Bar length

[Striker]

The boss is looking at getting a big saw, such as an 088 or a 3120 for that one tree a year we cant (or I should say he can't) cut with the 066 with a 25 inch bar. He thinks he needs a 48 inch or longer bar. Is this feasable on stock saws of this size. The 066 bogs down with the bar buried in a hardwood log. Just wondring what would be the best sized bar to run on either of the two big saws.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I am running an 066 magnum with a 42" bar and full-skip full-chisel chain. This combination is just about unstopable! I admit I only use this long bar on rare occasions, but it is real nice to have when the need arises.

 

[Striker]

The boss knows diddly about saws. Whatever the stihl dealer tells him he takes as gospel. I don't claim to know a lot, but I know that they have told him some doozies. We have seven stihl saws, of which none of them seem to be running at their full potential. I have given up trying to tell him that. We had a cottonwood a couple of weeks ago that was about 7 feet across. It was also half rotted away. It should have been easy with the 066. But I was doing something else when they dropped the trunk so I don't know what all kinds of trouble they had. I think the 066 needs a trip to pennsylvannia to be worked on and a 36 inch bar kept on standby for the big trees.

 

[Jacob J.]

Howdy- RockyJSquirrel is correct. A properly maintained 066 will cut just about any tree on the planet. Operator technique, chain filing, and saw motor condition are the mitigating factors. Those big saws are more needed for ripping or milling big wood. A good running 066 will turn a 50" bar with a properly sharpened chain. It's not something you should do everyday however, but the 066 is capable.

 

[Wade Huggins]

Never run any more bar than you need. I can cut some awful big timber with a 24 inch bar that way. I have had the need for bars up to 36 inches long but not for about five years now. These big trees you speak of can they be doubled notched in the front so you can reach back in and get the heart cut out?...............Wade

 

[Ryan Willock]

I run a hopped up 066 with a 24'' bar and full comp full chisel chain and can't bog it down in hardwood with the bar burried!!!! your boss needs to learn how to properly mantain a saw and chain, I've run a 36'' bar on my 066G and had no problems cutting hardwood! I would just get a longer bar for the 066, he could have a hopped up 090 but if he doesn't know how to mantain it whats the point???

 

[Striker]

We seldom get time to do maintanance on the saws. I do the chain sharpening. The chains are sharp. I am trying to get him to buy files and guides so I can teach the woodticks to sharpen the chains on the saws. It all takes time. I haven't found a tree yet that the 066 couldn't drop. I am the most skilled operater in the company, and that isn't saying much. But I keep my eyes open and learn more as I go along. I have learned a tremendous amount just on this site. I have tried to get him to bring someone in for some basic instruction in running a chainsaw, but until he can get someone to do it for free it won't happen. Thanks for your thoughts on this subject.


Jeff

 

[Wade Huggins]

Striker,
Just try to hang in there I think we have all been in similar situations at one point in our lives. As far as sharpening goes practice makes perfect just pay attention to what you do and dont be afraid to try new things cause and effect my man. It will all work out for you one way or the other.......Be safe in the woods Wade

 

[SilverBlue]

Originally posted by Striker
We seldom get time to do maintanance on the saws.


Jeff

Jeff, apart from safety first, how can a company operate properly without maintaining it’s equipment?

Why can’t the Stihl dealer impress a good maintenance program to the boss if he takes their advice on saws?
Or would it bee better to find another dealer to bring home the point ?
Rob.

 

[glens]

Rob,

I agree with you, but the other side of the coin could be that being that guy's Stihl dealer in the way he seems to like to use them just might be a real sweet gig, if you know what I mean.  From the dealer's viewpoint, it might be a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" arrangement.

I don't think I'd be able to do business that way, but it just occurred to me others might find it attractive.

Kind of like Bill Gates in a magazine interview a couple years back where he said MS' biggest competitors were customers who were content with their older version of Windows.

Glen

 

[Pacific]

I agree with the others keep the 066 run a 32-36 bar on it and keep a sharp chain that saw should fall pretty well most wood standing today.

The 090s are mostly for bucking big wood which there isn't much left nowwadays.

On my 046 Magnum I run a 28" with full skip chisel works good I don't think I would want any shorter bar on the saw. The 66s around here usually run 32s or 36s anything longer than that you really have tobe careful.

 

[SilverBlue]

I don’t know…
Dealers need repairs to pay the bills, unless that one can live on new equipment sales alone. the if it ain't broke theory is false economy when it comes to equipment we rely on, it could also mean disaster if the equipment fails durring a critical cut.

But then again it’s a pretty good way to find an excuse to get that new toy

 

[Wolfcsm]

Have a 36", and a 24" bar for my 066. Put the long bar on only for the one or two cuts I need to make in a 4 or 5 foot think piece of wood. Works a piece of Pican, the weekend before I started my vacation on Kuwait, that had several places where the thickness was over 4 feet, due to branches.

The 24" bar works great for anything I have put it into, including a 40" Oak last month.

Hal

 

[Gypo Logger]

Long bars are truly not necessary in view of the fact you can cut down a tree with a diameter equal to the total length of the saw, from tip of bar, to end of rear handle.
When using a small bar to establish felling cuts, keep the saw in all original kerfs, including the backcut, which should ajoin the "ears", that effectively reduce the diameter of the tree.
In other words, when moving to the other side of the tree to complete a cut, dont just eyeball it up, but rather insert the bar into the kerf to complete it.
Hope that made sense.
John

 

[Striker]

If the boss was a saw nut like you, me and others I would say go for the big saw. As we all know, you cant have too many saws.
I have to admit that we are still learning the ropes. We just started in this business last fall. I am still trying to teach them that telephone and cable lines increase the time it takes to remove a tree. And i am trying to educate myself on how to do it quickly and safely, Safely comes first.

 

[Striker]

I would love to spend some time with a pro saw operator to see what mistakes I am making, and see how cutting should be done. I also need to find a free lance climber in the Columbus, Ohio area. I'm not a climber, my body says that it refuses to do that sort of thing. I have tried it. Would like to be able to do it. But muscles start cramping with to much strain. So i have to do my work from a bucket.