Sharpening with no vise

[livemusic]

Can you get good results sharpening just with the saw on a table and not in a vise? Adjusting the chain to proper tension, then holding the bar/chain firmly with one hand, filing with the other? Hand filing or with 2-in-1. Or do you think it's mandatory to have the bar in a vise? How important is that?

 

[Woodpecker]

I used to sharpen in the field without a vise. Results were acceptable. I'd brace the saw against something else solid with a leg or foot or sit on the saw. Unless your really strong it's difficult to keep that file steady with just one hand. Your results will be way better with a vise though.

 

[pwheel]

This:

 

[stretch5881]

I know a bunch of old guys that file with the saw sitting on the table, and they do it very well. Anytime I tried it, the saw would cut such a pretty C. I have to use both a vise and a granberg clamp on sharpener.

 

[huskihl]

I use a stump vise on the bar tip when I sharpen in the woods. But even at home, a bench vise steadies the saw and frees up your off hand.

 

[P.M.P.]

I don't use no stinking vice. Table or tailgate is all I need.

 

[5155]

On tailgate with tip against bedside bed liner or spare tire, or wood. For touch up.
Pap could free hand file "in the air", not me.

 

[Ryan Browne]

It definitely helps if you can push the tip of the bar against something solid so you're not countering all of the force that you're applying with the file.

 

[Xr650jkallen]

When I do a touch up in the woods, the saw is normally resting on a stump or the tailgate. I usually just tuck the saw handle to one side or the other kinda up under one of your arms and reach over the brake flag, holding the saw in place with my gut and chest.

 

[BangBang77]

I can do it without a vise if I have to but prefer a vise.

I actually have an extra Wilton in the shop that I've thought about mounting to the side of my trailer for this very reason. Just gotta find the time to make that happen I guess.

 

[Wood Doctor]

My logger buddy has long bars on all his saws (30" or more). He sits down and rests the saw on his lap and the bar on his shoulder. Then he files away, using one shoulder for one side of the chain and the other one for the other side. He switches hands when he switches shoulders. I've tried this now and then, but he does a much better job than I do. It might take some practice and I assure you that he has practiced a lot more than I have.

 

[old guy]

In the woods just saw off a 3 to 5 inch sapling at a height you can work with, cut a groove in the top of it a couple of inches less than the depth of your bar, shut the saw off in the groove, put your hip against the saw and start fileing.

 

[huskyhank]

It definitely helps if you can push the tip of the bar against something solid so you're not countering all of the force that you're applying with the file.

My favorite outdoors is to have the nose of the bar in my lap where when I push down to file while its held tight against my chaps. Saw sitting on a stump or similar so until I push down the chain is free.

Indoors a chain vise as sold by one of our members is best.

 

[Philbert]

Filing is a cutting action in steel. It can be difficult to do this consistently anytime, but even harder when the teeth you are filing are moving side-to-side and tilting. Some guys are good at this. Some have developed methods for holding their bar and chain steady while filing. If you get a chance to watch them, you may want to try copying their methods.

I want the bar and chain held as firmly as possible, so that that I can use BOTH hands to guide the file accurately and consistently. A file guide (lots of different kinds) helps to position the file (height, angle, etc.). But filing a moving chain is like trying to write neatly in a car while someone is driving down a bumpy road.

I like stump vices. I like filing vices for sharpening chains off of the bar. In the field I have improvised by bore cutting into a stump, or noodling into a log, to hold the bar and chain steady.

Lots of threads on this, including:

https://opeforum.com/threads/tecomec-stump-vise-with-chain-stop.14188/

https://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/tree-machine-filing-clamps.240030/

https://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/philberts-low-tech-filing-vise.245004/

https://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/philberts-low-er-tech-filing-vise.277258/



Philbert

EDIT: Sorry, I posted all links to another site (thought I was on AS); fixed one.

A sharp file helps too!

 

[old guy]

I hold the tooth with one hand, file with the other. But now mostly I grind.

 

[Al Smith]

Usually on the tail gate sitting on a 5 gallon bucket .Over the top ,left right left .

 

[Cat 525]

Flatbed has 2by4 sides. I have a groove wotn on backend where I just switch from one side to the other.

 

[rogue60]

I've been one handed sharpening (frees other hand up to hold bar and individual cutters steady) for over 25 years it takes time to master the 1st 10 years I was probably chit at it lol
The benefits of this skill is you can sharpen/maintain a saw's chain literally anywhere (in the bush) with just two files and a scrench.
So yes one handed filing works just as good (if not better IMHO) as two hand filing with a vice or back stop for the nose of the bar.
But this day and age unless you have someone that has mastered it to stand next to you and teach you the ins and outs to speed the learning curve up I'd probably stick with the basic methods.
There was a time if it cut timber a man could hand sharpen it on the spot and if he was no good at it he'd starve but that's not really relevant now days with all the gizmos guide's and cheap electronic grinders that can produce reasonable results even for a casual user.

 

[deye223]

Ok I was not going to post these but I will and there will be those who will say this cant work.
I don't sharpen a chain with the same swipes on each side or each tooth, by the time the cutter's need a touch up in the *s-word I'm cutting the cutters are pretty done if you used the same amount of swipes some would be sharp some wouldn't you have to keep going on an individual tooth until the chrome plating just starts to lift that's when you know you have sharpened the tooth to the right amount .
anyway this is how I do it it works My Chains cut faster and as straight as anything out of the box so I'm satisfied.
Backhand gets more licks as I have a shoulder injury.

 

[davidwyby]

I only use a vise in the shop. In the field i wrassle the saw and cut myself and make curved cuts! Learning again. Gotta stay at it and not be so on and off with sawing. maybe shoot some vid to post and learn and maybe remember what I learned.