Best STIHL Chainsaw for Homeowners and Professionals Alike

Stihl is undoubtedly the world's top-selling brand in the chainsaw industry, as well as the largest and oldest: Andreas Stihl invented the first chainsaw sometime in 1926. This company is well-known for several good reasons- performance, dependability, and durability of designs, easy starting technology and ease of maintenance. Stihl offers chainsaws for any need you might think of that is, for use at home or for a professional service. Having a wide variety of Stihl chainsaws from the top of the line, how do you make the right decision for purchasing the best Stihl chainsaw?

Stihl chainsaws are known for their huge power, high reliability, comfortable when in use and for very reasonable price. Even more importantly, the brand is also recognizable for a couple of cool tricks in the chainsaws aimed at the user – that is why they have cemented the top spot. Therefore, we have compiled a guide of the best Stihl chainsaws to help you find the one that's most suitable for you:

1. STIHL MSA 140 C-BQ

The MSA 140 C-BQ is one of the most recommended battery-powered chainsaw that shockingly acts much bigger than what it really is, with a slim build of just 8.19 pounds in weight. It is quite useful for simple operations like pruning, climbing, firewood cutting, and even bucking a few trees. This is one of the small chainsaws with guide bar sizes approximate to 10-14 inches and it can only accommodate up to a 12 inch bar. It is, by no means, the optimal solution for getting wood from large hardwood trees.

Equipped with a 36V battery, it is much quieter than most other gas models out in the market. The trimmer is fully charged, and can provide power up to 45minutes but if you are using it to trim thick trunk, then the battery will discharge quickly. The battery and a charger are also sold separately, and if you plan on making this your only chainsaw, be prepared to spend quite a bit on it.  However, it has an impressive 3-years manufacturer warranty included.

2. STIHL MS 251 C-BE

This is a classic chainsaw that is both powerful and lightweight to-boot that is convenient for taking a 16-18-inch bar. This has an added advantage of having a start up option which is relatively more flexible to operate; it is also very flexible to fix and remove the gas and oil cap. Still, it is more old school and comes with a chain-tightener so you won’t need another tool. Not forgetting that it is relatively portable it only weighs 11.9 lbs.

The chainsaw has even more energy efficient 45.6cc engine emissions that are lower than any conventional car brand. It also has less vibration so that the user can use it comfortably for a much longer while – without those still quite typical uncomfortable shakings that are inherent to power tools use for hours.On the other hand, if the maintenance is well done then this tool-Stihl MS 251 C-BE can be useful for several years.

3. STIHL MS 271 Farm Boss

This chainsaw's name speaks for itself. The Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss operates as a reliable companion amidst the farm or on the ranch. It has a 50.2cc engine for work on your land and can accept bar sizes between 16 to 20 inches, more than enough for every task on your land. Additionally, for the chainsaw’s proper operation and cleanliness it has an air filtration system.

The MS 271 Farm Boss is slightly heavier at 12.3 lbs for which we wouldn’t blame any company since it has a relatively bigger engine for better power to weight ratio. It also comes with the easy-start feature, which, though, can be a tad difficult to start for some users.  However, in case you want a high powered machine for high duties on your plantation, then this is probably the best Stihc1 chainsaw in the market to grab.

4. STIHL MS 461

Almost everyone may not require a professional chainsaw but in case you do, the MS 461 is the best Stihl. New Stihl power horse is said to be up to 20% more efficient than previous Stihl power horses, an improvement from the previous model. Indeed, it is one of the most popular Stihl chainsaws, and most of the positive comments are from professionals.

This-powered chainsaw is quite weighty but it should be, in order to support a 32-inch bar onto it. Some of the features which come with it are easy start –up and decompression.. With the whopping 76.5cc engine, the scooter is perfectly capable of doing most tasks, no matter how strenuous.

5. STIHL MSE 170 C-BQ

The MSE 170 C-BQ Electric Chainsaw is essentially a miniature chainsaw meant for most domestic use simply because it is not capable of accommodating anything more than a 12-16 inch bar. It’s light in weight (8.4 lbs), easy to operate provided belonging to the power tools class, easy to start, doesn’t require gas or oil (except a few drops of oil for the bar n chain), fairly easy on the maintenance also. You just need 13.1 amps of power, and they’re right to go.

The MSE 170 C-BQ is ultra-safe, comes with an additional chain brake system that halts the chain in the event of an accident. It also has tension adjuster knob to enable the tensioning of the chain instead of exerting force by means of other devices. It comes with a 1-year warrant. And since it is an electric chainsaw you will have to connect it to an electrical socket for it to work.

Why Should You Buy A STIHL Chainsaw

There is a very good reason, why you will not be able to buy an original Stihl chainsaw on Amazon or eBay or any other online shopping mart or retail store selling all kinds of products. Stihl is dedicated to keeping sales, services, and warranties close and personal does not sell directly to public or other retailers. This means that there will always be someone to offer professional advice and service in the course of using your chainsaw – you, for instance, may experience some problems with your Stihl chainsaw someday; this is one of the key attractions to current and potential customers.

On top of offering high-quality chainsaws for just about any situation you might stumble into, here are a couple more reasons why you should choose the Stihl brand:

1. Variety of Choices

Stihl does not have one particular category of the targeted consumer. On the contrary, the company has different chainsaws designed for different tasks to be accomplished. For example, they use extra large chainsaws to work with thick trunks during the day and-mini chainsaws during brief moment, for example, for trimming trees, which are near the house. You will also find Stihl saws that combines power and ease of handling to give you a chainsaw that can deal with a wider range of tasks.

2. Multiple Power Sources

Power sources also differ on Stihl chainsaws. They have machines that they use gas, batteries, and direct electric current in their line. Not surprisingly, the performance ratings of various power sources vary as well. However, all the Stihl products are always expected to perform and do the job very well.

3. Great Value

The truth is, Stihl chainsaws are not the cheapest on the market, but their products are without a doubt worth the totality of your investment. In fact, it would not be shocking to find out that the Stihl chainsaw of your choice offers more than the amount that you paid for it. To understand this better, a mid range chainsaw from Stihl within the same range actually performs better than some premium offerings from its counterparts.

That said, the price points shouldn’t put you off because they are definitely worth it. It is very easy to come across a low cost Stihl chainsaw at a cheap price. And just as in even higher models, it will still go as though it costs two times the amount of this price range.

4. Continuous Innovation

Despite Stihl being the market leader in chainsaw sector, it still makes continuous advancements to chainsaw technology. Some of these advances are aimed at improving their potency and usability –primarily for the benefit of the customer. Thus, when you choose Stihl, you can expect new models and improved versions of existing ones.

How to Choose the Best STIHL Chainsaw

Consistent with the company's ethos, the Stihl website has an interactive product selector that assists you in choosing the right chainsaw. Four of these really are very basic questions inquiring about the usage frequency, your source of power, type of cutting tasks and the maximum size of timber you shall be cutting. Among them, you select some particular models to focus on; moreover, you can compare these models in the website to know more about the models you need.

These are the 6 categories of chainsaws that Stihl offers:

1. Homeowner Chainsaws

The homeowner saws are meant for cleaning around your home and cutting some firewood. Many of these models have anti-vibration technology to keep vibrations low and also to help alleviate tiredness. Many of them also have the patented STIHL Quickstop Chain Brake for safer operation and a Master Control Lever to simplify starting.

As you would expect homeowner needs are unique for each homeowner For instance the needs of one homeowner will differ with the other. That is why Stihl manufactures a range of saws in this category. Smaller models that include the MS 170 is suitable for limb fellings, light cutting, and prise. Mid range saws such as the MS 251 are perfect for tree felling, cutting firewood and any general home remodeling exercise.

2. Farm & Ranch Chainsaws

These are more advanced models used for tougher operations than the others. The opportunity of the farm and ranch saws is similar to those of the mid-range homeowner saws, the only difference being that the farm and ranch saws are more heavy duty and used daily. It fits nicely into the home owner who have lots of firewood to chop or trees to fell and those, who are not requiring the higher turnout of the professional models.

3. Professional Chainsaws

Professional saws are sturdy tools which are capable of performing very hard and demanding operations continuously. This makes them perfect for uses including logging, clearing land , farming, large firewood cutting jobs and tree service. If you need power and solid cutting capacity for significant massive tasks, then Stihl professional chainsaw will impress you.

4. Electric & Battery-Powered Chainsaws

Battery and electric saws from Stihl are characterized a low noise level with no emission of fumes. Being lighter capacity machines than full-fledged commercial grade gasoline chainsaws, these saws are well suited for home use occasional limbing or bucking jobs, as well as for professional use in tree pruning which two of the best battery operated chainsaw models above include a top handle battery chainsaw.

Generally, electric chainsaws from above reviews seem to be lighter and more comfortable than others but are also quite sturdy. They are perfect suited for any trimming operation as well as cutting of firewood if there is a power source around. Cordless power is best served through battery saws. The battery saws that Stihl offers are portable and lightweight but will continue to provide powerful consistent cutting because of the lithium-ion 36V technology.

5. Gas-Powered Chainsaws

Stihl also has several chainsaws under the gas operating system. In fact, they are some of the biggest selling products for such companies/organizations. These are directed at thousands of professional and consumer who may need more power and compactness of a gas product. As with other Star Delivers for Stihl products, these are also produced to be of premium quality and you expect to serve you for years.

6. In-Tree Chainsaws

In-tree chainsaws are chainsaws that are modern day light with a formidable strength perfect for cutting when one is above the ground.  Which is also referred to as arborist saws or top handle saws, they are designed for use by the professional who requires chainsaw for cutting in-tree from the ground level. This makes in-tree saws especially unique for use in tree service, public maintenance projects, and landscaping.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on STIHL Chainsaws

1. What is the minimum compression of a Stihl chainsaw?

Typically, the Stihl chainsaw usually does not operate below 110 pounds of compression. But this depends on the model, thus the compression readings on their own are not enough to determine the status of the engine.

2. How often should a Stihl chainsaw be tuned up?

In regards to tuning, Stihl strongly advises users to turn to the Maintenance Schedule included in the instruction manual for guidance.

3. What file size should I use to sharpen the saw chain?

There are three main options:

• A 5/32" round file for the 3/8” PICCO chain.
• A 3/16" round file for the .325” chain.
• A 13/64" round file for the 3/8" chain.