A dremel chainsaw sharpener attachment is a real option for touch ups. But only if you already own a Dremel rotary tool. If you do not, it is a poor first purchase for keeping a chain sharp.
You would be buying two things at once. A motor, and a sharpening system. Neither piece is built only for chains.
The kit itself is small. It is a screw on attachment plus a handful of stones, not a standalone sharpener. Owners who already keep a Dremel in the shop like it for quick touch ups.
This guide covers what the Dremel attachment kit includes. It covers how stone size lines up with chain pitch. It also covers where a plain file kit still wins on cost and finish.
What Actually Matters With a Dremel Chainsaw Sharpener
Three things decide whether a dremel chainsaw sharpener kit gives you a clean edge. The first is picking the right stone diameter for your chain pitch. The second is controlling speed and heat.
The third is holding a consistent angle without a bar mounted guide to lean on. Get any of those wrong and the chain cuts crooked. It will also dull again within a few cuts.
The Dremel A679-02 Kit: What You Get
Dremel A679-02 Kit
Best for Touch Ups
Screw on rotary attachment | includes 4 stones and 3 attachment heads | fits Dremel corded tools | $24.99 direct from Dremel
The Dremel A679-02 sharpening kit lists for $24.99 direct from Dremel. That price covers the attachment only, not a rotary tool. Inside the box are three attachments: chainsaw, lawn mower, and garden tool sharpening.
Four stones ship with the kit and are shared across the attachments. Mounting is a simple screw on collar. It fits Dremel’s common corded rotary tools.
Dremel markets the attachment as delivering the correct angle by design. The company does not publish exact stone sizes, though, or a pitch chart.
Buy this if you already own a Dremel. It also fits well if you mostly need quick touch ups between real filings. Skip it if a rotary tool is not already sitting in your shop.
Pros
- Screw on collar fits Dremel’s common corded rotary tools
- Guide included helps hold a consistent angle and depth
- Fast for quick touch ups once you have the technique down
Cons
- Dremel does not publish stone sizes or a pitch chart
- Heat is a real risk if you grind in one long pass or press too hard
- Owner reports describe the stones wearing down quickly and unevenly
Matching Stone Size to Chain Pitch
Dremel does not publish a stone to pitch chart for the A679-02 kit. That is a real gap for anyone new to the tool. The workaround is to think in file diameter instead.
The logic is identical whether you run a hand file or a rotary stone. Oregon’s own file guides make the mapping explicit. A 5/32 inch file matches 1/4 inch pitch and 3/8 inch low profile chain.
A 3/16 inch file matches 0.325 inch pitch chain. A 7/32 inch file matches 3/8 inch and 0.404 inch pitch chain. Match your stone to that same diameter for the right depth.
Run a stone that is too small and you round the edge instead of sharpening it. Our pitch to diameter lookup tool will confirm your exact chain size first.
Speed Control and Heat: The Real Risk With Rotary Sharpening
Owner reports consistently flag heat as the biggest risk with rotary sharpening. A stone spinning fast against a cutter can get hot. Hot enough to draw the temper out of the steel.
A cutter that loses its temper dulls again almost immediately. The fix owners describe is simple: light pressure, short passes. Pull the stone off the metal often instead of grinding in one long pass.
Some owners dip the chain in water during a longer session to keep it cool. There is no official Dremel speed setting for chain work. Treat any number you see online as a starting point, not a rule.
Guide Marks and Angle Discipline
The A679-02 attachment includes a guide meant to rest against the cutter. It helps hold a consistent angle and depth as you work. Used correctly, it removes some guesswork for first time freehand sharpeners.
Owner opinion splits here, and it is worth noting honestly. One recurring complaint is that cutters end up sharpened unevenly without steady technique. That leaves a chain that cuts poorly and vibrates in the cut.
A separate group of experienced owners argues the opposite. Once you keep the tool hand still and move the chain past it, holding the angle gets easier than filing by hand. Both views show up often enough to keep.
If you are new to a dremel chainsaw sharpener, expect a learning curve. Results take a few chains to become consistent. See our guide to filing a chain the traditional way for the manual technique this attachment approximates.
Dremel Attachment vs a File Kit: Cost and Finish
A basic file kit needs no motor and no attachment. Just a handle, a file, and a guide. If you do not already own a rotary tool, a file kit is the cheaper way in.
A file kit also never risks burning the temper on a cutter. The tradeoff is speed and hand fatigue. A file kit takes longer per chain and rewards a steady hand.
Some owners keep both. A file kit for full sharpenings, and a Dremel for quick field touch ups. It depends on how often you sharpen.
Oregon File Kit
Best for First Time Buyers
Round file set | covers 5/32, 3/16, and 7/32 inch | no motor required | low upfront cost
An Oregon file kit covering 5/32, 3/16, and 7/32 inch handles the common pitches most homeowner saws run. It needs no motor and no attachment, just a handle, a file, and a guide.
Recurring complaints about rotary stones, mainly uneven wear and short life, do not apply to a file. A file wears evenly and predictably.
Pros
- No motor or attachment needed, just a handle, file, and guide
- Never risks burning the temper on a cutter
- Wears evenly and predictably, unlike rotary stones
Cons
- Takes longer per chain than a rotary attachment
- Rewards a steady hand, more fatigue over a full sharpening session
| Factor | Dremel A679-02 Kit | Oregon File Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $24.99 plus a rotary tool if you do not own one | Low, no motor required |
| Speed per chain | Fast once you have technique | Slower, more consistent per pass |
| Heat risk to cutters | Real, needs light pressure and short passes | None |
| Stone or file wear | Stones wear quickly and unevenly per owner reports | Files wear evenly, more predictable life |
| Best for | Owners who already have a Dremel and want fast touch ups | First time buyers and anyone sharpening often |
Battery vs Corded Rotary Tools for Chainsaw Sharpening
The A679-02 attachment is built for Dremel’s corded lineup. Corded tools hold steady, unchanging speed through a whole session. That consistency matters since heat control depends on predictable stone speed.
Battery powered rotary tools add convenience for field work away from an outlet. But speed can sag as the battery drains. Low speed with heavy pressure is exactly the combination that risks burning a cutter.
A corded tool is the safer default for chain work. Use it whenever you have power nearby.
Mistakes to Skip With Rotary Chain Sharpening
Do not grind in one long continuous pass. Short touches with light pressure keep heat from building. You can always go back for a second pass.
Do not guess at stone size. Confirm your chain pitch first. Then match stone diameter the same way you would match a file.
Do not expect the guide alone to fix bad habits. It helps hold an angle. A shaky hand or inconsistent pressure will still leave an uneven edge.
Bottom Line
The bottom line: A dremel chainsaw sharpener kit is worth the twenty five dollars if a Dremel is already in your shop. It fits best when you mainly need fast touch ups. If you are starting from zero, a file kit teaches better fundamentals and costs less.
Either way, matching stone or file size to your actual chain pitch decides the outcome. Respecting heat matters just as much. For the full range of options in this category, see our comparison of chainsaw sharpening tools.
For more gear breakdowns like this one, browse our library of chain sharpening equipment guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Dremel actually sharpen a chainsaw chain well?
Yes, when the stone size matches the chain pitch. Pressure also needs to stay light. Owner reports describe results comparable to hand filing once technique is dialed in.
What stone size do I need for my chain?
Match it to your chain pitch the same way you would a file. Use 5/32 inch for 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch low profile. Use 3/16 inch for 0.325 inch, and 7/32 inch for 3/8 inch and 0.404 inch pitch.
Can a Dremel chain sharpener burn the cutters?
Yes, if you grind too long in one spot or press too hard. Light, short passes keep the temper intact. Occasional cooling helps on longer sessions.
Is the Dremel A679-02 kit worth it for a first time buyer?
Not usually. It only makes sense if you already own a compatible Dremel tool. A file kit is the cheaper, simpler starting point otherwise.
Does the Dremel kit work on all chain pitches?
Dremel does not publish a pitch chart for its stones. Check stone diameter against your chain pitch before buying. Size it the same way you would size a file.
How often do the sharpening stones need replacing?
Owner reports describe stones wearing down relatively quickly and unevenly with regular use. Budget for replacements if you sharpen often.
Sources
- Dremel: A679-02 Sharpening Kit product page. https://www.dremel.com/us/en/p/a679-02-26150679ad
- Oregon Products: Chainsaw file guide, 5/32 inch round file for 3/8 inch low profile and 1/4 inch pitch chain. https://www.oregonproducts.com/en/oregon%C2%AE-chainsaw-file-guide,-includes-5-32-in-round-saw-chain-file,-for-3-8-in-low-profile-and-1-4-in-pitch-saw-chain-25894/p/25894
- Oregon Products: Chainsaw file guide, 3/16 inch round file for 0.325 inch pitch chain. https://www.oregonproducts.com/en/oregon%C2%AE-chainsaw-file-guide,-includes-3-16-in-round-saw-chain-file-for-sharpening-0-325-in-pitch-saw-chain-25896/p/25896
- Oregon Products: Chainsaw file guide, 7/32 inch round file for 3/8 inch and 0.404 inch pitch chain. https://www.oregonproducts.com/en/oregon%C2%AE-chainsaw-file-guide,-includes-7-32-in-round-saw-chain-file,-for-3-8-in-and-0-404-in-pitch-saw-chain-(25892)/p/25892
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