

This chainsaw sharpener is a very well made product manufactured right here in the USA. We can’t stress enough that with new technology, the sharpening process is a piece of cake. Make sure to take the time to read all Timberline’s on-line instructions, tips-n-tricks and watch the video. The Timberline chainsaw sharpener does its job that will be more consistent than you cannot get with a grinder or file. It may take a little more time to sharpen your chain yourself, but the results are much better than having the hardware store sharpen your chains or buying a new one.

Oregon Chainsaw Sharpening Kit

The Oregon 541662 PowerSharp Bar-Mount Chainsaw Chain Sharpening Kit is an easy-to-use, precision sharpening system that gives you the freedom to sharpen your chain while it is still on the saw. The PowerSharp chain can be sharpened in seconds with a simple and easy-to-use attachment.

Honestly, yes, the system in a single word is amazing. This chain sharpening kit allows the included chain to be sharpened by diamond grinding. Both fast and effective, if you are a novice regarding chain saws, you need this chainsaw sharpener. There is nothing is worse than trying to cut timber with a dull chain. The Oregon 541662 PowerSharp Bar-Mount Chainsaw Chain Sharpening Kit is the solution for you.

What’s the Best Chainsaw Sharpener?

As you can probably guess, we have to go with technology when it comes time to sharpen your chainsaw. When new chains for your chainsaw sell for roughly $25 at the dealer, with its ease of use, the Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener pays for itself pretty quick. And in our opinion, it’s by far the best way to sharpen a chainsaw. Best of luck!

About Chainsaw Sharpeners

To keep your chainsaw running properly, there are a number of things you must do. You must treat it with oil regularly and keep the arm and saw sharp all the time. 

This is where a chainsaw sharpener comes in. Chainsaw sharpeners make chainsaws safer to use and more efficient in terms of gas usage. They, therefore, revitalize dulled links and can accommodate most of the chainsaw designs. 

One of the biggest factors to consider when shopping is whether you need a manual or electric-powered model.

Another consideration is the type of chainsaw you’ll be using, either an electric or gas powered chainsaw.

The Cost

This is the most common concern for any consumer out there. The money spent is not as important as the value you get out of it. For the professionals, we recommend the more expensive models but again this depends on the type of chainsaw you have. Some models are best suited for particular jobs than others but you can always find one that matches your needs.

The Design

If you have been keen on our review, you will have noticed that chainsaw sharpeners come in 3 designs: handheld round file, bar-mounted sharpeners, and electric grinder sharpeners. Each design has its own benefits and drawbacks. Take a look.

Electric

This is a popular choice for most professionals. It is the quickest and most accurate sharpener. When using it, you clamp the chain on a guide bar and secure it to a proper sharpening angle. As you sharpen the chainsaw, the wheel spins at a constant speed for accurate sharpening of the teeth at equal length and depth. However, this type of sharpener is more expensive and the set up requires the expertise of a qualified professional.

Bar-Mounted

When using a bar-mounted sharpener, you secure it to your chainsaw’s bar on a stable bench. It features knobs that must be set properly in line with the specifications of the saw. You must set a depth and filing angle before sharpening begins. It is important that you put on a protective gear since the file shavings tend to fly off the blade and can potentially harm you.

Handheld Round File

This is the original sharpener people used to have in the past and even today. It is available in different diameters to accommodate different chainsaw sizes. To sharpen your chainsaw, you must run it over each tooth of the saw. In other words, the sharpening is done manually. In terms of budget, the manual sharpeners are the cheapest on the market.

They are simple to use and perfect for occasional woodcutting. Nonetheless, it is not easy to maintain proper control while maintaining a cutting angle when working. That means the sharpener is more time consuming

Sharpening Angles

For the chain to cut quickly and efficiently, it must follow one angle which depends on a number of factors e.g. drive links thickness, teeth design, and the space between rivets. Before buying a sharpener, be sure to check your saw’s requirements.

Sharpening Accessories

The ultimate sharpener comes with a complete kit. The kit consists of every accessory you require e.g. detachable handles, depth gauge tools, dressing brick, and spare wheels.

Wrap Up

Are you ready to take good care of your chainsaw? Finding the right chainsaw sharpener allows you to accomplish your job faster and more efficiently. The blade of a chainsaw features some cutters or teeth which perform the real cutting of the material.

Then there are rakers that determine what depth the teeth get while ensuring a smooth and consistent cutting process. You must file the rakers once in a while but the cutters require to be maintained more frequently.

While you can sharpen the cutting teeth manually with a hand file, this can be an arduous task and less effective as compared to using a chainsaw sharpener. An electric bench-mounted sharpener is the quickest tool that can get your cutters sharp. 

No matter what your choice may be, we have an option on our list that is sure to be your personal best chainsaw sharpener option. Our personal favorite and our pick for the best chainsaw sharpener is the STIHL Chainsaw Sharpener for it’s efficiency and ease of use.

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About Gus Donaldson

I built houses for over 30 years and recently retired. I've made lots of mistakes and hopefully teach you not to make the same ones. I still love to build and have a garage workshop that I use for hobby projects like the walnut bookshelf I made for my wife. I like to write and let people know that working with your hands and tools does not need to be intimidating.

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