How to Sharpen Stihl Chainsaw Chains

Trying to cut with a dull or damaged chainsaw blade wastes the saw's energy and puts stress on the engine, guide bar and you. Signs of a dull or damaged blade include fine sawdust coming from the wood as opposed to wood chips; having to push the saw down to make a cut; the saw not cutting straight; or the chain jumping. After filing and sharpening your saw five or fewer times, take it to a professional as they have the proper tools to make the proper angles for your chain.

• 1

  Tension the chain, as a loose chain is harder to accurately sharpen.

• 2

  Find the master cutter on your chain. The master cutter is the cutter with the shortest top length.

• 3

  File and sharpen the master cutter to the correct angle. Measure the cutter using a caliper. You can find the correct angles and file sizes on page 18 of the reference.

• 4

  File the remaining cutters on the side you started on, measuring each as you go to make sure they're all the same. Once finished with the first side, start filing the cutters that go in the opposite direction.

• 5

  File with a round file and only sharpen on the forward stroke. Remove the file on the backward stroke.