Does anyone use plain new 5W30 motor oil as bar oil when cutting at temps below 15 degrees? I used R&O hydro oil last time when cutting in these temps and it worked fine, but I'm out of it. What do you use for bar oil at these temperatures?
Bar oil question
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osagebow
Minister of Fire
Straight canola. Learned that on here, cheap easy and non toxic. Cut a bit the other day at 20 F and it was fine.
I have a strict policy of never cutting wood at temps below 15 degrees
Bret Chase
Minister of Fire
me too... also no cutting in knee deep+ snow... I have done it in the past but it just wasn't worth it to me.
tomc585
Member
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
To go one step further, would used cooking oil work if strained? Or not enough slippery stuff left in the oil then? I dunno if I'm that cheap
to try used, but I'll try new canola oil.
Yes . Used cooking oil filtered works well filtered. In cold weather I'd advise not using it or mixing it with dino or it will gel up.To go one step further, would used cooking oil work if strained? Or not enough slippery stuff left in the oil then? I dunno if I'm that cheap
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
Well I'm only foolish enough to still run my saw down to about -25 C (-15 F?) but we have some nice weather on the way, maybe I'll try it then. Thanks.
This thread had me checking the price of canola oil at Walmart today. A gal of their Great Value Canola oil is about $1.70 less than the gal of 30 wt bar & chain oil I bot there recently. Here's a link http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=canola oil
jb6l6gc
Minister of Fire
Oldman47
Minister of Fire
What is your bar and chain worth to you? Packaged oil made for B&C use is pretty cheap.
Thanks to all for answering my question. Motor oil is $4 a quart so it's out and I can't find 10w bar oil locally, so I'm going to pick up a gallon of Canola oil. I think a 60/40 mix with my 30w bar oil will be a good starting point. This mostly is for my .024 Stihl which oils slowly in cold weather anyway, my 372xp has an adjustable oiler and will work with any viscosity oil.
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
Funny thing, I'm looking online and the 1 liter bottles are $3.79, but I'd swear the last few times I've bought it, it was at least a buck more. What were you paying for a 1 gallon jug?
TommyTally
Member
jb6l6gc
Minister of Fire
8-10$ if I remember correct. That's when they have a sale at my local not sure about other locations
Excavator
Feeling the Heat
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
Thought I'd come back here to give an update, in case anyone is using the search function wonder. I mixed used canola oil, strained/filtered, with a half n half ratio with winter grade bar oil (thin stuff). Temperatures while cutting have been 20-40F or about -5 to +5 C, very nice weather for around here I might add.
Bottom line, works fine. It's very slick and seems to meter just as well, if not a bit more than winter grade bar oil. Less tacky, but the bar didn't seem to be any hotter than previous cutting without it in the mix. A few blips on the throttle and it sprays like you would expect it to, off the end of the bar.
For light duty cutting or bucking, I can see no problem mixing some of this in with regular bar oil. I was felling, limbing, and bucking green poplar 5-9" size. I'm not saying I'd advise it's use with a chainsaw mill or forestry work, but for light duty, it's a go.
At the very least, I cut the cost of bar oil in half for myself, which is good. Cause I'm frugal.
Bottom line, works fine. It's very slick and seems to meter just as well, if not a bit more than winter grade bar oil. Less tacky, but the bar didn't seem to be any hotter than previous cutting without it in the mix. A few blips on the throttle and it sprays like you would expect it to, off the end of the bar.
For light duty cutting or bucking, I can see no problem mixing some of this in with regular bar oil. I was felling, limbing, and bucking green poplar 5-9" size. I'm not saying I'd advise it's use with a chainsaw mill or forestry work, but for light duty, it's a go.
At the very least, I cut the cost of bar oil in half for myself, which is good. Cause I'm frugal.
High of 24F today but the wind....I have never seen winter bar oil, all the places I have been to have just the one type. If it gets too cold then I will wimp out but sunny and 10F is OK.
Oh boy, here we go again! I think, based on the wide variety of crap people put in their saws and report as 'working great', if it is liquid at the temperature you're cutting at - and has some slight lubricating properties - you're gonna be fine. Vegetable oil, mineral oil, baby oil, whale oil, diesel, transmission fluid, bear fat - whatever...just keep some lube in there!
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