Bar oil/friendliness

[Barc Buster]

Anyone have updates on any superior products in this market coming down the pike ?

I’ve been using and liking this stuff:

Mechanic In A Bottle Biodegradable Bar & Chain Lubricant -

PROBLEM: Bar & Chain Oil is a “Total Loss Lubricant”, meaning 100% of this nonbiodegradable oil ends up on the ground as a contaminant. Each year, over 18 MILLION Gallons of petroleum-based bar & chain oil pollute the Earth. As little as 1 gallon of petroleum-based Bar & Chain Oil can...

b3cfuel.com

Beyond the health concerns there are a lot of lakes, rivers, and wetlands in my neck of the woods. I order it from the Homer despot for 20 bucks a gallon. It has a milky/brown color but is super tacky.

 

[ATH]

At $20 per gallon, what's that doing better than straight canola oil?

 

[southsoundtree]

Fry oil is toxic as fuck. Many greasy spoon line cooks get lung problems. It’s all trade offs

That seems like a different occupational exposure.

News to me.

 

[evo]

That seems like a different occupational exposure.

News to me.

I think if it any time I hear the logic of oil mist, and how bio oil is better. It very well could be, but breathing any oil mist can’t be good.
Way back when I worked in a greasy spoon, we closed up to get a new floor in the kitchen. We had to haul out everything and give it a deep cleaning. I was dumbfounded by the thick layers of sticky amber that built up in the ducts and fans of the grill hood and literally had to chisel it out.

 

[Barc Buster]

At $20 per gallon, what's that doing better than straight canola oil?

Lubricating the bar and chain without all the drawbacks of canola. I never had good luck with canola. Chains were always dry and it creates a hard corrosive buildup on saws, bars, and chains. With the bio bar oil the chains are always wet and any residue wipes off clean with regular shop towels.

 

[southsoundtree]

Lubricating the bar and chain without all the drawbacks of canola. I never had good luck with canola. Chains were always dry and it creates a hard corrosive buildup on saws, bars, and chains. With the bio bar oil the chains are always wet and any residue wipes off clean with regular shop towels.

I'm guessing you are r mostly cutting hardwood. Correct?

 

[southsoundtree]

I think if it any time I hear the logic of oil mist, and how bio oil is better. It very well could be, but breathing any oil mist can’t be good.
Way back when I worked in a greasy spoon, we closed up to get a new floor in the kitchen. We had to haul out everything and give it a deep cleaning. I was dumbfounded by the thick layers of sticky amber that built up in the ducts and fans of the grill hood and literally had to chisel it out.

Breathing any oil is bad.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I’ve been using and liking this stuff:

Mechanic In A Bottle Biodegradable Bar & Chain Lubricant -

PROBLEM: Bar & Chain Oil is a “Total Loss Lubricant”, meaning 100% of this nonbiodegradable oil ends up on the ground as a contaminant. Each year, over 18 MILLION Gallons of petroleum-based bar & chain oil pollute the Earth. As little as 1 gallon of petroleum-based Bar & Chain Oil can...

b3cfuel.com

Beyond the health concerns there are a lot of lakes, rivers, and wetlands in my neck of the woods. I order it from the Homer despot for 20 bucks a gallon. It has a milky/brown color but is super tacky.

View attachment 91335

Thanks bro!

 

[Boomslang]

Been using canola for a couple of years now with no issues. Lubricates just fine for my liking; haven't noticed any premature bar wear. I find cleaning saws easier than traditional bar oil because canola isn't as tacky. I don't get as concerned if it dumps all over the ground or my pants (because we've all forgotten to screw the cap back on at some point in our lives). I do agree it starts to turn into a slurry in colder temps, but that's easily solved by keeping it indoors at night.

Not saying it's perfect, but it's a suitable and affordable alternative. I buy the big 16 litre Costco containers and just refill a smaller jug. $50 for 16L compared to $20-$30 for 4L of traditional bar oil.

 

[Barc Buster]

I'm guessing you are r mostly cutting hardwood. Correct?

It’s roughly a mix of both hard and softwood. With the soft wood being predominantly Picea pungens. What I noticed is the canola would form a hard residue which reminded me of the friers back in my pizza joint job days. Similar hard residue that needs to be scraped off.

It worked okay otherwise but chains were always bone dry and had dusty dry buildup. Reduced oiler flow on modern saws probably doesn’t help. The other thing I didn’t like about canola is that it seemed to produce more fine mist than bar oil. Which to me seemed like it was easier to be inhaled. Maybe it’s just a regional thing though idk.

I got turned onto this better than bar oil stuff at tcia last year. It’s literally the tackiest bar oil I’ve ever used. If I was just using stock saws with stock throw away bars and cheap chain I might still be using canola. But most of my saws are ported and I’m running predominantly light weight premium bars and primo husky/Stihl chain. I figure with the cost of bars and chain these days it’s worth it to me. Plus I can use this stuff in the winter. Usually by the end of October I’d have to switch out the canola for a bio bar oil anyway. My clients seem to appreciate that I care about the environment and I like the easy water based cleanup.

 

[southsoundtree]

Yes, customers appreciate bio-oil.

 

[27RMT0N]

Honestly, I live in what most people (including myself) would describe as a very "eco friendly," wealthy and educated population, and I've never once had a customer ask me about what kind of bar oil I use. For better or worse.

 

[Barc Buster]

Honestly, I live in what most people (including myself) would describe as a very "eco friendly," wealthy and educated population, and I've never once had a customer ask me about what kind of bar oil I use. For better or worse.

I’ve never had a client ask either (unless it’s specifically required for an environmentally sensitive job) but mention that you use bio bar oil during an estimate and watch their faces light up. Anything you can use to help differentiate yourself from your competitors is a plus in my book.

 

[southsoundtree]

Honestly, I live in what most people (including myself) would describe as a very "eco friendly," wealthy and educated population, and I've never once had a customer ask me about what kind of bar oil I use. For better or worse.

Nobody asks, but they see the label when we chat at the truck, sometimes.

Well, rarely, a customer doesn't want to put saw chips in their garden until hearing its canola.

If there is a little over-fill spill, it eases nerves with a few words.