Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

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Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
29,499
Location
MN
Yea I do not understand this. I dont understand why manufacturers cant settle on a DL configuration for bars.
Agree. As Philbert indicated I think it was an old ploy to keep you at a certain dealer. Echo, Stihl, Homelite seem to be the worst offenders.
We have a great STIHL Dealer here. No matter what oddball saw and drive link count, he always has one already made up in a box. Like the 69 drive links on my junkyard homelite. I badly wanted to put a $13 chain on that thing but I probably spent 20 in gas driving around trying to find one. Went to the Stihl dealer and guy didn’t bat an eye, 30 seconds later I had one in hand. I won’t waste time next time.
Good to have a place like that you can trust.
Does it really matter what guage is used? I mean, they are equally strong and cut the same. Yes it's irritating it's used to tie you to a manufacturer, but stihl and husky/Oregon are all fair quality and value and all readily available. I come from Stihl, but am happy to try husky, and expect to have no trouble with chains.
No, it really doesn’t matter. It’s just that when a guy gets into multiple saws that can wear one common chain it gets to be a pain when you need to keep separate chains for each due to different gauges. I personally try to stick to .050 in everything. I keep getting .058 bars and they go out on the next saw I sell or I donate them to a fundraiser raffle on here.

Technically speaking, .063 carries oil better but this is only important on bars over 30” that see tough service.

Thats the only reason I dont run Stihl chain. The ones out of the box dont fit my saws. If Stihl would pull their heads out their butts alot of Husky guys would probably buy Stihl chain.
The larger full service Stihl dealers often stock rolls of Stihl chain to make to any length. Many of the dealers only offer the boxed chain though.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
29,499
Location
MN
On the bar/chain debate: Tri-Link really has revolutionized this as in some instances you can get a bar AND chain for a little more than the cost of a Stihl chain. Trilink chain certainly doesn’t equal the quality of Stihl chain but I’d definitely put it on par with Oregon for durability.

The other day when I got that Dolmar stuck in that blowdown tree and didn’t have any other saws with me, I picked up a 16” Trilink bar chain combo for $14.50. And it’s good, non safety chain too. The same length Poulan branded combo at Walmart was $28 with that junk bumper chain.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
29,499
Location
MN
I liked talking to him. Never seemed troublesome to me.
Oh he was a nice guy no doubt. But he sure got his hackles in a bunch when we called him out for a page and a half of late night posts! “I won’t go down without a fight!”

Watch it, I resemble that remark, I just save them up for a few days though :yes:.
Besides posting a couple pictures can be much longer than 5 or 6 post :laugh:.
Lol!
 
MustangMike
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
11,560
Location
Brewster, NY
I only buy Stihl Chain, as far as I'm concerned, it is just worth it. Generally, in order of Hardness … Shihl, Carlton, Oregon. Some like the Oregon because it is easy to sharpen, I'll go with the "lasting longer".

Use AMSOil Saber at 40:1, and Bar Oil from Tractor Supply ($6/Gal), they both work great so I'm sticking with em.

SVK, Ash is Fiskars zone, you wasted too much energy swinging all that weight.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
29,499
Location
MN
I hate to say it but my big shade tree has just about had it. This was a big twin leader red maple and the other half died when I was in junior high so this half made it a solid 25 years. The other problem is it’s leaning towards a clump of smaller trees I wanted to keep. I don’t know, maybe just let it keep dying? Unless it falls on someone walking from the cabin to the sauna there’s nothing it can harm.

1037934D-EE38-41C8-B4DD-81F0A5465335.jpeg
 
Lowhog

Lowhog

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Mar 27, 2016
Messages
846
Location
Minnesota
Lowhog

Lowhog

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Mar 27, 2016
Messages
846
Location
Minnesota
I hate to say it but my big shade tree has just about had it. This was a big twin leader red maple and the other half died when I was in junior high so this half made it a solid 25 years. The other problem is it’s leaning towards a clump of smaller trees I wanted to keep. I don’t know, maybe just let it keep dying? Unless it falls on someone walking from the cabin to the sauna there’s nothing it can harm.

View attachment 667454
I say leave it be.
 
rarefish383

rarefish383

Addicted to ArboristSite
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
Nov 2, 2009
Messages
9,646
Location
MD
The Stihl Guy here does a buy one get 2nd half price which takes a little of the sting out of it. Although I may take a while to use that second chain. I’ve cut probably a dozen decent sized trees with the first one and it’s hardly worn.
I just found a new Stihl dealer, the folks I bought my dump trailer from. I was getting a set of axle bearings and saw all of the saws. i asked if he had a 36" chain for my 660. He said $36 for the last two he had. I thought he meant each. He said no, buy one get one. So 2 36" chains for $36.
 

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