Husqvarna 460 Rancher, sharpening or buy new?

[chainsawD4sh]

my dad just handed me his old Husqvarna 460 Rancher with a 20 inch bar. Super old school, right?

I barely use a chainsaw (maybe once a year), so I'm wondering if I should even bother sharpening the chain. I can buy a new Oregon chain for $20-$40, and the basic filing kit is already $8-$20.
Seems like, for how cheap new chains are, it might not be worth the risk of totally screwing up the sharpening process on the old one. Thoughts?

Also, what's the deal with chain codes like E70 or V81? Are they just size codes, or is there a big difference in how they cut?
I saw some info about different cutter styles like full chisel (fast, but dulls quick) and semi chisel (slower, but stays sharp longer, better for dirty wood). That might be what those letters refer to.

 

[hunting1]

my dad just handed me his old Husqvarna 460 Rancher with a 20 inch bar. Super old school, right?

I barely use a chainsaw (maybe once a year), so I'm wondering if I should even bother sharpening the chain. I can buy a new Oregon chain for $20-$40, and the basic filing kit is already $8-$20.
Seems like, for how cheap new chains are, it might not be worth the risk of totally screwing up the sharpening process on the old one. Thoughts?

Also, what's the deal with chain codes like E70 or V81? Are they just size codes, or is there a big difference in how they cut?
I saw some info about different cutter styles like full chisel (fast, but dulls quick) and semi chisel (slower, but stays sharp longer, better for dirty wood). That might be what those letters refer to.

If you only use it once a year, why not buy one file to match the pitch of your chain (3/16 for .325 or 13/64 for 3/8) for about 5 bucks and have a good at it?
460 ranchers aren't that old school since you can still buy them new. Now if you were talking a husky 61....
Since you're looking at Oregon chain, from their site it looks like V81 is .325 full chisel. 063 guage. E70 is 3/8 full chisel .050 guage.
Match guage and pitch of chain to what's stamped on the bar. Recommended bar size is 24" 3/8 pitch. I know some huskys come with .058 pitch chain so make sure to match what the bar says if you don't feel you can file it sharp.

 

[benchguy]

It's good to remember that full chisel chains are great at cutting quickly, but they tend to dull pretty fast, especially when you're dealing with dirty or frozen wood. On the other hand, semi-chisel chains are more durable in tough conditions. So, if you only use your chainsaw once a year for cutting messy firewood, opting for a semi-chisel chain could help you avoid having to replace it often.

 

[Warfarin]

Good advice thus far. I would get a new chain in whatever style is best for your type of cutting. I would also sharpen the current chain. You can have a shop do it if you don't want to get the equipment for it. Its nice to have multiple chains. If you don't see a nail, for example, in the wood your chain will dull out when you hit it. Then your done cutting until you sharpen it. If you have a backup just throw it on and keep cutting.

 

[Franny...K]

The chain if dull should be sharpened back to where the edge is in perfect condition top or side of the cutter. If the side is smeared out pretty far back a new chain is probably the correct path.

 

[Tldrggr]

Yes, chains are a lot cheaper now that you can source one anywhere on the net. I believe however, if you are going to be a chainsaw owner, you should familiarize yourself with at least the most basic maintenance needs of a saw. Chainsaws are not plug & play devices. Even a brand new saw needs a little TLC after only an hour or two of straight cutting. Buy yourself a chain (or two), but also buy the appropriate file with a rudimentary guide. Have someone show you the technique, and you will soon be taking pride in maintaining your own saw.

 

[Alan]

100% agree. Knowing how to sharpen your own chain is essential, not just a nice extra. Once you figure out the technique, it only takes about five minutes, and you’ll avoid those constant trips to the shop.