Buffalo Tools ECSS Electric Chainsaw Sharpener

Bottom line

Using the Buffalo Tools ECSS Electric Chainsaw Sharpener requires removing the chain from the saw, but once you start, users say it takes just minutes to make a chain almost always cut as good as new. The ECSS's instructions are poor, critics add, but actually using the sharpener is easy and intuitive. It's built to mount on a wall, bench or vise.

Performance

Good for home use. The Buffalo Tools ECSS isn't built for heavy-duty use, but once you get the hang of it, reviewers say it quickly sharpens chains to "better than new." "This tool sharpened the chain so well it was like going through butter after that! Great tool!" posts one user at HomeDepot.com. Another adds that the ECSS is much better than a file: "Now the teeth are all the same angle AND the same depth just like store bought. Worth every penny."

Safety

Easy to get it right, or wrong. It comes with the expected slew of warnings, but the Buffalo Tools ECSS Electric Chainsaw Sharpener is easy and intuitive to use correctly, owners say. Most dislike its plastic construction that can cause the angle to be adjusted somewhat during use, but at least one user considers this to be an advantage. "The chain clamp is metal but the rest of the machine is pretty heavy duty plastic...best results are obtained with a gentle touch," says one HomeDepot.com user.

Ease of use

Intuitive features. To sharpen a chain with the Buffalo Tools ECSS, you must remove the chain from the saw and sharpen it one link at a time. Most consumers agree that the sharpener's instructions are vague at best, but actually using it is fairly simple. "This was the first one I've ever bought," says one owner at HomeDepot.com. "Had it set up and sharpening in just a few minutes. Had four or five chains sharpened in less than thirty minutes."

A few users post complaints about plastic components breaking or the sharpener simply not working out of the box, but most are thrilled with their purchase.