Sharpening a saw chain with a file  is a skill that anyone that uses a chainsaw should learn but after a while the process can become a chore. Because of that, this Oregon sharpener has been on my mind for awhile now. This particular model interested me because it can be powered by a 12 volt battery out in the woods and the saw’s chain doesn’t need to be removed from the saw. Curiosity got the best of me so I picked one up at the lumberyard to give it a shot.

The package includes the motor, 3 stones, installation and adjustment tool, a 12 volt socket adaptor and a set of instructions written in just about every human language in use at this time.

Set-up is a breeze. If you’ve ever used a Dremel tool you’ll know exactly how to install the stones. Once the proper sized stone is installed, you will need to set the guide to the proper height. The adjustment tool has a built-in depth gauge but I found it to be just as easy to set the depth using the chain as a gauge.

Sharpening is accomplished by carefully working the spinning stone across the face of each tooth in smooth, back and forth passes.  The tool is surprising steady and there is a thumb rest on the leading edge of the guide that helps to steady the process even more.

I have to say that this tool is outstanding! It’s taken a 15 minute, pain-in-the-butt job and reduced it down to just a couple sweat-free minutes.

In a pinch, you could also use this just as you would use a Dremel rotary tool by removing the two screws holding the guide in place.

The 12 volt socket adaptor was a surprise and a bonus. This was not shown to be included on any of the retail websites that I researched. The motor has a 12V plug already on it which can be used in any vehicle’s power port. The included adaptor is a welcome accessory since we use those for so many other things around here.

There’s just a couple little things that I would change if it were up to me. The power cord could be a few feet longer and the screwdriver tool used to  adjust the guide is a little wimpy. Other than that, I HIGHLY recommend this product!

This one was purchased at Menards for around $30.00 plus tax. Replacement stones are sold in three-packs for around $5.00. The sharpener and stones are also available thru Amazon:

Justus