Full vs Skip chain

[woodworkingboy]

Especially when you get into the amateur ranks, I see a lot of trees that rightfully should be cut with longer bars, cut with smaller ones. It isn't quick and it isn't pretty, but eventually those trees get put into a horizontal position. Looking at the base of the tree then, might turn your stomach.

 

[stig]

On the other hand, looking at the stump of a thick tree, put on the ground by a short bar and a professional cutter, who can match all those cuts to the millimeter, and keep each one perfectly level is a fine thing.

Martin, the apprentice, and I were hiking through a forest today, heading for a creek. As we passed some rather mis-matched beech stumps, Martin asked me: " How hard would you have slapped me, if those had been mine"

 

[SkwerI]

Jack, I agree with Burnham. I think a 25" bar might be worthwhile just because it will make the big cuts a little bit easier, but you will be mighty frustrated if you get anything longer than that. Stihls are quite stingy on the oil anyway and you won't have anywhere near enough chain lube to run anything bigger. In fact I recommend you have a can of spray lube on hand (not WD40, something with oil in it) to hit the chain on the bigger cuts. It will help reduce the tendency to bind up.

For future reference I think the 361 oiler might be interchangeable with the 460 oiler, which would give you the capability of pumping some extra juice on the chain.

 

[Al Smith]

Oh you can short bar a pretty good sized tree even with a little saw .Years ago when all I had was an S-25 Poulan with a 14" I dropped about a 30" soft maple .Took me forever though .

 

[CurSedVoyce]

I'm with Stig on this particular situation, though as a general rule I favor a better bar/diameter match. I'm not so sure you'd be happy with the performance of a stock 360 with that much bar...I know I wouldn't. At most, I'd go to 25".

This ... Exactly. And if you can not find a 066, try to find a 046. 28, 32 bar no problem. And a 36 would not anger you

 

[Al Smith]

As I've said before my 038 Mag will handle a 32" with no problems but it's been enhanced .Toms stock 046 has ran that same 32" bar with no problem .It oils it just fine .