Chainsaw Bar Refinishing

[Brewz]

We all have a bar we like that has the paint all messed up and scratched off.

I have an Oregon Power Match 30" bar that I am going to convert from 3/8 to 404 and want to give it a birthday.
The paint is in goodish condition but I hate the drab grayish color of them.

Plan is to take it back to bare metal and refinish it.
Possibly blue, possibly Cerakote.

I would like this thread to encompass all methods people use to do this.

How do you remove the old paint?
What do you use as a coating?
How durable is what you use for coating?


And my No. 1 question........... Where can I get STIHL bar stencils?

 

[jakethesnake]

I spray painted one...... Failure no go took the paint off with use .. You looking for a paint finish or you speaking of like gun blued? In my opinion paint stripper should eat it off like the aircraft grade stuff or klean strip should do it it can be had at Home Depot or lowes it's good I've used on cars and like . If you were to paint it maybe you could top coat with an epoxy based clear? I think you could google up a tough clear coat the under coat may not matter much as the "shell" would protect it . These are just ideas as my bars all look like *s-word and I'm ok with that

 

[Gunn]

Cerakote should hold up pretty well. I used it on gun barrels without any issue.

 

[CoreyB]

I think I am going to try gun bluing on my 14"

 

[Definitive Dave]

Mike - Homelite410 and Shawn Squarefile do some pretty amazing and fun bar conversions/restorations and I have seen some nice stuff from Jon1212 and PogointheWoods as well.
I do know that modern Stihl powdercoating is pretty darn tough stuff, I tried to have a bar engraved professionally and it took them 5-6 times going over the stencil to make a nice impression in the powder
I will be watching closely I have a few old engraved bars I would love to have cleaned up and restored to make the worn engraving stand out more.

 

[jakethesnake]

If you were just looking for a durable finish you could parkerize one

 

[Guido Salvage]

Magic marker, any kid will be glad to help.

 

[Definitive Dave]

what is involved with gun blueing?
I like the look and there is a guy who has been trying to sell a tank locally for awhile on armslist.
toxic chems n stuff or just rit dye in a washtub?

 

[Keith Gandy]

Cannon bar , spikes, and bar nuts done with bluing. Clean metal, wipe bluing on until as dark as u like, then treat with a light rust prevenative

 

[jakethesnake]

Cannon bar , spikes, and bar nuts done with bluing. Clean metal, wipe bluing on until as dark as u like, then treat with a light rust prevenativeView attachment 18316View attachment 18317

Once you fellas get a saw that purty how do you keep it that way?

 

[Definitive Dave]

it rubs the lotion on the skin, it puts the lotion in the basket

 

[srcarr52]

A belt sander leaves a nice brushed finish of you need to mechanically strip the paint.

 

[Keith Gandy]

Once you fellas get a saw that purty how do you keep it that way?

Once you fellas get a saw that purty how do you keep it that way?

I never throw it in the back of the truck or on the ground but only use it, spray with simple green , brush it, spary it off with water, crank and let it dry for a few minutes , then blow off with compressed air

 

[redoakneck]

In before lock

 

[jakethesnake]

You let her ride up front Keith?

 

[Keith Gandy]

I put them in the back but what I meant was i dont chunk it in there to roll around. I have put it behind my seat in my 4 door pickup. I use my saws but take care them . I run them hard but dont abuse them by throwing around. I just dont see the sense in that

 

[KenJax Tree]

Never refinished one. When it was all wore out i bought a new one.

Does new paint make it faster?

 

[Keith Gandy]

Never refinished one. When it was all wore out i bought a new one.

Does new paint make it faster?

No but no paint makes it run cooler . Even Julian found the clearcoat on Sugi., Tsu., Total made them run hotter

 

[jakethesnake]

I don't beat mine around either but I can't keep paint on the barbar

 

[Keith Gandy]

I don't beat mine around either but I can't keep paint on the barbar

Are u rough in the cut with the bar? I found using wedges and not getting the bar in a bind helps 100%