HELP! Stihl 18" .325 x 50

[lehman live edge slab]

50 gauge NK cuts faster...obviously.

But there's things about it I don't like.

I’m sure the smaller narrower tooth won’t take as much abuse and I could see it binding easier on wet/stringy wood that’s larger diameter where bars buried or won’t reach all the way through. Believe it or not I kinda like the new design bars, the light 04 bar is slightly lighter than the rollomatic e it replaced also.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

I’ve been a big fan of the Oregon VersaCut bars. They’re cheap and light. I’ve also been impressed with the pro style Forester bars.

View attachment 466893

I like em too. Got my first versacut bar in 2020, have since gone through a half dozen .325 20 inch versacut bars with oregon lgx .325 and at least a dozen 24" versacut bars using 3/8 EXL.

Good $50-$60 bars. Never blew out a tip. I did have one .325 versacut bar back in 2020, where I thought the rails were a bit soft.

Never cared for oregon .325 lgx chain. Regardless of raker depth, it never cut right.

Rarely run 40cc-50 cc saws and usually give them away as gifts to friends and family. But this year I'm gonna give .325 chain another shot. Picked up coupla 50 cc saws, narrow kerf. 325 bars bars for both saws and 3 loops of 23 rs pro. There's a fella in Missouri that has spools 23 rs pro and makes 20" chains at the $25 mark. So 23rs pro seems affordable nowadays.

 

[sawmikaze]

I’m sure the smaller narrower tooth won’t take as much abuse and I could see it binding easier on wet/stringy wood that’s larger diameter where bars buried or won’t reach all the way through. Believe it or not I kinda like the new design bars, the light 04 bar is slightly lighter than the rollomatic e it replaced also.

You got it.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

You got it.

Wouldn’t doubt you may have a mix of .063 and .050 narrow kerf for different stuff

 

[sawmikaze]

Wouldn’t doubt you may have a mix of .063 and .050 narrow kerf for different stuff

It's like comparing 3/8 and 404 on durability, same thing basically. I cut some old rock hard yard trees. RSP isn't too good on that task, the corners get knocked off easier..it's nice for limbing tops and softer woods..like anything else, it's an exchange.

The last 2 -261s I bought came with the NK bar and chain, I have a few set up with it and some with the old bars and chains. They each have an ideal purpose, I'd never use RSP for cutting dirty hard firewood, it'd be cool for a few cuts though..