What is your saw sharpening station like?

I have not cut a stump vice.

I learned on the side of a mountain, pistol grip on the ground or a log, Powerhead held between my legs.

Now, I'll commonly sit on my tailgate.

Sometimes, resting my powerhead on the battery/ toolbox on the trailer tongue. Dogs pressed against the wood 'headboard', freeing both hands.

Rarely, a bench top or chipper fender- mounted vice.







A surprisingly convenient holder for all the in-use sharpening tools, with extras in a tool box. $1.25 at Dollar Tree.
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I've mentioned it before, but I simply don't sharpen on the jobsite. Rather, I show up with saws sharp, and if I hit something either grab a different saw, or throw on another chain, as I keep a backup chain for every saw in the truck. I do my best sharpening standing at the workbench with plenty of light so I choose that every time.

With regards to chain grinders, I have a nice Oregon one on a stand and never use it. It just takes me so much longer than free-handing in a vice it's just not really worth it for me at least. And it is just as much a skill and art as hand filing, so it isn't really easier, just more consistent. It is true that when a chain has been used a lot and the angles start to drift, grinders are a great way to rehab them, or if you have a really hammered chain that is just a challenge to do by hand they can be good for that, but unless it is a pretty new chain, I'm more likely to toss that chain than spend the time and effort to fix it.
 
I'd love to see how @Mark Chisholm and @treebing do it
It varies for me. If I'm on the job and near the truck, I'll sharpen there. If I'm in the woods I either use a stump vise or bore through something small I can remove and use it.

I will use the STIHL 2in1 file for quick touch ups but will just regular file for a tougher sharpening job. If production is at a standstill I will use a second saw then sharpen later. We also have a vice stand at the shop.
 
I have two sharpening stations.

Stihl USG with factory square grinding attachments wearing 3X magnification glasses. Makes the tooth look the size of a brick, LOL.

Square Grinding USG Attachment 019.JPG


Indoor by the wood stove hand filing sharpening station stump vice on a weighted 55 gallon barrel. Hand filing both square and round ground Stihl RS chains.


Chainsaw sharpening station on 55 gallon barrel.JPG


Sharpening Silky Hayate and hand saws with feather files on the barrel.

Silkey sharpening 024.JPG
 
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I have two sharpening stations.

Stihl USG with factory square grinding attachments wearing 3X magnification glasses. Makes the tooth look the size of a brick, LOL.

View attachment 90376


Indoor by the wood stove hand filing sharpening station stump vice on a weighted 55 gallon barrel. Hand filing both square and round ground Stihl RS chains.


View attachment 90377


Sharpening Silky Hayate and hand saws with feather files on the barrel.

View attachment 90378
Well……..

That’s impressive….
 
Seriously, nice work.

I bought the special file to sharpen Silky blades once... then realized I just don't have the time and patience to actually do it. I still hang on to it (was like $50?), so maybe when I retire, haha.
 
I would consider this an accessory to an 'in the field' sharpening set up. 3/4" pvc. Precision holes for measuring file diameter drilled through both walls of the pvc (easier than reading the little numbers on the file). Numbers burnt into pvc with a soldering pen, then black magic marker rubbed into the groves then steel wool to remove marker not in the groves to clean it up. Files each gets their own drinking straw.

This is an idea I borrowed.

pvc file holder 003.JPG


PVC file holder 002.JPG
 
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I would consider this an accessory to an 'in the field' sharpening set up. 3/4" pvc. Precision holes for measuring file diameter drilled through both walls of the pvc (easier than reading the little numbers on the file). Numbers burnt into pvc with a soldering pen, then black magic marker rubbed into the groves then steel wool to remove marker not in the groves to clean it up. Files each gets their own drinking straw.

This is an idea I borrowed.

View attachment 90391


View attachment 90392
I use triangle files on everything except my real small stuff so no need for the numbers but that's a great way to store/keep them safe.
 

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