Thank you for sharing your experiences with this chainsaw. I found your video while searching for the correct file size to sharpen the chain. I have found no conclusion to determining which chain (90PX or 91PX) is present on my saw. I expect there is a way of measuring it. So, just for anyone else coming along behind me, my solution was to purchase a new chain: MAKITA 191H02-6 which fits this particular model (DUC353) and requires a 4.5mm file for sharpening (MAKITA D-72160 4.5MM CHAIN BLADE SHARPENING SET). I figured that investing the money on a new chain was better than a method of trial and error, so hope that helps someone else.
@@simonedmondson7633 recent purchase of the Makita DUC353 came with the Oregon 90px052xmk chain. 52 links, 35.6cm. 3/8. Makita model code is 196741-5. Hope this helps further 👍🏻
Excellent explanation on how to tighten the chain. 1st for me since hubby died. Loving the fact I was able to sharpen the chain, but with this model chainsaw, needed to see how it was done.
Thank you for the comment and we're pleased that you found our video helpful and useful, and that you'll have a good working chainsaw for the autumn and winter ahead.
You might also need to file the depth gauge portion of the chain link with a flat file, otherwise it wont bite. Stihl makes a sharpening tool that has two round files and a flat one that sharpen all in one pass, but Im not sure if its compatible with the chain on the Makita since chains' pitch varies.
I find it very odd the channel owner did not comment on this. He clearly explains in the video in the beginning that the saw produces more sawdust than chips. This is a perfect indicator that the rakers, or depth gauges needs to be filed down. If you do not do this, it does not matter how much the chain is sharp...it still won't cut. You need both: sharp teeth AND proper depth gauge. True, you do not file down the rakers as often as the teeth sharpening. But it is important to do so when the time comes. This video, although important for beginners to understand how to sharpen the teeth, it is also very misleading, as it makes it sound that if your saw produces sawdust instead of nice chips, the remedy is to sharpen the teeth.
Hello. I am deciding between DUC353 and DUC355, I am mainly concerned about the toll-less tensioning system on the DUC353, which does not look very high quality in the long run. What do you recommend?
Just got my Makita like yours. First run I got about 30 to 40 min of steady work done until the batteries were empty. 2nd time out, after using the double charger, batteries died in 3 minutes. Ever experienced that? Thanks
That's really odd Stephen. We've not experienced that all. The batteries from Makita have been very stable and operation times have been very similar - around 30 minutes for chainsawing. We use the same batteries for our little Makita lawn mower. Was it really cold when you used them?
@@MyHomeFarm I use the Makita batteries for my electrician tools and they always last a long time. That’s why it was strange. I figured something may be wrong with the saw causing the batteries to die fast. No, I keep the batteries indoors and it was a warm Texas spring day.
The fact you use them with other tools and the batteries are still running as they should is strange. Have you tried the batteries again - maybe it was just a one-off thing? Unlike most other manufacturers we deal with, Makita are not very responsive, so I can’t even ask them on your behalf. Please let us know if you figure out what has caused this. I’ll also ask a few people I know if they can think of anything.
@@MyHomeFarm it was just a one time thing, but so strange I didn’t know what to think. I recharged my batteries and will test them out again this week. I can probably use them on the Makita weedeater. If they die quickly with that, I’ll know it’s just a bad set of batteries that came with the saw. Thanks so much for the help. Since you haven’t had troubles with your saw, hopefully it was a one-time mishap. Makita has always been my brand of choice.
@@stephenwilliamson8364 I had 1 generic battery fail. My normal batteries never had an issue. Makita tools are loaded with all sorts of sensors, to prevent overheating, over voltage, temperature/load etc…. So, could be one of many silly things. Most tools have a pretty decent warranty period, and I’ve found makita service very good. Having swapped out a tool a year after - because the switch was an issue.
Thank you for your question Robert. We purchased ours from our local country store, which is part of the Charlies Group. I will, however, ask Stihl if they have any online suggestions.
Hi Robert. Just heard back from the guys at Stihl. They suggest contacting your nearest Stihl dealer and you can use this link to locate the nearest authorised dealer to you: shop.stihl.co.uk/pages/dealer-locator Hope that helps.
@@MyHomeFarm So just got a reply from Makita support and this is the needed file. "This DUC353 saw may come with either a 90PX or 91PX spec chain. As per the user manual. As stated, the specification is subject to change without notice. 90PX - Needs a 4.5mm at 30' angle. 91PX - Needs a 4.0mm at 30' angle."
Very helpful tips on chain tightening and sharpening. I think the comment below on setting the depth of cut is also important, especially as the chain is progressively sharpened. Maybe you could add a demo of that to the video? Meanwhile, here's a helpful video showing how depth of cut is set with a depth gauge: ruclips.net/video/BQZHEqNvPCk/видео.html Makita sell a depth gauge, D67474, set at their recommended depth of 0.65mm; it's about £5 in the UK. It's use is described in the instruction manual in the 'sharpening the saw chain' section (last para).
Yes we still have and it’s a perfectly good chainsaw. The Stihl chainsaws, however, that we reviewed a few months ago are amazing and worth checking out: ruclips.net/video/idnSj28pP_c/видео.html
@@MyHomeFarm thanks for responding so fast, have a nice day/night 👍 i want an battery chainsaw, for easy startup and low noise, il buy makita 353 with 6ah batteries
The Stihl chainsaws are also battery operated. There’s nothing wrong with the Makita. It’s a very good chainsaw and the 6 amp batteries will keep you chainsawing for very long sessions.
I asked Home Depot about files, noting I wanted "this one that (My Home Farm) purchased from Stihl" -- they looked at me funny. Since I was already familiar with the filing process, you drag a file across the chain-teeth, *what exactly do you think you taught here*? I still know to use a file. I still don't know which one, what sizes fit what chains, etc. -- or why I sat thru this video...
While you know how to use a file to sharpen the teeth on a chainsaw, many of us don’t, so this video will be helpful to newbies and people chainsawing for the first time. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
My chainsaw is a slightly different model than his on video but the product description on Amazon said the saw is 3/4” pitch. I bought the sharpening tool “kit” at a local Sybil shop for $33 which was $7 cheaper than Amazon. The one on this video is included. The filing rod itself was only $3 if I had the confidence/skill to use it without the handles guide.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with this chainsaw. I found your video while searching for the correct file size to sharpen the chain. I have found no conclusion to determining which chain (90PX or 91PX) is present on my saw. I expect there is a way of measuring it.
So, just for anyone else coming along behind me, my solution was to purchase a new chain: MAKITA 191H02-6 which fits this particular model (DUC353) and requires a 4.5mm file for sharpening (MAKITA D-72160 4.5MM CHAIN BLADE SHARPENING SET).
I figured that investing the money on a new chain was better than a method of trial and error, so hope that helps someone else.
Comment pinned. Hopefully this will help someone.
@@simonedmondson7633 recent purchase of the Makita DUC353 came with the Oregon 90px052xmk chain. 52 links, 35.6cm. 3/8. Makita model code is 196741-5. Hope this helps further 👍🏻
Excellent explanation on how to tighten the chain. 1st for me since hubby died. Loving the fact I was able to sharpen the chain, but with this model chainsaw, needed to see how it was done.
Thank you for the comment and we're pleased that you found our video helpful and useful, and that you'll have a good working chainsaw for the autumn and winter ahead.
You might also need to file the depth gauge portion of the chain link with a flat file, otherwise it wont bite. Stihl makes a sharpening tool that has two round files and a flat one that sharpen all in one pass, but Im not sure if its compatible with the chain on the Makita since chains' pitch varies.
I find it very odd the channel owner did not comment on this. He clearly explains in the video in the beginning that the saw produces more sawdust than chips. This is a perfect indicator that the rakers, or depth gauges needs to be filed down. If you do not do this, it does not matter how much the chain is sharp...it still won't cut. You need both: sharp teeth AND proper depth gauge.
True, you do not file down the rakers as often as the teeth sharpening. But it is important to do so when the time comes. This video, although important for beginners to understand how to sharpen the teeth, it is also very misleading, as it makes it sound that if your saw produces sawdust instead of nice chips, the remedy is to sharpen the teeth.
Yes very helpful. I cannot believe people pay to get it done. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback. As with many things in life, we assume we can’t get things done ourselves so we pay others to do simple things.
Hello. I am deciding between DUC353 and DUC355, I am mainly concerned about the toll-less tensioning system on the DUC353, which does not look very high quality in the long run. What do you recommend?
I like our Makita, but haven’t used it in ages… we’ve upgraded to 60V Toro and Greenworks chainsaw which are far superior.
Excellent video. Thanks.
You’re welcome. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Thanks it was super helpful
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching.
Just got my Makita like yours. First run I got about 30 to 40 min of steady work done until the batteries were empty. 2nd time out, after using the double charger, batteries died in 3 minutes. Ever experienced that? Thanks
That's really odd Stephen. We've not experienced that all. The batteries from Makita have been very stable and operation times have been very similar - around 30 minutes for chainsawing. We use the same batteries for our little Makita lawn mower.
Was it really cold when you used them?
@@MyHomeFarm I use the Makita batteries for my electrician tools and they always last a long time. That’s why it was strange. I figured something may be wrong with the saw causing the batteries to die fast. No, I keep the batteries indoors and it was a warm Texas spring day.
The fact you use them with other tools and the batteries are still running as they should is strange. Have you tried the batteries again - maybe it was just a one-off thing? Unlike most other manufacturers we deal with, Makita are not very responsive, so I can’t even ask them on your behalf. Please let us know if you figure out what has caused this. I’ll also ask a few people I know if they can think of anything.
@@MyHomeFarm it was just a one time thing, but so strange I didn’t know what to think. I recharged my batteries and will test them out again this week. I can probably use them on the Makita weedeater. If they die quickly with that, I’ll know it’s just a bad set of batteries that came with the saw. Thanks so much for the help. Since you haven’t had troubles with your saw, hopefully it was a one-time mishap. Makita has always been my brand of choice.
@@stephenwilliamson8364 I had 1 generic battery fail. My normal batteries never had an issue. Makita tools are loaded with all sorts of sensors, to prevent overheating, over voltage, temperature/load etc…. So, could be one of many silly things.
Most tools have a pretty decent warranty period, and I’ve found makita service very good. Having swapped out a tool a year after - because the switch was an issue.
Thanks, very useful!
Thanks for taking the time comment.
Can you please share where you bought the file, I'm searching now for a couple of days. Really hard to find the 1.1 mm. (usually they are 4, 5, 5.5)
Thank you for your question Robert. We purchased ours from our local country store, which is part of the Charlies Group. I will, however, ask Stihl if they have any online suggestions.
@@MyHomeFarm Thank you for your video and help.
Hi Robert. Just heard back from the guys at Stihl. They suggest contacting your nearest Stihl dealer and you can use this link to locate the nearest authorised dealer to you: shop.stihl.co.uk/pages/dealer-locator
Hope that helps.
You're welcome Robert.
@@MyHomeFarm So just got a reply from Makita support and this is the needed file.
"This DUC353 saw may come with either a 90PX or 91PX spec chain. As per the user manual. As stated, the specification is subject to change without notice.
90PX - Needs a 4.5mm at 30' angle.
91PX - Needs a 4.0mm at 30' angle."
Hi What chain sharping tool is this?
Hi there. It's a chainsaw sharpening file from Stihl.
Very helpful tips on chain tightening and sharpening. I think the comment below on setting the depth of cut is also important, especially as the chain is progressively sharpened. Maybe you could add a demo of that to the video?
Meanwhile, here's a helpful video showing how depth of cut is set with a depth gauge: ruclips.net/video/BQZHEqNvPCk/видео.html
Makita sell a depth gauge, D67474, set at their recommended depth of 0.65mm; it's about £5 in the UK. It's use is described in the instruction manual in the 'sharpening the saw chain' section (last para).
Sharpening is much easier and more accurate if you clamp the chainbar in a metalworking vice.
What the file size? 5/32?
Please refer to the pinned comment.
Do you still have this saw? I want to buy it, tell me if u have any problems thxx
Yes we still have and it’s a perfectly good chainsaw. The Stihl chainsaws, however, that we reviewed a few months ago are amazing and worth checking out: ruclips.net/video/idnSj28pP_c/видео.html
@@MyHomeFarm thanks for responding so fast, have a nice day/night 👍 i want an battery chainsaw, for easy startup and low noise, il buy makita 353 with 6ah batteries
The Stihl chainsaws are also battery operated. There’s nothing wrong with the Makita. It’s a very good chainsaw and the 6 amp batteries will keep you chainsawing for very long sessions.
I asked Home Depot about files, noting I wanted "this one that (My Home Farm) purchased from Stihl" -- they looked at me funny. Since I was already familiar with the filing process, you drag a file across the chain-teeth, *what exactly do you think you taught here*? I still know to use a file. I still don't know which one, what sizes fit what chains, etc. -- or why I sat thru this video...
While you know how to use a file to sharpen the teeth on a chainsaw, many of us don’t, so this video will be helpful to newbies and people chainsawing for the first time. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
My chainsaw is a slightly different model than his on video but the product description on Amazon said the saw is 3/4” pitch. I bought the sharpening tool “kit” at a local Sybil shop for $33 which was $7 cheaper than Amazon. The one on this video is included. The filing rod itself was only $3 if I had the confidence/skill to use it without the handles guide.