Oregon 511AX Saw Chain Bench Grinder/Sharpener

This is an excellent grinder! This grinder is MUCH better than the homeowner versions, especially the Timberline. This is one of the best for sharpening Stihl or Oregon chain loops. The 511AX has adjustments not available on the TL brand or entry level grinders. Spend more money for a quality tool to get better results much faster. My only complaint is the HORRIBLE directions. 8-15-2016 After using it for some time, I wish another star could be added to the rating! Chain loops can be easily restored to a level of sharpness that is close to new. Even damaged chains, including those that have been 'rocked out' on concrete or have cut through a nail, can be restored with finesse and patience, without bluing the metal from excessive heat. With competitors like the TL, restoration will damage the fragile carbide cutter instead, and they are VERY expensive to replace. Why pay top dollar for a tool that doesn't perform very well? One of the best features of a professional style grinder is the ability to accurately grind rakers (the depth gauges located in front of the cutter links) at a fast pace. The cutters are all sloped, so they get shorter over time. The rakers must be ground accordingly, and they must be very uniform for the best results. Sharpeners that clamp onto the guide bar cannot be operated in this fashion. Besides the horrible directions, it would be nice to see thumb screws instead of allen screws for adjusting the lateral movement of the chain clamp. This takes considerable time when using an allen wrench, and it must be adjusted when changing to different styles of chains. Once this adjustment is learned, grinding rakers is VERY fast!

I've used this unit for 10 years now and sharpened dozens and dozens of chains. It's a terrific unit. I'm never going back to hand sharpeners. There's just no comparison. Pros: - Super quiet. - The clamp mechanism is quick and easy to operate. I can get into a rhythm rather easily. - Measurement tables included. - Base plate has easy-to-read markings. - The grinder head has a return spring, so all I have to do is let go of the handle and it will move out of the way so that I can adjust the clamp to the next chain tooth. - Excellent customer service. The base plate broke. See picture. This appears to be a known problem since Oregon created a retrofit replacement part. I sent pictures to Oregon. A rep directed me to my local Oregon dealer and I had a replacement part (typically $120) for free in just a couple days. Cons: - Price? Unless you're going to sharpen a lot of chains, $380 is a bit spendy.

I'm a small property owner (six acres) who heats with wood and uses an Alaska chainsaw mill occasionally as logs too good for fire wood become available, so I use both regular and rip chains(I have five saws). I like to sharpen whenever the saw begins to slow (usually every 2 tanks of gas) so I do a lot of sharpening. As I'm getting to the age where hand filling leaves my fingers cramped, I finally broke down and got this. It works great. The technique takes a little getting used to, but I had 8 chains that were in use so I did all of them in one evening (and then redid them the next evening as my first attempt was a little too aggressive and left a bur). I'm somewhat of a profectionest, so this may be a little too easy. Hopefully the novelty will wear off before I have to replace the chains. If your chains are just starting to lose their edge a very light touch is all it takes, and if they were hand filed it might take a couple passes to get all the cutters the same length. I still like to do the rakers by hand, and that way I don't have to change wheels.

Although it is a bit difficult to get set up initially, this chain sharpener works incredibly well and is very accurate and consistent. The directions do leave something to be desired but they are aren't impossible to figure out. If you saw a lot and would like to have several excellent sharp chains on hand throughout the day rather than spend time sharping this is a great tool to have.

Terrific machine. Saved our summer boys' camp money the first year while reducing the work by making the chains do what they're supposed to. If you know how to get the chain off your saw easily, I don't see how you would beat this sharpener. Terrifically effective. I heat with wood myself and have one at home as well.

This machine is a huge step up from the crappy Chinese one I have been using. Aside from being able to adjust all the grind angles, the quality & feel of the machine are top notch. The self-centering vise is a big time saver. The only reason it gets 4, rather than 5 stars, is the previously mentioned oddity of the location of the tooth grind angle markings. They are directly under the vise handle, requiring the operator to reposition to view the angle markers from underneath. Other than that, & the ridiculous instructions (or lack thereof), this is a great machine. Note on the instructions: if you have never operated a grinder like this, you should attempt to familiarize yourself with the basic operation of this type of unit before attempting to assemble & use this unit. If you know HOW they work, assembly & use is a piece 'o cake.

Had a cheapeey, that didn't compare. What a nice quality rig. Oregon sure has sharpening down to a science. Live in New Jersey and the dealer was from Georgia. This item was on my porch in three days. Great Job! I would recommend this product and this merchant to everyone.

Do not; do not buy this product. I bought it in May of 2014. The vice that holds the chain has broken three times in 5 months. I have called Oregon each time. They acknowledge that the vice is defective and they are redesigning it. But it never happens. Even when it was under warranty they have refused to refund my money. Based on this defective product and the horrible service my Oregon, I would not buy any Grinder from Oregon. I am now going to have to put out another $400 and buy the MAXX.