I'm looking for the best, most reliable, well-built bar. Weight of the bar is also a consideration, and moderate to light weight would be nice. Money is an object, but I'm not looking for the cheapest. Quality and longevity is more important to me, as well as the ability to withstand a tight pinch here and there.
I'm a firewood hack in the woods, but I also need to fall some trees every year and deal with blow-downs. The saw is JerimiahJohnson's ported Redmax G5000, which has the same mount as a Husqvarna 346 or 357.
I have been searching and reading threads all day, and pretty much every aftermarket bar has been called a man-made miracle and a total POS, depending on manufacture date. I know that a lot of this has to do with timing, where the bars are currently made, how well the Chinese are tempering their steel, etc.
I read some good things about the "Laser Forestry Pro" bars at cutterschoice, but they don't appear to have a Husky small mount in 16" 3/8 .050
Cutterschoice.com
JerimiahJohnson told me he's had good luck with Forester bars, yet I read threads that they are terrible, Chinese made "junk." Those were old threads though, so maybe their quality has improved?
Oregon has been said to be the only game in town, and also derided as having soft rails depending on the person posting.
Tsumura seems consistently considered to be great, but I can only find limited selection on the bay.
Stihl bars are widely loved, but they're out in this context, unless they have started making Husky small mount bars...
At this point, I'm inclined to just get an Oregon pro-lite and be done with it. But I know there is a wealth of information waiting to be tapped here, so please share your informed opinion, as well as where to buy. Thanks!
I'm a firewood hack in the woods, but I also need to fall some trees every year and deal with blow-downs. The saw is JerimiahJohnson's ported Redmax G5000, which has the same mount as a Husqvarna 346 or 357.
I have been searching and reading threads all day, and pretty much every aftermarket bar has been called a man-made miracle and a total POS, depending on manufacture date. I know that a lot of this has to do with timing, where the bars are currently made, how well the Chinese are tempering their steel, etc.
I read some good things about the "Laser Forestry Pro" bars at cutterschoice, but they don't appear to have a Husky small mount in 16" 3/8 .050
Cutterschoice.com
JerimiahJohnson told me he's had good luck with Forester bars, yet I read threads that they are terrible, Chinese made "junk." Those were old threads though, so maybe their quality has improved?
Oregon has been said to be the only game in town, and also derided as having soft rails depending on the person posting.
Tsumura seems consistently considered to be great, but I can only find limited selection on the bay.
Stihl bars are widely loved, but they're out in this context, unless they have started making Husky small mount bars...
At this point, I'm inclined to just get an Oregon pro-lite and be done with it. But I know there is a wealth of information waiting to be tapped here, so please share your informed opinion, as well as where to buy. Thanks!
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