STIHL Chainsaws

Buying online can be tricky, but if you take a few simple steps, your chances of being burned decrease significantly. There is an element of trust required on the part of both the seller and the buyer, but as a rule, most people are pretty honest. I've quite literally bought around $20,000 worth of products online. Everything from boat equipment, to laptops, to desktops, to Ikea furniture, to software, to music to books to a LCD television. I can honestly say, that there was only about $35 that I was burned on.

So, back to buying a chainsaw, let's look at a few things you can do to increase your odds of getting a great deal. Most of these tips, will apply to used chainsaws, as this page lists a number of used STIHL chainsaws on eBay.

First of all, ask the seller for a compression test. If the chainsaw is in reasonably good condition, the test should reveal a number around 150 PSI. Ask if you can see pictures of the cylinder or piston, if there aren't already some available. Your looking to make sure, that no scoring is present. Actually, the more pictures the better. Pictures from the bottom and sides will show if and where any wearing is present. Extra pictures will give you a pretty good idea, if the saw has seen little use, or has been used to clear cut half a forest. If the seller hasn't said when and how the saw was used, then ask. If you seller could make a quick video of him starting the chainsaw, that would be very helpful.

Asking when the saw was purchased and whey the seller is getting rid of it are perfectly reasonable questions. If they have a picture of the original sales receipt, that would be perfect. Buying from an individual who purchased the saw for personal use, is somewhat different from buying from a guy who buys and sells STIHL chainsaws every day. The personal user is more likely to know the history of the saw, and what the best and worst features are.

The other thing to think about when buying a STIHL chainsaw, is what size to get. As a rule, you'll find more cost savings online for the bigger chainsaws. With that it mind, it's best to buy the biggest chainsaw that both your wallet, and your muscles can handle. When it comes to chainsaws, it's better to be overpowered than underpowered. The other thing to keep in mind, is how much, and what kind of wood you plan on using your STIHL for. Bear in mind, that you can change the grab bar, and the chain size on some chainsaws. Combining a smaller bar, with a smaller chain on a bigger saw can allow you to chew lots of wood. Be sure to ask the seller if he as extra bars.