Bar and Chain replacement

[prichard]

Realistically, I don't use the saw much. I'm not processing firewood or the like. I currently have about 20 trees that I had knocked down with a dozer and will limb and chop for firewood but it may take me a year or 2 to go through them. They are all 4 - 8" at the base so nothing heavy. I do need to get a sharpener and learn to sharpen rather than just replacing chains.

 

[jack707]

You know what's frustration when you have a 16" bar but I fixed that when I upgraded my saw I made sure I got a 20" bar it's so much better cutting bigger trees.

 

[motownbrowne]

You know what's frustration when you have a 16" bar but I fixed that when I upgraded my saw I made sure I got a 20" bar it's so much better cutting bigger trees.

For me it's equally frustrating to have a heavy saw with a 20"+ bar when only a 16" is needed. I love my Dolmar 421 with a 16" bar. About to order a 12" for it. No sense carrying around that extra weight for limbing and trimming.

But, I'm a bit of a chainsaw guy. I'm trying not to let it get out of hand, but currently I own 6 saws with displacements from 32-92cc. Bar sizes from 12-32".

 

[prichard]

I own one saw besides the pole saw attachment for the string trimmer head. I'd like to keep it that way. Well, the wife is considering buying a 40v battery saw to go with her 40v hedge trimmer but that'll be her saw.

 

[motownbrowne]

I own one saw besides the pole saw attachment for the string trimmer head. I'd like to keep it that way. Well, the wife is considering buying a 40v battery saw to go with her 40v hedge trimmer but that'll be her saw.

Good idea. It's easy to let it get out of hand. I do actually cut a decent amount of firewood, maybe 10-15 cords/year, so having more than one is a necessity. 6 may not be a necessity, per se, but it makes things fun!

 

[Oldpath05]

What ever the bar length and chain pitch, unless you have a really small saw, I'd stay with a full chisel chain.

 

[xyz123]

450 is a 325 saw LPX or RS for chain IMO.

I love 3/8 on 50cc saws that have the balls to pull it. 450 that is not. But my 346 NE, 550, 545, 5020, 3000, 5000 partner, 5000 redmax was sweet with 16" in hardwoods.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

For me it's equally frustrating to have a heavy saw with a 20"+ bar when only a 16" is needed

I agree... When I went to a 16" bar from 20" on my Husky 55, instantly everyone who used the saw, said they liked it MUCH better! ME included!

I only break out a saw with a longer bar, when it's absolutely needed, and that means a tree that's a lot more than 16" in diameter...

SR

 

[motownbrowne]

I agree... When I went to a 16" bar from 20" on my Husky 55, instantly everyone who used the saw, said they liked it MUCH better! ME included!

I only break out a saw with a longer bar, when it's absolutely needed, and that means a tree that's a lot more than 16" in diameter...

SR

Yes sir, around here anyway, 16" bars are very capable and make for a fun saw. My 42, 50, and 60cc saws all wear 16" bars.

 

[prichard]

Interesting, never thought about going smaller.

Are full chisel chains the ones with the big warnings about kickback? Should I be concerned about that?

What's the gain in going to 3/8"?