A chainsaw is a wonderful invention, and can save you a lot of time on the job site or at home.
You can remove dead branches and cut firewood to size with ease.
But you need to maintain your chainsaw in a proper working condition.
Luckily, this can be done without much time used at all.
Utilizing routine maintenance,and sharpening when needed, will extend the life of your chain saw, and make it easier to use, as well.
It's important to use safety gear when you are maintaining a sharp tool.
Eye protection and leather gloves are the minimum you should use to sharpen a chainsaw.
You'll want to use your sharpening tool, as well as a hook for cleaning the bar groove of the chain, and a socket and screwdriver to remove the cover of the chainsaw.
Your routine of maintenance should include checking the oil, and topping off the gas or diesel in your chainsaw.
Check power cords on electric chainsaws for signs of overuse or wear.
Make sure that there is proper tension on the chain blade.
Every time you use your chainsaw for any lengthy time period, sharpen the saw to make sure that each tooth is at its proper sharpness.
You can tell if you have a blunt blade - the saw will start to produce sawdust rather than chips.
Check and replace the fuel filters on a regular basis, too.
Although you may sharpen your own chainsaw, this usually only keeps an edge on the cutting teeth.
When your teeth are seriously worn, you should have them sharpened by someone who can also restore your cutting angle to its correct level.
You can find many chainsaw sharpeners at hardware or home improvement stores.
A rounded file of the same gauge as your saw's teeth may be used, with a file guard.
Electric sharpeners also can sharpen up your chainsaw, but they are not quite as portable.