Anyone use a Bar rail closer?

RM TREE

Hey does anyone use a bar rail closer like this one? And do they work Any input would be great Bailey's - WoodsmanPRO Chain Saw Bar Rail Closer

Quintrex

I've never seen one, but an employee of mine used one previously and said it was great.
They seem good value for money.

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Heightmaster

RM TREE

Hey Think i might just have to get one for the tool box

newguy18

I've never used one but I'm gonna get one.

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bigshea13

i dont use one but they must save on the entire saw, sloppy bar=slop on drivers=extreme wear on sprocket=loss of power. plus the sloppy bar as you prob know makes it difficult for teeth to dig in and cut cause the bar is wider than chain. will those things work on the tips too? hell its only half the cost of a new bar 20". worth a review. i dont know about you but ive spent alot more on crappier stuff. ex.{showtime knive set.} they suck and they dont shapen easy. i can get a better edge on my splitting mal.

Therrin

It's only designed to true up the straight edge of the bar Shea...

Not the tip, and not the angled part towards the rear of the bar. (there's some fine print on the pictures there, I had to squint to make it out, but it mentions that stuff)

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Ken Fessia
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SawTroll

I have never used one, and probably never will.

From what I have read they seem to work great, but the results are short-lived.........

If I was a collector, and had lots of old saws with worn bars, I might think differently.

TreeCo

I've never used one but did order one about 4 days ago. With the price of new bars it should pay for itself quickly.

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newguy18

the only thing i really do with my bars is clean and re dress them.

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Tree Machine

I have one. It's quite impressive.

It's not a tool that gets used much, but at the same time it's a tool that will last forever if you don't let it rust out.

You can get hurt with one, and should be careful.

I almost hate describing it in detail, as a piece of video could show it in seconds. I don't actually have any video of it.

Take the bar off the saw. Put the bar in a vise. File off the burrs, the entire length from both sides.

As you can see from the picture, that says how it works, a threaded lever moves an adjustable bearing toward a stationary bearing. Ya gotta be careful to tension it to the bar gently, give a pull from one end to the other. Fit your chain in to check. Give the threaded lever a quarter turn, give a pull from one end to the other. Fit your chain in to check. Give the threaded lever a quarter turn, give a pull from one end to the other. Fit your chain in to check. If you feel the chains driver links JUST START to grab inside the bar rail, STOP. Trust me. One more 'quarter turn, give a pull from one end to the other' and you'll close the rail too much. They don't sell a rail opening tool, but to let you know, it's called a screwdriver and a hammer and a bunch of unnecessary time trying to open it back up so you can get your chain in.

Fip bar, repeat.

You only would use the bar rail closer when you can flop your chain left/right, meaning the normally vertical-sided bar groove is splayed more like a V. You're squeezing the top rails inward so your chain doesn't flop and cut curves.

This is not a fix for an old worn bar, but it'll extend the life, get you through until your new bar comes in. I do it midlife of the bar during a complete dressing session as it only takes a minute.

It does do what it does really well, I must say. Affordable, too.

Attached Images

Bar rail closer.png (31.6 KB, 86 views)

quietrangr

I used one maybe a half dozen times. After about a week's use of the closed bar, it was back where it started. As I understand it, the bar slot wears out, not bends out, so bending the rails back in isn't going to help for long.

Tree Machine

That's exactly what I found, too.

If your bar is so worn that your driver links won't stand up straight, you need a bar replacement for sure.

The rail closer gets used more on larger bars than on the smaller ones. The titanium bars never need their rails touched as they don't wear quite at all like steel bars, the driver links do the wearing.

It's a fun tool to use, really amazing how you can squeeze the rails of a bar together, a fraction of a millimeter at a time, perfectly evenly, the entire length of the bar. Really remarkable.

Mike Poor

I've been using one for 18yrs. It does help keep the rails tight against on the drivelinks, but is only temporary. Helps get extra life out of worn bars though!

shaggs

Thanks TM, good explanation.

Tree Machine

Here's the last of what I can offer, short of actually working a bar over in front of you.

Attached Images

rail-squeezer07.jpg (156.5 KB, 44 views)

Tree Machine

And a 'special' shot, just for you guys and girls.

Attached Images

rail-squeezer06.jpg (70.2 KB, 45 views)