Dessing Chainsaw Bar

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04HemiRam2500

Feeling the Heat
Jul 10, 2013
429
SW PA
How do you use a flat file and wood in the pic to dress uneven bar rails? Also, why is the flat file at an angle?

I am guessing that the wood helps keep the file flat. Attached is a pic:

[Hearth.com] Dessing Chainsaw Bar
 
The saw bar is quite narrow and the wood blocks held tight to the bottom of the file and the saw bar help the guy with the file keep the file flat. The file is at an angle to increase the cutting action of the file. Look closely at your typical Nicholson Mill Bastard file, the teeth are cut into the file at an angle. By turning the file at that angle, the filer is putting the teeth into a position to get a better bite. A few light passes with that file may be all it takes to square things up.

When I change out my chains I run the file up the sides of the bar, with just a tiny gap at the bottom, to take off the fine wire edge that running the saw produces. You can feel it with your finger nail on the edge of the bar.

Remember, save the life of your file, push it only in the cutting direction, dragging it backwards on metal is hard on it.

Good luck.
 
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The method is called draw filing. It makes a nice flat smooth surface. My uncle (retired millwright) taught me how to do it.
 
Thanks guys for all responses. Another thing that I have found out about the bar is that I should close the bar rails. Does anyone have a good method for this?
 
Thanks guys for all responses. Another thing that I have found out about the bar is that I should close the bar rails. Does anyone have a good method for this?
That only holds true if they need to be closed. I am only aware of the actual tool that is used for this. I don't know of any DIY solutions.
 
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So, the only tool to close up the bars is the one at baileys cause that is all I know of. I didn't know if anyone else knows how to do this using a vice or something else. Thanks Jags.
 
As much as I believe in doing things for my self, I think if I had a bar that needed that done I'd have a good saw shop do it.... or replace my bar depending on $$
 
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