Bar and Chain Oil

Same here. I'll buy whatever is the best deal usually that's menard, but fleet farm has good deals too. There's really not a lot to bar oil. It's not like it's 2 stroke engine oil.

 

I use the Menards oil also. In the last few years I have went through at least 20 gallons and no failures yet.I have a Forester bar on an 026 that has at least 50 cord on it and I have not dressed the rails yet.

 

Just a heads up I think bar and chain oil is on sale through November 11th at Blaines farm and fleet for 4 bucks a gallon. I also use the FVP from Menards gooder stuff.

 

Tractor Supply oil here too. Usually about $6/gallon when on sale. I'm really not picky as long as it is dedicated bar oil. I won a bunch of the Itasca at a gtg and it worked perfectly fine. Used Husky but it's too expensive.

 

I normally watch for the switch from summer to winter oil at TSC and get the summer stuff for about 5 bucks a gallon. Never gets all that cold in my part of michigan when a winter blend is needed I feel.
Last stuff I got was Super tec for 4.00 a gallon at Wally World about 2 weeks ago.

Al

 

I won't cheap out on bar oil, but won't spend stupid money either. I really like the old green jug Poulon, Essence or Service Pro.

 

Menard's has BC oil for $4.99 until the 10th.

 

I don't consider not wasting money as "cheaping out". To each their own.
I don't cut a bazillion cord every year, so for me, less expensive works just fine.

 

I'm the opposite of Firewood Bandit, I cheap out out on bar oil! I blend with filtered/strained cooking oil and it works fine. It costs around $4/liter or $15 for a 4 liter jug of bar oil, so it's actually the biggest expense for cutting. Every time I burn up $5 gas, I'd burn up $15 in bar oil, so even mixed half and half the savings shine through.

 

If I can get "premium" bar oil for $6-7/ gallon, it is not exactly like I am paying "Stihl" prices.

On the Service Pro, I split an order of 8 cases, (6 gallon case) with a friend at $7 gallon. It is probably the best bar oil I have ever seen. Stringy like snot.

 

I stocked up with about 10 gallons of TSC oil the last time it was about $5/ gal. Have about 4-5 gallons at the house and 4-5 at camp so i am good wherever there is a saw.

I'm surprised no one has brought up used motor oil. We haven't seen that argument for a while.

 

That is pretty much why it isn't brought up, who wants to argue with the antis.

Al

 

Yup, this...and sometimes it is on sale with a 11% rebate too...$4.49!
This is what they have right now...sometimes its the Cam 2 stuff...that seems fine too.

 

Itasca $8.49 gallon @ Matthews Hardware.

 

If I may be so bold, it looks like the sum of our cumulative experience is: "Any dedicated bar and chain oil will do, look out for local sales and then stock up." Just don't use "alternative " oils such as used motor oil, vegetable/salad oils etc.

 

My SisIL asked a couple days ago if it was ok to use regular motor oil, and I told her about the tackiness of B&C oil.

 

Have you had a bad experience using canola oil which makes you draw this conclusion? Any proof to persuade me it doesn't work well, when it does?

 

I've used Canola oil too. Worked fine.

 

Heck, spit would probably work if ya had enough of it...
I think the main thing is to keep friction and heat down...and about any oil should accomplish this.
That said...I'll keep spending my annual average of ~$5 for bar oil to cut my firewood for the year...

 

I roached a bar using a non specific oil. It will fling right off the tip and not properly lubricate the other side of the bar if it has no tackifier.
I can send the bar as proof... 37” Windsor Speed Tip. I was milling and couldn’t see or “feel” it get too hot till it was too late (early on in my experiences with the csm). Figured the oiler on the 394 would put out plenty, which I’m sure it did as they oil like a hoss. Just that without that additive, centrifugal force did its job.