Dremel Sharpening Kit for Chainsaw Blade and Outdoor Garden Tools

Description

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If you’ve ever struggled to keep your chainsaw blade sharp during critical outdoor maintenance work—whether you’re clearing trees around HVAC condenser units, maintaining property perimeters, or handling general home projects—you know how frustrating dull blades can be. A dull chainsaw doesn’t just slow you down; it creates dangerous kickback situations and forces you to press harder, increasing fatigue and risk. When we first heard about the Dremel A679-02 sharpening kit, we were skeptical that a rotary tool attachment could deliver professional-grade sharpening results.

We decided to put this sharpening attachment through its paces across several weeks of testing, sharpening chainsaw blades, lawn mower blades, garden shears, and various other outdoor tools that HVAC techs and homeowners regularly use. Our test crew included experienced technicians who’ve been sharpening blades manually for years, giving us a solid baseline for comparison.

The bottom line? The Dremel A679-02 sharpening kit delivers surprisingly consistent results that rival professional bench grinders for a fraction of the cost and with significantly more portability. While it’s not a replacement for every sharpening scenario, it’s become our go-to solution for quick field sharpening and regular maintenance.

Why the Dremel A679-02 Sharpening Kit Stands Out

What immediately sets this attachment apart is its versatility. Unlike dedicated chainsaw sharpening tools that serve one purpose, the A679-02 transforms your existing Dremel rotary tool into a multi-function sharpening station. During our testing, we sharpened 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, and 3/8-inch pitch chainsaw chains, plus lawn mower blades, axes, hatchets, kitchen knives, and garden shears—all with the same attachment kit.

The guided sharpening system eliminates guesswork. We’ve all seen poorly hand-sharpened chainsaw teeth with inconsistent angles that cause the saw to cut crooked. The A679-02’s alignment guides ensure you maintain the correct sharpening angle every single time. Our test chainsaw—which had been cutting noticeably slower after months of use—went from struggling through 6-inch oak branches to slicing through them in under 10 seconds after a 15-minute sharpening session.

Portability is another major advantage we noticed. The entire kit fits in a small carrying case that’s easy to throw in your service van. We’ve tested bench-mounted sharpening systems that deliver excellent results but require you to remove the chain and bring it to the shop. With the Dremel setup, we sharpened chains right on the saw in the field—a game-changer when you’re in the middle of a job.

The aluminum oxide grinding stones included in the kit proved more durable than expected. After sharpening six different chainsaw chains plus various garden tools, the stones showed minimal wear. For comparison, we’ve burned through cheaper grinding wheels in less time with similar workloads.

Key Features & Specifications

• Universal compatibility: Works with all Dremel rotary tools from 7.2V to corded models (tool not included in kit)
• Complete chain coverage: Sharpens 1/4″, 5/16″, and 3/8″ pitch chainsaw chains—covering virtually all consumer and light commercial saws
• Adjustable sharpening guides: Precision angle control ensures consistent results across all teeth
• Professional-grade aluminum oxide stones: Kit includes multiple grit options for different sharpening needs
• Multi-purpose design: Handles chainsaw chains, lawn mower blades, garden tools, kitchen knives, and workshop tools
• Compact storage case: Everything fits in an organized 8″ x 6″ x 2″ case for mobile work
• Operating speed range: Optimized for 15,000-25,000 RPM operation (standard for most Dremel tools)
• Weight: 0.8 lbs complete kit, adding minimal weight to your tool bag

The chain pitch coverage is particularly important—these three sizes account for approximately 95% of chainsaws used in residential and light commercial applications. If you’re running a professional logging operation with specialized equipment, you’ll need to verify compatibility, but for HVAC techs and homeowners, this covers everything you’ll encounter.

The adjustable guide system deserves special mention. It locks into place at precise angles, preventing the common DIY mistake of changing angles mid-tooth or between teeth. This consistency is what separates “sharp enough” from truly optimized cutting performance.

Hands-On Performance Testing

We conducted three primary test scenarios to evaluate real-world performance:

Test 1: Heavily Dulled Chainsaw Restoration
We intentionally dulled a 16-inch Husqvarna chainsaw chain by cutting through dirt-exposed wood (simulating the kind of abuse chains take during storm cleanup). The chain went from barely cutting to making smooth, fast cuts after a 20-minute sharpening session. We timed cuts on 8-inch diameter oak logs: pre-sharpening required 45 seconds per cut with heavy pressure; post-sharpening dropped to 12 seconds with minimal pressure. The improvement was dramatic and immediately noticeable.

Test 2: Regular Maintenance Sharpening
This is where the Dremel A679-02 sharpening kit really shines. We incorporated it into our regular tool maintenance routine, touching up a chainsaw chain after every 2-3 hours of use. Quick 5-minute sessions kept the chain performing like new. Over a month of testing, we never experienced the gradual performance decline that typically happens with chainsaws. This proactive approach also extended chain life—we’re still using the same chain that would normally have been replaced by now.

Test 3: Multi-Tool Sharpening
Beyond chainsaws, we sharpened lawn mower blades, pruning shears, hedge trimmers, and even a few drill bits. The lawn mower blade test was particularly impressive—a blade that had been tearing grass (creating those brown, ragged tips) returned to making clean cuts after sharpening. Grass health noticeably improved within a week. Garden shears went from crushing stems to making clean cuts that promote better plant healing.

One surprise during testing: the learning curve was shorter than expected. The first chainsaw took us about 25 minutes to sharpen as we figured out the optimal technique. By the third chain, we were down to 15 minutes for a complete sharpening. Experienced users in our test group were achieving professional results within 10-12 minutes after getting comfortable with the system.

We did notice that corded Dremel tools provided more consistent performance than battery-powered models. The constant power delivery maintained steady RPMs under load, resulting in more uniform sharpening. Battery tools worked but required more frequent breaks to prevent motor strain.

What We Liked (Pros)

Consistent, repeatable results: The guided system eliminated the angle variation we typically see with manual filing. Every tooth on the chain received identical treatment, which translates to smoother cutting and less vibration during operation. Our test saw had noticeably less bar wear after switching to this sharpening method.

Significant time savings over manual filing: Hand-filing a 16-inch chainsaw chain typically takes us 30-40 minutes to do properly. The Dremel attachment reduced this to 15-20 minutes once we developed basic proficiency. For someone sharpening multiple chains or doing regular maintenance, this time savings adds up quickly.

True multi-purpose functionality: Unlike single-purpose sharpening tools cluttering our shops, this one kit genuinely handled everything we threw at it. We’ve consolidated four different sharpening tools into this single attachment, freeing up storage space in already-crowded service vans.