My brand new Stihl MS362 came with safety chain and an 18” bar. What bar and chain full chisel, ripping, etc. would you guys recommend to supplement the original setup? I’d like to have a longer (maybe 20”) to be able swap out if gets pinched up or milling But not sure whether to go original, Forester, Oregon, Sugihara, Tsumura, etc. I have a chainsaw mill in a box to play with, cut about 7 cords in firewood (ardwood) a year. I also have two MS250s with 16 and 18” bars with yellow and green chains. I know the 362 may be on the bottom end of the scale for chainsaw milling but I want to try it to see if I like doing it before deciding to get a bigger saw used or new or a bandsaw mill down the road. I’ll be careful on what I’m asking of it. Envisioning a tractor/equipment shed made of rough cut milled wood maybe down the road. Pine logs are given away pretty freely around here. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I don’t use a separate, specific milling chain and I’ve milled a good bit. Just change the angles of the top plate to 10-15 degrees and let er rip (lol). I like full chisel (RS or equivalent for Stihl guys). For big wood, I use full skip, but that’s a 42” bar. And bar brand is personal preference. I really like the 2 Sugihara I have. They go much much longer before needing dressed. Which in my experience, makes them worth the cost as they will out last the Oregon bars I was used to running. Tsumura I think are right there beside Sugi in quality.
I suggest Stihl RSL (square ground) on the stock bar. Ripping, I would follow what the other feller recommended!!!
I have run a 24" (Stihl calls it a 25") standard weight bar, a lot on the 362, and also a Tsumura 24" lightweight bar. I like the 24" bar on the 362 for balance and reach. I have used full comp, full chisel, quite a bit. I have also used Skip tooth full chisel, and square filed full comp in it. It all works, as long as the chain is sharp, however, I always felt like the stock saw did not oil the 24" bars enough. But that's been recently corrected with the swap out to a 460 oil pump. The 20" bar might be the better bar for a stock 362, but I just can't hardly stand to give up the reach of the longer bars. However if I already had an 18", I don't see much gain in going to a 20" bar, I would just jump to the 24" lightweight bar for a second bar. But that's just me.
My 2 cents, I'm pretty happy with my MS362C MS362 mods I like the light bars, but they are a little pricey...
I would second woodwolverine on the Stihl RS series chain. Been running them on anything I can and very happy with them. I am sure that there are other choices out there but for some reason I just like those chains ; cut great and seem to wear a little better than other brands I have run.
I like the Stihl RS (full chisel) on my saws. Ive used Oregon and Carlton (have a couple yet). Never have done any ripping or milling. Have you used the new saw yet Lennyzx11? How do you like it?
I run Stihl full chisel on the larger saw. Almost all have been converted over to square file. I have always kept semi-chisel on the MS250 because of the crappy conditions it sees in fence rows and vine cutting. Stihl chain seems to hold up a little better when accidentally hitting something other than wood and hold it's edge a little longer than the others that I have tried. I haven't measured this scientifically, but it sure seems pretty true for me. Whether it's worth the extra coin or not is a personal choice. I also prefer the semi-chisel when making all the bore cuts while making swedish candles. It seems less aggressive and grabby and stihl gets the job done.
I have a loop of Carlton semi-chisel, skip tooth chain, which I have been running all winter on my 462 with a 28" bar. I just bought one loop to try out, and actually, I am, pretty high on it, and will probably get some more. It's seen a lot of rough cutting, fence row cleaning, low stump cutting, I have hit barbed wire, rocks, and even steel post with it. It's about wore out now, and I have it sharpened down to pretty small on the tooth now. It's done very well, but I don't know if I have another sharpening left or not, after I dull it this time. Skip tooth semi-chisel is probably fairly uncommon as saw chains go, but might deserve more consideration for some conditions.
I haven’t tried it yet. I was in the middle of getting the garden in when it arrived and had to work on that. I did order a 20” forester bar and Oregon full chisel combo so I would have something at least as a backup while I’m sorting through all the supplies. I too have had good luck with Stihl RS chain. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
