Bar Dressing

[LoveStihlQuality]

Just curious who dresses chainsaw bars? How and with what products? I have quite a few that I don't use but can't throw em out. Thanks for the advice? PS they are almost all Stihl ES bars.

LoveStihlQuality

 

[lambs]

I take mine to a local shop and pay about $8 to have it done... As often as needed.

 

[CR888]

You can dress them with a simple flat file, raker files do a decent job. I use a round scotch brite abraisive pad on my die grinder, I've found that to be the best for knocking down burrs. If the rails need a more serious treatment a round stone on die grinder at 90° gets them flat. You should not feel any burrs on edges and a bar should be able to stand up on its side on a flat surface and not fall over. Even sandpaper can be used if resources are limited. Learn to do it as its basic chainsaw maintenence, driving to a dealer to dress a bar is well a little bit silly.

 

[LoveStihlQuality]

Thanks. What's best if bar groove gets splayed out a bit?

LoveStihlQuality

 

[IyaMan]

Next time I'm at a bar, my only wish is to find a chainsaw with a dress.

 

[cus_deluxe]

we have a combination belt/disc sander at work that works pretty well. depending on how bad rails are splayed, ive used a pair of pliers to get it close enough.

 

[LoveStihlQuality]

Has any used a "bar closer"?

LoveStihlQuality

 

[cus_deluxe]

heard of it but never had the need yet.

 

[blsnelling]

we have a combination belt/disc sander at work that works pretty well.

I use the same thing, and use a square to make sure the table is square to the wheel.

 

[blsnelling]

Has any used a "bar closer"?

LoveStihlQuality

Yes I have. It's easy to go too far!

 

[bigmoose]

Make u a gauge out of plastic shim stock the size u want your bar groove and close it with a mallet. I cant remember the thickness of my gsugrs but they are slightly thicker than the drive link,,, helps keep from going to far.

 

[LoveStihlQuality]

Bonus idea. Thanks

LoveStihlQuality

 

[bigmoose]

I have one of those valbore dressers for the top of thr rails ... But i made one out of an old square and a broken file. I use a sanding flap disc om my sidegrinder for edge burs

 

[fearofpavement]

I use a belt disk sander. 12" disk and 6" x 48" belt. Works great for dressing bars. Takes about 5 to 7 minutes to fix up one that's pretty worn. If they're square, they'll stand on edge on the sander's table even with it running.

I've never closed a bar groove. Usually the groove is not pried open but is "worn". Dressing the bar helps because you're grinding off the wide part of the groove but one can only remove a certain amount of material before the groove is too shallow for the drive links.

 

[2dogs]

I use a Pferd bar rail dressing jig. I have had it for many years so I don't know if it is still made but there are plenty out there. Constantly dressing the rails is easy to do. Taking off a lot at one time is much harder.

 

[president]

a small tabletop electric tile cutter works great the blades
are diamond edged and work great!

 

[CR888]

Thanks. What's best if bar groove gets splayed out a bit?

LoveStihlQuality

Brass hammer with a piece of metal stock that matches the gauge between the rails. I prefer that to the rail closers, stihl used to sell a rail closing piece that fit between the rails in correct gauge when they specified brass hammer repair. But that was may years ago, I still do it the old fashioned way.

 

[rd35]

Do you suppose a guy could cut up an old laminated bar and use a piece of the middle layer as a shim to insert in the rail for hammering rails back together?

 

[LoveStihlQuality]

I love this. Great suggestions.. I have enough bars, I'll try 1 each way. Thanks for help, Ed

LoveStihlQuality

 

[Mad Professor]

Just curious who dresses chainsaw bars? How and with what products? I have quite a few that I don't use but can't throw em out. Thanks for the advice? PS they are almost all Stihl ES bars.

LoveStihlQuality

For neglected bars the vertical belt sander is the way to go. For touch ups I just clamp the bar in a vise and use a large flat file and draw file it, I do this after a few sharpening when I have the bar off to clean out the groove and flip it.