Long bar - Skip tooth chain?

[Backtroller]

I want to get a long bar for my Makita 7910 to help out a buddy cut up a large silver maple and willow. I usually run a 24" bar but from his description I may need something longer. I have done the oiler mod and it really oils now. I have a line on a 32" GB in 3/8" .050 105 dl.

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am wondering what chain to get for this bar? It's not green wood, it's been down since fall. Never bought a chain this long. Should I get a Skip tooth. Is that in order? Or What chain?

The 7910 is muffler modded and will probably have the 272 coil installed by then. I don't plan on using this set up often, just trying to help a buddy out this spring.

 

[Canadian farm boy]

Personally I run skip tooth chain on bars over 28" and full comp chain on bars under 28".

 

[Backtroller]

Is there a model or designation for skip chain? Local dealers are fairly worthless around here. My closest Stihl dealer only has green label chain on his shelves. I try to give sponsors and guys here my business

 

[OldJack]

The full and half skip chains are listed here, further down the page.

http://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/saw-chains/

 

[huskihl]

You don't need skip for a 7910. My 7900 pulls 28" 3/8 with an 8 tooth just fine. 7 tooth with a 32" and you'll be dancing

 

[jrsdws]

Power may not be an issue. Oiling it might not be either. The efficiency of chip removal that skip or semi skip provides, however, shouldn't be overlooked IMO.

 

[huskihl]

Power may not be an issue. Oiling it might not be either. The efficiency of chip removal that skip or semi skip provides, however, shouldn't be overlooked IMO.

That is possible. I don't have a skip chain to test. Good point

 

[HighSierras]

I run full skip on everything longer than 25", even on the big saws. As jrsdws said, it's more about chip clearance than power. It also cuts down significantly on sharpening time. Full skip can be a bit rough in small diameter wood, but cuts great as long as you have 3+ cutters in the wood at a time.

Stihl's designation is a "F", so RSF would be full chisel full skip. Carlton/WoodlandPro is also excellent chain and very reasonably priced.

 

[Backtroller]

I really appreciate everyone's input. To date the biggest chain I've run is 24." I'd like to learn from the people who've done it. I'll pick up a full skip. Less sharpening time sounds appealing too.

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

What's boring like with full skip? The only times I've had to bore with my 32" bar on Dolly have been when I have full comp chain on it.

 

[DSS]

It doesn't bore as good as full comp, but it works. Full skip is rough and a little jumpy, but it's much better cleaning the cut out. And the easier sharpening is a bonus, yes.

I've seen guys put full skip on a short bar because they think 'it gives the saw more horsepower '. I never understood this train of thought, there's the same amount of wood to be removed from the cut, you're just doing it with 1/3 less cutters. Which one would assume would each have to do more work

 

[mdavlee]

I ran full comp up to 130 dl of 3/8" in hardwoods. No problem with plugging with chips. In softwood it could be different.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

I was playing around recently with some 372s. One has 105 full comp and one full skip. Full comp did fine until side by side you noticed the difference. Skip over 28" for me.

 

[Gunn]

There's trades offs either way. With skip chain you have less cutters. From a sharpening stand point this is good because there's less teeth to sharpen.

From a cutting stand point skip is a little slower, with less teeth pulling through the cut per each revolution of the chain less wood is removed compared to full comp.

Also because there's half as many cutters per loop, each tooth has to do twice the work to cut through the same diameter wood compared to full comp. This means they'll dull quicker as well.

This goes out the window when you cut large diameter soft wood where chip clearance is an issue.

 

[junkman]

Skip bores fine if you keep the rakers high .

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

Thanks fellas. Will give it a go.

 

[exSW]

I've had no problem boring with skip. I really don't see any disadvantage unless you are approaching the limits of the size of bar the saw will handle. As my 24" and up chains wear out they get replaced with skip.

 

[Backtroller]

Both silver maple and Willow are soft. I think I'll buy both and see how it works. Thanks for all of the opinions

 

[ajschainsaws]

Have you tried a 24" on your 6100 yet I was wondering if a skip chain would be a good idea

 

[junkman]

I would not run skip unless a 28 or longer bar for a general rule .