Consolidating chain types, recommendations?

[Ted Jenkins]

I guess it boils down to how much wood do you plan to cut. It takes me almost a whole day to go to my Stihl dealer and buy a spark plug. So there is no way I will spend two or more days to order a couple of loops of chain. I have rolls shipped to me for $200 to $400 and it often last 2 years. When I really cut I wear out 2 loops in a week or 6' to 9'. Rolls are often 25% of loop prices. If 3 or 4 20" chain loops will last a year or two then buying rolls make little sense and of course you have a little variety of exactly what you want. Thanks

 

[Spring1898]

My confusion is what are you trying to accomplish? Use the chains you got, standardize to one size, convenience, "project", cheap, etc...
You got two saws both with good bars, I assume? Third saw I wouldn't worry about till you get it. So without buying new bars, just use the chains you got and adjust their lengths to suite. That'd be the cheapest.
If you need new bars anyway, then that changes things.

As I mentioned, mostly trying to learn and basically you summed it up, so all the above?
The thread has been evolving as I ask more questions and get opinions and learn:
What to look for when consolidating chain types as the saws start to increase in number, the pros and cons of buying in bulk, the benefits of chain gauge vs length vs chainsaw brand and availability.
What best to do with the chains I acquired which don't match up with what I currently have on hand, and how to best make the use of them either by keeping and modifying, or cleaning up and selling, while taking into account that I would like to get down to a minimal number of gauge/pitch so that I can eventually consolidate chain types.
See what I did there?