Stihl .063 bar and dirty wood question (2 diff questions)

[diesel&coffee]

Ok 2 questions:

I noted when I bought my MS 361 they put a .063 18" bar on it.. I have been reading people are going the way of a .050 bar?? Should I change over??

Also if cutting dirty wood in City Brush sites that is already half way cut and has dirt/saw dust/etc on it - and gets more at the city site. Whats the best chain for Oak, cedar, Mesq, Pecan and ash..

Whats other make of chain would be like stihls RM ??

thanks

 

[Rookie1]

Ill do the gauge question. The two basic are 3/8 .050 and .325 .063. So you should see what chain they have on it. Look at the sprocket,it should be stamped with numbers. It all depends on what the dealer put on it new.

 

[diesel&coffee]

its a 3/8 bar... I can't remember but I think we put RSC on it... Why the sprocket ?? check it - it's a 3/8 - 7 ....

I guess one of the questions is when I get a new bar should I start using a .050 bar??? WHen do you really need the heavier chain of .063 and bar ??

 

[heimannm]

If you can get the .063 chain relatively easily, no reason to change. Some would say that the .050 is less weight and therefore faster cutting but I doubt anyone could ever prove it in a firewood cutting application. I also have a few saws with .058 so I have a lot of chains on hand.

For cutting dirty wood a chipper chain (rounded cutters) seems to hold an edge better that chisel (square shaped cutters). I like Carlton chain; the File-O-Plate makes sharpening with a file pretty simple.

Mark

 

[diesel&coffee]

WHich Carlton chain?? Same for Oregon chain??

It's starting to look like most have a lot of .050 chains like candy... but the .063 less of.. I can't find any .063 RM chain an San Antonio on the shelf... Are any RM chain!! One store had it in .050! I know I can order it and have it a a week or so.. This just takes planning!

 

[diesel&coffee]

well heres a note

Looks like Oregon only has .050 chains/bar for the 361 ... One reason to standardize my bar if I ever need others chains on the fly - or wish to compare!

 

[Rookie1]

I was thnking it was 3/8 or .325 and said to check sprocket. It has nothing to do with width. Around here its 3/8 .050 I cant say Ive seen any 3/8 .063. But Im not around alot of saws. If you cant find .063 chain easily I would look into getting a .050 bar. You could sell the old one on ebay.

 

[Lakeside53]

It makes no difference... buy what's available in your area. Out here it's all 050; other areas can be all 063.

Oregon sells both 063 and 050, chain and bars...


Chain - RM or RMC semi chisel. You could also call it semi chipper, but they don't

 

[diesel&coffee]

lake - I "now" know on the .050 and .063.. it's just the website is not correct and I am finding out a lot of "web info" is not always current and/or correct...

 

[diesel&coffee]

Lakeside aka NZ!

It MAY seem a little odd these questions - but the place where I got it "after" looking at other saws has .050 bars.. and when I wanted a .063 chain they did not have what I wanted - and said will have to order that one... don't usually carry it! :Eye: either that or they did not want to sell me a RM chain.... Found a place on the working mans side of town and they where happy to help and had a ton of RMC chains...

Hate to say it but the working mans side of town was/is a lot more friendly and ready to share knowledge... I was out in the hillcountry yesterday and stop in a DEER tractor place that sells Stihl saws... I drive a cummins diesel
so I look like I belong there... THey truly have the wrong person behind the parts counter... I would type what I thought of him but it would not be nice!!!
I really hate complaining and asking for mangement to put in a honest remark but this was one time I felt/feel like going back in and doing it when I return the wrong chain they gave me!!!

 

[SawTroll]

If you can get the .063 chain relatively easily, no reason to change. Some would say that the .050 is less weight and therefore faster cutting but I doubt anyone could ever prove it in a firewood cutting application. I also have a few saws with .058 so I have a lot of chains on hand. .....

Mark

It makes no difference... buy what's available in your area. ....

:agree2: ..no reason to make the change - it is more of an area thing than anything else.

All Stihl 3/8" bars and chains are .063 over here - Husky, Dolmar etc are .058, and .050 non-existent in regular 3/8"

 

[SawTroll]

....

Chain - RM or RMC semi chisel. You could also call it semi chipper, but they don't

:agree2: ..is RMC out in 3/8" by now? Last time I looked it was still RM......

 

[Cedarkerf]

It makes no difference... buy what's available in your area. Out here it's all 050; other areas can be all 063.

Oregon sells both 063 and 050, chain and bars...


Chain - RM or RMC semi chisel. You could also call it semi chipper, but they don't

Ive become an odd ball 3/8 063.mainly due to aquistions ended up with a bunch of longer 063 bars 30,32,36,41. so I have a 100 ft roll of 063. Wifes saw has 050 and I have a 28" 050 but ive standardized to 063 but the dealers I use carry about any size and type of chain till I ask for RM and they get a confused look on their face but they eventually find it in the shop to.

 

[Jacob J.]

lake - I "now" know on the .050 and .063.. it's just the website is not correct and I am finding out a lot of "web info" is not always current and/or correct...

You can easily order a couple extra .063" gauge chains from one of our sponsors at a good price and then you don't need to go hunting around for chain locally. You'll probably get them much cheaper than you can buy .050" gauge chain locally anyways.

 

[diesel&coffee]

so the question on the guage and it being a "area or region" thing is ??? There has to be a reason - don't tell me it is all marketing - but then again!! .. Is it because South Texas has a lot of harder woods like Mesq, Oak, Cedar, etc??? An area that has pine may have a lot .050??? Just a question?? Do they look at the tree types in the area and then put XX bar/chain on...

 

[Lakeside53]

Nope... no reason... just a hangover from the past... With Stihl it's the exact same chain - the tang is just thinned on the lower portion 050...