Chain Saws > 2-Stroke Chain Saws

Advantages: none
Disadvantages: no customer service at all if things go wrong

I'd never buy another Stihl anything again after the way I've been treated. Very Briefly. Bought a chainsaw in 2005. Used it sparingly for domestic use cutting a few branches for my log fires. It broke. Wouldn't oil the chain. Was told by service agents that a bearing had broken and this had hit the casing, cracking it, causing oil to flow out and not into lubricating the chain. Cost as much to replace casing as buy new one. I phoned Stihl, they ...
...bearing and clutch parts. Stihl eventually picked up saw for checking. 3 months later and they still haven't told me what's wrong with it. I even had an email 11 days ago saying that it had come back from the workshop and I'd have another email in the next day or two......... I've sent emails requiesting an update they just get ignored. I've been without my saw for over 6 months now. I emailed the MD, he deleted my mail without even opening it. Stihl ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent all round saw
Disadvantages: You do need additional safety equipment

Chainsaw Massacre it isn't. Now a little tale about me to understand my use and even love of Chainsaws. No…….I'm not into Chainsaw Massacre's but I do love to gather logs and fell trees given half a chance. I was brought up in the wilds of the Shropshire hills. So much so, we didn't even have electricity and relied on either paraffin lamps or a rather antiquated diesel Lister generator that just about pumped out enough power to power the light ...
...14 when I first handled and used a Chainsaw. A rather old and underpowered machine I seem to remember. Because of where we lived it meant we were reliant on our Rayburn in the kitchen for all our hot water and cooking facilities, and a wood burning stove in our sitting room. And we were fortunate that the local farmer who had owned the house we'd bought gave us permission to access his small beech tree wood that was just up the hill above the house. ... Read review

Advantages: Small with power to spare
Disadvantages: none that I detect

After an ice storm I had a backyard full of broken limbs hanging everywhere. I literally could not walk in my backyard and I have a big back yard. I had to actually go to the hardware store to buy a saw because I couldn't get to the saw I already owned in my outdoor shop do to trees laying in front of doors. (We were out of electricity for 9 days during all this by the way). Right out of the box the 142 was cutting limbs with an inch of ice on them ... Read review

Advantages: Easy of use and maintenance, portable and not to mention reliable
Disadvantages: None I have found. Chainsaws are inherently dangerous...

Brilliant value small saw. Excellent reliability, has never let me down although I have only owned it for 6 months. I found starting frustrating at first because I hardly ever read instructions and wasn't using the cold start/ warm start positions properly. Chain brake feels very convincing when tested and is as safe as a tool of this nature could possibly be. The filler caps are logically placed and very easy to refuel and re-oil. Very easy to ...
...soon beds in with some use. I would advise this saw above equivalents from other manufacturers which cost slightly less as the name speaks for itself and you will probably never need to replace it as service dealerships are plentiful. Engine power delivery is smooth and the cut is effortless on everything I have ever used it on. I am in the garden maintenance business and do not specialise in treework. This is a great saw for removing low branches, ... Read review

Advantages: easy handling, reliability
Disadvantages: hard to find

My chain saw is equipped with a 59 cc, 3,4 kW engine and a (longer end of the range and not standard) 50 cm sword but the handling is done without any particular effort, which is remarkable for this semi-pro type of equipment. Using it for 1 or 2 hours without interruption should be no problem for somebody used to this kind of job. Cuts through all kinds of wood smoothly and without any problem. Ideal power-weight ratio. Vibrations are reduced to ...
...not used for a longer period sometimes proves difficult even though decompression valve is used, but not usual for this type of equipment. Using the combination start/stop/choke button needs some practice. The chain lubrication adjustment could use a more practical design. Spark plug cap not easy to remove for big fingers! ... Read review