When it comes to cutting wood, a well-chosen tool is an absolutely must for getting the best results. There are many chainsaws available on the market and about the same number of sharpeners. Oregon chainsaw sharpener proved to be one of the best chainsaw sharpening devices available today.
While the brand is the same, there are several sharpeners to choose from. This review is designed to help you make the right choice when it comes to sharpening your chainsaw and getting your wood-cutting project completed on time. Sharpeners come in all shapes and sizes, but only one of them is suitable for your needs.
Oregon Chainsaw Sharpeners Comparison Chart
5 Best Oregon Chainsaw Sharpener Reviews
An Oregon chainsaw sharpener is a great choice when it comes to sharpening your chainsaw. However, there are several of them to choose from. After doing an extensive research and detailed testing I found the below 5 products to be the best ones on the market.
1. Oregon 410-120 Bench or Wall Mounted Saw Chain Grinder
When I took the first look at this chainsaw sharpener, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to assemble. However, the instructions for the rest of the manipulations with this sharpener were rather poorly written. Since I already had some experience dealing with these sharpeners, it was not a problem.
Once assembled and mounted, I appreciated how fast and precise the work was done. I was even a little upset that I don’t need to sharpen the chains more often. I tested the sharpener when mounted on the wall and when attached to the bench. The results were satisfactory in both positions. The built-in light is useful when you need to closely check out the details of the chainsaw.
It’s also very helpful when placing the object on the sharpener. I decided to contact the customer service in order to clarify the questions I had about the unclear instructions. I’m satisfied with the quick and professional way the customer support answered all my questions. This is a great sharpener for individual woodcutting projects.
Things I Liked
- The grinding wheels for effective sharpening
- Good controls
- Sharpens many different chains
- Easy assembly and installation
- Head angle is simple to adjust
- Comes with 3 wheels for different chains
Things I Didn’t Like
- Poorly written instructions
2. Oregon 520-120 Bench Saw Chain Grinder
I started with quickly assembling and mounting this chainsaw sharpener on the bench. I had 12 different chains that needed sharpening and I checked out how the sharpener works on each of them. The three grinding wheels came in handy for different chains. The sharpening itself was fast and easy. The results were really impressive.
I put a lot of strain on one of the chains after sharpening and they held strong without any signs of bluntness. The sharpeners made a pretty solid impression since all the parts are designed for heavy duty work. The plastic components are made out of sturdy types of plastic. It takes just a few moments to set up the sharpener for a different chain size which makes it very easy to operate when you have several products that need sharpening.
The downside is again the instructions. The respectable Oregon brand could have taken a few more moments dealing with the instructions to make the consumer’s life easier. This time instead of calling customer service I looked for online videos to help me deal with the setup and found a few useful ones. This is the best choice for people who need to sharpen several different chains.
Things I Liked
- Three grinding wheels for different profiles
- Down angle settings
- Built-in light
- Fast sharpening
- Lost lasting results
- Manufacturer’s warranty
- Heavy duty
Things I Didn’t Like
- Poorly written instructions
3. Oregon 620-120 Hydraulic Assist Saw Chain Grinder
This is an improved version of the Oregon 520-120 model. It has all the features of the above-described product with one improvement. The hydraulic assist clamping vise allows you to forget about manual tightening and loosening which increases the speed and efficiency of sharpener operation.
Since I already knew all the benefits and disadvantages of the previous model, I focused on checking out the additional hydraulic feature. I can definitely say that it made my work a whole lot easier. It might not seem to be an advantage for people who need to sharpen just one or two chains. But for those who have a high volume of work, this sharpener will be the best option.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the cost. This model is only about $60 more expensive than the previous one. It’s a good additional price to pay for the hydraulic feature. The instructions were poor again, but I already knew how to deal with them. This is a great product for people with a high volume of sharpening work.
Things I Liked
- Durable built
- Designed for high volume sharpening
- High precision and accuracy
- Hydraulic clamping
- Cost
Things I Didn’t Like
- Poor instructions
4. Oregon 511AX Saw Chain Bench Grinder/Sharpener
This tool is designed for fast and quality sharpening. I decided to check out how this product will work on a damaged chain and was pleasantly surprised.
One damaged chain I had accidentally cut through a nail. Another one got damaged by concrete. Both these chains were restored and continued cutting as good as the new ones.
The grinder is very well-designed. It took me one minute to sharpen one chain. It comes with three wheels created to help sharpen almost all the chains available out there. This product makes a solid impression and makes sharpening chains fast and easy. Again, I had the problem with instructions that came in the box. This time I opted for downloading them from the Oregon website. They turned out to be much more understandable. I would recommend this product for people who have to deal with many damaged and old chains.
Things I Liked
- Powerful motor
- Easy to use
- Adjustment option for precise grinds
- Self-centering vise
- Fast sharpening
- Good quality/durability
Things I Didn’t Like
- Poor instructions
5. Oregon 510A Bench Chain Grinder
It took me about 10 minutes to assemble and mount this chain grinder. I can say that it took just under a minute to sharpen one of my chainsaws to a point where it was better than new.
The speed at which it sharpens the chains make it a good choice for people who have plenty of work to be done. I tried adjusted the grinder to different types of chains and was satisfied with how well it fared on the chisel, semi-chisel, and ripping chains that are used on harvesters and mills.
The large motor fan and T-shape cooling fins allow this sharpener to work on several chains without stopping. The powerful motor and the durable design make it a wonderful choice for any chainsaw owner. This is my all time best chainsaw sharpener from Oregon. And it comes with three wheels which minimize the accessory costs. The poor instructions problem came up again. This sharpener is easy to use and can be recommended for professional grinders.
Things I Liked
- Easy to use
- Comes with three wheels
- Well-built
- Versatile
- Good grip
- Powerful motor
Things I Didn’t Like
- No tilt feature
- Poor instructions
Why Choose Oregon Chainsaw Sharpener?
When it comes to chainsaws and accessories that come with them, Oregon is considered to be one of the best choices. The brand has a long history of developing the right products for the target audience of people who are working on individual projects and companies that have larger-scaled tasks at hand.
The Oregon brand dates back to 1947 when a single woodcutter and inventor Joseph Box created one of the first innovative chainsaws as we know them today based on the way timber-beetle larva was naturally cutting through the wood.
The breakthrough was so successful that by 1951 Oregon company already earned its first million dollars. It went further to expand and hire the best minds in the industry to keep improving the products. The owners made it their goal to create the safest yet the most effective chainsaw on the market and they came up with a model that still serves as a sample for most modern chainsaws today.
Over the years the company changed owners and locations but didn’t stop striving towards reaching the goal of becoming one of the most popular chainsaw and accessories manufacturer in the United States and the rest of the world.
Besides focusing on creating the safest and most durable chainsaw, the company concentrated on creating accessories to make these chainsaws last longer while reaching the most effective results. Oregon started producing chainsaw sharpeners, lawn mower blades, saw chain tools, mower lifters, jacks and ramps, safety equipment, gloves, eye wear, masks, and more products associated with safe and fast woodcutting.
So why is the chainsaw sharpener produced by Oregon is the best?
- Experience – The company has been on the market over 60 years and its equipment went through hundreds of tests and earned a good reputation.
- Reviews – The customers give their best reviews about the Oregon chainsaw sharpeners.
- Pricing – Oregon chainsaw sharpeners come at a moderate price. The products manufactured by Oregon are designed to fit into almost any budget.
- Variety – When it comes to Oregon chainsaw sharpeners, there are plenty to choose from. Each one of the sharpeners has its own advantages and one of them will definitely suit your needs.
- Support – At the Oregon website, you can get all the answers you have about the chainsaw sharpeners and which one will be most suitable for your gas chainsaw and your project.
- Smart Design – Oregon chainsaw sharpeners are well-designed to simplify the sharpening process and keep the sharpening sessions to a minimum.
- Versatility – Oregon chainsaw sharpeners are created to suit various types of chains and can accommodate many different sizes.
Types of Chainsaw Sharpeners from Oregon
If you have a chainsaw in your tool arsenal, then every once in a while it needs to be sharpened. Even if you don’t use the chainsaw on a regular basis, you need to be ready for it to get dull and it might happen earlier rather than later. There are many different chainsaws available on the market today. The same goes for sharpeners. Take a look at the three types of chainsaw sharpeners you might need to choose from.
Read More:Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener Reviews
- Handheld File: This is one of the most popular chainsaw sharpeners on the market. It’s also the cheapest one. This sharpener looks like a round file the diameter of which varies depending on the chain you need to sharpen. This file is run over the tip of the chainsaw when it becomes dull. The process is very simple but requires some precision that comes with experience. The two main advantages of this type of chainsaw sharpener are the cost (this is the cheapest type) and portability. However, it doesn’t do as good a job as a bar mounted or electric chainsaw sharpeners do. It also takes more time to complete the sharpening.
- The process is very simple but requires some precision that comes with experience. The two main advantages of this type of chainsaw sharpener are the cost (this is the cheapest type) and portability. However, it doesn’t do as good a job as a bar mounted or electric chainsaw sharpeners do. It also takes more time to complete the sharpening.
- Manual Bar Mounted Sharpener: The second type is the manual bar mounted sharpeners. It can be used to file a chain very accurately. This sharpener comes at a higher price that a file but is more affordable than its electric counterparts. It will take quite a long time to work this sharpener, but the job will be easier than when you use a file. The main advantage of this tool is its portability. It’s not as heavy as an electrical sharpener and can be transported to any work site. This sharpener is clipped onto the saws bar. The depth and angles can be adjusted. You need to slide the tool back and forth to sharpen the chain. It might take some getting used to. But as the user gets more experienced, the sharpening starts taking less time and becomes more precise.
- Electric Sharpener: An electrical sharpener is the most effective and the most expensive type. This is the most popular tools among professionals. However, even single chainsaw owners who don’t use them a lot tend to lean toward electric sharpeners due to their speed and versatility. These sharpeners are not just designed to sharpen the dull saws; they can also revive damaged chains. They come in different sizes and at various prices. While they might be complicated to set up, they are mostly easy to use and don’t require too much manual labor. These sharpeners can be mounted on a bench or a wall which doesn’t make them very transportable. Electric sharpeners have a certain learning curve so amateurs will need some training to get the job done right.
Final Verdict
After spending quite a few hours testing the sharpeners, one Oregon chainsaw sharpener got the 5-star rating from me and it was Oregon 620-120 Hydraulic Assist Saw Chain Grinder. This grinder is designed to suit both single users and professional chainsaw operators with a high volume of work.
It has all the benefits of a good sharpener such as a powerful motor, 3 grinding wheels, durable design, and a hydraulic feature as a bonus. This Oregon chainsaw sharpener comes at a fair price and can become an irreplaceable tool in your garage.
