I did some work for a friend last winter/spring. I did not want anything for the work and did not take anything. He sent me a gift certificate to Harbor Freight.
A few weeks ago I happened to be close to the HF store in Cedar Rapids. So I stopped in to see if there was anything I would want to have to use. I bought a Chainsaw chains sharpener and a 20 ton hydraulic press.
The press is fine for lighter jobs I have at the house. I still take any real stubborn stuff to the main shop at the farm.
I just got around to putting the chainsaw chain sharpener together tonight. I was trimming brush along a fence today and dulled a couple of chains. The sharpener is not a power house which I actually like, in that you don't heat the drag up too hot. You have to slow grind the drag. It is not as stiff a mount as my Oregon sharpener. For just touching up a drag I actually like the extra motion it allows. You can kind of grind the form into a wrecked drag.
So all an all it will work good for just touching up dulled chains. I change chains out as soon as they stop cutting well. I want to be able to just touch the chain up with a grinder. IF I have one that really gets hammered I will take it to the farm and use the Oregon. If you really have to take the drag down it would be slow going on the HF grinder.
The HF one would work well for most homeowners that just sharpen their own chains. I think I paid $35-40 for it. About what you would pay to have a couple of chains sharpened around here anymore.
A few weeks ago I happened to be close to the HF store in Cedar Rapids. So I stopped in to see if there was anything I would want to have to use. I bought a Chainsaw chains sharpener and a 20 ton hydraulic press.
The press is fine for lighter jobs I have at the house. I still take any real stubborn stuff to the main shop at the farm.
I just got around to putting the chainsaw chain sharpener together tonight. I was trimming brush along a fence today and dulled a couple of chains. The sharpener is not a power house which I actually like, in that you don't heat the drag up too hot. You have to slow grind the drag. It is not as stiff a mount as my Oregon sharpener. For just touching up a drag I actually like the extra motion it allows. You can kind of grind the form into a wrecked drag.
So all an all it will work good for just touching up dulled chains. I change chains out as soon as they stop cutting well. I want to be able to just touch the chain up with a grinder. IF I have one that really gets hammered I will take it to the farm and use the Oregon. If you really have to take the drag down it would be slow going on the HF grinder.
The HF one would work well for most homeowners that just sharpen their own chains. I think I paid $35-40 for it. About what you would pay to have a couple of chains sharpened around here anymore.