Straightening a long bar

[huskyhank]

My 42" Oregon bar has a bow in it. Over 36" (longest straightedge I have, applied to the mid section of the bar) its out about 3/16". Is there a trick to straightening a bar? Do I put it on blocks and keep tweaking until its straight? Or is this much bend no big deal? I'd rather have it straight.

Thanks

 

[BobL]

My 42" Oregon bar has a bow in it. Over 36" (longest straightedge I have, applied to the mid section of the bar) its out about 3/16". Is there a trick to straightening a bar? Do I put it on blocks and keep tweaking until its straight? Or is this much bend no big deal? I'd rather have it straight.

I'd be trying to get that out if it was me.

You can try the "tweak" method but you do want to make sure you don't over stretch the bar grooves because once they are bent too badly that will be the end of the bar

It is possible to straighten a bar like straightening a hand saw using a pair of decent hammers and an anvil - eg see this www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18501 Just make sure keep the hammer blows away from the bar groove.

I have fixed 2, 25" bars this way.

 

[huskyhank]

I'd be trying to get that out if it was me.

You can try the "tweak" method but you do want to make sure you don't over stretch the bar grooves because once they are bent too badly that will be the end of the bar

It is possible to straighten a bar like straightening a hand saw using a pair of decent hammers and an anvil - eg see this www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18501 Just make sure keep the hammer blows away from the bar groove.

I have fixed 2, 25" bars this way.

Great link!

Mine seems bowed over the length, not in one spot. I guess that will take a lot of hammering. I can pull out the bow when I clamp the Alaskan on the bar but that adds time to set up that I don't want.

 

[BobL]

Great link!
Mine seems bowed over the length, not in one spot. I guess that will take a lot of hammering.

Not really.

Just take it slowly and start from the middle and try 2 blows and then check to see if there has been any improvement. Then try 2 pair of blows and check, then 3 pairs etc as per this pattern, and check in between each set of blows. this is what I did for the bars I straightened. I got there in about 3 sets of blows with a 2 lb lump hammer and a serious anvil (that is important).

If the bar is wide enough you can use 3 blows across the bar at a time but keep clear of the bar groove