Stihl chainsaws is one of best chainsaw brand in the world. They’ve been dominating the market in the manufacture of chainsaws for 70 years now, but their products are only available in exclusive dealerships. Their chainsaws are known for their slender and sleek quality and they’re always ahead of the curve in terms of their technological innovations. One of the standout features of Stihl chainsaws is “anti-vibe”, which allows you to use the chainsaw easily without getting tired.
However, while all Stihl chainsaws are great in their own individual rights, they’re all meant for different purposes. As such, one Stihl chainsaw might be ideal for one buyer, but not for another. In this article I’ll compare two of the leading Stihl Chainsaws in the market — Stihl MS170, and Stihl MS290 (aka Farm Boss Chainsaw).
Best Stihl Chainsaws
If you want a quick summary of the basic differences between the two Stihl chainsaws, you can go through this article. However, before you choose either one, I encourage you to read the whole article.
1.Stihl MS170
Stihl MS170 is an extremely reasonable chainsaw to be used by homeowners to work on their yards and on similar light weights purposes. It’s extremely small in size, and as such it can easily be stored in small sheds and garages. Due to the fact that it’s so light weight and meant for small jobs, you don’t need to worry about much of a kickback from it. As such, it’s an ideal chainsaw for beginners and hobbyists as well.
While the Stihl MS170 comes with a 16” bar, you can even swap it for bars as small as 12”, depending on the type of work you’re doing. In addition to the bar, the chainsaw is powered by a 30.1 cc two-stroke engine. As such, it’s quit powerful for small jobs and can cut through logs at over an inch per second. This chainsaw is also incredibly fuel-efficient, perhaps one of the most efficient amongst all the Stihl chainsaws. A unique and useful feature of this chainsaw is the IntelliCarb Compensating Carburetor. This carburetor works to balance the air-to-fuel ratio in the machine. It draws air from the clean side and prevents debris and shavings from collecting in the engine. As such, it keeps the chainsaw running at a uniform rpm, and it also increases the machine’s longevity.
Ideal for: Pruning, trimming, clearing weak branches from the yard, etc.
Caution: Stihl MS170 vibrates very heavily. Exposure to such vibrations over a long period can cause serious fatigue, and it can even damage internal blood vessels and nerves. However, this chainsaw comes with rubber-surfaces on the handles to absorb the shock, and you’re advised to make use of them to minimize the vibrations felt by your body.
| PROS:Light weightFuel efficientPowerful and fastCan cut through 1 inch in a second | CONS:Strong vibrationsNot ideal for heavy duty work |
2.Farm Boss Chainsaw: Stihl MS290
Stihl MS290, also known as Farm Boss Chainsaw, is Stihl’s highest selling product. It’s also one of the most powerful chainsaws in the market with an 18” bar powered by a 56.5 cc engine. As such, it’s ideally meant for powerful work such as the chopping of trees, and it’s meant to be used by seasoned professionals.
This chainsaw also comes with the trademark IntelliCarb compensating carburetor which maintains the ideal air-to-fuel ration, and helps keep the engine clear of debris and other waste. This enhances the longevity of the chainsaw and ensures that it works in an even speed. This is primarily the reason why this chainsaw can effortlessly tear through anything, even the largest of substances.
Ideal for: Landscaping, felling of trees, and farm use.
| PROS:330 cc Oil tank capacityCan tear through anythingExtremely powerful 56.5 cc engineCan accommodate bars between 16” and 20”IntelliCarb compensating carburetor regulates the air-to-fuel ratio | CONS:Strong vibrationsNot suitable for light weight projectsNot suitable for beginners and amateurs |
Where to Buy a Stihl Chainsaw?
If you’re looking for Stihl chainsaws on Amazon or any such online shops, we’re sorry to say that you won’t be able to find it there. If you want a chainsaw that you can conveniently buy online, this isn’t the one for you. Stihl prides itself on being an exclusive premium brand, and as such they only make their products available in select dealerships.
Stihl chainsaws are only sold through the dealers in “brick and mortar” stores. In the Stihl website, they explain that their product is only sold through dealers because they test the product thoroughly and take the customer through a brief tutorial and training. This is done for the safety of the individual in question, and also so as to familiarize them with the nuances of the product being sold. As such, Stihl keeps their chainsaws exclusive for safety purposes.
This unique approach has won them a lot of acclaim in the world of chainsaws, and it’s the main reason they’re such a respected name in the industry. As such, if you want to buy a Stihl chainsaw, you’ll have to go to the nearest dealers of the product. You can find a list of their dealers in their website’s Dealer Page.
In Conclusion…
So now you know all about the two most popular Stihl Chainsaws. As you can see, they’re both awesome but they serve different purposes. MS170 is meant for beginners and homeowners as it has a lower power and it can help trim bushes, etc. In comparison, MS290 is a monster chainsaw that can tear through anything at all, and as such should be handled only by professionals for heavy duty tasks.
Whichever chainsaw you decide to purchase, you’ll have to track down the dealer online and purchase the chainsaw physically, after receiving a training.
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