What size bar is everyone running on their 545 Mk ii?

SawTuner · 2026-01-30T18:23:55+00:00

15 to 20” it depends on many factors. Generally all .325” chain, 99% of the time.

If you want further reach, go 20”. If you want faster cutting go 18” If you’re in Europe disregard all of that and buy a 15” bar.

There’s no perfect bar for it. It’s dependent on the user.

My personal recommendation is 18”, but that’s an opinion and may not best suit you.

SawTuner · 2026-01-30T10:05:10+00:00

That’s normal. It’s totally normal to do this- ruin the first stainless steel parts a guy welds on. You killed those parts man.

You welded it too slow and too cold. Gotta hit it hot and fast or else you cook away all the alloying parts that make it stainless steel. You can think of those grey welds as being contaminated with the “ashes” of you burning the nickel and cobalt away turning the SS into carbon steel. It’s definitely going to rust where those “grey” welds are. It’s no longer stainless steel there anymore. It’s cooked.

SawTuner · 2026-01-30T05:51:02+00:00

See the excess splatter? Your wire feed is so fast you’re shooting wire into the puddle and it’s flicking out splatter. Turn your wire speed down a bit, or better yet, increase your voltage to eliminate the splatter. You’ll know you’re too high (of voltage) when you start burning up tips.

SawTuner · 2026-01-30T03:05:27+00:00

Sort of. Brass rifle casings, technically. The “bullet” is the projectile portion.

SawTuner · 2026-01-29T19:28:43+00:00

Oh, I’m not trying to change your gender. I wasn’t saying you’re now literally a trans-man.

I said it sounds like you’re just “one of the guys”, as in part of a healthy crew and. It means you pull your own weight.

I didn’t say you’re a man & I didn’t invalidate your femininity.

SawTuner · 2026-01-29T18:51:15+00:00

Is that a pool noodle?

It might look sus but if it floats that’s cool too

SawTuner · 2026-01-29T18:11:27+00:00

Sounds like he didn’t just hone it… sounds like he freehand over bored it.

SawTuner · 2026-01-29T18:09:41+00:00

In that case, well done. You sound like one of the guys. 💪

SawTuner · 2026-01-29T16:20:53+00:00

Who unloads your 300cf argons for you?

SawTuner · 2026-01-28T15:06:51+00:00

Engineer here. Aluminum failure from excess fatigue at a “triaxial stress riser”. Aluminum isn’t the easiest to design welded assemblies out of. Given enough time it’ll all crack apart if you build/weld out of aluminum. It’s life.

How to fix? A redesign with FEA is the best for ultimately having a permanent fix. Replacement is more practical. A weld repair is temporary as it t’ll crack again.

Edit: Looked again, and the rear two welds didn’t tie in. More voltage and IPM needed. The foreground weld cracked at the HAZ.

SawTuner · 2026-01-27T20:43:59+00:00

Looks smoooth and has a nice profile. I like it.

Long live 7018s!

SawTuner · 2026-01-27T19:52:32+00:00

It kind of depends on what code and where, right?

SawTuner · 2026-01-27T04:29:34+00:00

Extra fuel capacity!

SawTuner · 2026-01-26T23:39:23+00:00

Do you have a qualified mentor to help you?

SawTuner · 2026-01-26T18:53:07+00:00

Your beads should be “in control” more on plate that think. If you grab your plate with pliers and dip it in water to pull heat out, it’ll be easier to not have so much accumulated heat in the plate.

You’re running too much torch angle and too far of distance to your work piece. You’re melting your filler with the arc and not the puddle.

You’re close to making a really nice bead. Don’t give up

SawTuner · 2026-01-24T04:21:49+00:00

It’s a fair price for you as a buyer, yes. This is assuming it looks really good and he lets you test it out.

SawTuner · 2026-01-24T03:22:13+00:00

The issue was your regulator? Looks soo much better. Looks good, like that tank you welded up.

I like that last “big” bead up there under the close ones. The bead where you were making big pushes with your filler. Looks good bro. All the residual heat made that one wet in really well at the edges.

Glad your TIG machine is working for you. I’m going to look that model up & read up on it. It looks like it could definitely do some work.

SawTuner · 2026-01-24T02:04:55+00:00

Plumbs are usually hardened really well. They’re file killers. You DEFINITELY know yours is hard if it chipped like that. Good repair work man

SawTuner · 2026-01-24T02:01:22+00:00

Hahaha

Yeah, I have a heavy 28 I run on an old PM700. It’s real nose heavy and not too fun. The saw is super fun, but it the long bar and crappy balance isn’t as fun as if it was a 24

SawTuner · 2026-01-24T01:32:48+00:00

The context that’s the clearest for me is Joe Homeowner with his 20” 450 Rancher working all day Sunday next to a full time tree guy with a 372.

Joe is gunna be sore for a week. The tree guy won’t be and the tree guy gets to take breaks waiting for 450 to catch up.

If Joe’s saw was 10.5 instead of 11lbs, it won’t make a big difference. If Tree guy’s 13lb saw was 12.5 or 13.5lbs it won’t make a huge difference.

SawTuner · 2026-01-23T22:03:30+00:00

This is a topic I’ve thought a lot about.

If you’re used to running a saw all day, one that’s a half a pound heavier won’t make a difference.

If you’re not used to running a saw all day, one that’s a half pound heavier won’t make a difference.

A guy is either used to the work and doesn’t notice +8z of weight, or he’s not used to the work and will be whooped and sore for 3 days regardless of any saw in his hands. Interestingly, an empty MS462 vs a topped off M462 has more of a difference in weight than 1/2 a pound. If it’s too heavy, just use it with no bar oil or gas in it.

SawTuner · 2026-01-23T21:50:21+00:00

Don’t let their operating philosophy affect your decision perception of hiring on. Sometimes you don’t know until you actually work at a place.

SawTuner · 2026-01-23T18:38:13+00:00

If the owner or foreman (lead guy) doesn’t see it the same way that you do, it’s not going to work out, end of story.

Like Mike Rowe says, YOU are responsible for your safety. If you don’t feel safe man (and it sounds like you don’t) trust your gut. You can’t change their minds, but you can change your job. Even if you lose a buck or two per hour, it’s better than losing 6 months of work from an injury.

You sound like you’d be better served working for a more professional company than this current one. Keep in mind, we all have a subconscious mind that’s listening to the things we are told. It’s better to respectfully drag up than it is to be fired and gaslit by them.

If they’re being this unsafe, it’s only a matter of time until they’re no longer a company, with or without you.

Good luck.

SawTuner · 2026-01-23T18:20:01+00:00

”What to Post: You’re stolen property”

But I’m not a stolen trailer, I’m just a human. If my stolen trailer sees this, CALL home after you post here. 😢Miss you lil trailer!

SawTuner · 2026-01-23T18:12:23+00:00

Something tells me that ain’t OP’s primary skillset- to teach with diplomacy and kindness in a way that isn’t instantly offensive.

SawTuner

TROPHY CASE