Advice on bars and chain

Elmore · Jul 12, 2007

I currently run Oregon 72LP 3/8" chain with an 18" Pro-Lite bar on my Makita DCS 520i. This saw is comparable to a Dolmar PS-510. Some folks at a little country saw shop owe me a new chain and bar and I was considering a semi-chisel chain and either a different model bar or a 16" bar and chain. This shop doesn't handle Stihl products and besides I need holes near the tip to pack with grease...lol. But they have shelves piled high with different bars and probably carry mostly Oregon chains. I don't think that they have Carlton or Canon bars, they might, but I have seen some GB and of course Oregon bars. I was thinking about trying a GB titanium if I can find one there, or a PowerMatch bar. What do you recommend. My saw has good torque and handles the 18" set up fine. Any advantages to a 16" bar? I'm thinking of staying with 18" and just having an extra bar but a different brand and/or model.
The chain...I have the 72LP and a new Super (RS) full-chisel Stihl chain but was thinking of something that might be more durable, as far as keeping sharp under dirty cutting conditions. I don't want any low-kickback chain. I want performance. Any suggestions?
Thall says I should just get an MS 361 and be done with it but when asked about grease holes on the bar, he said that the only ones that he knows about are those sitting with him at Roy Rogers...lol

THALL10326 · Jul 13, 2007

Elmore said:
I currently run Oregon 72LP 3/8" chain with an 18" Pro-Lite bar on my Makita DCS 520i. This saw is comparable to a Dolmar PS-510. Some folks at a little country saw shop owe me a new chain and bar and I was considering a semi-chisel chain and either a different model bar or a 16" bar and chain. This shop doesn't handle Stihl products and besides I need holes near the tip to pack with grease...lol. But they have shelves piled high with different bars and probably carry mostly Oregon chains. I don't think that they have Carlton or Canon bars, they might, but I have seen some GB and of course Oregon bars. I was thinking about trying a GB titanium if I can find one there, or a PowerMatch bar. What do you recommend. My saw has good torque and handles the 18" set up fine. Any advantages to a 16" bar? I'm thinking of staying with 18" and just having an extra bar but a different brand and/or model.
The chain...I have the 72LP and a new Super (RS) full-chisel Stihl chain but was thinking of something that might be more durable, as far as keeping sharp under dirty cutting conditions. I don't want any low-kickback chain. I want performance. Any suggestions?
Thall says I should just get an MS 361 and be done with it but when asked about grease holes on the bar, he said that the only ones that he knows about are those sitting with him at Roy Rogers...lol

Hahahaha, so did you like your hamburger today, you seemed to be enjoying it while we were sitting at Roy Rogers today,LOLOL, gotcha sucker,LOLOL

Yup spend some of that ole rusty money you got and get a 361 and be done with it. The only reason you don't is because you know I'm gonna say I told you so when you call and say I love this 361,hahaha

Good job on the flute today Elmore, you caught me off gaurd. You know how to play that thing pruty dayumm good. :cheers:

Elmore · Jul 13, 2007

Whistling Dixie

THALL10326 said:
...Good job on the flute today Elmore, you caught me off gaurd. You know how to play that thing pruty dayumm good.

It's a whistle...Irish Whistle...not a flute. Thanks. The tune?
The 1967 hit by Donovan Leitch
"There Is A Mountain"

...upon which the The Allman Brothers Band based their "Mountain Jam"

"Must Be the Season of the Witch
We all have our guilty pleasures, and dammit for years Donovan has been mine!
Most inescapable of all, for me, is First There is A Mountain, a charming confection of Afro-Cuban folkie zen babble that can only make you feel good unless you're irredemably anal about seeming cool. It's a song of marginal harmonic development, but that didn't stop the Allman Brothers from concocting a 40-minute jam (Mountain Jam) around it."

...not to be confused with "The Big Rock Candy Mountain"

Now what about that recommended bar and chain? Will one of those Stihl sample packages fit my saw?

belgian · Jul 13, 2007

Hmmmmm, Elmore, I hear you get discount vouchers for Roy Rogers, once you have been in the backroom at Thall's saw shop.

Elvis and an Irisch whistler, my o my, there must be a sale in the air :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

Elmore · Jul 13, 2007

belgian said:
Hmmmmm, Elmore, I hear you get discount vouchers for Roy Rogers, once you have been in the backroom at Thall's saw shop.

Elvis and an Irisch whistler, my o my, there must be a sale in the air :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

Could be belgian...I'm not sure though. He's in Northern Virginia and I'm in North Alabama. I try to stretch it that far and I keep tellin' him to talk into it but I still don't hear a word that he says. I tell you, it's starting to take a toll on me. My little yellow VW bug tattoo has become a stretch school bus...heh heh. I'll say one good thing about Thall, he hasn't charged me any labor yet! :laugh:

THALL10326 · Jul 13, 2007

Elmore said:
It's a whistle...Irish Whistle...not a flute. Thanks. The tune?
The 1967 hit by Donovan Leitch
"There Is A Mountain"

...upon which the The Allman Brothers Band based their "Mountain Jam"

"Must Be the Season of the Witch
We all have our guilty pleasures, and dammit for years Donovan has been mine!
Most inescapable of all, for me, is First There is A Mountain, a charming confection of Afro-Cuban folkie zen babble that can only make you feel good unless you're irredemably anal about seeming cool. It's a song of marginal harmonic development, but that didn't stop the Allman Brothers from concocting a 40-minute jam (Mountain Jam) around it."

...not to be confused with "The Big Rock Candy Mountain"

Now what about that recommended bar and chain? Will one of those Stihl sample packages fit my saw?

Done told ya once, throw that dayummm saw away and get a 361 and be done with it. I don't think a Stihl bar is going to fit your Makita saw and thats a good thing. Come on up and I'll gethca a bar and chain and a saw to match it,LOL

So that was a whistle huh, sounded neat. May have to put you in my band yet.!!!! You don't mind playing second fiddle to the King do ya baby,LOL

THALL10326 · Jul 13, 2007

belgian said:
Hmmmmm, Elmore, I hear you get discount vouchers for Roy Rogers, once you have been in the backroom at Thall's saw shop.

Elvis and an Irisch whistler, my o my, there must be a sale in the air :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

Yup yup, I'll take every penny he's got before its overwith,:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

ShoerFast · Jul 13, 2007

THALL10326 said:
Hahahaha, so did you like your hamburger today, you seemed to be enjoying it while we were sitting at Roy Rogers today,LOLOL, gotcha sucker,LOLOL

Yup spend some of that ole rusty money you got and get a 361 and be done with it. The only reason you don't is because you know I'm gonna say I told you so when you call and say I love this 361,hahaha

Good job on the flute today Elmore, you caught me off gaurd. You know how to play that thing pruty dayumm good.

Yup, Second the 361 idea :cheers:

Not only would there be more stumps to whistle on, there would be more time to whistle :cheers:

Roy would run a 361

SawTroll · Jul 13, 2007

Elmore said:
. .....
The chain...I have the 72LP and a new Super (RS) full-chisel Stihl chain but was thinking of something that might be more durable, as far as keeping sharp under dirty cutting conditions. I don't want any low-kickback chain. I want performance. Any suggestions? ....

Ime, the RS will keep the edge a bit longer than the LP, but your best bet for that use is probably Stihl RM (semi-chisel) - avoid the RM2.....:biggrinbounce2:

spacemule · Jul 13, 2007

I don't get the cheer leading for the 361. It's a bastard size--too little to be a big saw and too big to be a little saw, if you know what I mean.

SawTroll · Jul 13, 2007

spacemule said:
I don't get the cheer leading for the 361. It's a bastard size--too little to be a big saw and too big to be a little saw, if you know what I mean.

The "bastard" size is the most useful one where I am, and several other places, I believe...... :buttkick:

spacemule · Jul 13, 2007

SawTroll said:
The "bastard" size is the most useful one where I am,

Well then, I guess you're a . . .ah nevermind. :jester:

Elmore · Jul 18, 2007

Oregon Chain

Okay forget the bar. I'll probably only be able to get what ever they have and hopefully I'll be pleased. Probably the same with the chain. They likely only handle Oregon chain. As I have stated I may want to get a semi-chisel as sometimes I cut some dirty wood, often I might hit a small stone or a tooth but I don't think that factors in. I am currently running a 72LP but what is an M72? A round cornered full-chisel? How does it compare with semi-chisel?
In semi-chisel...72DG, 72DP or what do you suggest?
I may end up just getting another 72LP.

THALL10326 · Jul 18, 2007

:hmm3grin2orange:

spacemule said:
I don't get the cheer leading for the 361. It's a bastard size--too little to be a big saw and too big to be a little saw, if you know what I mean.

Its the perfect size, will do some small work because its lite and it will do some big work because it has good power. Hell Space come on over and run my 361. I bet I'll have to call the law to get it away from ya,:hmm3grin2orange:

THALL10326 · Jul 18, 2007

SawTroll said:
The "bastard" size is the most useful one where I am, and several other places, I believe......

Ya dayummmmmmmmmmmm right. Handy saw that 361 is and sell, boy do they....

Elmore · Jul 18, 2007

THALL10326 said:
Ya dayummmmmmmmmmmm right. Handy saw that 361 is and sell, boy do they....

Damm Thall...there you go hijacking my thread just to hype your Stihl products. I'm trying to get advice on an Oregon chain and you're interrupting me. I had to start another thread just to escape your relentless sales tactics and to hopefully get that much needed advice. You've put me to task...you owe me now. I'll be sending you a bill soon and I'll be expecting that fast cutting, complimentary Stihl semi-chisel chain, that you will be sending me, in the mail real soon. I will cut you a break though, I won't bill you for labor! heh heh

Elmore · Jul 19, 2007

Back on Topic/Bars

Okay...This little shop has Oregon, GB and I think I saw a Total bar there. I have a Pro-Lite so I need to try and move up in quality. Between a GB Pro-Top, a TOTAL SUPER PRO SPROCKET TIP or an Oregon Power Match Plus bar which would you choose?

Would you prefer a Power Match Plus Double Guard over the broader tipped Power Match Plus?

Is a GB POWER-TECH BAR any better than the Pro-Lite bar?

NO STIHL PRODUCT AVAILABLE!

SawTroll · Jul 19, 2007

Elmore said:
Would you prefer a Power Match Plus Double Guard over the broader tipped Power Match Plus?

Absolutely not! :bang:

The smaller tip makes the bar less efficient for bore-cutting.

..and I believe the GB Power-Tech has a pretty so-so reputation, compared to the Pro-Lite, but never used one myself.

Edit; Personally I have not used any RSN bars but Power-Match - but the GB Pro-Top have recieved mixed rewiews here.
I believe they are generally heavier and harder than Power-Match, but some say that the hardening of the steel in not consistant.....
I see no need to try them, unless I find a really good deal.

SawTroll · Jul 22, 2007

Forgot to say, Total bars have a very good rep on here, as far as I have seen - but I don't know if it applies to all of them.

Advice on bars and chain

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