Stihl Chainsaw 280
Long ago, I saw a tree guy toss a small Stihl chainsaw 25 feet to the ground. His partner picked it up, refueled it, and started it on the first pull. While I certainly don't plan to abuse any of my tools to that degree, the incident stuck in my memory.
I've used three or four other brands of chainsaws but when a 50-foot-tall, 34-inch-diameter walnut tree fell on my barn, I decided I needed a better chainsaw than I could get at Sears. A brand new Stihl model 280 with a 20-inch bar cost $420 USD at my local store and I don't regret one penny. I've run my 280 continuously (well, with stops for refueling and lemonade) for eight or nine hours without problem. I pinched the blade at one point (user error) hard enough that I had to use a come-along and bow-saw to get it free, but afterwards it still worked fine! The balance is excellent, the weight is manageable (the less expensive model 290 "Farm Boss" is heavier) and there is noticeably less kickback than any other chainsaw I've ever used. All Stihl saws have a "recommended" or "stock" bar length but are capable of running shorter or longer. I wanted the lightest saw that could actually cut through a 36" diameter tree... so I got the lighter 280 with an extra-long 20" bar which fits perfectly and runs fine; it's chewed through 34" of black walnut, 24" of maple, and 10" of oak so far without complaint.
I'm less than happy about owning anything with a 2-stroke motor -- after all, I've been using an electric lawnmower for decades and driving a Prius since 2001 -- but Stihl has even addressed that concern. Their motors use a 50:1 gas/oil mix rather than the 40:1 ratio of cheaper saws, and they sell a (relatively) environmentally friendly bar oil. They also claim to use 50% less bar oil than other brands, and unlike every other saw I've ever used my Stihl 280 never leaks oil on the ground or into the carrying case.
Real pros -- men who use chainsaws eight to ten hours a day for a living -- will want to spend around $900 USD for the model 361, with weight somewhere between the 280 and 290 and *significantly* more horsepower. For the rest of us, a model 280 or 290 is a big, burly tool that will be more than sufficient.
When asked why the word's best selling chainsaw (it's pronounced STEEL, like the metal) is not carried by Wallmart or Home Depot, Stihl representatives will proudly state "because we don't have to!" To find the Stihl distributor nearest you, use their web site's store locator.
-- Charlie Brooks
Stihl MS280 Chainsaw
$420
Manufactured by Stihl
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Terry
I am a military soldier stationed in Germany. I went out to cut some fire wood with my German friend and he had a Stihl chainsaw. I cut my own firewood stateside but I have never seen a 15 year old chainsaw that work so well. He told me he has changed the spark plug 6 times and it has the original chain with only 5 changed teeth. That is why I have to buy one for my self. I hope you ship to APO/FPO. Thank you.9
Lou
I recently purchased one of these myself. The 280 if memory serves, is their smallest professional model. As many might not understand a more technical explanation, it means the motor has better design and parts and will hold up longer than the consumer models. The 290 is a consumer product. I have a friend with a 650, we used it to cut down several oaks up to 36" wide. It finally got stuck in the trunk of one of these monsters, our fault, but when the tree was finally down and the saw retrieved, everything worked flawlessly. As long as you run the engine dry when finished, you can store these for years, and with fresh gas and 50:1 oil, they will start right up, most others in my experiance might need carb work to get them to run after sitting for a few years.
Mr. Wise
Charlie,
"...Less than happy about owning anything with a 2-stroke motor -- after all, I've been using an electric lawnmower for decades and driving a Prius since 2001..."
The carbon footprint left behind to create the electricity, and then send it to your house so you can run your electric mower for a couple hours a week is probably a lot higher than if you ran a gasoline mower for the same amount of time -- unless you live next to a solar, hydroelectric or wind power plant. Also, did you ever wonder how big a carbon footprint is required to make the batteries that are in your Prius?
There are many different types of internal combustion engines; Diesel, 4 stroke, Rotary, Radial, 2 stroke, etc... (I could start naming military application engines, but I think you get the idea). The reason the Stihls are 2 stroke is because there's no possible way to get the horsepower to weight ratios that are required to do the job the 2 stroke engines do. What would you like, a hybrid chainsaw?
I've got a Stihl 041AV Electronic that was made in 1970, and an 075AV that was made in 1974. The 041 has a 30" bar and I've got a 48" and a 38" bar for the 075. They both run great, and I wouldn't part with them for any reason.
"...less than happy about owning anything with a 2-stroke motor..." Sell your Stihl to someone who isn't going to bitch about how the greatest chainsaw in the world is made, and buy a bow saw at Home Depot. You smug environmentalists make me sick. You probably also think that forests are NOT renewable resources. People like you are the reason the rain forests around the world are being clearcut. If you really gave a crap about mother earth, you'd let the country who pioneered reforestation technology cut timber, and stop the importation of foreign lumber.
Disgusted,
Mr. Wise
An out of work Timber Industry worker.
CharlieBrooks
Mr. Wise,
Your comments are surprising to me. Are you offended because I cut my own wood and you are out of work? I don't get it, honestly, but I will answer your questions regardless.
You said: "the carbon footprint left behind to create the electricity, and then send it to your house so you can run your electric mower for a couple hours a week is probably a lot higher than if you ran a gasoline mower for the same amount of time -- unless you live next to a solar, hydroelectric or wind power plant."
That is simply not true; I am a research engineer by trade and have investigated this issue. Even if my power came from coal (it doesn't; I actually do live near a hydroelectric plant) the carbon footprint of a corded electric mower is less than that of a gas mower.
You said: "Also, did you ever wonder how big a carbon footprint is required to make the batteries that are in your Prius?"
My batteries are NiMH and will be completely recycled. I have driven my Prius over 98 thousand miles on these batteries and expect to get many tens of thousands more, and my average mileage is around 42 (used to be 45, but I changed the bridgestone tires to dunlops). Since I traded in a 16mpg dodge pickup for the vehicle, the carbon footprint associated with my batteries has been more than offset by the gas I've saved.
You said: "The reason the Stihls are 2 stroke is because there's no possible way to get the horsepower to weight ratios that are required to do the job the 2 stroke engines do."
Yes, that is the only reason I own a 2 stroke. I thought I made that clear.
You said: "You smug environmentalists make me sick. You probably also think that forests are NOT renewable resources. People like you are the reason the rain forests around the world are being clearcut. If you really gave a crap about mother earth, you'd let the country who pioneered reforestation technology cut timber, and stop the importation of foreign lumber."
I do not use any foreign lumber if I can avoid it. I use absolutely no rain forest timber. I heat my house in winter with wood I cut myself, using my Stihl and a hand-forged poll-backed axe that I hafted with hickory myself. I split five cords of maple and black walnut from my property without any tools other than hammers, wedges, and my axe over the last three years. I have taught both my children to split firewood and my 10-year-old daughter can swing a shorty sledge just fine.
I may be smug - it's not my place to judge - but I am sure as hell not the reason forests around the world are being clearcut. Point your misplaced anti-environmental rage at someone else; Rush Limbaugh is your enemy, not me.
Marshall Ambrose
your damb right stihl makes the best chainsaws by far I own six of them however my most favorite one happens to be my ms 660 you want to talk about ripping threw wood this will do it hands down yeah I paid $1050 for it with a 28" bar but I also have a 36" to go with it. I was a big fan of echo but there saws just lack the ablity to do anything and there a bitch to fix drop in kit or not had four of those jap crap saws there good when you dont need to use them. I"m also an in tree cutter so my ms 200 with a 16" bar is the best there ever was and ever will be for an arborists saw there more compact than those echos that i was using and by far easier to start than any saw on the market. Keep this in mind i'm a professional and three of them were made in GERMANY the others in the US. I'll tell you what those Sweds should stick to them hot models that come from there country but husquvarna saws are my only second choice or its time to retire.