Chainsaw chat (Stihl 039 Farmboss)

Member Name: gryphon

Product:	Stihl 039 Farmboss
Date:	26/03/01 (1383 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good professional tool

Disadvantages: not aerial usage

Stihl 039 "farmboss" with 20" bar: I've used this for some time now, and am very impressed with both performance and reliability. It's a fairly big beast: coping with most jobs in suburban situations at ground level. I don't recommend it for working aloft, as the length of bar and two handed operation make it unwieldy, even when properly harnessed and roped- much better to have a top handle saw! It'd be just ok from a cheery picker platform, but that's not the sort of luxury many of us can run to [or get onto site]. The vibration damping is good enough that a whole mornings clearing brash and bucking a big windblown tree still left me enough energy to clear up afterwards.
I found maintenance easy: stihl recommend a professional service once a year, unless little used, [but if little used, I would go for a cheaper brand]. By shopping around, I was able to get around 20% off the list price, with spare chain, file and oil thrown in

Summary: