The Faster, Easier Solution For Sharpening A Dull Chainsaw

Chainsaws are an excellent tool for keeping up with your home's landscaping requirements. Like all blades, however, chainsaws dull over time. Even if you follow all of the chainsaw sharpening tips to keep it cutting cleanly, the process can still be a bit of a hassle. But something as easy as adding a coolant can make sharpening your chainsaw faster and easier. 

There are numerous tools to sharpen your chainsaw like a professional, including manual files and powered options like a Dremel or grinder. As you use the latter tools, you've probably noticed that your chainsaw blade starts to build heat and even gives off sparks. Instead of sharpening your chainsaw dry, add a coolant like the Kool Grind grinding compound, a silicone-based wax, to your sharpener. 

The idea of lubricating sharpeners shouldn't sound too foreign — you apply oil to knife sharpening stones, after all. Similarly, grinding coolants are basically a lubricant that help reduce overheating and remove small chips of material during the grinding process. This helps to extend your sharpener's life as it reduces clogging and machine maintenance. Plus, coolants are easy to use. With Kool Grind, all you need to do is add it to your grinder after every two to three teeth. Once that's done, you can continue sharpening your chainsaw like you normally would.

To understand Kool Grind's benefits, you have to know a little about coolants. In short, coolants come in several forms including water-based, oil-based, synthetic, and semi-synthetic, and they all make the grinding process more efficient. Each is ideal for different types of grinding and materials. For example, water-based coolants are great for surface grinding but they don't have as long of a shelf life as other options. Oil-based coolants, on the other hand, are ideal for cylindrical grinding, and last longer than water-based options. 

In addition to making your sharpening process easier, Kool Grind can also minimize discoloring and leave your blade with a cleaner finish. Kool Grind can be purchased for as little as $3.50 from Granberg International, and it has mostly positive reviews online. One review stated, "As soon as I started using [Kool Grind], I noticed the sharpening is smoother and the stones last longer." Another person said that it's a "must have" and "you will always want to keep a stockpile of it." And once you have a newly sharpened blade, be sure to follow tips on how to safely use a chainsaw before you use it.