Bar lightening?

[NovaMan]

In another thread, these were referred to as lightening holes, but now that I look at the pic again, it looks like they aren't really holes...

Either way, would it be bad to drill some holes in my 20" Stihl bar?

 

[romeo]

Don't do it, it will fill the holes with chips and hang. If you drill holes you will have to fill the space with something.
I have thought about milling out the center and laminating it with aluminum but thats pretty extensive work on very hard metal.

 

[NovaMan]

it will fill the holes with chips and hang.

Is that for sure, or is it theory?

thats pretty extensive work on very hard metal.

I didn't think about the bar being hardened steel. That'd be pretty tough to drill through just once, let alone several times. Sure would look bad-a$$ though!

 

[joatmon]

Do not hold your saw when you're grounded because a lightening strike could be fatal!

 

[tawilson]

Is that for sure, or is it theory?


I didn't think about the bar being hardened steel. That'd be pretty tough to drill through just once, let alone several times. Sure would look bad-a$$ though!

No, but I've got access to a CNC plasma cutter I'd like to play with.

 

[NovaMan]

Then play with it a little and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Goat]

I have thought about milling out the center and laminating it with aluminum but thats pretty extensive work on very hard metal.

The steel is not that hard that you can't go through it with a sharp carbide endmill.

 

[ericjeeper]

Not something I would want to do.

On my 7900 dolmar, the dawgs have holes in them,. I often find the saw hanging up in a stick, while either bucking or preparing to buck.

 

[Sprig]

As previously stated above holes were more of a problem than anything, not just packing up with crud, but snagging at bad times too (just what you need while limbing or finishing a backcut), IOW don't bother unless its purely for the coolness factor. True that some of the 40's-50's saw manufacturers tried this approach (the saws were darned heavy anyway), but it never became popular or 'fashion'. I think too that, especially with some of the really radical bars with huge holes, that they would be more prone to bending in a pinch or whilst hanging your saw for a minute in a backcut. Just doesn't sit right with me anyhow and, if it made sense everyone would have been doing it by now just to save steel if for nothing else. So, if you want to muck around and make something that 'looks neat' go ahead and dull some bits and have fun, but beware of taking it out to do real work. As an afterthought, I'd be careful with laminate bars if trying this idea imho.
Just my 0.02$ worth for the afternoon.



Serge

Eric, you couldn't pay me enough to run a saw with holes in the dawgs for the very reason you stated, I'd be changin' them really quick. Things can happen so bloody fast with a saw, as so many already know by experience, is it worth it? I think not.

opcorn: opcorn:

 

[NovaMan]

Sprig, that makes complete sense, so I rep'd you. Although I'd be the perfect guy to try this since I don't do any real work with my saw (just bucking firewood), I don't have a mill, and I don't want to dull a bunch of large, costly drill bits for a cool-looking mod of dubious value.

 

[Tzed250]

The "steel" in a "Stihl" bar is not that hard, except for the material next to the rails. Well sharpened high speed steel cutting tools will work on it. Make shure you have your surface speed (Vc) and feedrate correct and you will be OK cutting it. Many manufacturers are offering bars with steel sections removed, and the voids filled with polyamide or other lightweight synthetic.
Good luck.