Simple & Cheap Chain Holder for Sharpening

[Paul Fithian]

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.

 

[timg]

What a simple and effective process with a piece of pvc. Thanks for posting sir.

 

[sundance]

What size PVC did you use? Saw blade width?
Looks like a great idea, thanks for sharing.

 

[SimonHS]

Great idea.

@Philbert what do you think of this?

 

[jakethesnake]

I really dig it. Nice

 

[Paul Fithian]

What size PVC did you use? Saw blade width?
Looks like a great idea, thanks for sharing.

Thanks!

I think this is 2” PVC, leftover from some house work. Standard saw blade width, double cut if you need more width to enable easy chain movement.

 

[5155]

That's just too simple, gonna have to try and complicate your idea. Roller for 10 degree tilt.
Something under end of file for precision consistency.
Cutting oil bath.
A mount for when away from vise.

Haha kidding. I am gonna try this, Thanks.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

this is just what I needed to see today, I was planning on trying to rig up a chain holder today. THANKS

 

[Paul Fithian]

Thanks fellas, hope it helps. I came up with this to fix some damaged teeth from a stump removal last week. This tooth was repaired in a minute or so with a flat and a 3/16" round files.




I see further development to improve this, share your ideas.

 

[Philbert]

Great idea.
@Philbert what do you think of this?

I’m for anything that works!

This looks very creative. I like the simplicity; the use of available materials, and the built-in angle guide.

Not sure if it would work with a 10° ‘down angle’, but I don’t do that much. Maybe an additional slot in the front if that is important to the user?

Philbert

 

[jakethesnake]

Thanks fellas, hope it helps. I came up with this it to fix some damaged teeth from a stump removal last week. This tooth was repaired in a minute or so with a flat and a 3/16" round files.

View attachment 361422
View attachment 361423

I see further development to improve this, share your ideas.

Good looking chain too. Clean work

 

[dmb2613]

as I say that is the cats a$$. man you could bottle and sell that

 

[Paul Fithian]

Thanks!

If you cut the slots close to the end, you can hold the file handle down to cut an angle.

Add your ideas to make it work better, sort of like an open source design.

 

[5155]

I whipped one up yesterday. Cut both butt ends at 30 and a kerf. Can file from the end inward for right and left cutters, and think I can use more of the file than a 90 cut butt.
Kept the print on pipe up so to use it as angle reference.

Easy to cheat the angle that way. Like for used up stump chains so not to remove the heel from cutter tooth.
I did one beat 325 chain and concluded I need a new box of small files and throw away an old dozen. I might hang weight or tension on the chain slack.
I thinner kerf might be better than the carbide tipped miter saw I used. Stumps and dirty wood don't care tho.

Not my every time thing but maybe the go to for beat chains that no longer fit my grinder, I have a bunch of those.

And I know, I need a new camera.

Like I said, too simple.

 

[Paul Fithian]

I donated a pair to Randy’s raffle, give folks!

 

[Paul Fithian]

From Shane in the fundraiser thread:

Two pipe caps and you could store your files and raker gauge right inside the pipe would be like a file tool kit

Excellent upgrade!

One could also do a lengthwise slot along the rear 2/3's of the top edge to use the raker gauge or a Stihl 2 in 1 sharpener on a flat section supporting the chain. I have some ideas on a way to do that . . .

After filing on the PVC pipe angled slots to correct the teeth, I mounted the chain back on the bar and used the 2 in 1 tool to set raker height

A slot along the top edge would enable doing both file steps while the chain is on the PVC pipe.

 

[Paul Fithian]

Rev 2, works better. I was able to file teeth and rakers on a 16” chain in 5 minutes with these 2 hand files.

Chain indexes easily in all 3 slots and stays in place when you want. Hold the chain with one hand and file with the other.

 

[Paul Fithian]

Made a few more Rev 2 with a better setup

 

[Brush Ape]

We used to make bongs out of pvc pipe probably wasn’t a very good idea.

 

[Stihl036]

While you guys are on the pipe......

Here's a couple of ideas that could be incorporated into that piece of pipe. The numbers are etched in, magic marked, then lightly sanded to stand out against the white pvc. Holes drilled for those like me that sometime have trouble reading the numbers. Drinking straws protect the files.