Testimonials: Chain Saws

Monday July 21st we had a very bad storm come through— it had 100 mile/hr winds. We had a 75 foot by 3 foot oak tree that was destroyed. My husband and his friends used their STIHL chain saws— they were all happy about how well their chain saws performed. My husband is now thinking about getting a bigger one. We just thought we would let you know your product is GREAT!!!! Thanks Trevis & Kerry Riley Geneseo, IL (Kerry adds, "I thought this was a cute picture of my husband Trevis and our little boy Kaden. Again we are very grateful that STIHL has made such a great product.") Editor's note: Please keep children away from all outdoor power equipment.

Our county has encountered a destructive storm in May and my parents were hit hard losing four 50 year old trees in their yard, an oak tree landing on and destroying their front porch (this is an unbelievable picture!), a beautiful pine landing on their neighbors house, and another oak and pine being uprooted in their backyard. Since there are 6 of us kids, we all came together and had a "tree party" to help defray the cost for our parents and removed the two trees in their backyard. It only took us 2 hours to get the job done with the help of 3 chain saws, and coincidentally enough, the 3 bro-in-laws all had "Stihl" brand chain saws. The "humming" of the saws working in unison was awesome! I guess a catch phrase for this would be "There's nothing like the sound of a Stihl" or "the family that works together, is Stihl together", or "the Stihl of the day". Thank you. Nancy Medlen Clarkston, Michigan

When you make you living with a chain saw, nothing will keep you living like a STIHL. No bogging or quitting when every cut counts. Thanks, Custom Cut Tree Service LLC Baltic, Connecticut
Editors Note: STIHL always recommends the use of proper protective apparel when using any outdoor power equipment

My Dad is a retired timber faller (50 years) who still sharpens saws for the loggers in the neighborhood. He's the best and he'll only use Stihl. I took a little video of him in his shop, sharpening a saw. He is 82 and he shouldn't be kneeling on a high swivel stool to work, but insists that it's the closest thing to bracing himself over a log like he used to do in the woods. My brother wired his little shop so his radio comes on when he turns on the light (and goes off when he fires up the air compressor), so the music you hear is actually what was playing when I took the little video (on my digital camera). He's such a good guy...think you'll enjoy this. He's the father of nine (7 adopted), grandfather of 19, greatgrandfather of 5. And we call him Saint Frank.

You can find the video on YouTube, it's called Frank in his shop Please check it out...the Stihl saw is front and center.

Christine Thomas
League City, Texas

Tuesday, 25 Sep 07, My German Shepherd dog went missing at about 2 p.m. We looked throughout the night but could not find her. The next day, I had to be at work (I'm in the US Air Force) so my wife dropped the kids off at school and returned with her friend to continue with the search to include flyers in mail boxes and walking endlessly through the woods calling her name. Needless to say, nothing. I arrived home at about 9 p.m. that night to discover that my wife had just found her, she was stuck not 30 feet from her kennel.She was stuck in a wood pile which consisted of 15 to 30 foot log lengths -about 30 plus of them and the pile was about 12 feet high - which I use for my outdoor wood stove.  I discovered I could not get her out so I decided to call 911 and the local volunteer fire department arrived within minutes to my home.  You would 't believe the response - about 25 volunteers showed at my doorstep and the wife began to make coffee as we knew they would be there for a while. Fortunately, one of the volunteers was a logger and spearheaded the operation.  He called for the chain saw from his fire truck and was disappointed at what he received.  He knew that the saws they carry where not up to the job at hand. I then mentioned to him that I owned a STIHL model 360 and he then said "Now that's a saw". Needless to say that 3 hours later we freed my dog and the crowd cheered. It was after 1 in the morning and she had been trapped for over 30 hours. The local vet even showed up to ensure all was ok and she received a good bill of health after revisiting and getting x-rays done. Another of the volunteer fire fighters is also a freelance photographer for the local paper and took some great pictures. The purpose to this story is to let you know what a great product you have. I had owned numerous chain saws in my day until I realized that Stihl was the way to go.  I've had my saw for over 4 years now with not one glitch.  Hugo Ramirez, MSgt, NYANG Wurtsboro, New York

Three STIHL saws worked hard :) This picture is of my uncle, brother and myself with 3 STIHL saws on a pile of wood we cut. Dan Mccoy Scappoose, Oregon
	(Editor's Note: STIHL always recommends the use of protective apparel when using outdoor power equipment. Please see you instruction manual for complete information)

I was in the market for a chain saw and went to a store to get one, but I found out they did not carry STIHL products. At that time, I was unaware of how great STIHL products were. The store I went to had zero customer service, and the chain saws were like any other product on the shelves, "just buy at your own risk".

I was not going to purchase a chain saw without some education about it, so I left and went to an authorized STIHL dealer. They had already closed for the day; however, there were still cars in the parking lot and I knocked on the door.

A salesman opened the door and I explained I needed a chain saw. Even though the store was closed, he welcomed me in and educated me about chain saws. That day I bought a STIHL MS 250 chain saw. It is a great tool. The salesman took me outside and showed me every detail about the saw. The saw was so good and the service was so good, I later came back and bought a STIHL weed trimmer, which works great as well. Thank you for such great tools.

I have a good friend of mine (Wade McNutt) who is a former member of The Doug Moreland Show (a band that is sponsored by STIHL). He recently made a chain saw carving for me using your chain saws. Here 's the photo. Matthew Wood Midland, Texas

I just wanted to drop a line and let you know how pleased I am with the performance and toughness of the STIHL chain saws. I used a STIHL when I peeled pulp in Michigan about 10 years ago. I am still using the same chain saw today...it has a lot more miles on it (and a few spare parts) but it continues to get the job done.

Thanks for producing a quality product.


Steve Baumgartner
Vicksburg , Mississippi

I remember the day that I bought my first STIHL chain saw. It was a STIHL 028 Super and it lived up to its name. Around the farm, I used it to cut firewood and clear fence rows. Wind damage is frequent here in Oklahoma.

One day a tornado hit and left the area impassable, blocked by downed trees and utility poles. There was an urgent community effort to clear the roads. Even though everyone had a chain saw of their own, the month-old STIHL 028 Super was the tool of choice. When I needed a break, somebody else was eager to get to use it. The saw impressed the other farmers so well that they purchased STIHL chain saws for themselves.

That saw served me well for sixteen years before I finally wore it out. That was a sad day. Through hard labor, and occasional adventures, the saw was like trusted friend. I hated to give up on it but I scorched the cylinder using a bad mix of fuel. I replaced it with an MS 280.

The new saw was an improvement but it lacked the battle scars of its predecessor. It is nearly impossible to tell adventure stories about a new chain saw. About a month later the severe ice storm of January 2007 hit. The weight of the ice striped branches off nearly every tree and even felled many of the big ones. Power lines had collapsed and roads were blocked once again. It took a week to restore power and everyone had to heat with wood. The new STIHL served heroically.

Needless to say the new MS 280 grew dear to me rather quickly. I still have many large trees to remove because of the ice storm. All of them are so thick in the trunk and some of the limbs that the MS 280 couldn't cut through with a sixteen-inch bar, so I purchased a STIHL MS 441 Magnum this afternoon. As I wrote out the check, it occurred to me that today was seventeen years to the date that I bought the old STIHL 028 Super.

Bobby Gann
Pryor, Oklahoma

I have bought about $8,000.00 worth of your equipment in the last two years. I started a landscaping business after retiring and going to school for horticulture. All my purchases have been from Bowen's Farm Supply in Annapolis, Md.

I find your products the only name I will buy in your field. The design, toughness, practicality, and availability of parts and service is outstanding. I also needed some info and came to your website, and I find that well-engineered also. Stihl is the only name I will buy in the future

My thanks for providing a good product in a world where that is all too rare.

Joseph Wing
Annapolis, Maryland

I don't remember when I bought my Stihl chain saw but it is several years old. If this had been a new one, maybe this story wouldn't have amazed me like it did. Here it is. My saw has always cranked on the second pull just like every other Stihl saw I've worked with has. My son and I went camping sometime in October 2006 and I had taken the saw to cut some firewood. When we left, I inadvertently left the saw sitting on the ground next to a tree I sawed. It was out in the wide open - no shelter whatsoever. I did not need the saw again until the end of May 2007 and couldn't find it. I thought about it for a while and finally remembered I had taken it camping and hadn't seen it since. I went back to the campsite and there it laid a little rusty with dirt all over it and semi-covered w/ leaves. We had gotten worse than usual weather during the fall, winter and spring and I didn't think there was any way it would crank, much less run and be usable. I choked it and pulled the rope and could not believe it started on its regular second pull. Not only did it start but I took it and used it just like nothing had happened. I'll never own anything but a Stihl now.

Brian Hardy
Ivanhoe, Texas

I just wanted to take a few minutes to drop you a short note to let you know how pleased I am with the quality and durability of my STIHL Farm Boss MS 290 Chain Saw. Please allow me to explain:

In the past 20 years, I’ve owned 3 other brands of chain saws: Poulan, McCulloch, and Husqvarna, and none of those ever came close to the performance I’ve received from your product! Granted, the first two mentioned were not in the same price category. But aside from the price, the cutting ability and durability of your saw is far and away superior to the others, even factoring in price.

Talk about durability and strength of product. I recently had an experience with your saw that proves how strong and durable your MS 290 Farm Boss is. I was felling a large pine tree, doing everything by the book, and had the tree fall away from the intended direction. My saw got hung-up in the process and the tree (at the base) fell on my chain saw pinning it into the ground. A few tons of weight from the tree fell directly on my saw. When I saw what happened, (I was helpless to stop it in any way), I figured my rather new chain saw was gone. I proceeded to stabilize the fallen tree by putting “shims” under it at various points.

I then had only one option to free my saw. I dug a large hole under the saw and managed to dig it loose. Fearing the whole saw was ruined, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I realized that the only thing broken on the saw was the plastic (black) front handle housing. My next thought was "Will it start?" Here I am with a fallen 60 ft. tree, and I might have no way to get rid of it. I put my duct tape around the broken handle and began the starting-up process. Much to my amazement, the saw started and I was able to cut-up the tree and dispose of it that very day! I couldn’t believe the strength & durability of this machine!!! Great product. I won’t buy any other brand!

E. Matisak
Sugarleaf, Pennsylvania

Last year I was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While I was in Balad, Iraq for a year, my wife bought a STIHL chain saw to cut a whole load of timber so she could heat the house. The load was over 60 full size trees. Your STIHL got her through that safely.

This year she is in the process of cutting another full load of trees for firewood. I will leave her again in June to deal with all of her duties as a wife and as a mother of 2 small children. She loves her STIHL and would not think of using anything else.

1SG B. (name withheld) - stationed outside of the U.S.A.

In the mid 1980's, I purchased a STIHL 028 WB chain saw. At that time we lived on several acres, and I used the chain saw to cut firewood for a wood stove.

In 1985, we moved from that property to a smaller lot, but I still used the saw to cut firewood. In 1997, I installed a new gas fireplace and gave up cutting wood.

In 2000, we moved again to a smaller lot on Lake Norman. I stored the saw in the basement, and never used it.

However, I am now building condominiums along the North Carolina coast, and these buildings are constructed on pilings. The construction process requires the pilings be notched. The easiest way to do this is with a chain saw. So, I pulled the old 028 WB out of the basement and took it to the coast. A 22-23 year old chain saw with 10 year old oil/gas mixture in the tank. Same old spark plug.

We installed our pilings yesterday and this morning I pulled out the saw. It started up on the second pull!!! I used it all day, notching 8X8 pilings.

Would I buy another STIHL chain saw? You bet I would. Thanks for making such a good product.

Phil Schroeder
Stanley, North Carolina

I had acquired a STIHL 045 Supersaw that had been seized up for a couple of years. I wasn't really optimistic about it, but it was free so I had nothing to lose. I pulled the spark plug, poured some oil in the cylinder, used a ratchet to turn the crank, and broke the piston free. Then I drained the old gas, added some new, pulled the cord about six times, and the old beast took right off, hardly missing a beat. I am really impressed by that kind of dependability. I thought you just might want to know. In my opinion, you can't hold a STIHL down! Thanks for a great saw.

Tim
Fenton, Michigan

I saw the testimonial part of your web site and could not wait to see everyone's pictures. I chose STIHL simply because it was the saw people around me used, and I soon learned why. In trusting your saws, I also trust your products. Keeping with this, I have a STIHL helmet and camo chaps. Can't wait to see the future products STIHL has to offer!

Sincerely,
Brandon Adams

I bought a 47-inch bar and 2 chains for my STIHL 84 Magnum chain saw. Mark at Woodcutters in Akron NY tuned the saw to the 47 inch bar. A neighbor had a large hard maple tree lose a limb on her pick-up, the town cut the tree down, but would not cut it up because their chain saw did not have a large enough bar. A friend contacted me and asked if I would cut it up. I did, and was pleasantly surprised at how well the 84 did with the solid nose 47 inch bar and chain.

The tree was 56 inches at the base, then 49-50 inches. We drew a small gallery to watch the saw in action. People were impressed; most had no idea that such a long bar was made. They were really impressed when they saw my 59-inch bar and chain. That will be going on a new STIHL MS 880 next month.

My continuing compliments on a superior product that gets a big job done. And it makes it all easier when we have a dealer and technician in Brian Domon and Mark at Woodcutters in Akron NY.

Like the old saying goes "When the going gets tough, the tough (like my 84 Magnum) get going". Your website is on my favorites list.

William J. Loucks
East Pembroke, New York

This is a picture of my wife and I working on our land in Hayward, WI. We are clearing it for our new home. The date is April 6, 2007. Just thought it looked fun!

Thanks
Robert and Sandra Petersen

After Hurricane Katrina, my "big box store" saw wasn't up to the task of cutting up all the downed oaks on our property. Since I'd always gotten great service on other items at Daveid's Chainsaw & Lawnmower in Kiln, MS, it only made sense to go to them for a new saw. They took their time, explaining the features of various models, and I ended up coming away with a new MS 290. I've been delighted with that saw. Starts every time, and if it stops, I know I'm out of fuel! Since then, I've gone back for an FS 55 brushcutter, and I've got my eye on an MS 660 now.

Billy Chambless
Kiln, Mississippi

I am 17 years-old, and my dad bought his first STIHL 029 Farm Boss 16 years ago. My grandpa, a former Echo dealer, didn't like that though. My dad used that saw to death, so we could heat our house in the harsh northwest Missouri winters. Now my dad is 48, and he has switched over to an older STIHL 015 L so that he can do the light work. I now use his 029. The only things that I have ever done to the saw have consisted of cleaning the exterior, cleaning the air filter, and replacing the sparkplug.

I am the "go-to guy" for saw repair around my hometown. I have worked on many saws. I know the pros and cons of every brand of saw, but so far I have not found any cons for the STIHL brand. If anyone does let me know.

Bryan Hamilton
Hopkins, Missouri

P.S. My favorite saw is a 041 AV redhead 1968, with a 20" bar and the RS STIHL chain. I call it "my baby".

I live in Alaska and my main source of heat is wood. I also hunt down and finish Diamond Willow wood for extra money and as a hobby. I recently traded some of my Diamond Willow woodwork for an old STIHL 032 AV chain saw. It started on the first pull in cold weather. And after putting a new bar and chain on it, I retired my old piece of junk (I won't say the brand) saw.

I began using the STIHL, with much better results. I love the saw so much that I just found the same model on eBay and bought it. I also bought a brand new STIHL MS 290 chain saw at my local dealer. Unfortunately, I have been very busy fixing cracked plumbing from a recent 40-below cold front we had, and I haven't been able to try it out yet.

I am amazed at how excited a chain saw can make a guy. I am dying to get my hands on that new saw. So I'm guessing I will have some more compliments for you soon. Thanks for making a great saw.

Clarence
Wasilla, Alaska

I moved to Washington State in September of 1991. I needed a chain saw so I could cut some fire wood. I went to Sears and bought a Craftsman 18 inch chain saw. As I used it, it froze up on me. It pissed me off, so I took it right back to Sears and told them that I wanted my money back. The sales man tried to get me to take home another one.

As soon as I got my money back, I went to Peninsula Feed in Port Orchard where they sell STIHL Equipment. I did not hesitate to purchase my 18-inch STIHL chain saw, a purchase that I will never regret.

I called my buddy and told him that I knew where we could get a ton of fire wood. The next morning, we were out early chopping up firewood. We cut a lot of wood that week, never having any difficulty with our saws.

My buddy has a 24-inch STIHL chain saw. We were talking about our chain saws, and he stated that he purchased his almost ten years earlier, and that he would not have purchased any thing else.

I became a volunteer fire fighter in South Kitsap. As we would go through the seasons, trees would fall onto the power line wires. I was always the first one to arrive, waiting for the fire department with the engines. The property owners would let me chop up the wood. I got more free wood that way. In fact, I am still using the fire wood that I cut ten years ago.

My normal occupation caused me to leave Washington State for some time. I placed my chain saw into my shed, and left it there. A few years later, I needed to chop down a tree in my yard. I went to my shed and got my saw. I thought I would have to do a lot of work to it to get it to start. I pulled on the cord a couple of times and it started right up. This chain saw continued to work like it did the first time.

This was the best purchase that I ever made. I would never try to sell it, and I recommend STIHL to my friends.

Don Langman
South Colby, Washington

I purchased your saw after retiring my Homelite XLR (which I purchased in about 1965). It served me well and is now hung permanently on my garage ceiling.

My new saw is a joy to behold. I highly recommend to my friends that STIHL is the way to go.

Don Peterson

The company that I am with builds seawalls, docks, and drives wood pilings. These pilings must be cut to grade.

My STIHL 026 chain saw (purchased in 1995) was running when it vibrated off of a seawall. It fell in about 4 feet of water (salt water). But after several pulls it started up again. I then rinsed it with fresh water and sprayed it down with WD-40. To this day, it runs fine.

Recently a close friend who has an old STIHL 08 chain saw had the same thing happen. Afterwards, his saw also started back up.

Philip Dicarlo
St.Petersburg, Florida

I have had my chain saw since 1989. I'm one of those folks who takes almost too good of care with my power tools. I take it apart and clean it after each use. The chain saw is used mainly when I do volunteer work on a hiking trail system that is nearby, The Pine Mountain Trail in FDR State Park, near Pine Mountain Ga. We get quite a few of what we call "blow-downs" across our trails and thus my STIHL has been of use on the trail for years. When we have a bad storm or a hurricane blow through, it usually takes about 500 man hours for all us volunteers to clear the trees blown down along our 43 miles of trails. I even came up with a "chain saw" backpack carrier to carry our saws in on treks that are sometimes 2-3 miles.

Recently we cleared a new trail head area in the state park and had to clear out about 200+ trees. Mainly chestnut oaks and hard hickory. All with our STIHLs...

Last year we awarded our trail maintenance supervisor volunteer a new chain saw and of course it was a big new STIHL. We also bought 2 brushcutters last year (both STIHL's) mainly because my STIHL brushcutter is still going strong after 23 years! My big STIHL backpack blower is also now 14 years old. I own a Honda lawnmower (now 10 years old) only because STIHL doesn't make one!

So as you can see I'm a STIHL person.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim Hall
President of the all volunteer Pine Mountain Trail Association - (www.pinemountaintrail.org)

I received your letter last week thanking me for my purchase of your BG 55 Blower. I was surprised to receive your letter since in recent years no company has every responded to any of my purchases other than a new car. It shows me you care about your business and customer support. It also says that Linda Saw sent in my registration card and suggests they support your customer service policies. I feel good that they will support me as a customer.

My heritage is German and I love to brag about German mechanical abilities and I have in the past 15 years told the following story to anyone who will listen about my remarkable STIHL chain saw purchase years ago.

In 1972 my wife and I were getting ready to build our 2nd house in Santa Cruz, CA. I had to clear several trees on our 1 acre parcel for our house and I decided to get a Homelite chain saw from Dave’s Motor Clinic in Soquel, CA. While we were in the store talking to the owner and trying to select the appropriate saw, a man came over to the owner and asked if he could talk to us. The owner gave him the OK and went back to work in the rear of the shop. The man introduced himself as the local STIHL representative and asked if he could give us some information on STIHL Saws. He told us about all the great features of STIHL saws and showed us the new thin chain on STIHL 020 AV. Although the price was a little more than we expected to pay, we agreed to take it anyway because of the features brought to our attention by the rep. He told the owner to put an 18” bar on it and told us this saw would be the last saw we would ever buy.

Well it’s 2006 and the saw has been in use for 34 years to clear property for 4 new homes. And since we always heat our houses with wood it has cut all our heating wood for 34 years. It has been used to clear property for friends and general use in my handyman business. It has definitely paid for itself many times over.

I was able to do most of the repairs on the saw myself. In 1987, I dropped it about 35 feet onto a paved road below the tree I was cutting and thought it was finished. Well I replaced an exterior casting and it has been going strong since then. I am just at the end of the 3rd chain and the saw still has the original 18” bar and sprocket. They of course do need to be replaced.

I just turned 70 this month and the saw has developed a high speed miss. Unfortunately, Linda Saw says it will be too costly to repair if I do all the necessary work like a new sprocket, bar etc. All I can say is the rep was almost right, most people at 70 would not still be cutting wood. However next spring, I will get another STIHL saw and will be wishing I could out live another STIHL saw.

In passing, my father is 95 years old living on 40 acres in the Sierra’s and still cuts his own wood with his 2nd STIHL saw, About 6 years ago he changed to a smaller saw because he could not start the original bigger saw.

Bottom Line: The Dieckmann’s are sold on STIHL products. The 020 AV has been an exceptional saw for me and many thanks to STIHL for its long life and reliability.

Clay Dieckmann
Browns Valley, California

I just wanted to drop a quick line to you about the new MS 460 that I purchased. It's just incredible, fantastic. I also have a MS 290 STIHL Farm Boss®, and there is just no comparison. (The MS 290 is a work horse too.) The 460 is dropping and cutting through large timber, like a hot knife through warm butter.

Again, just a wonderful product.

Al Bloom
Millbrook, New York

Tom N of Kingwood, WV sent in this picture of his STIHL and woodpile. But we think Peg, Tom's dog, is laying claim to both.

I would like to compliment STIHL by telling you about my husband's 27 year-old Model 041 Farm Boss chain saw. Rick purchased the chain saw in May 1979 in Warrenton, Virginia, for around $350. At that time, money was very tight for us. We had just had our second child on April 19th, and I was staying at home with our two small children. We were heating our house entirely with a wood stove, and Rick really wanted (and needed) a good chain saw. I was not very happy when he told me he spent $350 for a chain saw.

But I just wanted you to know that 27 years later, he continues to use that same chain saw. We still heat our house with a wood stove, and we have a fireplace, even though we now have alternative heat options. In every house we lived in, we’ve used a wood stove. And that saw has been used to cut wood for us, our family members, and many friends.

For many years, Rick had a little business on the side selling wood to other people. He has had the saw serviced properly and takes very good care of it. I recently asked him if he would like a new chain saw for his upcoming 55th birthday on October 25th, and he said absolutely not. He said that he had a perfectly good chain saw that he loved, and he did not want any other. I don't know how many chains it has been through, but quite a lot.

Just today, our daughter (the one who was born on April 19th) and her husband, along with their 15 month old daughter, came to our house to help cut wood for us, and for their fireplace. Our daughter, Kelly, commented on her dad's chain saw, too. She has spent many hours helping us get wood in during her 27 years, and now our granddaughter was helping today. Kelly said that I should tell someone at STIHL about it. So that's what I just did. And, by the way, I think our $350 investment in the saw 27 years ago was a very good one. Thank you for such a fine product.

Judy Rinker
Strasburg, Virginia

Want to hear of an amazing story? Our crew ran over a STIHL chain saw with a dozer out in the woods. It broke it up pretty badly. I put it in the back cab of my truck after this happened, thinking that the saw was finished. So I went out and bought another saw just like it.

Weeks later, I was looking at the old saw and wondered if it would start. After two pulls, it fired right up. It looks like a junk yard dog, but it runs like a spotted assed ape. Since then, it’s been used to cut some pretty big trees.

You make a great saw. I have owned several thru the years.

Ron Johnston
Franklin, Tennessee

My husband has used STIHL chain saws for over 30 years. Recently, he was watching a tree fall that he had notched and didn't see a large dead limb from an adjacent tree coming right at him. He was holding his chain saw against his left hip across the front of his body. The limb hit the saw directly and knocked him back several feet and to the ground. I believe the strength of the case literally saved his life! The case is ruined, but the saw still works. Thank you for your quality products.

Meredith Williams
Rexford, New York

I just wanted to let you know that I just purchased my first STIHL product.

For me, the choice was easy. My father has had a STIHL chain saw for over 25 years, and it's still going strong.

I chose the MS 390 chain saw. All I can say is "wow". What an excellent machine! The first day, it eagerly gobbled up a cord and a half which is now ready to be split. And now that the engine break-in is complete, I can get some cutting done.

I look forward to a lifetime of service from this excellent saw, and I know who I'll be going to for my other equipment needs.

Thanks for an excellent product.

Mike Curtis
Bremerton, Washington

I finally purchased a STIHL chain saw for home owners. I am really impressed with it. I consider it a piece of art. It cuts quickly and cranks up just like the saws that rescue workers use on TV.

I would recommend it to anyone. Pay a little more and get a lot in return. I am absolutely sold on STIHL Products.

Dale Fedrick
Morton , Mississippi

I'd like to tell you about my STIHL 032 chain saw that I purchased in 1977. She is still going strong after 29 years. I just thought that I would share that with you. I wish that I could buy a new one just like it today. It still has the original sprocket but it has gone through numerous bars and chains.

Jim Anderson
Hardin, Kentucky

In June of 2006 I was part of a very large volunteer effort across the city of Rochester, MN (see www.rochestercarefest.org for details). My role was as the project leader at a city park. Tasks at the park included painting, mulching, and cutting out of unwanted locust trees. At the end of day, we took a group photo of the 5 of us who were the lumberjacks for the day. When I saw the photo, what I saw was a bunch of happy, sweaty STIHL chain saw owners.

Thanks!
Kevin Zemanek (on the far right in the photo)

Around 1985, I bought a 028 Farm Boss chain saw with a 16" bar. I've consistently cut 30 to 50 face cords of wood every year with that saw. I've gone through at least 3 bars and countless chains. I'm very happy!

It still runs well. Not quite as good as it once did, but then again, neither do I. I keep thinking that it will blow up soon, but it never does. Thanks for making a great saw. When it finally does die, I will be at one of your dealers getting a 260 Pro. Thanks again.

Doug Richardson
Hilton, New York

The Crestline Fire Department recently used donated funds from local organizations and fund raisers to purchase new equipment to help gain access to fire scenes. Two new power saws, a STIHL Magnum™ Rescue chain saw and a STIHL Cutquik® enable access through wood, plaster and metal. Axes, pry bars, pike poles, lights and a battering ram were also purchased. All donations are greatly appreciated by the members of the CFD. Displaying the new equipment are, from left to right, firefighters Joe McElvain, Jeff Vanderpool, Mike Weisman and Asst. Fire Chief Bill Sharp.
Photo & caption courtesy of the Crestline Advocate.

I would just like to say thank you for making great products. I purchased a BR 550 backpack blower last fall and it worked better than expected. I can't believe the power of this blower. It starts every time I need it. This spring, I had to do some yard clean up, and I needed to cut a few trees. My father-in-law gave me his old McCollough MAC 3200 because it wouldn't start. Well I got it running, but I could not get it tuned correctly. So instead of spending the day tuning the Mac, I purchased a MS 250 with an 18 inch bar. What a great homeowner saw! It has great power, starts right up, and works like a champ. Thanks again

Dennis Lardizzone
Sturbridge, Massachusetts

I wanted to take a couple of minutes and thank you for providing an outstanding product. I have owned my STIHL chain saw for 23 years. It is a model 024 Super. For many years, I depended on it to cut firewood for my parents and my family. We heat our homes solely with wood heat. I also use it on my farm for work. It has never let me down. To this day, I can start it and work all day with it. Someday, I will pass it down to my kids with the knowledge that they will be able to use and depend on it for their work.

Thank you again for designing and manufacturing such great products.

James Markin
Bethel Springs, Tennessee

I have had a Homelite saw for years. In fact, I have had a couple of them. A couple of days ago, I purchased a MS 260 PRO with a 20" bar.

Today was my first experience using my new STIHL chain saw. I cut up the trunk of a large oak tree into manageable sized logs and cut down a large ash tree. I felt it necessary to take time to write and tell you that my MS 260 PRO is great. I wish that I would have purchased one sooner. Whoever is involved in designing, engineering, and manufacturing these units; please tell them "nice job."

John Harris
Rochester, Michigan

Every fall, in October, my brothers and cousins get together and cut wood for winter fuel for our cabin. This year, we cut and stacked about three cords worth. My daughter, 11 months old at the time, even got in on the action. Thank you for making such a dependable and powerful product. I've used STIHL products for over ten years now, and I won't use anything else.

Michael Hoy

(Editor’s Note: STIHL always recommends the use of protective apparel when using outdoor power equipment.
Please see your instruction manual for complete information)

Well it took almost two years but I found it, my STIHL 026 that is.

We had a very bad flood on August 30, 2004 and I lost almost everything I owned. Well the first thing I did was bought a new STIHL 029 Farm Boss®. FEMA actually reimbursed me $218 for it. (Who said FEMA doesn't pay?) We had to clear a lot of debris, and then it was rebuild time. Unfortunately, home-owners flood insurance does NOT cover flood damage.

Well I still missed my STIHL 026. I had bought it new in 1990, and it always ran perfectly! Never adjusted the high/low, never changed the plug, never changed the air cleaner, and it always started up on the 2nd-4th pull.

Luckily, I recovered my beloved saw. I found it embedded in the stream bed located 250 yards from where my garage stood. It doesn't look all that bad. (Which is more than I can say about the 14v. DeWalt drill, that I found laying next to it. After giving it a quick washing off and removing the filter cover (but not the filter), I discovered that all of the triggers and switches still work. The fuel still smelled and looked good. But the oil reservoir was a little milky. The cord still pulled, but it didn't retract.

I can't wait to bring it to John Eschenberg in Callicoon N.Y. These guys just set up my STIHL 029 with a sawmill/ ripping bar and chain. (It works great) They also showed me all the steps necessary to switch the two different bars/sprockets etc...

What I'm saying is thanks for a great product that is always 100% reliable and for an independent sales staff that is very knowledgeable. (Yes, I heard your recent commercials on the radio). I'll let you know how thing turn out, thanks again.

James Mathiasen
Westbrookville, New York

Alan Keller has been a chainsaw carver for 2 decades. He prefers the STIHL chain saw -- we call it "20 years of Stihl" as he only uses dead/downed trees. While your timber series is certainly exciting, there's a story of rebirth, dependability, spirit and constancy in what Keller does.

Mr. Keller's contact information is Alan Keller, 941-447-1309 * POB 81, Cortez, FL 34215

Rhonda K. Kitchens
Cortez, Florida

We have 15 acres of trees in the Sierra foothills. My wife has always been afraid of chain saws. When she saw how safe and easy to use the STIHL 23 inch chain saw is, she told me to buy a 12 to 14 inch chain saw for her. She actually wants to help manage our forest. Thank you for such an impressive product. If I wasn't already gainfully employed, I would not hesitate to become a STIHL dealer. Thanks for your fine product.

John G. Reynolds
San Ramon, California

I am a pro chain saw carver with 32 years of experience. The carving in the picture was carved in 4 days using only one saw,the STIHL MS 170 with a 14" STIHL ROLLOMATIC® Mini guide bar and STIHL PICCO™ saw chain. (The chain only required 1 sharpening on day 4.)

Michael Copas
Gatlinburg, Tennessee

I have owned a STIHL 025 chain saw for 12 years now. In that amount of time, I have cut 10-15 cords of firewood a year. Other than normal wear and tear, I've only had to put one sparkplug in it! I swear by STIHL products. I now own a 420 C blower, an MS 029 Farm Boss® chain saw, and what the wife and I call "Grandpa", the 025. Always use STIHL oil, and 92 octane. Problems? None.

Jim Grosskreutz
Rice Lale, Wisconsin

I have been meaning to send you a note for some time, but have been pretty busy.

We live in Slidell, Louisiana which was hit very hard by Hurricane Katrina. We were one of the many victims of flooding. In my garage, which had 2 feet of water, was my STIHL model 021 chain saw, which I have had for a number of years. The saw had been totally submerged during the storm.

We had evacuated for the storm, and it was approximately 3 months later that I had a chance to take a look at it to see if any thing could be done to salvage it. After checking the carb, cylinder, plug, wiring, and fuel and oil tanks, I could find no visible damage. After fueling with fresh gas and oil, it stared right up after a few pulls, and has been running ever since.

I have used it to cut and clear approximately 25 trees so far, and the only problem that I am having is that some of the trees are getting to big for the saw (16" bar).

You can bet that when I have the need to get another saw, it's going to be a STIHL.

Best saw I ever owned, hands down.

Wayen Williams
Slidell, Louisiana

My wife and I have 17.5 acres in central Wisconsin that went though the worst forest fire in the past 25 years of Wisconsin's history this past spring. I purchased a STIHL 250 chain saw for the clean up. The fire created so much loss for my family and I, but the new chain saw has performed like a ray of light through the burned forest. Since seeing the STIHL perform, my neighbors are sold on STIHL. I am currently saving for a STIHL brushcutter/trimmer. I just know I will be the envy of the neighborhood. Hats off to STIHL and its employees.

Scott Draves
Janesville, Wisconsin

I have since purchased a STIHL trimmer. I have had that for quite a few years now. The only problem with that tool is that it is too good. I start flying around with it, and if I am not careful, I trim more than the weeds!!

The bottom line is as I see it ---- STIHL makes a good Product!!!

Barry Chaves
Sheldonville, Massachusetts

My son was cutting trees on our property and had the misfortune to tip our IH706 tractor on its top in the ditch. We were using a STIHL Farm Boss® to clear out trees to aid in the recovery of the tractor and had set it down while in the process of putting the tractor back on its wheels.  Once the tractor made its final "tip" on all four wheels it proceeded to roll further backwards down the ditch and did not stop until the rear tire (with chains on) landed on top of my chain saw! I thought for sure now along with the damaged tractor I also could add my STIHL saw to the list!  What a surprise when we rolled the tractor off the saw the only damage was a bent handle. The best part was the saw started right up!

It took a lickin' and kept on tickin'!  Timex has nothing on the STIHL chain saw!

Great product line!

Randy Carlson
Hokah, Minnesota

I just got a STIHL MS 290 Farm Boss® with an 18 inch bar and chain for christmas and I used it to cut some wood to try it out. Man, what a saw it is! I have an old Echo 452vl and I thought that was a good saw, but my new farm boss is a lot better in so many ways. Thank, STIHL!.

Me and a buddy were out a few weeks ago cutting a tree up that had fallen down and I was cutting a piece of the tree off. It must have let enough weight off the tree and it let loose and came right into my chest. The branch knocked me down and then fell on top of me. It was a pretty big tree and if it was not for my new Farm Boss® I might have died. But my friend grabbed the saw that was still running after an 8 foot fall to the ground and it did not even crack or damage the chain saw, thank god! My friend then cut me out. I made it out with a few scrapes and cuts; no broken bones or hurt lungs or any thing!

THANKS AGAIN, STIHL, FOR MAKING A CHAIN SAW THAT I CAN DEPEND ON AS WELL AS MANY OTHER CHAIN SAWS I CAN DEPEND ON, TOO!

By the way, I also had one of your guys' STIHL forestry helmets on and if I was not wearing it I would have cracked my head open on the ground. So thanks for that, too!

P.S. I will be buying stihl chain saw chaps and gloves soon!

Adam Speck
Williamsport, Pennsylvania

I purchased an MS 290 a few months ago to cut firewood and thought you might like to know why. A friend of mine bought a new 029 several years ago. The first day out, his nephew dropped it almost 40 feet from a tree. They picked it up, dusted it off, pulled it a couple of times and it started and ran.

We've had two floods in this area since then, which brought down large trees and the creek bank behind his house. While standing on a large log that spanned the creek and as he was sawing on another, he dropped the chain saw. The water was too high and swift to see through. Nine days after the saw fell, he was able to find and retrieve it. He took the saw in the garage drained the fluids, blew out the carb with an air hose, replaced the air filter and after a few pulls, the saw ran. He then took a paint marker wrote LUCKY on the saw, put it under the work bench, and went to the dealer and bought a new MS 290.

Since then he has purchased a used 029 and a used 026. We've used LUCKY along with my 290 and his other saws to cut firewood during the Christmas holiday, they all run like new. Thanks for such a great product.

Mike Rose
Anawalt, West Virginia

First of all, the chain saws that you make are the greatest tools that a person could have. I'm proud to say that I cut wood with STIHL chain saws. When the wind blows hard, the night sets in, and the trees begin to fall, I'm glad that I have great saws in my side box.

Charles Ridolf
Forester of the City of Newport, Rhode Island

Gentlemen, I had owned a STIHL WOOD BOSS®. I would cut 6 or 7 pick-up loads of wood with it at a time, and I NEVER had a problem with the saw. But because of a disability, I gave the saw to my nephew who builds homes.

Later, I found that I could again use a chain saw, and I decided to look at the STIHL MiniBoss™. I knew right away that I was going to buy it. I went to Kramer's Power Equipment in Schuylkill Haven, and the sales staff went over the workings of the saw from top to bottom. (The Easy2Start™ system REALLY helps.) As with my other STIHL chain saws, the only problem that I encountered with my chain saw was not with its wood cutting ability, but that eventually it will run out of gas.

Bill Tihansky
Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania

I usually would not write, but I felt that you should be patted on the back. My grandfather purchased a new STIHL chain saw in the early nineties, and when he died, it was passed to my uncle, and then last year, it was passed to me. It has been used a lot and still runs great.

Last week while building a stock tank it was run over by a dozer. (Not the blade just the engine.) The dozer passed fully over it, and I surely thought it was over with. But to my surprise it was only lightly scratched and started right up. I wish that I would have taken a photo, but I didn't. Anyhow, your company makes a great product, and I thought you should know!

Shawn P Monohan
Harwood, Texas

I own a tree service business in Columbia, Connecticut. I use STIHL chain saws exclusively. I had a Farm Boss® 029 that I had for 5 years. That saw was the best all-around saw I ever had. A couple of months ago, I had a momentary lapse of judgment and left the saw on the tracks of my bulldozer and ran over it. I mourned it for a week, until I finally went and bought a new 029.

Anyhow, my wife was working with me clearing an 8 acre parcel on our farm. She had her digital camera in her hand and saw this picture. It was about being at the right place at the right time. It is our dog, Jake, sitting by my little STIHL MS 250 and a gallon of STIHL bar oil. (Jake works with me almost every day. He even knows when to go sit somewhere clear of where I am working. I wouldn't have it any other way.) She quickly piled a few sticks with the dog and snapped several epics. This is the best one. It was so good that I had it professionally altered so that the photo is black and white with only the dog and the STIHL chain saw in color. I am having post cards made up with our name and standard marketing material on the back. It is an eye catcher. This should be used by your marketing department!

Paul J. Palletize
Jake's Berry Patch Farm
Columbia Area Tree Removal
Columbia, CT

Twenty years ago I purchased a STIHL 024 AV chain saw. After using it to cut firewood for eight or nine years, it has been in the garage collecting dust. A week or so ago my son got it out, put gas in it, pulled the cord twice and it started right up and ran great! I wish everything was built like a STIHL! Thanks for a great product.

Thomas Ryan
Merced, California

I, like many others in South Florida, was recently visited by Wilma. I pressed my old 020 AVP electronic trim saw into service that I have owned for about 33 years. It was my boyhood saw and it has served me well for the duration. That saw, plus a recently purchased MS 250, help me clear all the yards in my immediate area and I was able to then team up with a friend and go around to help others who were unable to do this type of work. During this, I saw all types of saws being used, but my STIHL's out-cut, out-lasted, and out-classed them all, even the bigger saws of the competition. I now plan on a 460 MAGNUM! Keep up the good work. My heartfelt thanks to all the STIHL employees who supplied saws to the many hurricane ravaged areas this season produced. Your hard production work helped a lot of people in many ways!

John Gondola
Sunrise, Florida

I'am in Weaver, CA tonight, and I heard a great Easy2Start™ story from the dealer here.

A 90 year-old man came into their shop for something or another. He was a little down in the dumps because he had to quit cutting wood. He can't start any chain saws anymore. He has tried them all (or so he thought). Ralph (the dealer) said: "I bet I'Ave got a chain saw you can start.”

Ralph said he could see the years fade back off of the old man when he started the MS 250 C-BE on the second pull. Of course, he bought it.

It's great that we can help older folks feel useful again. Who would have ever thought you could make such a contribution to someone's life, just by making a chain saw that they can start?

Needless to say, Ralph tells the story much better than I can recount it. He says the customer is still around, too. I'am sure you have plenty of Easy2Start™ testimonials, but I liked this one.

Thanks,
Jake Brandishing
STIHL Inc.

STIHL received a call from Captain Julian Massey in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and he said that he has used his chain saw four times a day. He wanted to let us know that his MS 310 has helped him through storms, cutting down 20 trees and limbs. Captain Massey has found that the Easy2Start™ system was a great help. It is also user-friendly.

Over 20 years ago, I purchased an 041 AV Farm Boss chain saw and it still performs as well as the day I bought it. Amazing! You make a great product. After the recent hurricane, it paid for itself again and again as many trees on my property fell and I needed a heavy duty saw that could cut them up like butter.

Thank you STIHL!

Robert Overseen
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

I had three trees cut (felled) down by a professional company. I went to Home Depot to rent a chain saw so I could cut the trees and get myself some fire wood when dry. I rented a Ma kita. I have some of their wood-working tools which are good, but their chain saw was very disappointing. My wife told me about an ad in the newspaper where Ace Hardware had STIHL chain saws. I bought the STIHL MS 290, read your manual cover to cover, and went at cutting up the logs that the tree guy's left in my yard. The saw is awesome. I adjusted the tension as needed and put STIHL oil lubricant with every tank of gas/oil mix. This is probably the best tool I have ever purchased...and I have a lot of tools. If I ever need another tool, I will be sure to see if your company makes it before I go shopping at Home Depot.

Thank you for making such a great product!

Sincerely,
Douglas Morris
Woodstock, Georgia

Hello! My name is Norman Minton, Jr. and I live in Loxahachee FL. Monday we endured Hurricane Wilma and unfortunately I lost a 20 X 20 ft. building which blew into the canal behind my house. The worst part is that my STIHL MS 250 was on a shelf and also landed in the canal. The day of the hurricane, I looked for the saw but was unable to locate it because of the murkiness of the water.

My first trip was to the local hardware store that sells STIHL products - they were out of them. I was looking to purchase the MS 290. But here's the good part of the story - yesterday (Friday) the water cleared enough for me to catch a glimpse of the orange saw in the middle of the canal. Needless to say, I went swimming and got the saw out the bottom, it was encased in muck. I pulled the spark plug and exhaust, and pulled the cord and a ton of water came out. I sprayed WD40 down and put new gas in. On the second pull, my STIHL fired up and I was able to cut the trees that had fallen in my yard. Today, I am going over to neighbors to cut trees down. Thanks for a great product!

Sincerely,
Norman Minton, Jr.
West Palm Beach

The chain brake technology built into my STIHL 029 chain saw kept me from losing at least half of my right foot yesterday.

Living in Wisconsin, and using firewood as my primary source of home heating, I cut a lot of wood. My 029 has preformed flawlessly for well over ten years, and has paid for itself many times over in the money I save on fuel oil. Yesterday, this fantastic chain saw earned even more of my respect, when a twisted branch that I was cutting sent the spinning chain bucking wildly upward and then downward. The end of the bar impacted with the toe of my White's Smoke Jumper boot. The chain was sharp, and sliced a two-inch cut into the toe leather of my boot, but because the chain was immediately stopped by the chain brake, the consequences will be a trip to the shoe shop instead of the emergency room, or the funeral home.

After I shut down the saw, and inventoried my toes, I took a few minutes to appreciate the fact that I hadn't been critically injured, and that I wouldn't be spending the next year learning to walk with half a foot, and that I wasn't bleeding to death, and that I had bought a STIHL.

Thank you,

Jim Atkins
Frederic, Wisconsin

I purchased my first STIHL chain saw after the 1997 ice storm that afflicted our area. (Southeast Texas Gulf Coast) That 029 Farm Boss is still in service, and I could not be more pleased with how it has served me. It is my favorite tool.

Rita made the '97 ice storm look like a picnic. You can not imagine the tree damage down here. I'm older and fatter than I was in 1997. So I asked my brother-in-law, who was in a non-affected area, to pick up a smaller saw for me. (Of course it had to be a STIHL.)

He bought me a MS 180 C STIHL MiniBoss™ with a 14" bar. What an awesome little saw! It is performing very well. You can cut with it all day! It starts easily, sips gas and cuts extremely well. I am very pleased. You should be proud of this product. I am.

Mitch Templeton
Beaumont, TX.

I am a volunteer disaster relief worker who responded to Gulfport, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. Our crew was a tree crew that removed downed trees from people's homes in the area. I would like to give credit to your products. We were loaned two STIHL chain saws that absolutely worked flawlessly. What a joy to work with the easy adjustments! Great job, STIHL! We will definitely buy STIHL products when we purchase for our relief unit.

Cliff Bishop
Morris, Alabama

As you know we got hit hard by the storm last month. I had to go out of state to buy a saw. To make a long story short, I purchased a larger saw this time, an MS 290. The saw is good, I expected that, but I didn't expect to run over it with my tractor! I had just pushed a pine tree stump out of the ground and was backing up and felt a bump, like I went over something. I knew there were no roots and there was no pile of dirt there, so when I looked down I was shocked to see my new saw had fallen from the carrying box on back of my bionic blade and had been ran over. It was too dark to even look at the damage that night, but the next morning I checked it out. To my surprise, there was no damage! For the last three weeks, the saw has been used (on and off) for about seven hours a day, and it's still running! I knew the saws were good, but for a L4400 Kubota tractor with a front end loader, bionic blade, and water in its tires to have run over it, I either got lucky or it's a better saw than I thought.

Larry Haddox
Picayune, Mississippi

I bought a MS 290 chain saw when (Hurricane) Rita hit my house. It made life much easier. After the storm, I had over 12 large trees down in my yard. I am glad that I spent the extra money over the cheaper brands. I will be ordering safety supplies from STIHL as soon as we get back on our feet.

Scott Hart
Beaumont, Texas

Recently, STIHL had a TIMBERSPORTS event in Lake Charles. I was there and noticed that your saws really perform. I have an 18" "Brand X" chain saw, but it was alright because I really just used it a little bit. Well Hurricane Rita struck and left a 20" wide tree on my roof and trees and limbs all over my yard.

It took me a whole day to cut up the tree on the roof using my "Brand X" chain saw. The heat index was well over 110 degrees. That did it. I went over to Boudreaux's Lawn Mower shop in Lafayette, LA and talked with those fine people. I bought a STIHL 290. When I got back I started cutting with it. In 30 minutes, I had cut more wood than I had done in a whole day with that piece of junk "Brand X" saw. The thing that amazes me is that I have bought several "Brand Y" products (chain saws) thinking that a quality saw would be too expensive. I can't thank you all enough for the saw that I bought. Typing is not the same as talking. In person, I could tell you how I really feel about "Brands X & Y".

Keep up the good work. And remember, Hurricane Katrina is only one hurricane that hit the gulf coast. Rita was a lot worse as far as damage around here.

Paul Ogea
Lake Charles, Louisiana

I live in North Mississippi and was not effected by Katrina, but my pastor's family was. They live in South Mississippi, in Pearl County. This is a very rural area. They came to my pastor's home while the storm struck and returned the following Tuesday. This is the day the levees broke in New Orleans.

My pastor went home with his parents, who are in their 70's, to help them and his brother. He called around to borrow some things that he knew he would need. I loaned him my 025 STIHL chain saw with one sharp old saw chain, a new saw chain, gas, mixing oil, bar oil, plus other items, and instructions to run the chain saw until it quits!

I did not hear from the pastor for four days until he came home Sunday to preach. He told me he felt as if I had been with him all week. He said that he wore out the old saw chain and changed over to the new one. The pastor said that he thought he was going to wear out the saw so he quit using it and used some other brands that other people had.

After a couple of hours of using the other chain saws. My pastor said he couldn't stand the problems that he was having and picked up my STIHL and used it until about a week ago.

It never quit, stalled, missed, jammed, had the chain jump off, or failed to start. Good gas, good oil, excellent saw!

Thank you for an excellent saw that I could loan with confidence and know it would not fail. To think, it's about 15 years-old!

Jim Estes
Horn Lake, Mississippi

I received your thank-you letter in the mail the other day, for the purchase of my 2nd chain saw. A little over a year ago I purchased a STIHL Farm Boss for cutting firewood(this is all we heat our house with).

I don't know how you make them, but keep doing the same way. My chain saw starts the first time every time, not like the others saws I've had. I've cut about 50 trees and 20 cords of wood. And I'm still cutting wood for this winter.

I also purchased a MS 170 for cutting small stuff. So far I've been working it for the last 2 weeks. It works great! Thank you for making a very good product.

Mark Kozubal
Trafford, Pennsylvania

I am a Certified Quality Engineer. I own three pieces of STIHL equipment: a chain saw, a weed eater and a limb trimmer. I know quality when I see it and use it. I would just like to say that your machines are fantastic and a pleasure/joy to use. My favorite tool? It is the one I am using at the time. Thanks

Ron Young
Mulberry, Arkansas

I received your letter recently, and I decided to acknowledge it with a word about the quality of your products.

I own a number of STIHL products: chain saws, chain sharpeners, pole pruners, etc. I'm not unique in owning STIHL products. My whole family owns STIHL chain saws. The reason being, they can cut the mustard. We saw our first STIHL chain saw about 20 years ago, and we were impressed by what this product could do. I don't mind paying the price for quality, and the employees at STIHL do make a fine product.

I also like the way that you sent me a letter of thanks after each of my STHL purchases. This loyalty that you display to your customers is another feather in your hat. Please keep up the good work. People appreciate quality at an affordable price. So have a good day, and thank you.

Rick Kissinger

I bought a STIHL MS 310 yesterday. I went to cut wood for the winter, and I'm telling you that it is the most comfortable saw that I have ever used. The weight of the saw was evenly balanced, so I felt less fatigued. And the power was just amazing! Cutting wood was like passing a hot knife through butter! I love this saw. If anyone has a chance, I recommend that you get one for yourself. Even the price was incredible!

Richard Kelley
Solon, Maine

I just received a letter from STIHL regarding my latest purchase of a STIHL FS 55 trimmer. I was actually glad when I bid my last string trimmer "farewell", because I've had my sights on the FS 55 for over a year now. (The previous trimmer was NOT a STIHL.)

I've also got a STIHL 030 AV chain saw that was purchased by my father back in October of 1971. And I still have the original receipt. I was about a year old when he bought the saw, and I watched him cut with it my entire life. Now it is in my possession (It has been for some time now.), and it is still cutting just as well as it did when my father bought it. Given its age, it still looks new. This is because my father always cleaned it up after every use.

I just wanted to let you guys know that you make the best power equipment on the market. And though some of it might cost a little bit more on the front end, I'd like to point out that my 33 year-old chain saw is still buzzing away! Materials and manufacturing might have changed a bit since the early 70's but your equipment will still outperform anything that I've come across. Keep up the good work and let the people and employees of STIHL know that they are making one of the best, as well as one of the best QUALITY, products in America.

Thanks,
Daniel Lewis
Louisville, KY

Sir Robert, of the McFarland clan, and a knight of the Imperial Constantinian Military Order of Saint George, is pictured here with his Stihl 015AV. While he's much too young to have marched with Constantine in the crusades, he did fight in the Battle of the Bulge.

Sir Robert was officially knighted in 2000. When asked the most significant aspect of being a knight, he grins and says in a soft voice, "Well, my wife is finally a Lady."

Stan and Debbie Crader, who purchased Sir Robert and Lady Shirly McFarland's home in Estes Park, Colorado, discovered the saw tucked away in a garage closet. The 015AV was purchased by Sir Robert in 1979 and hadn't been run for at least ten years. Stan fueled it and the reliable Stihl started on the fifth pull.

Sir Robert remembers the saw being rated number one by a leading consumer magazine at the time of his purchase. Being a true Scotsman, he only purchases the best and then takes very good care of it.

The saw still looks and runs like new.

My wife and I went tubing down the Platte River over the 4th of July weekend. When we were 3/4 of the way down the river we stopped at a sandbar to have a beer, when out of the corner of my eye I saw something in the water that was white and orange. At first, I thought it was a minnow bucket because I saw an orange handle and white vents. But as I was pulling it out of the sand and water I found out that it was a STIHL chain saw. The only part of the saw that was not buried in the sandy river bed was the side with the recoil and part of the handle. The whole thing was underwater. I pulled it out and set it on the side of the river, since I had no way of getting it back to my campsite on a rubber tube. The next day, I went tubing again, this time bringing a extra tube and cooler to put the chain saw in. The kill switch was in the off position when I found it (lucky me!) and the label had a 2002 manufacture date. I brought the saw home and over the last few weeks I have been rebuilding the it.

I tore down the saw and rebuilt it. The only thing that I did not take apart was the cylinder. I blew a ton of sand out of the saw and scrubbed a lot of green stuff off of it. It now looks almost like new. I did not replace any parts on it; I only cleaned them and put them back together. I even have the same spark plug and coil in it.

Tonight, I decided that it was time to finish putting it back together. When it was apart the cylinder looked very clean through the exhaust and intake ports. I have never worked on small engines before, so at this point I was preparing myself for disappointment. I went out and bought some 2 cycle oil, a 1 gallon gas can, and some chain oil. I put the gas oil mixture in and added some bar oil. To my surprise, it started up on the 7th pull.

I almost had a heart attack when it started. It shot out some blue smoke from the extra oil that I poured down the cylinder during the rebuilding, but it ran well. I adjusted the low idle a little, and it runs perfectly. I can't believe that it runs.

I ran it for a while tonight to make sure that it is okay, but I can't wait to go try it out on a tree.

The saw is a 029 super. I downloaded a manual from your site to learn more about it. If you would like some pictures just drop me an e-mail or call. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed my story as much as I have enjoyed my journey with my new saw and best of all, I got it for FREE!

Mark Grotte
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

This past weekend, I bought my second STIHL MS 290 chain saw. My wife and I had a tremendous amount of wood to cut and I wouldn't think of going anywhere else but STIHL.

Additionally, Sam, a co-worker of mine, bought a competitor's saw from The Home Depot and was not very happy with it. I suggested that he return that saw and save up his pennies for a STIHL. Hopefully, Sam & I will be going to The Sharp Shop in Midland Park, NJ sometime next week during lunch, so that he can get himself an orange, wood-eating monster of his own.

Jim McDonough
Wyckoff, New Jersey

I have been clearing off three acres to move on to, cutting trees on weekends since October 2004. I have an MS290 Farm Boss. These pictures will show the amount of wood that was cut. I have owned several other chain saws, but the STIHL MS 290 Farm Boss is by far the best that I have ever used!

Robert Sharp
Vichy, Missouri

My neighbors had ten 100-year-old walnut trees removed that were situated along our common fence line. They took the trunks and left the rest for anyone who wanted them.

Unfortunately, in this weather, firewood is not in big demand. (The temperature hit 92 degrees today.) It took four days to clean up the mess. A job this big, definitely required my two STIHL chain saws.

I currently own a STIHL 017 chain saw that I got last year, and I also have a 025 chain saw that is four years-old. Maybe next year, I'll get a larger STIHL saw, possibly one with a longer bar. (The 025 came with a 18-inch guide bar.) I have three acres of land and live in a heavily timbered area. So there are a lot of old trees that need to be removed.

Here is a picture of me and the big pile of wood. By fall, I expect that this pile will grow five times as large. I am 74 years-old, and I believe that wood cutting keeps me young. Keep making good saws. Thank you.

Larry Allen
Ankeny, Iowa

Just discovered the testimonial section and I wanted to put my two cents in. I'm considered "crazy" by all my friends, but my hobby has long been "lumberjacking". I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many of your competitors' saws that I have "used up" since I started this unusual hobby in 1980. I got wise in 1990, and decided that I "couldn't NOT AFFORD a STIHL" any longer.

I bought a 025 because it seemed to fit me in regards to size, weight, power etc. A love affair began, and with "her" I have cleared too many building lots to remember. And I've cut tons of discarded pallets to save them from landfills and given friends & acquaintances fuel-wood that they couldn't afford to buy.

Two years ago we were ripped by Hurricane Juan and the Provincial Gov't. said that we conservatively lost ten million trees. Pals said I'd died and gone to heaven. I have set out to try and clean-up as many of those 10 million trees as I can! Some of these trees are huge, of course, so I got my 025 some help in the form of two 028 saws. I fitted one with a 20" guidebar, the other an 18" guidebar. The 025 originally has a 15" guidebar so I bought another one and put a new 16" on her, and I've been a whirling dervish ever since.

My wife threatened divorce me if I didn't slow up a little, so I have scaled back now to just helping out two deserving land-owners. One's a gentleman with MS; he has about 7 acres. The other is an 87 year-old lady wi