Oregon Chainsaw Sharpener

All saw chain eventually needs sharpening. Whether it's cutting in abrasive conditions like dirt and sand or just normal wear, using the professional-grade Oregon 520-120 grinder is an excellent choice for sharpening saw chain and getting back in the cut.

In this video, you will learn how to properly operate the Oregon 520-120 grinder. These instructions are applicable to the Oregon 410-120 grinder as well. Before using the Oregon grinder, be sure to read and understand the information provided in the associated product owner's manual.

Additionally, please be sure that you have properly completed the assembly process. Please note that proper personal protective equipment should always be worn during assembly and operation.

Saw Chain Components

Before we begin, let's look at the basic components that make up saw chain. The components that make up a loop of chain include cutters, tie straps, rivets, and drive links.

Before sharpening chain, it's especially useful to understand the attributes of a cutter:

Top plate

Cutting corner

Side plate

Gullet

Depth gauge

Depth gauges are sometimes referred to as rakers or drags.

Oregon cutters are electrostatically plated with a thin layer of chrome on the top plate and side plate for outstanding performance and to stay sharp. Some Oregon chains have a witness mark on the top plate indicating both the proper grinding angle and end of life of the chain.

When chain is dull or damaged, it is vitally important to sharpen all cutters sufficiently and evenly to get back to good chrome.

Setting Factory Recommended Cutting Angles

The factory recommended saw chain cutting angles for a particular Oregon chain model can be found in several locations:

The 520-120 owner's manual

The Oregon maintenance and safety manual

The back of the Oregon chain packaging

Online at OregonProducts.com

The three fixed grinder settings are:

Grinder head angle

Top plate cutting angle

10° down-angle tilt

These settings are unique to each chain.

First, set the appropriate grinder head angle by loosening the clamp on the back of the grinder head bracket and tilting the grinder head into the appropriate position.

Next, set the top plate cutting angle by rotating the chain vise assembly to the appropriate setting.

If specified for a particular Oregon saw chain, proceed to set the 10° down angle.

For left-hand cutters, the vise adjustment knob is pulled toward the operator. For right-hand cutters, the knob is pushed away from the operator. A handy phrase to help you remember the correct knob direction is: “right away.”

Note: When using the 10° down-angle setting with the 520-120 grinder, it is important that the chain vise setting and the grinder head angle setting be correct.

Positioning Cutters for Sharpening

Before sharpening saw chain, it is always best practice to clean the chain and fully inspect the entire loop.

A clean chain makes it easier to assess damage to the cutters and chassis. Additionally, a clean chain will keep grinding wheels in peak performance by reducing buildup of contaminants.

To begin, look for the cutters with the most damage. The most damaged cutter in the loop is the cutter that should be ground first.

Properly position the grinding wheel by lowering the grinding wheel down on the most damaged cutter. The chain should be facing the same direction as it would be on your saw.

Note that the vise is not clamped at this stage and the chain can travel freely in the track.

Adjust the chain stop paw so that the center of the paw is on the cutter being sharpened.

Next, turn the rear chain adjustment knob until the cutter just engages the wheel. This adjustment controls how much material is to be removed when grinding.

Lastly, set the wheel depth stop. Ideally, the depth of the wheel should be at least down to the fold in the cutter. The grinding wheel should never be set deep enough to grind into the chassis of the chain.

Correct Grinding Techniques

Remember, always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment when working with chain grinders.

Grind all the cutters on the same hand of the chain. For example, if you start with the right-hand cutters, complete all right-hand cutters in sequence before stopping the unit and rotating the chain vise assembly to grind all left-hand cutters in sequence.

The goal is to get back to good chrome plating.

When grinding, always use a quick tapping technique to minimize burning of the surface of the cutters.

Before switching to the other hand, visually verify that the cutters you have sharpened have similar top plate length.

If the cutter top plates are not visually similar, adjust the cutter chain stop to remove slightly more material to achieve uniform visual top plate length.

It is important that the right-hand and left-hand cutter top plate lengths remain balanced through the life of the chain. To obtain this balanced condition, the top plates need to be approximately the same length.

After grinding, clean the saw chain to remove any grit and then soak in oil.

How to Set Depth Gauges

Adjusting depth gauges is an important part of regular chain maintenance.

If the cutter has been aggressively sharpened to remove damage, the depth gauges will need to be set. If there's been no damage to the cutter, the depth gauges can be adjusted about every three or four sharpenings.

For setting chain depth gauges with a 520-120 grinder, install a 1/4-inch or 5/16-inch wheel.

Rotate the head tilt angle to 60°.

Then rotate the vise assembly to 0°.

Check the profile of the grinding wheel as illustrated in the owner's manual. Adjust the profile with the dressing brick if necessary.

Next, verify the correct depth gauge setting. Adjust the first depth gauge by hand.

Assess the need for adjustment with the supplied template tool or other depth gauge tools. Oregon offers tools for setting depth gauges manually, including the 31941 or 22290, along with a simple flat file.

If the depth gauge requires adjustment, it should be made with a flat file and checked again with the template until it's within specification.

Next, with the power off and unplugged, lower the grinding head and make contact with the depth gauge that was previously set by hand. Adjust the wheel depth stop to this position.

Once the depth of the grind has been set, grind all of the remaining depth gauges in the chain.

Note: There is no difference between depth gauges on right-hand and left-hand cutters. You can lower all depth gauges in sequence on a loop of chain.

With your newly sharpened chain, you're ready to get back to work.

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