Husqvarna 653000035 SharpForce Chain Sharpener 3/16'

I've been using chainsaws (non-professionally) since the middle 1970s for home trimming and firewood. I was lucky enough to have friends who taught me safety precautions and sharpening techniques. I've known so many guys who taught themselves incorrectly and ruined chains, destroyed their saws and hurt themselves, so please please please, if you are trying to teach yourself how to use chainsaws, follow your fear and watch the dozens of YouTube videos about the proper use and care and techniques before monkeying up a tree and finding out it's a little more difficult than zipping through a limb like butter.But speaking of "like butter", here is a review for one of the BEST sharpening systems on the market. These three systems are so great that once you figure them out, you will never need any of the expensive systems on the market, nor will you damage your chain cutters ever again. They are all three pure genius.I chose the Husquvarna SharpForce simply because it was the lowest price and I could easily see that the files were both replaceable. I do know now that the Stihl and Pferd (that's pronounced HOOSKvarna, Steel, and Faird) are good as well, but my friend with the Pferd says he tossed his because it kept popping open and allowing the files to come loose in mid stroke.My only reservation on the SharpForce sytem was the photographs in the user manual... it was very difficult to see easily how they had the basic portion and the files oriented while swapping from right to left cutters. It is important that you observe the exact way to do this, because if you are not already pretty experienced in chain sharpening, it's easy to ruin the cutters or the files. But it's not all THAT easy to get them wrong because at least if you do have them wrong there are built-in safeguards. It is possible to force it back together, though, so if it is not closing properly, go back and study the instructions and photos again. Once your mental lightbulb comes on, you'll see the logic and simplicity that makes this system so great.1. You file ALL of one direction of the cutters first (right OR left sides) and then you have to pop it open and change the directions of the files before doing the other direction. That's where better photos would come in handy... possibly larger and in color. The more expensive Stihl and Pferd units do not require this, but once you learn how, it's quick and simple to do. I think also Husky's terminology is less than wonderful because they tell you to lay it on a flat surface OR in your hand (rather than saying to lay it on its SIDE on a flat surface... design of the unit tempts you to assume you lay the flat side of the unit on the flat surface, and that results in frustration. Soon you will see that you do lay it on its side and press on the flat support bar, it opens as if by magic... very quickly. You only have to go through this one time each time you sharpen, so there is no real time loss involved. Practice a couple of times before you actually file.2. The SharpForce is rigidly assembled in the factory with captive metal supports and metal in the sliding clamps you open to change directions. To me, that is far more important than the plastic in the Stihl/Pferd versions. This product is made to last a long time, and you can easily replace the round and flat files when needed.3. Most important, however, is that you watch the YouTube videos and keep your brain working, because some of the guys that make the videos are doing it for the first time themselves and they DO tell you things wrong in many cases... to be sure you've got your info correct, read the comments from the viewers - they will shout NOOOOO in every case.

I am a homeowner clearing a lot and I was skeptical but after a month of use I found it an essential tool. Read the directions and follow them exactly and you will get great results. I was using a different Husqvarna tool but I was not getting the same results. After using the chainsaw for 4 hours, I will need 3 full swipes on each tooth and I am ready for the next day.The tab for releasing the two files is a little tricky (push up on the tab and then slide it). Once you go through two sessions, you will be very comfortable doing all the right hand teeth and then all the left hand teeth.One of my better purchases.

I'm a homeowner chainsaw user, so I don't really get a lot of practice sharpening chains. I know the experts can make a chain sharper than new with a plain round and flat file in about 3 minutes, but not me.The thing I like about this sharpener is that it files both the cutting tooth and the guide tooth at the same time. As you file back the cutter, the guide piece has to be filed down just a little, or otherwise the cutter won't cut into the wood as deep and then the chain cuts slower and life sucks.It is not super obvious at first how to swap the direction of the files when switching from filing the left teeth to the right teeth. But now after sharpening my chain 4 or 5 times, I think I've got it.I found an older chain in my garage, and sharpened it up with this thing, and it cut pretty well. Then I touched it up after cutting through a couple of tanks of gas (twice), and now the chain cuts really well, with long curly saw chips flying out.I'm using an older Husqvarna 350 saw with a regular 18" bar and the Husqvarna chain.I struggled to decide which model number was the right one for my chain. I think it is the right one! Darn chains have too many dimensions... .050" gauge, 3/16" file, 0.325" pitch, 72 teeth.Pros:Files the cutting tooth and the depth guide tooth at the same time!Nice orange color.35deg angle marks on the ends.reasonably comfortable in my handCons:Directions are a little confusing at firstWas not sure if I had ordered the right one, until I actually got itStill a little tricky to open it up to switch directionsBottom line is that I definitely recommend this file, especially for the occasional chainsaw sharpener. It actually forced me to learn a lot more about the chain design.

This dual file took cuts like butter. Very easy to use and requires little effort.

I run saw like a ditch witch so this sharpener has been put to the test. If you take your time and use a bench this thing does the trick. One of the sharpest true blades I have ever operated.

Best chainsaw sharpener I ever used

Instructions aren’t clear, be better if colour diagrams. But after figuring it out it worked well