Holes in the bar

Jim Mesthene · Dec 28, 2006

In many pictures I see of old saws, there are large holes in the bar, presumably to reduce weight.
On race cars we drill everything we think we can get away with.
Why dont modern saw bars have holes, or fullers (sap grooves?) to minimize bar weight?

thompson1600 · Dec 28, 2006

I can't answer your question, but when I read the title I was thinking of the little holes into the ladies room :givebeer:

habanero · Dec 28, 2006

It's a good question, that I also don't know the exact answer to. As a guess, I would say perhaps modern alloys are light enough on their own they don't need additional weight reduction (at the expense of strength, anyway).

Jim Mesthene · Dec 28, 2006

thompson1600 said:
I can't answer your question, but when I read the title I was thinking of the little holes into the ladies room

Everyone should feel free to comment on both kinds.

1wildthing · Dec 28, 2006

I never really thought about it, but maybe because today's saws are so much lighter already. It would also cost more.

SawTroll · Dec 28, 2006

There are cutouts in the mid laminate of the Rollomatic E bars, and on some bars for small saws there are cutouts right trough, but they are filled with materiel lighter than steel.

computeruser · Dec 28, 2006

Through-and-through holes would pack with sawdust and chips, encouraging the bar to bind in the cut. Same with "blood groves" in bars, too, I'd think.

vapnut257 · Dec 28, 2006

We don't need no stinking "wimpy" holes in chainsaws. :jester:

stihlatit · Dec 28, 2006

Those holes originate from the aircraft industry and are called lightning holes. The metal is not only drilled but to preserve the strenght is bent and radiused. That would not be possible on a chainsaw bar and you would in fact be weakening it.

redprospector · Dec 28, 2006

computeruser said:
Through-and-through holes would pack with sawdust and chips, encouraging the bar to bind in the cut. Same with "blood groves" in bars, too, I'd think.

IMO computeruser wins the prize (whatever that may be).
I tried cutting some holes in a bar for a saw I use for racing. My thoughts were not that it would make the saw faster, but it might make me faster.
You never knew when but sometimes it would just stop cutting, the holes would fill up and literally bind the saw in the cut. I guess you could fill them with epoxy, but I don't think it would be worth it.

Andy

habanero · Dec 28, 2006

redprospector said:
IMO computeruser wins the prize (whatever that may be).
I tried cutting some holes in a bar for a saw I use for racing. My thoughts were not that it would make the saw faster, but it might make me faster.
You never knew when but sometimes it would just stop cutting, the holes would fill up and literally bind the saw in the cut. I guess you could fill them with epoxy, but I don't think it would be worth it.

Andy

So how did the old saws that had holes in the bar get by? I don't know how common it was, but I've seen several old bars with holes in them.

redprospector · Dec 28, 2006

habanero said:
So how did the old saws that had holes in the bar get by? I don't know how common it was, but I've seen several old bars with holes in them.

Well, this is just a wild a$$ guess but it's what comes to mind.
Chain technology has advanced a lot over the chains they were using back then, and as one component changes, others must too. Also we produce more chips faster not only because of chain differences, but they were turning 5000 to 8000 rpm. while we are turning 10000 to 14000 rpm.
But I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

Andy

Cedarkerf · Dec 28, 2006

Oregon makes the reduced weight power match bar by routing out the steel and fill the empty area with aluminum to save weight. So if you are trying to save weight on a bar its a way to go.

Oregon Engineer · Dec 29, 2006

The tooling holes in semi-pro and professional bars are plugged (after the machining is done) because wood chips would collect and bind the bar in the kerf. This is especially important on long bars.

Casual user bar tooling holes are kept small enough that it is not a problem.

Never thought about why the old bars had such large holes in them and yet I assume they did not plug.

Jim Mesthene · Dec 29, 2006

redprospector said:
Well, this is just a wild a$$ guess but it's what comes to mind.
Chain technology has advanced a lot over the chains they were using back then, and as one component changes, others must too. Also we produce more chips faster not only because of chain differences, but they were turning 5000 to 8000 rpm. while we are turning 10000 to 14000 rpm.
But I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

Andy

That sounds most likely so far.
I'd guess if there were an advantage to bar lightening, we'd see it on Timbersports on TV. Racers don't miss much.

In any case, thanks for the replies. If you get enough replies, it means your question wasn't that stupid.

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