Bar Oil hack...

[ahjuma]

I've been living on land with dense forest and a riparian zone; it offended me to watch gallons of petroleum bar oil get sprayed into the wilderness, so nearly 30 years ago I began using vegetable oil. Fun fact: seed oils were originally produced as machine lubricants. I have collected peanut oil from friends who deepfry their turkey. Peanut and olive oil have glycerin, which makes oil somewhat more viscous and cloudy, in hopes that it would flow at a slower rate ...but it really didn't make a difference. I'm still filling the bar oil at every other fueling. My neighbor had a saw shop, used to laugh at me and say he will gladly sell me new bar tips. I've never needed one.
Maybe tomorrow I will post yet another controversial idea, lol!

 

[Cuttingranger]

I switched to canola oil roughly ten years ago after noticing some runoff by my creek. It’s inexpensive, biodegradable, and hasn’t added any wear to my tools. My old Stihl is still in great shape, and I’ve never had to replace a bar tip!

 

[Old Kiwi]

What about the tackiness additive ? It makes a huge difference

 

[Creaky Limb Tree Care]

I've been using supermarket veg oil for years, keep the saw clean around the gills and you are good to go!

 

[Old Kiwi]

Lack of tackiness will lead to increased wear on bars and chains and the film strength is also less than ideal , in short it will cost in the long run
A number of u tubes channels have examined this
the only situation where vegie oil is indicated is cutting up food products (beef carcasses)

 

[Alan]

Great insights everyone. Really enjoy seeing a mix of long-term experiences and practical tips. It’s obvious that choosing the right oil is all about balancing environmental concerns cost and the longevity of the tools.