How big is too big?

[cgarman]

I have a Stihl 076AV that I run on my GB 56" mill. I've been thinking about getting a single ended bar for it so I can use it to cut up some large logs around my property.

What size bar do you guys recommend? I have a Poulan running a 22", so I might as well go big or go home with the Stihl. I was thinking of a 36", but a 42" isn't much more $.

Two points to consider in my decision:

1.) It's an old saw, with a broken chain brake. I realize that makes it kind of crazy to use in the first place, but I have Kevlar crotch huggers, and I'm trying to track down the right parts.

2.) I weigh 132 pounds soaking wet, and point and click for a living. While I live for my weekend chainsaw and woodshop fixes, I need to be realistic. I'm pretty scrawny.


On the other hand, I could just put a 12" loop of .250 on it and have the heaviest, fastest limbing saw out there...

 

[cat-face timber]

If it was me, I would buy the largest bar that I "felt" comfortable with.

The lack of chain break, does matter....
If you are worried, sell your big saw and get another big saw with a chain break.

With such a powerful saw running a long bar, you will need to eat your wheaties and have confidence in your skills.

Hopefully you will never need a chain break.

 

[blsnelling]

Put a 72" on it

 

[JDNicol]

Put a 72" on it

Why not the 84"?


Edit; how much did the bar cost?

 

[blsnelling]

Why not the 84"?

Go for it

 

[zogger]

Sliced and diced

Go for it

--just wonderin' what you might have cut with that thing....

--of course, that just might be your climbing saw.....

 

[cat-face timber]

--just wonderin' what you might have cut with that thing....

--of course, that just might be your climbing saw.....

Naaa Brad climbs with his 3120XP with the 96" bar...

 

[JDNicol]

Naaa Brad climbs with his 3120XP with the 96" bar...

Who makes 96" bars?

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Thought I'd bring this back up with the LONG bar topic!

I had a bit of fun.....

And a little more fun......

 

[Bounty Hunter]

cgarman,
Geez...yer thread got highjacked on the first page...

But seriously, git that chain brake fixed before you run that saw with ANY bar...big saws are capable of some seroius "linear kickback" and deserve some respect.
That said, I would opt for the 36" bar...if you aren't going for 60" and larger wood a 42" bar is overkill and adds weight way out front where it's hardest to balance.

It would be a good idea to start a little weight training at home or at the gym, if you aren't already. Working big saws takes some strong back muscles...if ya go out unprepared yer gonna be a hurtin' unit the next day...:msp_crying:

 

[john taliaferro]

Yes fix the brake soon ,swinging a moving long bar is wrong , they did make helper handles for the tip , they are cool if your not the person on that end .

 

[sawbones]

I have a Stihl 076AV that I run on my GB 56" mill. I've been thinking about getting a single ended bar for it so I can use it to cut up some large logs around my property.

What size bar do you guys recommend? 2.) I weigh 132 pounds soaking wet, and point and click for a living. While I live for my weekend chainsaw and woodshop fixes, I need to be realistic. I'm pretty scrawny.


...

just buy the bar that fits the log you cut.

if you cant lift the bar put a granberg helper handle on the other end and find a partner.

or else use a short bar and cut from both sides.

I just keep an assortment of bar lenghts and use the appropriate one for the job.

heres a 76 with a 60" sword

YouTube - ‪Stihl 076 test cut. 60" bar‬‏



by the way, finding the chainbrake parts for an 076 can be tough.

 

[zogger]

Cut mo' wood!

I'm 5'5" and 130, and spittin' distance to my socialist insecurity check, so you got me beat by two lbs you behemoth you!

Cut mo' wood! Get years in advance for yourself, split all of it by hand, cut neighbors and relatives wood, then sell some. You'll build at least some wiry muscles, and it won't take long as long as it is a regular "workout". Doin' firewood is an excellent whole body workout that pays in practical benefits. Plus, big fun!

All I know is, as soon as I can get myself into something like an 880 or a 3120, I'm a gonna run that suckah a *lot*. Heavy or not, me careth not. There's a lot of trees here...I'll find something to do with big cut wood....Ya, I used to lift weights, do some power lifting and so on..this is more fun. Now I wouldn't use a saw like that for everything of course, but I'd find an excuse to use it..heh heh heh

I do all sorts of other manual physical work for a living on this farm, but, to me, my wood cuttin' and splittin' and so on is my fun "sport" I do. I look forward every day, at the end of my work, before I take the dogs for the last walk of the day and go check on the beefers, I whomp out some more rounds into firewood. Set myself a goal after this harsher than normal winter, two years in advance..passed that this weekend, working on three years in advance now....

Feel the burn..... In more ways than one...

 

[stihlman95]

what length is that still bar closest to the left. id be interested in buying it if you wanna sell it, just let me know.:msp_rolleyes:

 

[Stihlman441]

I have found with 50'' and over bar sag becomes a problem when doing hinge or back cuts.Its easyer to use a 36'' first and use that cut as a guide for a 50'' or bigger.

 

[atvhead]

I have a 30" on my 051 and have thought about getting a 36" which i think would fit it just perfectly. Not sure about Hp between the 051 and 076, but i think they are very close in weight. I have the original 21"? that came with the saw, so i would have good versatility if I went to a 36". But 30" was all I could snag at the time.

My 051 has no brake from factory. It keeps you alert!

 

[RandyMac]

I have a 30" on my 051 and have thought about getting a 36" which i think would fit it just perfectly. Not sure about Hp between the 051 and 076, but i think they are very close in weight. I have the original 21"? that came with the saw, so i would have good versatility if I went to a 36". But 30" was all I could snag at the time.

My 051 has no brake from factory. It keeps you alert!

The 30" is what I ran mostly on my 050, a 36" might be stretching it some, in tougher wood. The 075 I owned was a disapointment powerwise.
Never depend on a chainbrake, you have it right, be alert.

 

[flushcut]

Who makes 96" bars?

Cannon

 

[atvhead]

i guess i would agree, for tough wood a 36" would probably be much for an 051. i just looked at the 076 and i guess i forgot that it is quite a bit larger in CC's than the 051 - so a 36" would probably be great on an 076.

i did a lot of maple cutting last year with the 30" with a semi-skip chisel chain and it did ripped through it nicely.

 

[JDNicol]

Who makes 96" bars?

Cannon

I thought the longest non double ended, non custom bar they made was 84" (Cannon Superbar). I know you can get a 96" double ended bar (Cannon Double Ender) but i wasn't aware of a single ended one.