At the cutting edge (Stihl MS211 35.2cc 14in Petrol)

Member Name: Alfettaman

Product:	Stihl MS211 35.2cc 14in Petrol
Date:	19/07/09 (432 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Feels and works like a serious, professional chainsaw - because it is

Disadvantages: Far from cheap, but probably worth it

I bought this as a replacement for a two year old Makita chainsaw that gave me nothing but trouble: I finally lost patience when the pull-start cord came detached when I pulled it! I use a chainsaw quite a bit, because we have two wood-burning stoves and in the winter they consume a great deal of wood. Buying 'cord' (i.e. large slices of tree) from our local tree surgeon is much cheaper than buying ready-to-use logs, but it means I have to cut these up myself.

I'd had a Stihl brushcutter (essentially, a petrol-powered strimmer for grown-ups) for many years and it's done sterling service, so Stihl was a brand that I already knew and trusted, although that had been true of Makita too. Not wanting to get caught out again, I did plenty of research this time and talked to a lot of people before choosing the Stihl: no-one seems to have a bad word to say about these chainsaws.

You'll find it hard to buy this machine online or by mail order, and there's a good reason for that: chainsaw dealers have a legal duty to ensure that customers understand how to use a chainsaw safely, which means they really ought to meet you face-to-face, explain everything carefully, and check that you've understood. Stihl take all of this very seriously, and insist that their dealers meet each chainsaw customer in person.

Set up & assembly:
My Stihl MS211 had been fully-assembled by my helpful and knowledgeable dealer (Tripp Batt in Stanton, Suffolk) when I went to collect it, and they spent about fifteen minutes with me, carefully explaining all the safety features and making sure I knew properly how to start and stop the machine. Stihl dealers seem to be geared-up to provide after sales support, spare parts and repairs if needed. My dealer is still servicing Stihl chainsaws that they originally sold in the late 1970s, and parts availability seems to be remarkably good.

I paid £259 including VAT, and was on my way home with my new chainsaw.

Starting-up:
The MS211 has two clearly labelled filler caps which secure positively with a quarter-turn. The first is for the chain lubricating oil, the second for a 40:1 mix of ordinary unleaded petrol and two-stroke oil. The tank capacities are cleverly matched, so that with full tanks the MS211 will run out of fuel a bit before it runs out of chain oil: fill both tanks fully every time you refuel and you'll help protect the chain from damage.

There's a simple and easily accessible tensioning screw for the chain, although the MS211 seems a bit less fussy about the precise chain tension than other chainsaws I've used, and it doesn't need adjusting very often once set.

My MS211 was just a little tricky to start when it was brand new, taking typically three pulls to get it to fire. Maybe the brand new engine was a bit 'tight' to start with, or perhaps I've subsequently learned the knack; either way, I can get it to start first or second pull nowadays even if it's not been used for a couple of weeks.

Removing and replacing the chain is straightforward and is described clearly in words and diagrams (as is everything else) in the excellent, all-English user manual.

In use:
The MS211, like most 14" (35cm) chainsaws is intended primarily for logging rather than tree-felling, and it's a job it does very well.

The machine is nicely balanced and at 4.3kg is heavy enough to feel solid but still light enough to be manoeuvrable. Thoughtfully designed mounts mean that relatively little vibration finds its way to the sturdy handgrips, though there is a lot of noise (are there any quiet chainsaws?) and you'll definitely need ear protection. The MS211 has agreeably strong progression, with the chain pulling itself cleanly through the wood which means you don't really need to push the saw into the workpiece: you simple guide it.

I've also felled some small trees for my father-in-law, a task that the MS211 took entirely in its stride.

The casing is made from smooth, ultra-strong plastic that cleans up easily, especially if you have an airline. There are no serious dirt traps which makes cleaning and maintenance easier.

Kickback:
I've only ever had one 'kickback' with the MS211, i.e where something partially jams the chain, kicking the saw upwards. When it happened, I found it quite easy to retain control of the chainsaw, and the chain-brake stopped the machine so quickly that the engine stalled - no bad thing! I think part of the reason that the saw kicks back so infrequently is because, unlike most two-strokes, it has plenty of torque even at quite low engine speeds and ample power too. This means that it can take most jobs in its stride, and you won't need to have the engine screaming away as you cut your logs: a stark contrast to some other chainsaws, including my previous Makita.

The MS211 chain-brake doesn't only work by pushing your hand against the front hand guard during a kickback, but can also work by inertia alone. That means a big kickback will stop the chain even if your left hand is not behind the hand guard, which could sometimes be the case during tree-felling. It's an innovative and very welcome extra safety feature.

Overall impression:
This is clearly a professional-grade machine, and seems set to be with me for many years to come. In the few months I've owned it I've grown to respect the MS211, as much for what it hasn't done, as for what it has: it's been totally reliable and a reassuringly competent companion, although of course you must always be on your guard when using any chainsaw.

IMPORTANT WARNING!
Any chainsaw can be very, very dangerous and this Stihl MS211 is about as far away from being a 'toy' as you can get. If you're not already an experienced user, then get professional advice on what safety equipment you'll need, and go on a training course too.

Summary: A long-term investment for serious users