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Buyer's Guide
STIHL Chainsaw Buyer's Guide
Whether you need a compact top-handle saw for canopy work or a high-displacement rear-handle model for forestry felling, this guide covers the full STIHL and ECHO chainsaw range — petrol and battery, professional and domestic — to help you choose the right tool, bar length and PPE for the job.
Petrol Chainsaws
Top-handle saws (MS 150 C-E, MS 193 C-E, MS 201 TC-M) suit canopy work with 25-35cm bars. Rear-handle models (MS 261, MS 362, MS 500i, MS 661) handle forestry felling, 40-63cm bars. Farm saws (MS 271, MS 291, MS 391) cover firewood and estate work.
Battery Chainsaws
STIHL MSA battery chainsaws run on the 36V AP System. The MSA 220 T and MSA 300 C-O suit aerial arborist work; the MSA 220 C-B and MSA 300 handle ground cutting. AP 300 S and AP 500 S batteries give up to 45 minutes runtime.
Petrol vs Battery - Which Chainsaw is Right for You?
Petrol delivers unlimited runtime and maximum power for heavy sustained cutting - best for forestry and large timber. Battery offers quiet, low-maintenance operation with no fuel mixing - ideal for aerial work and noise-restricted areas. Many arborists use both.
ECHO Chainsaws
ECHO is a Japanese manufacturer with a strong professional reputation, widely used by UK tree surgeons and forestry contractors. The CS range spans 30cc to professional 59cc models, with ergonomic design and long service intervals. Gustharts is an authorised ECHO dealer.
Choosing the Right Bar Length
As a rule, the bar should run 5cm longer than the timber diameter. Top-handle saws typically run 25-35cm bars; farm and estate saws 35-50cm; professional forestry saws 45cm and above. We stock genuine STIHL bars and chains for all models.
Chainsaw Safety and PPE
UK chainsaw operators must wear a certified helmet with visor and ear defenders, Type A or C trousers (EN ISO 11393), boots (EN ISO 17249), and gloves. We stock chainsaw PPE from STIHL, Arbortec, Pfanner and STEIN.
Fuel and Maintenance
STIHL petrol chainsaws need a 50:1 two-stroke mix - 50 parts petrol to 1 part STIHL HP Ultra or HP two-stroke oil. STIHL MotoMix is a ready-mixed alkylate fuel that skips the mixing and extends engine life in stored tools.
Pairs Well With
- Chainsaw Chains — genuine STIHL replacement chains in all pitches and gauges
- Chainsaw Guide Bars — Rollomatic ES and Duromatic bars for all models
- Chainsaw PPE — helmets, trousers, boots and gloves for compliant cutting
- Fuel and Oil — STIHL HP Ultra, MotoMix and ForestPlus bar oil
- Chain Sharpening Tools — filing kits and electric sharpeners for all chain types