So, I work on a wildland fire crew and we have about 10 old 28" Stihl bars that will just be tossed, so I snagged them up and am now curious if any of you all have attempted to forge with them. I know it's laminated and hopefully there won't be air gap issues when I try the weld but its trash anyway so what xxxxxxx, right? If any of you guys or gals have played with these and can offer advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

 

P.S. welding chains as well, we got a lot 

Watch the language

There was a guy nearby that was making stock removal knives from them,  They buffed up something shiny.  Seem to remember that they may have been 1095  or equivalent.

Do you know if had to forge them together first?

 

couldn't say without looking at the bars. 

 

Irwin Campbell a bladesmith down in Moose Pass, now passed on made chain saw bar knives for something like 50 years. "I.R.B.I.Knives". Not plugging his knives but they're forged and Virgil Campbel who took the business over from his father makes pattern welded blades as well. Yeah, I know they're forged, I have his old 50lb. Little Giant in my shop, bought it when he upgraded to pneumatic utility hammers.

Anyway, yes you can forge weld chain saw bars, slip something interesting between plys though.

Frosty The Lucky.

Awesome, thanks for the help fellas. I'll do a post with pictures if I manage to make anything decent.

And what do you mean slip something between plys?

 

Hi Matt here a pic of a similar  bar  one side off ,

could wack some nickle bearing steel between

old saw mill saw works fine

Chris

Hey Chris. Ah I think I see now. So I need to separate the bar and work in another type of steel?

Hi Matt  yeh that would be the way to go

a bit more contrast that way too

Chris.