I'm not looking to fell any mighty redwoods, but I have a few fair sized dead trees that are looking a lot like widow-makers that need to come down. My 14" bar does fine on the smaller stuff, but I'm looking to go up the scale a bit.

I'm thinking a 20" might be the answer, but what does the team think?

A Stihl MS250 with an 18” bar would be a good machine that’s not too heavy with plenty of power.

A 20 inch bar is the best length I have tried. With the dogs you probably can cut an 18 inch tree without coming at it from both sides which is plenty big for me. Second best length is a 24 inch bar not for the larger wood you can cut but because you don't have to lean over as much when you're bucking logs into firewood lengths

16 or 18" is my suggestion.

I’ve had both a 16” and 18” bar on the same saw and the 18” was big enough for a ~60 y.o. White oak and the 16” was just barely too short to get through the bottom.

I personally use a 20" bar, and have for 30 years. For me it is the perfect size; I cut a lot of firewood (burn about 4-6 face cords every season) and most of the logs I work on are in a range of 12"-24".

It’s a balance between the length of the blade and weight of the saw needed to turn the longer chain. For a general use homeowner saw 14”-16” is probably the sweet spot.

It depends on your saw. If it currently has a 14" bar it will probably only accommodate a 16" is my guess.

I run both 18" and 20" on both of my MS261s.
For general cutting, I prefer the 18".

What powerhead, what chain size. If you have 14" as a stock one, you probably won't be too happy with more than 16" for actual work. But you can put anything on there, it just won't work very well. I cut a lot of trees as a source of income and 18" is pretty much the optimum with a decent powerhead. I run that on some smaller lighter saws but its just to have chain/bar compatibility, a smaller powerhead won't run the extra length without managing around the lack of power. But it is nice to have a lighter setup when you have to hike distances with gear. I have a 36" saw for when its needed but its a beast and nobody would carry that around day to day.

I’ve got 7 acres and I bbq a lot. My 20” echo has been perfect.

just how fit do you intend to become yourself in the pursuit of using such a tool?

50 years ago I preferred 30-36 for old growth fir.

Nowdays, 16-18 is plenty.

Thank you all. I think an 18 or 20" is in my future. I'm pretty sure my little 14" saw won't handle that much bar, so it's an excellent excuse for [Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor] More Power! [/Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor]

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:
... I have a few fair sized dead trees that are looking a lot like widow-makers that need to come down.

Define "fair sized" in terms of trunk diameter.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:
... I have a few fair sized dead trees that are looking a lot like widow-makers that need to come down.

Define "fair sized" in terms of trunk diameter.

I haven't measured them, but they're too big for my current saw.

A lot of holes in the discussion so far. Who says you can only run one bar length? Bigger saws work great with a shorter bar for utility use. When you've been cutting for a number of years, its not unusual to have 3 or 4 different bars. Personally, I prefer to have a big saw with a short blade than trying to stick a long blade on a weak saw.

What sometimes happens is you dull down a short bar/chain and then need to put on a longer one to finish a project/job. Some small engines are beasts, like the Stihl 020. Much stronger than their size would indicate. I just gave that to my oldest son. He's discovered how good it is. I didn't have the heart to offload my 660 Magnum. Too much saw for a new user.

Some day I'm going to get rid of my bar and chain collection. They run from 16" up to 36". That last isn't used much, hardly ever. But there is no substitute when you need it. Think about the chains, too. Any idiot can touch up a chain. But to really sharpen one takes a table top sharpening jig.

quote:

Originally posted by Jupiter:
I run both 18" and 20" on both of my MS261s.
For general cutting, I prefer the 18".

TWO!! MS261s? You, sir, are in tall cotton! I wish I could justify one, but my 029 just won't die.

I have a little stihl for when I’m climbing and cutting, but my all around stihl has a 20 inch bar
I also have a 28 inch bar I can throw on there if needed and the saw came with the 28
So I agree on having more than one bar and a big engine.
And if I’m way out in the woods I want a backup saw, but that’s another topic

For me, it's 20" but my truck/wheeler saw is a 16". I live in Alaska and our trees are small in diameter where I live.

I appreciate everyone's input, but several of you are answering questions I haven't asked.

Yes, it would be nice to have multiple bars and chains, and different saws for climbing, going deep into the outback and so on. However, I am no lumberjack, I am a homeowner doing occasional cleanup work in my grove, not cutting great swathes of forest down. Nor do I have limitless money with which to purchase a wide range of equipment. I intend to buy the one saw, the One saw to rule them all, One saw to find them,
One saw to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

I am looking for an idea as to the best, or most useful, saw and bar length for that activity, and nothing more. Thanks again.