Sawmill and Timber

Chainsaws and light support equipment => Chain Saws => Topic started by: mics_54 on July 19, 2009, 06:02:06 PM

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Title: Bar oil alt
Post by: mics_54 on July 19, 2009, 06:02:06 PM
Is there any decent bar oil alternatives to the expensive bar oils sold at the saw stores?
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: Kirk Allen on July 19, 2009, 06:32:24 PM
I know several loggers that use old motor oil.  They do have to fill it more often but they sware by it and I know the times I used it in a pinch it worked fine. 
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: Carl Middleton on July 19, 2009, 08:47:53 PM
I mix it half and half old motor oil and bar oil
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: mike p on July 20, 2009, 05:34:25 AM
might want to filter it first , or be pickey about where you get the used oil
i used double filtered used oil for fuel in my diesel pu mixed 1/2 with new fuel in summer , in winter it gets to thick for a fuel additive
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: Stevem on July 21, 2009, 11:33:05 PM
Grandpa use to use 30w bulk oil but from the bulk oil dealer and what he slavaged draining the last few drops out of a quart cans used for oil changes. I don't even know if bulk oil is still available.  Used to run it in my first car.   
Have heard of adding STP to get the "sticky" effect but how you'd mix it with cold oil I haven't a clue unless u added it to a motor just before you changed it and then drained it out.
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner" on July 31, 2009, 09:42:35 PM
I use to use the oil from the drip containers of new oil, at a Shell station.  My friend is no longer in business, for the last 30 years, so I buy bulk chain oil.  I last barrel. a ew months ago, from Napa, ran at just $250.  Such a deal.  A whole barrel will last a long time for me, as I do not cut as much firewood and logging as before.
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: LeFranck on August 12, 2011, 07:54:25 PM
At our sawmill in Congo we use 75% Palm oil and 25% Old engine oil. It works better than just using old engine oil.
We have to warm up the palm oil before mixing it with the old engine oil.

It is possible to use another kind of vegetable oil instead of palm oil.
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: Kirk Allen on August 12, 2011, 08:29:43 PM
Straight old engine oil doesnt last long!  I too have mixed it with old vegetable oil.

Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: bandmiller2 on February 02, 2016, 07:54:02 PM
This is an old post but all this stuff is timeless anyhow. If you can save or get drained automatic transmission fluid or tractor hi-tran fluid they are better than old engine oil as they don't have the bad products of combustion. A little motor honey or STP will tack them up. If you let it sit and settle it will clear up, in a hurry filter it. As an old oil man told me it all comes from the same well. Frank C.
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: Stevem on February 02, 2016, 09:26:52 PM
My local chainsaw carver uses vegetable oil in his electric chain saws.  Seems to work for him and doesn't stain the wood.
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: terracefarmer on February 13, 2019, 07:22:57 PM
When we service machines, we save old hydraulic oil and also used gear lube, mix some gear lube in with the hydraulic oil and it makes a great bar lube, usually keep about 100 gallons a year and also use it to oil chains on equipment.   I don't think I've bought bar oil in about a decade or so now.     Old engine oil is really messy and a pain to deal with, clear hydraulic oil seems to work so much better.
Title: Re: Bar oil alt
Post by: bandmiller2 on February 14, 2019, 05:56:26 AM
I use drained hyd. and ATF on my bandsaw bands applied with a wick, keeps them clean and rust free. Frank C.