HI
It always amazes me about what people use in different areas.It seems the farther west you go,the longer the bars get.Here in Pa.most of our logger's use 20" bars,and 372 Husky's with a few 288s and 394s but still use the 20" bars.
I realize that our timber is not as large as the western soft stuff but we do have some of the nicest oak, and cherry in the US.The husky seems to rule here with the loggers,they claim what they save in repairs a year from running the Husky over the Stihls,they can buy a new husky and be ahead of the game.I always use a 20" while felling and bucking,I am not that old yet that I cant bend over and I dont like the extra weight of the 24.
Last year I put in a logging road up one of the steepest mountains around here.It was to steep for any skidder and had prime timber so they brought in a chopper and a crew from out west.These boys all used big stihls with the 40 feet bars and full wrap handles.I worked a lot on that job with the forester and one very fussy land owner,as to where the road went and what trees to remove.I had to take down more than a few grade red oaks for the road.I must have impressed someone because I was offered a job with the logging co.I was between large jobs so I said I could work for them for about 3 weeks.They stuck me on the landing cutting logs apart.That da*n chopper only carried about 5 to 6 trees at a time but he was fast and I had to work to keep up with him.Things went well for about 2 days.That's when I was approached be the maddest forester and land owner that I have ever seen.They said I was to go with them and show these guys how to cut timber.When we got to where they were cutting I could see why they where so upset.Most of the nice grade timber was split and the stumps where about 4 feet off the ground.I really couldn't blame the cutters,they had never cut timber with a Y on the tree an I guess they always cut the stumps up that high.After some very hot and heavy discussions we came to a agreement,they could still use there 40 foot bars but they had to remove the full wrap handles so they could get closer to the ground.I was always taught that for every inch at the stump comes out to a foot at the top so why waist the good stuff.I never could talk them into trying a shorter bar but the timber did get better the longer they cut.
Interesting if you look at the pictures from our northern friend John most of the saws that he uses have a 20" bar.I am really not trying to talk anyone into changing what they use,just stating it has a lot to do with your area.
Most of the time I just sit here and read and never post but this is one of my favorite sites.I really just hate typing.
John where are you actually located at.I spent 5 weeks this spring in Alaska,circle,Yukon.I did see in one of you posts about Kamloops.I was there,is that far from you.It was interesting to watch the black spruce get shorter the farther north you go.
While I am in the typing mood I have some questions about port timing for Ken,can you please email me.I did try to look at the link you posted once but I never did find it.I just ordered a new 357 and I want to port it.But the timing part still has be a little confused.I am not to stupid,I did work as a mechanic for 25 plus years.The 357 is for my 14 year old son,he has been complaining that his Jonsered 2050 doesn't have any power.Yea I know what you all are thinking,he is only 14.Well this boy has ran saws,dozer,backhoe since he was 12.If you give that boy a 026 or a 028 in a box that little **** can make you a complete saw faster then I can,but I wont tell him that.
I hope all of you out there have some very happy holidays.Its always a pleasure to read your posts.
Dan
always remember to get more power than you need - if you are going to use your saw only a couple times and its going to lay in your garage - get a 55 and forget all i said....:angel:
