Editorial Review

Features

• Rotary tool not included
• Use with your DREMEL rotary tool to sharpen the dullest of chains
• Includes 3 sharpening stones - consult your chainsaw manual to determine which stone you need
• Contents also include the attachment, a gauge, 2 spacers, a wrench and an instruction manual
• For use with rotary tool models 275, 285, 395, 398 and 781

Reviews (4)

Best Sharpening I ever had
Previous to spending 10 bucks for the Dremel Sharpening attachment, I was taking my chains to a professional to have them sharpened.It pays to follow the directions in setting up the sharpener correctly, but, once you do, you'll get the BEST sharpening job ever.My sharpening job with the sharpener was far superior to any of the sharpenings that I ever got from a professional. Plus, the professional guys ground an 1/8th inch or so off of the teeth each time they sharpened my chains, when, in fact, all they needed to do was to put a sharp edge on the teeth. The Dremel sharpener works magnificently and gives you a phenomenally sharp edge that will last a long time [as long as you keep your chain out of the dirt!]For the price of this product, it simply can't be beat.

Instructions Incorrect!
When a chainsaw is sharpened, the sharpening tool is always referenced to the top of the cutting tooth (see the sharpening instructions from any saw chain manufacturer).

However, on Dremel attachment 1453, front of box, the picture shows the guide riding on the chain's depth gauge instead. Printed instructions on the back of the box (and supported with pictures) confirm this error for both left and right teeth.

To further confuse matters, the instruction sheet inside the box describes a method where the guide rides on top of the tooth for one side of the chain, but on top of the depth gauge for the other side! This is also incorrect, in addition to contradicting the instructions on the box.

Nonetheless, the device works adequately, especially if the user modifies the procedure to cause the guide to ride on top of the cutters for both sides of the chain.

In my opinion, this would become an excellent attachment if the instructions were rewritten, the pictures on the box replaced by correct ones, and the guide manufactured as a mirror image of the one presently sold. This would allow sharpening both sides from the non-engine side of the saw, thereby allowing two more teeth to be sharpened before chain repositioning. On an 18 inch bar this amounts to five rather than three teeth for left side cutters - a 67 percent improvement.

I have e-mailed Dremel with some of these observations, but received no reply!

Reviews (104)

Sometimes a Different Opinion
I have never been moved to write an online review of a book, so I guess that says something about the importance of this novel. I read this on the recommendation of a patient of mine, an extremely erudite, respected professor of English at a local university, who impressed me by stating this work was by far the best, most influential novel he had ever read. I am neither brilliant nor stupid and I'm not a neophyte reader or one to shy away from challenging reads.I did not mind, or find it very hard to follow the changing narrators or flipping back and forth between stories.There were times I thought the book was going to turn into one of the best I have ever read, but each time I thought that Mr. Kesey would lose me by leavingthe (best part) Stampers and spend endless time and words on Evenwrite, Draeger et al.Part of the problem I had was the short periods of time I have to read each day and it took months for me to finish.I know that ultimately detracted from the flow of the book and my eventual disappointment. However, I have read many books this way and often I cannot wait to be able to pick a book back up again but this was rarely the case with SAGN.Initially, I liked Lee's character and found myself rooting for him in his struggle against Hank. In his genius style of telling the story from both brothers viewpoint, I began to like Lee less and less and saw Hank more heroically.I KNOW this was Kesey's intention, but personally this troubled me and the final climactic confrontation between the brothers was negatively gut-wrenching.I suppose these are the very points that I should acknowledge were evidence of superior writing but it just made me dislike the book, detracting from the overall brilliance 97% of reviewers seem to agree on.
So, in summary, while clearly an important work (but nowhere near Cuckoos Nest)I feel SAGN could have been much better with a tad more editing, spending less time on minor, annoying characters and cutting down on some of the stream of consciousness-ness. I know my personal dislike of the ending is my problem and not a valid criticism of Mr. Kesey. Nevertheless, I just needed to get that off my chest and put it out there for others to comment on.Thank you.

Incomparable
Sometimes A Great Notion is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest pieces of American literature. I read this book when I was 18, 25, 33, 45 and now once again at my half-century mark.With each read the book has taken on more meaning, more clarity, more subtlety--more importance to living itself.

When I heard of Kesey's passing recently I felt a remorse, a sadness that I had never gone out of my way to meet him and look him in the eye and tell him that this one work of his had touched my life in many ways, moreso than almost any other book I've read.

Other reviews here sum up the narrative well, but there is one passage near the end that cuts far into the meat of the novel:

"...there is always a sanctuary more, a door that can never be forced whatever the force; a last inviolable stronghold that cannot be taken, whatever the attack.Your vote can be taken, your name, your innards, even your life.But that last stronghold can only be surrendered--and to surrender it for any reason other than love is to surrender love..."

An important lesson for us all.We can only hope that Ken has found his eternal sanctuary.

Editorial Review