Testimonials: Chain Saws

I am an economist and statistician by trade, and a volunteer trail builder and volunteer wildland firefighter arising from my sense of responsibility to my community. I am in the Intermountain Region of Colorado, just on the west side of Pike's Peak.

As a sawyer crew, we are not very often tied-up in the heart of a fire; we are the advance guard, cutting way for the hand crews chinking-in line just behind us. Apart from making way, our task is fire observation, for, in the most odd twist of fate, one cannot see that which surrounds thee, which leaves the responsibility to those ahead of the fire.

Whence cometh the searing embers and burning pinecones that are the harbingers of death? It is our job to report; to protect those in the thick of the smoke with information.

For what it is worth, that chain saw has served me well. It has not failed me in my hour of need.

Thank you,

Connor B.
Florissant, CO

I just got done running my MS 441 with a 25-inch bar. Today I was buried in 35-inch hickory logs. Well, needless to say, holy cow.

It was like a hot knife through butter. I ran a 25-inch bar with an RSC chain and was sold. I think it was the best time I have had in a long time. The MS 441 is a really great saw and I ran less than a gallon of gas in it for about 4 hours of cutting.

Jason R
Charlotte, MI

Hello!

I had just purchased a new bar & chain for my 044 STIHL chainsaw. Just as I had started cutting wood, it started to rain. I didn’t wanna stop cutting because I had just got underway, and I saw blue clouds coming behind the rain clouds. As the rain was passing through, the sun came out and a rainbow formed. My fiancé happened to capture me cutting wood while the rainbow was overhead.

Even though this is an older saw, it still has the bragging rights on the farm.

Thanks again for a great product,

Brian B

To whom this may concern:

My Name is Jesse. I am a young artist (21 years old) from Bethel Connecticut. I go to Art school in Hartford Connecticut. I'm a fan of your tools and company. My father and I have been using one of your chainsaws for quite some time now, a very well made machine.

Anyway, I'm writing to you to inform/show you one of my latest art pieces. Below are two links to images to my piece "Stay Stihl!" that I fabricated entirely out of clay, and painted. It was my pleasure creating this Concrete Saw with the STIHL colors and inspiration entirely from scratch. I made it for a ceramics class up in Hartford CT.

It is no specific model from your company, but it looks just like one of your older saws and I had a challenging and hard time doing it!

Also, My website is www.Jessefarrenkopf.com.

Thank you for your time.

Jesse F.
Bethel, CT

I just wanted to send a photo of two of a man’s best friends.

Duane C.
Arlington, WA

Editor's note: Always wear the proper protective apparel as shown in your instruction manual, and remember that your "best friend" should be well away from your work area.

This is my husband, Roger Fox and our two grandsons, Lukas and Tyler Fox. We start them young working on the farm with STIHL chainsaws! Have a great day and I hope you enjoy the picture.

Sincerely,

Ilona F

Cascade Locks, OR

I have been a STIHL fan for some time now and own a few of your products. I had the pleasure of having a son about 3 weeks ago. I had him out in my garage with me the other day and my wife came out with the camera. I got a few pictures of him sitting in my STIHL chain saw case (new one) with my two STIHL chainsaws next to him.

Josh B
Parkersburg, WV

I just bought your MS 460 today and its hands down the best chain saw I have ever used or owned. This replaced my dad’s old 036. Thanks for all your hard work and commitment to outstanding work.

Parker B.
Centreville, VA

I just wanted to send a note to let you know how impressed I was with the purchase of my first STIHL Chain saw (model 270). I asked my friends and co-workers as to which brand I should buy and they all said STIHL. I went to a local dealer (Pro Power Equipment, located on South May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK) and I was in luck, a STIHL company rep happened to be there that day. Your rep and the salesman carefully listened to my needs and then discussed several options as to which chain saw best met my needs now and in the future. After selection they took the time to ensure I knew and understood all the safety features and how to break-in and maintain the saw properly. Before I left the store the people of Pro Power took my new chain saw into the back and gave it a final check. Overall I was very impressed by the knowledge and the time they took with me. It was great not having high-pressure salesman trying to oversell me. If this is the kind of service I can expect, I will be replacing my other power equipment with STIHL.

Joseph M.
Del City, OK

Another satisfied STIHL customer – sold and serviced by Professional Power Equipment.

I have a STIHL 025 chain saw. It has been sitting in a storage building for 2 or more years. My wife wanted two trees cut down. I had been putting it off because every time I use a gas powered piece of equipment I spend most of my time working to get the "equipment" running. I decided to cut the trees down, so I went to the storage building, reached up on the shelf, and retrieved the orange storage case. I opened the case, took the chain saw out, and thought, “I wonder what tools are going to be required to get this chain saw running?” I removed the gas from the tank, and added some new gas, thinking this is an easy place to start my adventure in getting the chain saw running. I then added some chain and bar lube and decided to give it a couple of pulls. Saying now I can eliminate those, let’s see if I can tell what else I may need to get this chain saw going. To my surprise it started right up and ran as smooth as the day I bought it. I got the job done. I know this is not the recommended care for chain saws, but I believe if this had been a lower quality chain saw I would probably still be trying to get it running. This is just a letter to commend STIHL on making quality and reliable products.

Robert S.
Monroe, NC

I'm writing you to let you know how pleased I am with my new STIHL chain saw. I just purchase a new MS 361 chain saw from the local STIHL Dealer in Wichita, KS and I used it the next day for about 6 hours. The saw ran great and it met all my expectations. I'm not a professional cutter but I cut all of my own firewood. The wood I cut is mostly hedge (Osage orange) and it is a very hard wood. In short the STIHL chain saw is great. And keep up all the good work.

David P.
Wichita, KS

Recently, the West Virginia panhandle was plastered with nearly 3ft of snow in the now infamous 2010 blizzard and I had a major problem. My family lives in an older farm house and our only source of heat is the wood stove......and wood was nearly out. Up to my waist in snow and in freezing temperatures I was able to harvest enough wood to keep my family warm through it all thanks to the STIHL Farm Boss my father had given me as a gift this past December. The job was much easier as the MS290 never missed a beat whether buried in the snow or in frozen wood. The winter/cold weather settings and sturdy construction made this saw a true asset that let me focus on cutting, and not fixing the saw. Thanks STIHL for a wonderful product and putting potent tools in the hands of average people! Quality tools like STIHL chainsaws are the more appreciated when the well being of your family depends upon it.

Jason Gillis
Ranson, West Virginia

I have owned nine STIHL saws over the years and currently have three, including the 660. The only thing that has ever compromised the performance of your saws has been driving over them with a bulldozer (twice).

Thank you for continuing to provide exceptional quality professional products.

Gary Wilson
North Bend, Washington

A couple of years ago I started cutting firewood for extra cash. I started using a Craftsman 16” and a Snapper 16” chain saw. They did pretty good for a while. Then I burned both chain saws and I was desperate because I had customers wanting firewood. So I shopped around looking for a good saw. I saw the STIHL MS 290. And I thought, wow they’re high dollar. But I bit the bullet and bought it with a 20” bar. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the saw. This chain saw will cut and works like a mule. It has no problems cutting 18” trees. It has never failed me to do a job. I have cut 40 cords with no problem using the same 20” bar. The saw has paid for itself many times over. I would recommend this saw for any job. Great saw!!!!

Donny Strawbridge
Brownwood, TX

I just wanted to comment on the STIHL tool line and chain saws. I have owned and operated 23 STIHL saws and landscaping pieces. I only purchase STIHL saws because of the research and craftsmanship invested in these finely built machines. I am a firm believer in purchasing tools and equipment built in the USA. I commend STIHL for their efforts and business strategies used to employ US workers and to not giving into the big box concept. When you make tools and equipment like STIHL you really don't have to advertise. The products speak for themselves. Enough said.

I have studied your Web site and your business philosophies and I can appreciate all the money and research invested in your products and company. The outcome is beneficial to people like me who make money with high quality tools and I am willing to spend a little more money for a tool that is worth it. I wanted to personally thank you for providing me with an outstanding service and STIHL dealer. I have never been disappointed with your products in the least bit. Don't change your high standards and I hope to see more products developed for the construction arena.

Thank you,

Jaye Bressler
STIHL saw collector, wood carver, shop teacher, firewood cutter, cabinet/construction business
Luthersburg, PA

I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed being in them with my new chain saw. Next on the to do list......table tops.

Assisting in your success,
Jim Pienkowski
South Bend, IN

My husband received a STIHL chain saw for Christmas last year from my dad. He loooves it! We recently had a good size tree in our yard blow over in the wind. I captured a GREAT picture shown below.

Thank you so much!

Kelly N.
Wisconsin

Editor's note: Always wear proper protective apparel, including chaps, when using any chain saw. Children or pets should not be in the work area.

Hello, I am Douglas Josey from Chester, SC, and we have a family farm on the outskirts of Chester and we were doing our annual work weekend/dove hunt and were working on some deer stands and was leaving one after trimming the shooting lanes with our chain saw and pole saw. I was driving our Kawasaki Mule when my brother (five people total) said "Is that a chainsaw laying over there?" I went to investigate and it was a STIHL chain saw that had been left there since last year. I knew that we had left it somewhere or someone took it. So I threw it in the back of the mule, rode to the next stand and started working again. About that time the chain saw ran out of gas. So I told everyone "Let’s just see how tough this chain saw really is." To everyone's disbelief it fired up on the fourth pull, and I used it the rest of the day.

Below are some pictures I took of exactly where the saw was laying, with weeds growing around it, and the shape it was in, mildew and dirty. One of my cousins said "I guess that is why we have 4 STIHL saws."

Thanks so much,
Douglas Josey

My dad and I were leaving our cabin in northern Potter county, PA to head home. A freak storm had just finished wreaking devastation on the area. A couple trees fell around our cabin but we had no idea about how bad things really were. After only a couple miles on route 449 south, we ran into a huge tree that blocked the entire road. With the rain and thunder and lightning around, we jumped out and started up my trusty STIHL MS 290 FARM BOSS^® and went to work. Cars started arriving from both ways and 2 more STIHL chain saws arrived. The tree was cleared in no time. We got back in our truck and got onto Route 6 and once again only went a couple miles before we ran into a traffic jam. I walked up to see what was up, and there was another tree across the road! Everyone was cheering as I pulled out the STIHL orange case and cleared it in no time! I had to cut our way home one more time after that. My STIHL chain saw helped out probably hundreds of people yesterday. Thanks for making such a great and reliable product. My dad is a loyal STIHL customer for life and now I am too!

Peter A. Nelson
Mohnton, PA

My sister and I bought a STIHL MS 210 with Easy2Start from Hoyer Equipment in Brookport, IL. We bought it in February of ’08 after and ice storm that left lots of damage and debris on our seven acres. It did a super job for two ladies who aren’t teenagers anymore.

This year in January, we had an even worse ice storm. Once again the saw performed reliably and was easy to start for us. We are grateful for a tool that we can depend on to clean up nature’s messes. We had an 18” bar installed since we knew it would be needed and that was a good choice for us.

It’s great to find a quality product.

Barbara Scholler and Aundria Gill
Golconda, IL

I bought my first STIHL last fall after a friend gave me a wood stove. I intended on occasionally cutting firewood. I was wrong. I bought the MS 170 and that fall I had cut more than 10 cords of wood with it! I call it the little saw that could! This spring I bought the MS 290 Farm Boss. Im impressed to say the least!

Frank Bloom
Dauphin, Pennsylvania

My husband and I have been married for three years and one of the things that impressed him most was that I had a 026 professional saw. Now we have six STIHL saws and we are only hobby loggers.

We now have a one-year old son and recently took some pictures. One of them is a four-generation picture of a tree they cut several weeks ago and the 046 leaning on the stump and the other is my son holding up my husbands topping saw on a stump with my husband behind him.

Thank you for your time,

Sarah Colvin

Editors note: Please keep children away from all
outdoor power equipment. STIHL always recommends
the use of proper protective apparel when using any
outdoor power equipment.

Hello STIHL: I've been chainsaw carving for three years, and the MS 250 with a 12" dime tip bar works great!

My local STIHL Dealer, Chainsaw Barney, out shines other chain saw dealers I've dealt with. A great product is one thing, true customer service is another. I recently purchased a vac/blower and I'm glad I got it from Barney.

I have a picture I'd like to send you. Heidi's our new addition to our family.

Thank you,

David Wywial
Janesville, Wisconsin

I started out wanting a Husky, but had a nagging voice in my head to look at a STIHL. My wife won "Wife of The Year" and I got the Farm Boss. After some further research I returned it for an MS 310 with a 20" bar. After using it for the first time yesterday, I was convinced you guys are the gods of outdoor power equipment. It is admirable you have to go to a dealer to purchase your equipment and agree with your philosophy on the big box stores. I can't count how many weed eaters and chain saws I have returned. I am hoping for a Kombimotor for Father's Day.

Patrick Bealeton
Virginia

I am the Chief officer of a volunteer Disaster Response Team. In September of 2008 we deployed to the Bridge City, Texas area for Hurricane Ike. I have to tell you that out of our cache of 11 chainsaws we owned two STIHL MS 290s. After four days of extended operation under extremely harsh conditions, only the 2 MS290s were able to remain in service. All of the others (a mix of Poulan, Husqvarna, etc) failed within those four days. I was extremely impressed with your product and wanted to let you and others know that your chain saw assisted us in saving lives.

Upon our return I purchased 2 more STIHL chain saws for my local Fire Department. I would also like to include a recommendation or ad for STIHL on our Team website if that is acceptable with you. You may view our content at www.FloridaDisasterTeam.org. Once again, thank you for a great product.

Chief Stephen Melton
Portlight Strategies
Disaster Assistance Response Team

I grew up on a farm. Recently I have been using my dad's MS 290 for cleanup with the disasters in the Midwest. This is a good saw with plenty of power. Recently I decided to get my own saw, so I searched your Web site for a comparable saw. When I went to the Dealer, I purchased the MS 270 WOOD BOSS®, a 6-pack of 2-cycle mix, 2 gallons of bar oil, and a spare chain.

I started using the saw for cleanup and was impressed by how good this saw felt. This baby was a breeze to operate. The power was comparable to the MS 290 and so was the weight; the anti-vibe made a huge difference.

I logged about 10 hours on the 270 after the first weekend. Then the challenge began: there was a 60 foot, 30-inch diameter Hedge Apple that had been uprooted. We all know that this wood is a chain saws Kryptonite. I started at the top and cleared everything with no problems. That night I sharpened the saw chain, and it was time to start sectioning the trunk the next morning.

I cut on this trunk all day, as the pieces had to be small enough to pack. The 270 worked as hard that day as any saw can be expected to work. I sharpened the chain 3 times during the day. After the roots were cut out, I just tossed out the original chain, as the teeth were half the original size.

Within a month of purchasing the MS 270, I have used 4 gallons of gas, 1 1/2 gallons of bar oil, 1 chain, and I have slayed the monster. When you say this saw is a "must have," I couldn't agree more.

Within a month of purchasing the MS 270, I have used 4 gallons of gas, 1 1/2 gallons of bar oil, 1 chain, and I have slayed the monster. When you say this saw is a "must have," I couldn't agree more.

J.C.
Louisville, KY

A few buddies and I have been working on a cabin in the hills of West Virginia. Without the help of my STIHL MS 310 Chain Saw, the process would be even more painstaking than it already is. Its a great saw for felling, limbing, bucking, and I have even been using it as a milling saw. Money is very tight right now, but as soon as I can scrape up the money, I’m going to buy the MS MS 660 which should drastically reduce the time spent on milling, especially on some of those 20-inch poplars.

My saw has lasted many, many strenuous hours without any problems whatsoever. Starts right up and runs perfectly every time. STIHL equipment has always been the most reliable.

Nick Barb
Elkins, West Virginia

I used to own multiple Husqvarna chain saws and other brands, but after purchasing a used and beaten-up old STIHL chain saw in a pawn shop, I’ve traded them all in for STIHL and have never regretted it. STIHL is a great product and the only one that’s used by our local fire department (and the only one that deserves to be). STIHL chain saws and other products are the best.

Mike Weaver
Astoria, Oregon

I wanted to spend more time with my daughter when she was growing up, so I sold my law practice and moved to a rural area where we could live well on a part-time income.

We heated our house with a wood-burning stove, so I needed a chain saw I could rely on. I didn’t have much money, but I believe that it is more economical in the long run to buy excellent tools, rather than spending less for inferior tools that do not work as well and have to be replaced sooner. That’s why I chose a STIHL chain saw.

I loved it from the first time I used it. It was well-engineered, very pretty to look at, lightweight, and powerful for its size (I am a relatively small woman, so I wanted a chain saw with a high power-to-weight ratio). That chain saw served me well for many years until my daughter grew up and went away to university, and I moved back to the city to become an attorney again.

I’m sad to say that a couple of years ago, someone broke into my garage and stole my chain saw. Otherwise, I expect Id still be using it. I now have a weekend home that’s heated with wood, and I’ve just purchased a new STIHL 250 C B-E that’s almost exactly like my old one, except for the new gadgets such as the automatic chain oiler and the Easy2Start feature. I am looking forward to going out to the wood lot tomorrow!

Barbara Lamar
Lockhart, Texas

Just wanted to give you all a compliment on what your saws can do.

Jeff Armstrong
Wheatfield, Indiana

My neighbor, Tim, hired a friend to cut down a 20-24 inch pin oak. This man climbed the tree and cut the limbs, then felled the tree. Tim’s friend didn’t want to buck the log because of how it was laying. A few 5-inch, sawed-off branches had one end elevated. With very limited training from a forestry buddy and a STIHL MS 290, I knew I was capable for the job. Having no wedges, I used relief-cut, plunge-cut and hinging techniques to prevent bar pinches. This worked flawlessly until I made the mistake of allowing the nose of my bar to hit a 1-inch branch on the other side of the log. This derailed the chain, causing the log to roll and pinch the bar. I then started my MS 170 and cut the remaining two square inches, freeing the MS 290. I noticed that the MS 290 chain was too damaged to complete the job. So, I completed the last four sections with the MS 170 by performing the same process from both sides of the log. The jokes and finger-pointing from skeptical onlookers didn’t last long. The MS 170 was undoubtedly not the saw for this job. But, its only limitation was bar length. Thanks to the people at STIHL for making such a fine machine.

Krag Floyd, Land Surveyor/Field Supervisor
Colonial Heights, Virginia

When I take my family out to cut wood...we cut wood!
STIHL is like no other.

George Haskett
Richmond, Indiana

Pictured left to right: Greg Kinder, Hunter Haskett, Troy Haskett, George Haskett, Brad Haskett, Jay Price, Preston, Jeff Kinder

Editor's Note: Please keep children away from all outdoor power equipment. STIHL always recommends the use of proper protective apparel when using any outdoor power equipment.

Here is a picture of my son in a tree with your chain saw. He is a U.S. Marine and a tree surgeon, and obviously uses your product.

Sue Brandt
Palmyra, Virginia  

Editor's Note: STIHL always recommends the use of proper protective apparel when using any outdoor power equipment.

I bought my first STIHL product last spring, a weed trimmer with the easy-pull starter Easy2Start™ system. Because I like the way it ran, when it was time to replace my 15-year-old 18 Craftsman chain saw, I went right to my local STIHL Dealer. After speaking to them about my needs, I bought an MS 290 with a 20 bar and two chains. When I took it out and used it for the first time, I would say I was excited with the results. I was trimming down the remains of a 37 diameter silver maple trunk/stump to the ground that was cut two weeks prior (it killed my 15-year-old Craftsman).

The STIHL dug in and never bogged down as I leveraged it around the trunk. That was this summer. When I spent three days this weekend cutting down a red oak I was ecstatic! I have five non-safety chains and two safety chains I keep for reserve. I didn’t even change a chain for the first six hours; didn’t have to. Then a terrible thing happened: My saw got bound up in a relief cut, and when we attempted to free the saw, the tree shifted and fell, and hit the bar on the down. The bar and chain were ruined, and when I got to the saw the 23 diameter tree was lying on the machine. I figured that was it. We freed the saw, changed the bar and chain, and I held my breath as I tried to start it up and proceeded to cut down 27 more trees over the next 1.5 days! We cut, split and stacked 15 chords of wood with 20 guys and only 5 saws. I ran circles around every saw except another STIHL! Barely even a scratch after the tree hit mine. Thank you for making such a high-quality product that I can spend extra money on and be confident it was worth it!

To begin with, I will admit that I used to sell ECHO products. I got an ECHO chain saw during the time that I sold them and I have been miserable with the saw since the day I bought it. The oiler is always out of adjustment, the nuts that keep the bar tight are always working loose, and the chain tension adjuster is hard to access. Plus it doesn’t seem to have the umph that the cc size would indicate. I purchased the saw mainly because that was the brand we sold have since come to my senses and purchased one STIHL saw (MS 361) and will be purchasing another in the spring (probably an MS 250). From being around saws all my life and selling them over the years, I am simply amazed at the low-quality saws that other brands are producing. STIHL saws are bar none the best built. My 361 has the 25 bar on it and easily handles anything I put in front of it. The decompression valve is awesome, the AV works great, and this very powerful saw is still light enough to be comfortable for using all day long. I use it for miscellaneous farm chores and a lot of heavy-duty brush clearing. When I use the saw I just feel great and have a lot of fun. Even if you’re just a homeowner with some small jobs, you absolutely feel like you’re a professional logger out there at work with a STIHL. Thanks guys!

Adam Wampler
Timberville, Virginia

Here are some pictures of some of my STIHL saws. I have added an MS 200 rear handle, MS 880, and some older models also.

Gary 

Chad Williams
Bixby, Oklahoma

Our evening cleaning ritual. Every piece of equipment is
broken down and cleaned at the end of each day

One of many oaks blown over by Hurricane Ike

A tangled mess that contained 2 cars and a boat

One of the cars after some work with numerous STIHL
saws and pole pruners

Our crew after taking a large oak with the STIHL 660,
we removed the top half of the tree from their yard and
house

I am the Captain of Yoe Fire Company, a small department in South Eastern PA. Recently we assisted a neighboring department on a woods fire that consumed roughly 6 acres of land. We utilized our MS 460 Stihl saw with a 28" bar to cut up burning trees to extinguish the burning fire within. We went through two chains and the saw performed flawlessly. Thank you for making a great product.
Sincerely,
Grant G. Gouker
Captain
Yoe Fire Company

Thanks for making an awesome product.

Mike
Channelview, TX

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