Testimonials: Chain Saws

I am an avid user of STIHL products. I live Wisconsin and cut approximately 30 cords of wood each year (heat for two homes and a shop). Last fall (2012) I was looking for a saw that would compliment my MS460 (which I had used exclusively for the last 5 years). The 460 performed well and I did not want to compromise on performance with a smaller saw. After a great deal of research, I purchased the MS261 with a 16" bar. The saw has performed beyond my expectations. I was looking for a trim saw and discovered a well designed saw which has become my main saw. My MS460 (18" and 25" bars) is only used for felling and the big stuff. I believe that the 261 would easily handle a larger bar, but I am satisfied with the current set up. I have not used the 18" bar for my 460 since purchasing the 261. My hat is off to STIHL for a great line of products.

P.S. the guy I cut wood with wants to run over the 261 because he can't keep up. He clears brush and loads the wood with a skid loader and grapple.

Ron S.
Orfordville, WI

I just wanted to let you know that we have some great pictures of our brand new Stihl MS660 in action.

Parker C., Marketing Director, JB's Landscaping LLC
NJ

Editor’s note: STIHL recommends the proper use of personal protective apparel and product usage as recommended in the product instruction manual.

Editor's note: Only trained professionals should attempt this kind of work. The condition of the tree indicates this as a high risk venture for untrained individuals..

On the evening of May 15, 2013 at approx 8PM, Station 2 of the Granbury Fire Department received a tone for a structure collapse in the Rancho Brazos neighborhood of Granbury, Texas. Engine 6 with myself and 3 other firefighters onboard responded in route not knowing exactly what we were walking into. We had little knowledge that an F4 tornado had just wiped the entire neighborhood of the face of the earth. Approximately 300 yards from the entrance of the neighborhood, Engine 6 encountered a huge oak tree completely blocking the entire roadway. Ditches full of water on either side. We were stopped in our tracks unable to move forward. We could see the devastation, but we couldn't get there. Several emergency vehicle apparatus were backed up behind us. We immediately grabbed our STIHL chainsaw. We had that tree cut and removed from the roadway in a matter of 2-3 minutes. That allowed us and multiple emergency vehicles to access the destroyed neighborhood. That night was a blur to me. We rescued many, many people from collapsed structures and we also recovered 6 dead. Days later I was recollecting on the events of the last several days and I thought about that saw. How that single saw opened the roadway and allowed numerous emergency vehicles into the destroyed neighborhood to save numerous lives. I'd like to thank you for making such a reliable saw and because of those events we are now seeking funds from donors to put STIHL saws on all our apparatus.

Tim H., Firefighter/Fire Chaplain Granbury Fire Dept.
Granbury, TX

I recently bought a STIHL 180 c saw. I cant believe it, I have had several saws and this is the best! It was also recommended by a couple of friends. Keep up the good work!

Dave D.
Brighton, IL

Just wanted to let you know I'm still getting hard work out of the 041 Farm Boss I bought 35 years ago in 1978. What a machine!

Mark H.
Dighton, MA

Good morning.
Just wanted to send you a pic from KC. Spring cleaning a heavily wooded lot. Got tired of fighting the old saw that we had. My girlfriend suggested I go buy the best one made. So I did. Works great. What a fabulous line of products you all have!
Sincerely,

Dan S.
Kansas City

Editor's note: Always wear the proper protective apparel as shown in your instructional manual.

I bought my first STIHL chain saw from a local dealer twenty years ago and used it on the property of our new home we had built. I used it for ten hard years and then gave it to our son (who built near us) and bought a new STIHL. We did not use the new one as much as the old one, as we were settled in, but the trees still needed trimming until our saw was stolen (I guess they liked the STIHL saw also, good taste on their part). I just bought a new STIHL 181 C-BE - time for more tree trimming. Our third saw in 20 years and always a STIHL. It keeps on running I could not recommend another from personal experience other than a STIHL. Y'all (that's one word) build a good product! I’m a happy Texan.

Peter G.
Msgt. USAF Retd.
Cedar Creek, TX

An ATV, a STIHL and man’s best friend. It’s going to be a good day!

Andy L.
Menomonee Falls, WI

I am a Wildland Firefighter and I would like to say thank you for your chain saws they work very well in the job I do and your chain saws are easy to work on and to troubleshoot also.
Thanks,

Jeffery H.
Boise, ID

I have a picture you might be interested in. I was taking a break from cutting and splitting wood and my dog sat down by my saw and wood pile. I took a quick picture with cell phone and it came out really good. My friends said I should send it to STIHL for a calendar or something.
Thanks.

Tracy E.
Boss, MO

I own a STIHL 210C and a 260 Pro. I'm going to sell them both. I purchased them both as they each had an option which made them easier to start. As I'm in my 60's I appreciated the assist. The 210C has the easy pull feature and the 260 Pro has a compression reduction mechanism. Both work admirably. They were and still are extremely fine tools. The reason I'm selling is I've replaced them both with another chainsaw. This one is even easier to start as it has electric starting. I'm speaking of the 160C which I purchased yesterday.

I was hesitant and frankly did not expect it to perform as well as it does. It is incredible! It will replace both the 260 and the 210C easily. I've worked with it for 8 hours and have yet to find a project it can't handle. As soon as it handled one task, I challenged it with an even greater one. No matter what I bit into the saw handled it effortlessly and continuously amazed me with its power and endurance. I ran out of energy long before the battery gave out. Actually I never depleted the battery as I would charge it while getting my strength back from stacking the chords of wood I had cut with it.

I almost didn't buy it as the price for the battery and charger needed for operation brought the price to well over $700. With tax closer to $800. I also was disappointed at first glance with the plastic prongs for spiking. I was almost 100 percent sure it would not take the place of my other saws and in the back of my mind anticipated selling it on E-Bay for a loss but at least knowing I tried to find an easy starting machine that I could use as I get older.

I am so pleased with the saw and how it performs I just had to tell you and thank you for keeping Stihl quality and performance in this fine saw. I can't say enough about it and the price and the plastic tines are no longer a concern of mine. It is worth the price and more. As for the plastic tines I've yet to inflict any damage to them and believe me I've tried!

Thanks again and you should market this saw in AARP publications for other old geezers such as I.

Rob G.
Queensbury, NY

I want to thank you and the entire STIHL company for the very generous gift in support of our Tree Farm. As I said at the time I am very happy with my current STIHL gas saw and have every reason to believe it will outlast my lumbering days. What to do? As we discussed in the trailer the new battery powered saw seems like a new direction to explore (and it is a bit more left hand friendly). It would be an excellent backup to the gas saw and also be useful in situations where the gas saw is not suitable.

Many thanks,

Jack L.
Conway, MA

Update: I thought you might like a 6 month report on my electric chain saw with AP160 battery. It continues to perform beyond my expectations and leaves me with few situations where I bother to dig out the gas powered saw. The convenience of instant on and off is huge. A fully discharged battery usually recharges quicker than I do. It is ready to go before I am. The chain seems to stay sharp much longer than what I experienced with the gas saw. This time of year I use it nearly every day.

STIHL I have always been a firm believer in your product but after this past weekend I will be a loyal customer for life.

My brother-in-law acquired some property and while helping him clean some of the property I discovered inside of an old deep freezer the was cluttering his property a STIHL 017 chainsaw setting in 6 to 8 inches of water. My brother-in-law has had the property for a year so we know it has at least been setting outside, in a deep freezer, in water for at least a year. So my brother-in-law gives me the chainsaw to see if I could get it to run and to clean it up a bit. Jokingly I told him this is a STIHL I know it will run; not thinking it would after setting so long in bad conditions. I said "I bet that if I put a little gas in this thing it will fire right up." So my brother-in-law took my bet and said I'll go get the gas. So after topping off gas and 5 pulls of the rip cord your product amazingly fired right up. Not only did it run but functioned beautifully, and with no cleaning or anything it went through logs like I hot knife through butter. Truly amazing product you make and in the Great USA. A testament to the work and craftsmanship of the people in this great country.

Thank You,

Shaun M.
Oak Hill, WV

Editor's note: To keep your STIHL equipment running at peak performance, please follow the maintenance instructions in your owners manual.