881 recomended bar length

[JPaint]

Thinking of getting a 881.

what do they run like with a 30 inch bar? I'm thinking it would get more use with 30 inch bar.

I have a 500 so don't se the point in getting a 661. Plus I've used a 661 with a 36 inch bar before and didn't rate it. So in my opinion a 661 with 28 or 25 doesn't have much advantage if any over a 500 with a 25. 

What does the 881 run like with a 41 inch bar? for milling potentially..

[Bob_z_l]

You need to get to the milling thread from Rough Hewn.

 

I'll mill all day with a 46" Sugi on the 881.  I have a skip chain if needed but only for a real nice finish.

 

Also have a 25" for crosscuts, but it's rarely used unless I'm onsite milling and don't want to bring too many saws. 

 

Hope this helps. 

[Muddy42]

I have an 088 (also 120cc) with 25/36/54 inch bars.  My next biggest saw is an MS460 with a 20 inch bar (so a bit smaller than your 500i).

 

With the 088, I mill, crosscut and block up big logs with it.  Its great for all three of these tasks. I only mill with the 36 inch bar - which is ideal for one person milling of say <30 inch timber. I have owned the 54 inch bar for a few years but havn't really had the timber to use it yet.

 

For crosscutting and blocking up big lumps of hardwood, the 25 inch bar gets a lot of use.  I do prefer a 120 cc saw to a 70-90 ccs for this hard task. The extra weight of saw isn't really an issue when you are kneeling on the ground.

 

I occasionally use the 36inch bar for crosscutting massive logs.  I have to say, its pretty scary and unwieldy to use without the protection of the mill.  For example, if you put the saw down, the bar is front heavy and can dig into the ground.

 

All chains are normal (not skip) 30 degree ground semi chisel.  I don't find rip chain makes a difference in hardwood and my 30 degree sharpening muscle memory is hard to overcome.

[Mik the Miller]

I have a 25" on the 881 for X cutting and a 36" in the van if i need it.

Nominally with a 30 degree chain.

I also use the 36" and or a 48" for milling (mainly the 48" to be honect), both with 10 deg ground ripping chains.

I do have a skip chain for the 48" but it's only been used when i've blunted the std.

 

My goto saw is a 362 with an18" bar

I also have a 261 which I have a 14" bar and ripp[ing chain on which is used to cut big rounds into cheese wedges (so I can lift them).

[Muddy42]

So many different views!

Sorry if you know this, but be aware that 881s have a totally different bar mount from your 500i.

 

Personally I think 120cc is the only way to go if:

- Doing any milling at all.  Yes you get people saying you can get away with 70-90cc, but its so much easier and quicker with 120cc saw.

- using any bar above 40 inches

[Mark_Skyland]

If you are going to use the saw for milling then get the MS881. If its for cross cutting timber then from my experience and that of others most of the time the 120cc machines sit in the shed. They come out on the big timber jobs only, the 90cc machines see much more use.

[JPaint]

1 hour ago, Mark_Skyland said:

If you are going to use the saw for milling then get the MS881. If its for cross cutting timber then from my experience and that of others most of the time the 120cc machines sit in the shed. They come out on the big timber jobs only, the 90cc machines see much more use.

it will be used for both mate.

I was just wondered whether with a 30inch bar they're quite useful for logging up and occasionally in the tree.

as i say im not impressed with a 661, think the 500 cuts alot better for its weight. 

[Mark_Skyland]

It sounds like the 881 is the machine for you. We had an old 066 which TBH pulled a 36 inch bar good enough for us. Ive used an 084 up a tree a couple of times and it was too much for me tbh and that was only when subbing, I would have used the 066 on my jobs but im not a big guy (5foot 7) 

 

Ive never used a 661 but all the feedback I get is that they are really good, any chance that yours isnt performing that well? The 500i seems to be the saw of the moment, always positive feedback.

 

 

 

[monkeybusiness]

29 minutes ago, JPaint said:

it will be used for both mate.

I was just wondered whether with a 30inch bar they're quite useful for logging up and occasionally in the tree.

as i say im not impressed with a 661, think the 500 cuts alot better for its weight. 

I’d stick a 30 inch bar on the 500 before contemplating dragging an 881 up a tree, they are a massively cumbersome lump.

[AHPP]

30”, just use the 500 unless you’re doing loads and loads and loads of constant big stuff (oversize firewood or milling). 881 with 30” probably won’t be any quicker and will certainly make your life much, much worse. Don’t underestimate how shit they are to live with. I’d have one (with a 48”) for primarily milling but that’s partially because I already have 25” 500 and 36” 661 (mainly arb climbing, bit of milling). I know what you mean about the 661 seeming comparatively underwhelming but it’s good enough. Actual cutting is a fairly minor part of arb. 

Edited Thursday at 21:25 by AHPP