[Mike in TX]

I picked up a Qinux Klampero a while back and it does the job, but I keep fighting with it sliding around when I clamp it on the bar. I know it’s supposed to sit flush, but on my saw it feels a little loose unless I really crank it down. Any tips on getting it to stay put without over-tightening?

[MeryVip]

I actually don’t think the sliding is something you have to just live with. Mine felt the same way at first and I was convinced it was just how the thing was, but it turned out the clamp surfaces had a bit of oil on them from handling. Wiped them down and it gripped way better without me having to crank it down hard.

I get why people say just tighten it more, but that’s how you wear out the clamp faster in my experience. On my saw it sits pretty solid now and I barely have to put any force into it.

Might be worth checking if there’s any residue or if the bar itself has a bit of grime where it sits. Not saying that’s your issue for sure, but it’s a quick thing to rule out before you start reefing on the thing.

[no_sleep]

I just clamp mine tight and go.

[Zara W]

I’d stop trying to clamp it down harder, that’s what I did at first and it just chewed up the paint on my bar. What actually helped me was checking where it’s sitting before I tighten anything, because on my smaller saw the guide was resting on a spot where the bar tapers slightly, so it was never going to sit flush no matter how much I cranked it. I slid it further back toward the powerhead where the bar is a consistent width and it locked up way better. My neighbor has basically the same setup and his sits fine right out of the box though, so I think it depends a lot on the bar shape more than the tool itself. I’ve had mine about four months now and it holds steady once I found that spot. Still not sure I’d call it perfect, but it stopped wandering around on me.

[Ella Riddle]

Mine loosened up after a couple sharpenings too, but it turned out the chain was just worn unevenly on one side. New chain sat flush right away. If yours is older, that might be part of it.

[Mike in NYC]

Mine sat a bit crooked on an older bar too. I flipped it around and it sat way better. Might just be how the bar rails are worn on yours.

[T_Holloway]

Mine only stays put when the bar is completely oil-free. Any leftover oil film and it creeps no matter how tight I get it. Wipe the rails down first, that made more difference than anything else for me.

[Tina Bell]

Mine sits solid on the newer bar but wobbles on the old one, so I stopped using it there. I’m still on the fence about buying one myself after borrowing a friend’s, mainly because of that.

[Luna Bee]

Mine never really felt rock solid either, but I just accepted it and stopped cranking it down so hard. Still sharpens fine for me and I haven’t had it pop off or anything. Curious what others say though.

[Rob K1]

Mine was never loose, it just sat slightly off square until I stopped forcing it. Tightening it more made it walk on me. I use light pressure now and check the angle by eye before I start filing. Not fancy but it works.

[Nina_gadget]

Mine actually sits fine once the chain is under tension on the bar. Like if I clamp it with the chain slightly snug instead of loose, it barely moves at all. Might be worth trying before cranking the thing down.

[Sarah]

I don’t own one yet but this thread is kinda making me want to grab one anyway. The whole reason I’d buy it is so I stop freehanding and getting wonky teeth, so a little wiggle on the bar wouldn’t bug me much.

[Paul847]

Still deciding on one myself. The sliding thing is the part that makes me hesitate, since I sharpen on an old bar mostly. Good to know it can work though.

[Jenny__M]

I always snug the chain first, then clamp.

[Ben Harlow]

If it’s walking on you, the clamp isn’t the problem. Those things just don’t grip well on worn bars, and cranking harder won’t fix that. I gave up fighting mine and just hold it with one hand while I file.

[Casey M.]

Mine still slid a bit even snug, I just clamp it on the flat side.

[Tom in NYC]

Mine doesn’t slide on the bar, but it does walk sideways on the tooth itself once I start filing. Took me a bit to figure out that the clamp was actually holding fine, the guide was just drifting because I was pushing the file instead of letting it do the work. On a bar that’s seen better days though, yeah, it’s gonna move no matter what. I’ve got two bars, one newer one and one that’s been beat to hell, and the Klampero behaves completely different on each. The worn one has a groove that’s wider than it should be so nothing really sits right on it. So if yours is walking, check the bar before you blame the clamp or your technique. Cranking it down harder just deforms the clamp over time and then it’s loose everywhere.

[Sam West]

Over-tightening isn’t the fix. Mine held fine once I set it on the bar and kept steady downward pressure while filing, no cranking needed.

[Lily___]

I’m still deciding on one of these, so no long-term answer from me. But when a clamp feels loose on the bar, I’d check that the bar rails aren’t worn down a bit. That can make anything sit sloppy no matter how tight you go.

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