bar squeezing a .063 duromatic bar to .050

[chunez]

With the lack of long .050 bar options, I had the bright (dumb?) idea to use a bar closer on a 47" .063 stihl duromatic bar to get it down to .050. This would allow me to use 3/8LP, .325 and 3/8std for milling chain experiments. I know the solid nose bar will have more drag and I will have to run a slacker chain, but would that work? I've read the tip (or whole bar?) on these is super tough stellite, think the squeezer would work on this?

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Good luck. I got one, tried it, failed miserably and went back to my old method using my vise.
Be advised…doing this is a short-lived deal. You will have to true the rails after pinching and, the rails will wear down, eventually to the point you cannot repeat.
If you do not have the right tool to get the rails perfectly trued…1/2 a degree off will get you cutting crooked…don’t even bother.

 

[J D]

It won't work, you can't close the rails up evenly because there is solid metal at the base of the groove... so you will just get a taper that will retain the narrower chain slightly better but still allow a significant amount of movement & greater wear on the bar as a result of less surface area contact.
Why not just buy all your chains in 063... they're generally available.

 

[bwalker]

It won't work, you can't close the rails up evenly because there is solid metal at the base of the groove... so you will just get a taper that will retain the narrower chain slightly better but still allow a significant amount of movement & greater wear on the bar as a result of less surface area contact.
Why not just buy all your chai s in 063... they're generally available.

Yes, and that wear occurs much more rapidly.
Which is why you're better off starting with .050 gauge and moving up as the bar wears.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

To the OP…
Can it be done? Yes.
Will it work with that tool? Nope (tried it, have 2, anybody want one?)
Will it work? Not really
Will it last? Nope.
Is it worth the work it will take to pinch that long a bar? Nope, not even close.

There is a big difference trying to make a .063 into a .050 compared to slightly closing worn .050 rails.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

You will never pinch close the nose tip material- but then most sprocket nose replaceable tips are 0.063 or larger, they just turn the chain to the other side of the bar- the bar rails hold the DL's aligned.
If you taper pinch the main rails and mill with it- hows the oil delivery system going to hold up? Wide taper base and thin DL's are not going to carry oil as well as proper fit.
Might be easier to have someone clever weld two bars together to get what you are trying for.
Better yet- go buy some 0.063 .325 chain- not likely to find 3/8LP in it, but 0.063 .325 is as common as mud around here.

 

[Mad Professor]

What mount bar do you need? 3002 or 3003?

How about this?

https://www.chainsawbars.co.uk/?s=lo+pro+bar&submit=Search&post_type=product

Or this?

https://www.chainsawbars.co.uk/product/hssa48-50wr-kit-48122cm-gb-lo-pro-milling-bar-kit/