Wear gloves and safety glasses
Secure the chainsaw bar in a vise or clamp
Identify the correct file size for your chain
Find the shortest cutter on the chain
Place the file in the cutter’s gullet at the correct angle
Hold the file level and keep it aligned with the cutter
Push the file from the inside of the cutter to the outside
Use smooth, even strokes and lift on the return stroke
File the same number of strokes on each cutter
Sharpen all cutters on one side first
Rotate to the other side and match the angle and stroke count
Check and lower depth gauges if needed
Clean the chain and check tension before use