Simple Chain Filing Vise

[Philbert]

I like chain filing vises. They let users sharpen precisely, indoors, without them having to be mounted on the saw.

Saw this on a Facebook forum, and sharing it here. Low tech. Easy to make with basic tools.



The poster (Paul Codner) directed folks to a YouTube video (by Herrick Kimball), which I am linking below.


* Notes:

1. The poster substituted cam-lock bolts, for bicycle seat posts, that he purchased on Amazon.

2. The hole spacing that the designer discusses will vary with chain pitch, but these are simple enough that you can make a few, if that is an issue.

Original YouTube video:

PDF download (scroll to find this project):
https://222218.e-junkie.com/

Philbert

 

[Sloughfoot]

Interesting. I've gotta get something. Putting a chain back on just to sharpen feels silly.

 

[Philbert]

I posted a lot of these on AS: lots of creative, homemade versions.

You may not have the saw to work off of; might have chains from multiple saws, or multiple chains for a single saw; might not want to bring a gassed up saw into a home workshop; etc.

Guys who are fussy about their chain (e.g. racers) also like the control a vise provides.

I have made a few versions. Here is an example: ‘Philbert’s Lower-Tech Chain Vise’.



Philbert

 

[Sloughfoot]

I posted a lot of these on AS: lots of creative, homemade versions.

You may not have the saw to work off of; might have chains from multiple saws, or multiple chains for a single saw; might not want to bring a gassed up saw into a home workshop; etc.

Guys who are fussy about their chain (e.g. racers) also like the control a vise provides.

I have made a few versions. Here is an example: ‘Philbert’s Lower-Tech Chain Vise’.

View attachment 474326

Philbert

This is giving me some cheap ideas to try.

 

[Jusgunn3]

I usually put the saw in the vice or a stump vice [which is not the best] but do ok. I tend to swamp chains and grind a bunch of them together but either way its work.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I'm going to try putting two ~16" pieces of angle iron in my vise and clamping that length of chain drivers between them.

edit: sort of like the pic in the OP but the jaws of the vise clamp the chain between the two lengths of angle as opposed to holding the piece that has clamps mounted. Gotta be a reason that wouldn't work well.

 

[SimonHS]

I posted a lot of these on AS: lots of creative, homemade versions.

You may not have the saw to work off of; might have chains from multiple saws, or multiple chains for a single saw; might not want to bring a gassed up saw into a home workshop; etc.

Guys who are fussy about their chain (e.g. racers) also like the control a vise provides.

I have made a few versions. Here is an example: ‘Philbert’s Lower-Tech Chain Vise’.

View attachment 474326

Philbert

Didn't you make one from slotted PVC pipe? With the slot at the correct filing angle.

 

[IffykidMn]

I have been clamping a spare or a cut off length of junk bar in the bench vice.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I have been clamping a spare or a cut off length of junk bar in the bench vice.

What are you doing to keep the chain from rocking when you file it?

 

[Philbert]

I have been clamping a spare or a cut off length of junk bar in the bench vice.

That works, but does not clamp the links as tightly / securely as a filing vise.

Philbert

 

[sundance]

I'm going to try putting two ~16" pieces of angle iron in my vise and clamping that length of chain drivers between them.

edit: sort of like the pic in the OP but the jaws of the vise clamp the chain between the two lengths of angle as opposed to holding the piece that has clamps mounted. Gotta be a reason that wouldn't work well.

Let us know how it works out. Sounds like it should work well.

 

[Philbert]

I'm going to try putting two ~16" pieces of angle iron in my vise and clamping that length of chain drivers between them.

Here is something I posted on AS (too long to copy here):

Philbert's Low Tech Filing Vise

Philbert’s Low Tech Filing Vise Background (*NOTE: several original links to this thread were lost. I have tried to replace some of the information) I got interested in a filing vise from threads like these...

arboristsite.com

Philbert

 

[Sloughfoot]

Would simply widening the jaws work?

Yost 912-HV-AS-SJ 12 Inch Wide Replacement Serrated Jaws for 912-HV-AS

Yost Model 912-HV-AS-SJ 12 Inch Wide Replacement Serrated Jaws for 912-HV-AS High Visibility Bench Vise.

yostvises.com

 

[Philbert]

Would simply widening the jaws work?

Many, many ways to do this.

I posted a bunch of different, homemade designs, in an AS thread (some images lost over the years).

Key thing is to clamp the drive links securely. Two, flat pieces of metal, surprisingly, won’t do this, unless:

- canted in at the top, or;

- separated by a spacer the same thickness as the drive links thickness/ gauge, at the bottom of the, or;

- held rigidly parallel, like in a cast iron machinist’s vice.

Otherwise, the links slip around.

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

Didn't you make one from slotted PVC pipe? With the slot at the correct filing angle.

This guy did (similar thread title).

I never tried it, but very creative design.

Thread 'Simple & Cheap Chain Holder for Sharpening'

Jan 13, 2023

This works really well to file sharpen a chain off the saw. Easy to move in the slot but stays put when you put file pressure on it. Pipe is a good angle reference to make sure all teeth are aligned.

A foot of PVC pipe and two 30 Degree cuts with the mitre saw, clamped in a vice.

• Paul Fithian
• Replies: 25
• Forum: Chainsaws

• 

Philbert

 

[Sloughfoot]

Many, many ways to do this.

I posted a bunch of different, homemade designs, in an AS thread (some images lost over the years).

Key thing is to clamp the drive links securely. Two, flat pieces of metal, surprisingly, won’t do this, unless:

- canted in at the top, or;

- separated by a spacer the same thickness as the drive links thickness/ gauge, at the bottom of the, or;

- held rigidly parallel, like in a cast iron machinist’s vice.

Otherwise, the links slip around.

Philbert

I suspected there was a catch. I'll play around with cants and spacers on an extension and see what happens.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Threw a short section of chain in my clapped out 5" vise. It wasn't secure enough for race chain level sharpening, but it was as or more secure than having the bar in the vise with a wedge jammed in to pull the chain tight. 3 of the 4 teeth in the jaws were fairly rigid but an end one was pretty loose.
Ordered 12" serrated jaw extensions to play with. If nothing else they should take the flex out of the bar for sharpening the good ol fashioned way,