Stupid bar length question.

[Adamam]

Unless you're burying the bar, bar length doesn't make any/much difference, correct?

 

Eg: 50cc saw cutting 12" wood with 14" bar isn't any faster than 12" wood with 18" bar.

 

This is about right, right?

 

[Shane]

Apart from a tiny difference as you get a bit more friction on a longer bar but the vast majority of the effort is in the cutting - therefore you are basically correct.

 

We shall now await some refinements to these theories from the brainy bunch

[Big J]

I don't think that that is true.

 

I've extensively used various 50cc saws for hardwood thinnings. The difference between bar lengths is very significant. A 13 inch bar will cut 12 inch diameter wood much quicker than an 18 inch bar, in addition to which it will be lighter for snedding and accelerate far quicker.

 

Stick with the shortest bar that doesn't excessively limit you. A long bar usually ruins the balance of a saw too, as well as sucking power and increasing weight.

[Garyjp]

Difference in performance is significant but there are financial and servicing improvements too...a 13" bar and chain is cheaper and quicker to maintain than an 18". A good bit lighter too if ur thinking about dragging it around all day in a forest and built like a fly like me rather than a brick shite house lol

[doobin]

What the last two said. Smaller bars can run at a thinner kerf too. 13" .325 on a MS361 or equivalent is a lot quicker than an 18" 3/8.

 

A large part of this is because .325 runs on a 9 tooth sproket as opposed to 3/8 which is by default 7 tooth. On a smaller 3/8 bar you could always pop an 8 tooth sprocket on for extra zip.

 

For fairly soft sub 12" timbers, I always find a 3/8P 12" 1.1mm guage bar and chain on an MS250 a good lightweight combo that packs a serious punch.

 

The only downside I find is the extra bending down when snedding. This is lessened by the lighteer weight of the MS250 but was certainly an issue with a 13" on the MS360.

 

Hope this helps.

[treedweller]

I thought greater bar length = more drive links = more weight/drag.

I find chain pitch makes most difference to cutting speed.

3/8 rules:rock:

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I don't think that that is true.

 

I've extensively used various 50cc saws for hardwood thinnings. The difference between bar lengths is very significant. A 13 inch bar will cut 12 inch diameter wood much quicker than an 18 inch bar, in addition to which it will be lighter for snedding and accelerate far quicker.

 

Stick with the shortest bar that doesn't excessively limit you. A long bar usually ruins the balance of a saw too, as well as sucking power and increasing weight.

 

Difference in performance is significant but there are financial and servicing improvements too...a 13" bar and chain is cheaper and quicker to maintain than an 18". A good bit lighter too if ur thinking about dragging it around all day in a forest and built like a fly like me rather than a brick shite house lol

 

spon on; affects dynamics big time... the only bugger with short bars is more bending and being tall it hurts!

Edited February 12, 2013 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[Garyjp]

I should have added long streak of piss to earlier post built like a fly!

 

 

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