Husqvarna Chainsaw File Kit for 3/8" Pitch H Chainsaw Chains, Sharpening Kit Includes Handle, Combination Guide, Flat and Round Files

If you do any amount of chain sharpening then you have probably tried several methods and products.What I have found throughout the years is that, unless a chain has been seriously damaged, hand filing produces great results.What I have also found throughout the years is that no matter how great of a hand filer you may think you are, you are not a great hand filer.This little jig ensures the correct angles to maintain a sharp cutting tooth.It is the perfect size to bring into the field for a quick touchup but also works well on the bench.Note: Be sure to order the correct jig for the chain size you will be sharpening.

I'm a professional woodsman with over 40 years experience running chainsaws and am very good at sharpening sawchains freehand with a file. I was never satisfied, for one reason or another, with various filing guides until I tried this one better than 10 years ago. It is terrific! It is small and no harder to carry with you in the woods than your file. In fact, it slides over your file for easy, out of the way storage. It also fits snugly on your sawchain guaranteeing correct filing even if your chain is a bit lose in your bar groove. Another reviewer criticized this guide mistakenly thinking that it didn't stay aligned when sharpening a chain that wobbled a bit in the bar groove. Not so! My only complaint is that the guide's rollers have plastic surfaces that wear out sooner than I'd like. Files wear out and need to be replaced, so I have grown accustomed to also periodically replacing this filing guide.

Sharp chains are essential for safe, efficient cutting with a chain saw. There are many ways to sharpen, and many individual preferences. For those that hand file, some type of file guide is a practical necessity to get consistent, uniform cutters for smooth cutting.This Husqvarna roller guide supports the correct size file at the right height, and helps to guide it at a consistent angle, while allowing the user to observe the process. It also includes a progressive guide for setting the depth gauges properly. It comes complete with the roller guide, attached depth gauge tool, round and flat flat files, and file handle at an attractive price.The user just needs to supply a vise, or similar way, to hold the guide bar stable while sharpening, so that both hands can be used to control the files. Look on YouTube for videos by Husqvarna (preferably) on using this filing kit.Note that these kits are designed for specific Husqvarna and similar (Oregon, Jonsered, and Carlton brand) chains. Different roller guides and files are needed for 3/8 Low Profile, .325 pitch, and narrow kerf chains. Some users have noted that the roller guides may need to be modified slightly for use with STIHL brand chains, or the depth gauge tool may need to be modified for use with some low kickback chains.A good filing choice if it works with your chains.

The file handle works very well but you do have to control your filing technique to keep it from detaching from the file. Still, it is much better, my opinion, than standard wood "ram the file in" handles one normally uses. The file guide, again my opinion, is lame. I tried to follow the vague instructions but not able to make it work. It sits too high on my chain to allow the file to correctly engage the cutting hooks of the chain. But I have good success sharpening without a guide (years of practice) so for the moment, at least, that's how I will continue doing it.Update Dec 4, 2013 -- Using a magnifying glass to view the instructional pictures which came with the guide I realized I was, in fact, mounting the guide correctly on my chain. Even so the guide was putting my file dead center on the point of the cutting hook. I accessed the on-line Husgvarna site which reviewed the correct way to sharpen the chain and which warned about getting too aggressive a hook on the chains cutting links. My hand sharpened chain closely matched the recommended degree of the hooks. But I realized that the guide, if fitted properly, would make the correct filing of the cutting hooks an exact and easy process. I was able, with a file, to modify my guide so that it would produce the very modest cutting hooks recommended by Husqvarna. This now makes the guide useful for me and it will make sharpening the chain out in the field a faster and much less difficult process. My only concern is why the guide I was sent did not fit correctly in its original form since it was clearly labeled for use with my particular saw and chain.