Another way to dress a bar

[RedFir Down]

I got tired of it taking so long to dress a bar with my Oregon bar dresser so I have a drill press and got to thinking.....
I used a 1X8 18" long (I used poplar because it seemed to have the smoothest finish at my local lumber yard). I cut a "U" out of the middle so the wheel would fit around it nicely.
The wheel is 4"x3/4"x1/2 arbor. It's a fine grit (100) wheel. I decided on this because I didn't want to remove to much material to quickly. The next wheel I get is going to a medium grit. (i think that would be ideal).
I used a 1/2 to 1/4 arbor adapter to chuck up the wheel in the press.
Oh and ignore the suction cups they didn't work like I thought.
Them I used a few clamps to secure the board to the table.

Another nice thing about is all the parts were less than $20. (minus the clamps I already had those)

I just got done dressing a few bars and it worked awesome. Very fast and precise.

I know people have different ways with great results dressing bars but I thought I would throw this out there as well.

 

[Philbert]

Very nice!

Thanks for sharing with all the detail.

(Watch for sparks though!)

What speed are you running that wheel at?

Philbert

 

[RedFir Down]

Very nice!

Thanks for sharing with all the detail.

(Watch for sparks though!)

What speed are you running that wheel at?

Philbert

Oh sorry I knew I would be missing something. I have the drill press turning max RPM which is 3100.
The sparks aren't to bad with that fine 100 grit wheel on it. But yeah I keep am eye out for sparks.

 

[redfin]

Good idea.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Oh and ignore the suction cups they didn't work like I thought.

Some magnets might come in handy there.

 

[RedFir Down]

Some magnets might come in handy there.

Yeah I bet they would, good idea!

 

[Jacob J.]

That's a nice conversion. A lot of timber fallers here use a grinding wheel in a table saw to dress bars.

 

[Philbert]

Think I would want a guide.

When he first described it, before I saw the pictures, I assumed that the 'U'- shaped hole was facing the other way, and that the flat edge of the board would be the guide.

Philbert

 

[RedFir Down]

That's a nice conversion. A lot of timber fallers here use a grinding wheel in a table saw to dress bars.

I remember reading about that. I bet that works good to, I just dont have a table saw.

 

[RedFir Down]

I thought I had a pretty good question for a regular old Joe. This one got answered in a hurry!!!

I thought about a guide but with the curvature of the bar I didn't think it would work very.
I was actually surprised at how much control I had. It works very slick.

 

[SawTroll]

I usually "dress" the bars by eliminating the need for it - by filing off any wire edges before they really develop, and keep the top of the rails square and flat.

 

[splitpost]

that's a great idea but I think you really need to use the side of the wheel as it will give better results and give a more consistant finnish

 

[Philbert]

I think you really need to use the side of the wheel as it will give better results and give a more consistant finnish

These wheels are only supposed to be used along the outside rim/edge. Grinding on the faces can lead to catastrophic failure.

Philbert

 

[SawTroll]

These wheels are only supposed to be used along the outside rim/edge. Grinding on the faces can lead to catastrophic failure.

Philbert

Yep, avoiding grinding is always nice (goes for chain sharpening as well).

 

[splitpost]

th

These wheels are only supposed to be used along the outside rim/edge. Grinding on the faces can lead to catastrophic failure.

Philbert

that is very true ,but I personally have only seen
catastrophic failure on cutting discs when subjected to side load and 2 crank grinding wheels that wernt checked for ring before start up ,I would say a small wheel like the one pictured and only light grinding of a bar wouldn't present an issue,maybe an end wheel would be a better wheel for the job

 

[splitpost]

Yep, avoiding grinding is always nice (goes for chain sharpening as well).

yeah its nice to say that in a perfect filing world, but at the end of the (working )day bars and chains get flogged to the point of needing a grind

 

[RedFir Down]

I usually "dress" the bars by eliminating the need for it - by filing off any wire edges before they really develop, and keep the top of the rails square and flat.

I totally agree with you... Now can you tell that to everyone that brings saws to me??

 

[super3]

Yep, avoiding grinding is always nice (goes for chain sharpening as well).

All chain manufacturers "grind" their cutters.

 

[SawTroll]

I totally agree with you... Now can you tell that to everyone that brings saws to me??

Sorry, I can't eliminate sloppy morons by posting here - they are everywhere!

 

[SawTroll]

yeah its nice to say that in a perfect filing world, but at the end of the (working )day bars and chains get flogged to the point of needing a grind

Yes, if you use them to dig ditches - but not with normal cutting.