MetalMuncher Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Hello everyone. I need some advice on steel. I have a friend who works with chainsaws and has offered to give scrap chains and the things that hold the chains. I dont know what they are called but its the thing that the chain goes around on. I needed to know if that is good steel. And what about chains? Is it only the teeth? Or the are joints good to? Thanks guys!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 The blades should be good carbon steel and could possibly be hammered into forge welded billets for knives. The "blade" part of the chain saw, can either be aluminum or a mild steel. You'd have to examine them to determine that. Not sure what you'd do if they are alum. but there are always future projects for random pieces of steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Mulholland - Tetnum Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 the entire blade is useable for paternwelding and the bar is tipicaly aluminum but some are steel and you can use them for something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalMuncher Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 The ones here are not aluminum. I think that they are steel. Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironrosefarms Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 ********WARNING DUMB QUESTION AHEAD********* This raises a question in my head... The cutting tooth link should be high carbon, I understand that... However I wonder about the link between those that rides in the bar. They seem to be pretty soft? Is this so and if so how does it effect the end result of a pattern weld for say a blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Chainsaw bars and chains. The bars are typically air hardening steel intended for great flexible strength and rebound. Chains have no "mild" steel in them. The teeth are high impact HC steel, the links are med-high C high impact steel and the roll pins are bearing steel. Chains make dramatic pattern welded billets, even when folded numerous times. Bars make good utility blades. There is a bladesmith on the Kenai Lake who has been making knives from chainsaw bars for probably 40 years now and sells a couple thousand a year. Okay, I'm worn out, this is only the second time I've keyed anything since my LATEST and hopefully last surgery on my non-unionizing left humurus. I've been reading for a couple days but not replying as it's kind of painful. But. But . . . ALUMINUM bars?!? Good grief guys, we have the internet available, right in front of us as we write/read, right NOW. Even if you don't know what the part is called it shouldn't take more than three (3) searches to find better info than that. You will note I do NOT say what the bar alloys are, I don't know. What I do know is their general performance specs and what guys do with them. Been using chainsaws pretty steady for 35 years now. Back to reading from my mossy rock. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill.josh Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 If you ever find an aluminum "blade" keep it for a cutting plate so you don't mess your anvil face up with chisels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironrosefarms Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Thank you Frosty, now I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Falzone Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Good to hear from you Frosty. Speedy recovery ... and hopefully the last time. Take care. aeneas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triw Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Thanks frosty we do appreciate your wisdom and years of experience you so gladly share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I think I remember seeing a You Tube of a fellow using motor bike chains and timing chains for pattern welding.:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug C Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Frosty, Hope you mend quickly and well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Thanks guys, everything is going well this time. Splint's off and I'm working on gaining range back. . . Again. Chains of all kinds though mostly drive chains make dramatic pattern welded billets. I'm surprised someone hasn't posted a pic yet, I don't have one handy or I would've. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgtwister Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 well now i know what to do with all those old motorcycle chains laying around that i never throw out now its just geting my butt in gear and geting the forge built Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Dwyer Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Here's a few...YouTube - Forge welding a knife from a timing chain - Part OneYouTube - Forge welding a knife from a timing chain - Part TwoYouTube - Chainsaw Damascus Forging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 YouTube - Making Steel from Dirt This is for those who want to star their chain saw Damascus a little earlier in the process :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triw Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Farmer Phil Thanks for the links I enjoyed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Dwyer Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Well guys, here are some humdingers...enjoy, PhilIndian Geo chain - BladeForums.comhdchaintut2Making a 18" OAL chain san mai machete - WIP - Lots of pics - BladeForums.comAnother tutorial - Damascus from motorcicle chain, powder D2 and 5160 - BladeForums.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Har Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 Greetings! I've just been gifted several chainsaw bars for my knife making. A couple are laminated. Has anyone come up with a good way to separate the blades or tried forge welding them as is? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 what gave you the idea that the bars are good metal for knives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 That depends upon the bar. Some will harden some will not, it's the luck of the draw. I have made several nice bill hooks and large camp knives out of those that did harden and tempered them to blue. I don't think I would make a slicing knife out of them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 Irwin Cambel a knife maker of Irbi Knives fame used to make knives from chain saw bars but that was probably 30 years ago. He sold out to the #1 man in his shop when he retired and has since passed away. I have no idea what Irbi knives are made of now though the one time I visited Irwin he had a pile of worn out chain saw bars that'd make at least 1 1/2 dump truck loads. Chain saw bars were hardenable at that time though knowing a couple guys who carried the knives I wasn't impressed with edge holding. The owners were more than happy so my opinion was moot. New bars? No idea, you'll have to test them and see if they'll work for blades. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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