What chain?

[Geez]

OK guys, after reading up on all the 'what chainsaw' posts, I went out and got a shiny new 361. I finally got tired of buying disposable chainsaws like Homelite and Crapsman.
So, now, I realized I don't know jack about the different types of chains and sprockets.
I've got a 16" bar (for now) and I'm wondering what I should use for cutting oak/walnut/cherry cordwood? I'll probably put up 15 cords or so a year.
I've always just used what came with the saw and whatever the local Farm and Barn store had that would fit the saw.
Sooo, educate me, will ya? I'm all ears.:monkey:

 

[Burvol]

Damn, I cannot imagine cutting even two cords of wood with a 16" bar. How does that make your back feel?

 

[Geez]

Damn, I cannot imagine cutting even two cords of wood with a 16" bar. How does that make your back feel?

Don't know, I've always used a 20" on my other saws. The saw came with a 16" and I would have had to order anything different because they didn't have anything else in stock. I figured I would keep the 16" for versatility and wait until I heard what you guys recommended before I ordered one.

 

[Burvol]

I would recomend a Stihl brand chain from the dealer, they are pretty good quality and they are sharp out of the box. A full comp would be my choice for a 16" bar for sure.

 

[460magnum]

Sounds to me like you just need to get a 20" bar and a reguler RS STIHL chain Full chisel. If I were racing or using the saw everyday of my life I would consider asking on a diferent chain. USE WHAT IS READILY available to you close to home. If you need to go cut firewood in pinch and you hit rocks.... and you don't have another spare...... then what? keep it simple...:greenchainsaw: and none of this will happen:deadhorse:

 

[gink595]

I have a 16" and a 20" bar but I find I use the 20" more. I have bought about every Stihl chain there is within reason to trial and error for my own self. I seem to like the Stihl RSC chain, go to the stihl website and they will show you all the different types. I guess the Oregon 72 is an alternative to the RSC and you can find them anywhere.
http://stihlusa.com/chainsaws/types.html

 

[Hugenpoet]

Congrats on the MS361. It is a great saw. I bought one a couple of months ago and really like it a lot-although still find that I use my 372XP most of all, as old habit die hard.

I would recommend you consider at some time in the future an 18" bar (no need until your 16" wears out or gets bent beyond repair) as I believe you will find that the 361 balances best with an 18". Regarding chain, sure Stihl chain is probably a little better than the best of the rest, but you can buy Woodman's Pro 30RC-66 18" for $9.95 a loop from Baileys if you buy 10 or more loops. The chain is U.S. made by Carlton which is a very, very good chain manufacturer, and I can tell you it is good chain-not just for the money, but good chain compared to anything including Stihl.

 

[oneoldbanjo]

I have a 20" bar on my 361 and a 16" bar on my 260....they both seem well suited to those saws. I suppose if you don't have any wood that requires a longer bar it will be OK - but the 361 can easily run a bar longer than 16".

The Stihl chains you can use with your saw/bar combination are 33RMC3-60 or 33RSC3-60. The RM chain has the safety features that help to reduce kickback and have a green link to identify them....they are the standard chain and cut well and the members down in the chainsaw section recommend them for wood that is dirty as it holds the sharpness longer. The RS chain is a little more aggressive and does not have the reduced kickback features and does cut a little faster and has a yellow link - and does not stay sharp as quite as long as the RM chain if the wood is dirty. You will not need to worry about skip or semi-skip chains with the short bar (Maybe if you decided to buy a 24" bar and cut a lot of hardwood). The general consensus is that the factory Stihl Chain stays sharper longer then other brands and is more expensive as well.

I would recommend you get a file kit with the flat file guide and learn to file your chain when it needs freshened up - it will make a big difference to have a sharp chain.

 

[Geez]

I would recommend you get a file kit with the flat file guide and learn to file your chain when it needs freshened up - it will make a big difference to have a sharp chain.

I will pick up a file kit. I forgot when I picked up the saw. I do a pretty fair job of hand filing chains in the field. I worked for a tree service about 30 years ago, thats where I learned how. I guess it's like riding a bike...

 

[Stihl here]

Nothing wrong with a 16'' bar on the 361. I use that size alot when I am cutting firewood. Less teeth to sharpen, lighter weight, cheaper bar and chains, awesome power!!! I would get a bigger bar and chain later if needed. Get a loop of stihl RSC and RMC and you will be set!!! The ms361 is a great firewood saw!!!

 

[Geez]

Nothing wrong with a 16'' bar on the 361. I use that size alot when I am cutting firewood. Less teeth to sharpen, lighter weight, cheaper bar and chains, awesome power!!! I would get a bigger bar and chain later if needed. Get a loop of stihl RSC and RMC and you will be set!!! The ms361 is a great firewood saw!!!

You're not kidding! I took the 361 out and cut five pickup loads of oak today. What a difference over what I've been using up to now!
Seems like for what I was cutting an 18" bar would have been perfect because I was always a couple inches short without cutting the far side first, but I suppose that would be true no matter what length bar I had.

 

[Hugenpoet]

You're not kidding! I took the 361 out and cut five pickup loads of oak today. What a difference over what I've been using up to now!
Seems like for what I was cutting an 18" bar would have been perfect because I was always a couple inches short without cutting the far side first, but I suppose that would be true no matter what length bar I had.

The 18" bar would be perfect, although as you found out the 16" was close to perfect as would be a 20" bar.

Lots of luck with the saw, you made a good choice.

 

[Geez]

The 18" bar would be perfect, although as you found out the 16" was close to perfect as would be a 20" bar.

Lots of luck with the saw, you made a good choice.

It was probably because I read your post before going out today, that I kept thinking you were right about the 18". Power of suggestion?

 

[Zodiac45]

I have a 16" and a 20" bar but I find I use the 20" more. I have bought about every Stihl chain there is within reason to trial and error for my own self. I seem to like the Stihl RSC chain, go to the stihl website and they will show you all the different types. I guess the Oregon 72 is an alternative to the RSC and you can find them anywhere.
http://stihlusa.com/chainsaws/types.html

+1 That's all I ever use are 16" or 20". If your cutting hardwood like you mentioned, that's all you'll need. I do have a 18" on my 111 and I guess thats about ideal. Chain you want RS or LG (Oregon). I guess it's RSC now and LGX but they are both aggressive clean wood chains. I recently bought an Oregon semi chisel for dirty wood called MLP which is ok too.