Thirty cutters a minute. That is the sharpening speed DinaSaw lists for the T Rex chainsaw sharpener. It costs about five thousand dollars new, not the price of a handheld tool.
This is not a portable clip on gadget or a cheap import. The T Rex is a bench mounted grinder made by DinaSaw in Australia. It is built for shops and crews that sharpen dozens of chains a week.
This review lays out what DinaSaw actually claims for the machine. It also covers what owners report after buying one. Then it points homeowners with one or two saws toward cheaper tools that fit that job better.
What a T Rex Chainsaw Sharpener Actually Is
DinaSaw makes the T Rex in Australia. It is a bench mounted automatic chain grinder, not a handheld sharpener. Some sellers spell the name T-Rex, and both spellings mean the same machine.
The unit weighs about 23 kilograms and measures roughly 50 by 30 by 65 centimeters. DinaSaw also sells a smaller semi automatic model called the Handi-Rex for shops on a tighter budget. We could not verify Handi-Rex pricing this round.
The box includes the grinder, a power supply, three resin wheels, a dressing stick, a wall mount bracket, hex keys, and a manual. It runs on 12 volt DC power, and the supply accepts either 110 or 240 volt AC input.
The Claims DinaSaw Makes
DinaSaw advertises 30 cutters ground per minute on the T Rex chainsaw sharpener. The official pitch range runs from one quarter inch to three quarter inch chain. That spans arborist saws up through harvester and processor bars.
The company says the machine detects which hand cut the chain and corrects the grind angle on its own. Listed chain types are chisel, semi chisel, and skip tooth. Top plate angle adjusts from 0 to 35 degrees, and side plate angle adjusts from 0 to 38 degrees.
One dealer page adds a third chain type called scratcher and describes three operating modes. It also mentions depth gauge adjustment and software updates delivered by infrared transfer. Owner accounts describe raker grinding as a separate cycle from the main sharpening pass.
What Owners Actually Report
Reports on the T Rex are thin compared to how often the model gets searched. The strongest account comes from a tree service that has run one for about five years. The owner describes a genuine load it and walk away workflow while prepping the next chain.
That same account puts real chains at under 90 seconds each once the machine is dialed in. One specialty wheel reportedly lasted close to five years across a full fleet of saws. Those are strong numbers for a shop running many loops a week.
Only one crew member reportedly became the go to person on the grinder. That points to a real learning curve, not a plug in and forget appliance. Buyers researching the machine keep asking the same question before ordering: does it actually handle skip and semi skip chain well.
Chain Compatibility and Rakers
The official page lists chisel, semi chisel, and skip tooth chain as supported. One buyer publicly asked about skip and semi skip performance before ordering and got no owner answer. Treat skip chain handling as likely but not independently confirmed.
Depth gauges get ground during a separate cycle rather than in the same pass as the cutters. That adds a step but keeps rakers in spec without a second tool. Anyone buying used should confirm the raker cycle still runs correctly before paying.
Price, Backorders, and the Used Market
New units run around $5,000 US, with the exact figure shifting by currency and dealer. At least one North American dealer has listed the machine backordered for three to four months. That lead time matters for a shop that needs a fix now, not next quarter.
Used T Rex units surface rarely. One listing seen asked roughly half the new price for a low hours machine serviced by a named DinaSaw USA technician. Low hours and factory service are the two things worth checking before buying secondhand.
How the T Rex Compares to Cheaper Options
Most people typing this phrase own one or two saws, not a fleet. For that reader, a five thousand dollar grinder is the wrong tool even if it works exactly as advertised. The table below lines up the T Rex against two hand tools built for that smaller job.
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DinaSaw T-Rex | Automatic bench grinder | Shops, tree crews, saw fleets | ~$5,000 | |
| Stihl 2-in-1 Easy File | Manual file guide | One or two saws at home | Under $50 | |
| Timberline Sharpener | Manual carbide jig | Bar mounted precision touch ups | Under $50 | Price |
Who Should Buy One
Buy one if you run a saw shop, a tree service, or a logging crew sharpening many loops every week. The hands off workflow and sub 90 second cycle time genuinely pay for themselves at that volume. Budget time to learn the machine, and expect to sacrifice a chain or two during setup.
Skip it if you own one saw, or even three or four for occasional yard work. The price alone rules it out, and a bench grinder this size is overkill for a weekend user. A file guide or a hand cranked jig covers that job for a fraction of the cost.
What to Buy Instead If You Have One or Two Saws
Stihl 2-in-1 Easy File
Best Budget
Manual file guide | .325 / 3/8 pitch | under $50
This guide files the cutter and the depth gauge in the same stroke, on the bar, in a few minutes. It fits one specific pitch, so confirm your chain size before buying.
It is the practical answer for a homeowner who landed here expecting a portable tool and found a five thousand dollar machine instead.
Pros
- Files cutter and raker together
- Works right on the bar
- No power source needed
Cons
- Fits only one pitch size
- Manual effort, not automatic
Timberline Chainsaw Sharpener
Precision Pick
Manual carbide cutter jig | bar mounted | under $50
This jig clamps to the bar and guides a carbide cutter across each tooth by hand. It is slower than an automatic grinder, but it holds a consistent angle without a power supply.
It suits an owner who wants sharper cutters than a round file gives, without buying an automatic machine. Confirm which round file size matches your chain before you decide between a file and a jig like this one.
Pros
- Consistent angle every pass
- No electricity required
- Portable enough for a truck box
Cons
- Slower than powered sharpeners
- Pitch specific like most jigs
For a genuinely portable option built for one saw, see our page on compact sharpeners built for one saw at a time. If you prefer a bar mounted jig over a bench machine, our page on bar clamped jigs for touching up cutters by hand covers that category in full. And for the full lineup, our page on every sharpener type sold for a home shop lays out every option side by side.
Shops that want automatic sharpening at a lower price point than the T Rex should also look at smaller automatic grinders built for lighter volume. Homeowners who prefer to learn the classic method can start with keeping an edge on a chain with a round file instead of buying a machine at all.
Mistakes to Avoid
Do not buy this expecting a handheld or clip on tool. The name gets searched by people picturing something small, and the actual machine is a bench appliance the size of a large printer.
Do not skip the learning period. Owner reports describe real trial and error, including chains lost while the operator learned the controls.
Do not buy used without confirming service history. Low hours and factory service from a named technician were the two details that mattered in the one used listing we found.
The bottom line: the T Rex does what DinaSaw claims for a shop sharpening many chains a week, and owner reports back up the speed and the hands off workflow. Most people typing this search own one or two saws, and for them a Stihl 2-in-1 Easy File does the real job for a fraction of the price.
FAQ
Is the T Rex chainsaw sharpener portable?
No. It is a bench mounted machine that weighs about 23 kilograms. It is meant to sit in a shop, not travel in a truck.
How much does a T Rex chainsaw sharpener cost?
New units run around $5,000 US, though the exact number shifts by dealer and currency. Used units, when they appear, have asked roughly half that price.
Does the T Rex sharpen skip chain?
The official page lists skip tooth chain as supported. Owner confirmation of skip and semi skip performance is thin, so treat it as likely rather than independently verified.
Does the T Rex grind depth gauges?
Yes, but as a separate cycle from the main cutter grinding pass. Budget extra time per chain if you plan to run both cycles every time.
Is there a cheaper DinaSaw model?
Yes. DinaSaw also sells a semi automatic model called the Handi-Rex. We could not verify its price or full spec sheet this round.
What should a homeowner with one saw buy instead?
A file guide like the Stihl 2-in-1 or a bar mounted jig like the Timberline covers that job for under $50. Confirm your chain’s pitch and gauge first using our tool for matching a round file to your chain.
Sources
- DinaSaw: T-Rex Automatic Chainsaw Chain Sharpener, manufacturer product page. https://dinasaw.com.au/product/t-rex_automatic_chain_sharpener/