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General Forestry => Chainsaws => Topic started by: kickert on August 14, 2020, 05:17:53 PM

Title: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: kickert on August 14, 2020, 05:17:53 PM
Long time lurker, first time poster.

About a year ago I upgraded from a 20" Stihl ES bar to a 20" Stihl ES light bar for my MS 362 CM.  Holding the two side by side makes the weight savings obvious.  I was telling a friend of mine he should upgrade and he asked me what the weight savings was.  That made me realize I didn't have the exact answer to that.

Does anyone have a table of Stihl bar weights?  I have searched the forum and the internet at large and can't find the information.  I have heard the E bars are lighter than the ES bars, but would love to see the numbers.  Looking to put a shorter bar on a 261 I use for trail work and trying to figure out which would be best in a case where weight definitely matters.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: lxskllr on August 14, 2020, 05:37:04 PM
Welcome!

I did the same thing about a year, and found the same as you, not much. I did run across forum posts where members had made a bunch of bar measurements, but I have no idea where I'd find it now. Stihl claims a 30% weight savings with the ES Light compared to the ES. Subjectively, I've had a 20" E, and ES Light close in time, but not together, and they seemed about the same to to me. If money isn't a big concern, I'd go with the ES Light for the replaceable tip, and maybe more durable rails. If it weighs more, it isn't enough to offset those benefits to me.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: kickert on August 14, 2020, 05:57:22 PM
Quote from: lxskllr on August 14, 2020, 05:37:04 PM
Welcome!

I did the same thing about a year, and found the same as you, not much. I did run across forum posts where members had made a bunch of bar measurements, but I have no idea where I'd find it now. Stihl claims a 30% weight savings with the ES Light compared to the ES. Subjectively, I've had a 20" E, and ES Light close in time, but not together, and they seemed about the same to to me. If money isn't a big concern, I'd go with the ES Light for the replaceable tip, and maybe more durable rails. If it weighs more, it isn't enough to offset those benefits to me.
I would have to imagine the weight savings are dependent on bar length.  Since most of the savings comes in middle of the bar, longer bars should have bigger weight savings.
Honestly, I am looking for a way to justify a bigger bar.  If a 25" light bar is similiar to a 20" ES bar, why wouldn't I go with more length?
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: lxskllr on August 14, 2020, 06:25:50 PM
A 362 isn't ideally suited to a 25" bar. It does ok with it, but 20" is a better match. I bought my 362 with a 25" bar. It was what I needed at the time, but it was very nose heavy, which made it feel heavier than it was. I've since bought a bigger saw, so that wears the 25" sometimes, and I bought a 20" ES Light for the 362. Unfortunately, I never tried a 25" Light on it to compare. Perhaps you can go to the dealer to try one in person? I know for sure I don't recommend the regular ES as a daily driver unless you really need the length. Makes it uncomfortable to handle.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: btulloh on August 14, 2020, 06:38:08 PM
The ES light bar on the 362 corrects the balance problem quite well. Power wise the 20" bar is the best match, but I Do like the longer bar for some things. All depends on use and expectations. 
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: kickert on August 14, 2020, 08:17:24 PM
If I had it to do all over again, I would have gotten the 462 with a 25" bar and a 261 with a 20" bar.  But, given that I was looking for a single all around saw, the 362 fits the bill pretty well.

I have some large pines I want to drop and am considering getting a 25" ES bar with skip tooth chain.  I know it is on the high side of what the 362 can pull, but figure for my needs, it gives me some good options.  The 362 is a bit heavy when I am carrying it for miles on the trail, but also a bit weak for when I want to cut something bigger.  I guess that means I hit the perfect compromise.

All that being said, I am a data guy.  I have lots of charts looking at HP per pound and cost per pound (and many other metrics).  I would love to do a whole set up comparison between a 362 with a light bar and a 261 with an ES bar.

Anything you all have would be helpful.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: lxskllr on August 14, 2020, 08:29:48 PM
For pines I'd go with a 25" Light, full comp chain. I had mine completely buried in oak, and it was fine. Light bar's for better balance.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: btulloh on August 14, 2020, 08:36:41 PM
Quote from: kickert on August 14, 2020, 08:17:24 PMI would have gotten the 462 with a 25" bar and a 261 with a 20" bar.


That's a great combo if you want to fork over the cash.  Fortunately for me, I can by with the 362 these days and don't really need (or want) anything bigger.  Everything feels heavier to me than a few years ago.  :D  I'm pretty amazed at the power/weight ratio for the 362.  It's a real comfortable saw, although if I had to carry it a long ways, I'd want to knock 10 or 15 lbs off it.  I swear gravity has increased in the last ten years.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: WDH on August 14, 2020, 08:40:33 PM
I put the 25" bar on the MS362 with a skip chain and it cuts very well. 
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: kickert on August 14, 2020, 08:50:30 PM
In all honesty, a 362 with a 20" light bar is the perfect all around saw for me.  Gets through what I need to and is manageable when you have to hike with it.  When hiking I want something lighter, but when sawing bigger wood, I want something bigger.  For a single saw, it fits the bill quite well.  The 462 has a better power to weight ratio, but that matters a lot less when you are carrying it instead of running it.

No reason not to get a light bar if weight is a consideration.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: kickert on August 14, 2020, 08:57:22 PM
Here are some of the figures I have been looking at... would love to take into consideration bar weights, but there doesn't seem to be a good source to reference.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/56634/Untitled.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1597453306)
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: Grandpa on August 15, 2020, 11:34:53 AM
A brand new, never been used, 20" Stihl ES Light bar weighs 2 pounds 1 ounce on Grandma's kitchen scale. (She's not home right now.) ;D  Hope that helps.

In my opinion, the actual numbers don't mean much. Because the weight is not between your hands a few ounces makes a big difference in how the saw handles. I would never go back to a regular bar. It does depend on what you are doing though. If I was cutting firewood off of a pile I would probably change my thinking because they are expensive.
Title: Re: Stihl Bar Weights
Post by: teakwood on August 17, 2020, 09:04:57 AM
I think its 300gr between the 20" ES and the ES light. holmen and i did the comparison once in a topic.