Thread: Stihl Chainsaw Decision

Like you my stihl is over 10 yo. It was the best brand around when I got it and I suspect it ''stihl'' is. As I have not been looking to upgrade all I can suggest is go to a few dealers and take a look at what is on offer and see what your dollars will get. I think chainsaws in general have become more affordable since I last got one.
Regards
John

ps I would be looking at larger than 12'' for general firewood cutting. Say 16'' or 20'' but dont go too big as wealding a heavy monster all day is hard on the back.

What is your current model - don't worry about how old it is I can look up the specifications and then we can take it from there.

The model is '009' and I bought it 2nd hand from a friend at the time. It really is too small for my needs, but I have perservered etc.

Originally Posted by cava

The model is '009' and I bought it 2nd hand from a friend at the time. It really is too small for my needs, but I have perservered etc.

The 009 (I also have one) is a 37 cc saw.
the next decent jump up in cc would then be to a 45 - 50 cc saw.

Have a look on this page (STIHL Products | STIHL | Stihl, chain saws, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, clearing saws, high-pressure cleaners) and you will see what these size stihls cost.
As you will see you will need ~$800 to get a 45 cc saw- stihl prices are usually pretty firm unless you can find a special.

If you want a 50 cc saw like the 291 (excellent saw BTW) then you will be up for a grand.

The only brand besides Stihl and Husky I would recommend is Dolmar/Makita (DCS500/45-Petrol Chainsaw 2-stroke - Makita Australia).
Their 50 cc saw is a great saw aroumd 2/3rd the price of the stihl but will last as long as the stihl.

Thanks for the advice BobL.

Whilst I like the Stihl product, the Makita or Husky products may be viable alternatives to consider.

I rang a Stihl distributor today and, without any hesitation, the prices on the circa $800-$1000 range dropped $50, so I would say that a discount of $100 would be achievable. Not great, but still better in my pocket than someone else's. Likewise the Makita model you suggested was $678, also with room to maneuver.

The Husky was the real surprise package with my son doing some internet searches in the USA. He can buy and land them here for circa 1/2 price of the local offering - naturally no warranty or backup, but still worth considering.

There appears to be a lot of un-certainty in the retail arena, hence the willingness to deal, and to be honest I think that several will go to the wall. Unfortunate, but probably reality.

SWMBO bought me a Stihl MS181 Mini-Boss for Fathers Day for delimbing trees I felled with my MS441 Magnum. It's a 31cc with a 14" bar and I think we paid $399 for it. I'm pretty happy with it.

My 2c worth
Derek

I bought the Stihl 038 some 25 years ago. That's the size bigger than the Farm Boss, and is the smallest of the professional saws. Cost around $1000 then and probably about the same now. Money well spent, go big if you can!

I have a Wood Boss MS250 for light work and a Farm Boss MS391 for the heavy stuff.

I picked up the 391 from eBay - a new insurance replacement; as I recall, about $800.

The 391 is a beast; heavy, torquey and kick-backy - not a machine to be taken for granted. I'll always reach for the 250 unless I need the extra length of the 391.

BTW - I run Oregon chainbars with greaseable nose sprockets; worth it.


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I am not knocking Stihl here but 20 years ago we would use a chainsaw everyday for work, at 3 or 4 years the saws would be replaced and the boss came in with a Husqvarna, well we could not believe the difference it was better in every way. This might not apply to today's saws.
Have a look a the Shindiawa's [around $600]which is my present saw and i am very happy with, it replaced a old American Homelite which picked up a piston and with no Parts in Oz it wasn't worth fixing, it was the most powerful saw i have used and i miss the old girl.

That's my 2bobs worth.

I also have a 009L, mine is 41cc. Handy little saw, I have a 066 as well. The Makita 64cc is about $780 at the moment and I think they are a good saw. Parts are easy to get. Have a look at some of the tool shops.

I have been looking, on paper at least, at the various brands and their own marketing ranges and I am confused.

A case in point is the Stihl range. I have been looking at the Landowner and Professional models and, naturally, the Professional models are more expensive. However, what is the real difference between them?

The bar and chain would probably be similar, the polymer casing is just a housing and probably be the same manufacturing cost, the engines have similar capacities and near kW outputs.

So what is the real difference that would entice me to pay extra for the Professional models over the Landowner models?

Are the motors that much better with different components? Chrome bore, different electrics etc? Are the Professional models that much better?

Originally Posted by cava

So what is the real difference that would entice me to pay extra for the Professional models over the Landowner models?

Unless you are sawing for a living or subject saws to a very heavy workload there is no difference.

Take the weight difference between the 362 and the 391, the 1/2 kg difference seems like nothing but if you are toting the saw many hours a day for 5 days a week it adds up.

Well, I bit the bullet and got a Stihl MS362 with a 25" bar. Had a play today and it is a handful. A bit big for me, especially when comparing it to the 009, but the price was right.

Whilst I would like to buy locally, the RRP was $1449, and my son bought it online from the USA A$638.49 delivered. A saving of $800 is nothing to sneeze about. It just goes to show how much we tend to pay down under compared to other countries.

Originally Posted by cava

Well, I bit the bullet and got a Stihl MS362 with a 25" bar. Had a play today and it is a handful. A bit big for me, especially when comparing it to the 009, but the price was right.

Whilst I would like to buy locally, the RRP was $1449, and my son bought it online from the USA A$638.49 delivered. A saving of $800 is nothing to sneeze about. It just goes to show how much we tend to pay down under compared to other countries.

The US to Oz saws are slightly different specs, and the US model will have a little less power due to the exhaust and a couple of other differences, it will also be slightly quieter. I picked up a pole saw recently for $600 landed from the US (free freight), four stroke and certainly quieter than the last one we used and a lot cheaper. Can't say I noticed the power difference seemed to have as much grunt as the last saw. I also use an old Stihl 044 for firewood, handed down from the FIL it has done a very large amount of farm and firewood work and remains a good saw except for being a bit stroppy on idle which is wear and tear I guess.