When you’re cutting wood professionally or tackling tough jobs at home, a commercial-grade chainsaw is the best tool for the job. But which one is the best fit for you?
Here at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower, there are two brands of professional chainsaws that we trust. Echo and STIHL both offer top-quality, reliable chainsaws that can stand up to the demands of professional wood cutting. Here’s a look at what you can expect when you’re looking at chainsaws from these two brands.
Echo
Echo builds their chainsaws to “tackle the toughest jobs” such as “pruning limbs, cutting firewood or taking down a whole tree.” Their high-performance, 2-stroke engine, and special Pro-Fire® ignition system make for a smooth-running, powerful saw that delivers reliable performance. The professional-grade components help ensure that if you buy one of their professional chainsaws it’s going to last.
Echo offers powerful chainsaws with a range of different engines, features, and bar lengths to match your needs for different cutting jobs. They also offer in-tree, top-handle chainsaws for professional arborist use. These arborist saws are lightweight and balanced for tree surgery and pruning when you’re up high above the ground. (Please note: in-tree saws are not recommended for homeowner use.)
STIHL
STIHL describes their professional saws as perfect for “logging, farming, land clearing, tree service and big firewood cutting jobs.” This company built their reputation by creating and marketing high-quality chainsaws, and they’re now the top-selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in the United States.
This brand also offers reliable, high-power electric chainsaws that run more quietly than gasoline engines. The lithium-ion batteries deliver peak power for as long as they can hold a charge. While battery-powered saws aren’t as powerful as some of the larger gasoline saws, they can be very useful if you’re working in noise-restricted locations.
In addition to their powerful commercial saws, STIHL also offers in-tree chainsaws for professional arborists. These lightweight, well-balanced saws let you prune high up from the ground. The saw style makes it easier for professional arborists to safely prune, trim, and shape trees.
Which Chainsaw Should You Get?
The short answer to this question is that it’s totally up to you. Both Echo and STIHL offer reliable chainsaws that would be a great fit for professional wood cutting. There are a few other factors to consider, though. When you’re looking for a professional chainsaw, pay attention to
- Engine Power—professional saws typically have engines ranging from about 65cc to 110cc. The more heavy-duty cutting you’ll be doing, the more powerful engine you’ll need.
- Handle Position—most chainsaws have rear-handle designs, but both Echo and STIHL also offer top-handle arborist saws for in-tree cutting.
- Features—different saws include different features. For their professional saws, Echo highlights their vibration reduction technology and the way that their control placement gives easy access to all the saw’s functions. STIHL saws also include vibration reduction and depending on the model they may also include comfort features, Easy2Start™ technology, an additional chain braking system, and/or STIHL M-Tronic™.
- Price—though there is plenty of overlap in the price ranges for STIHL and Echo saws, some of Echo’s professional saws are less expensive than the saws from STIHL.
- For more information, see our article “What To Look For In A Professional Chainsaw”
If you’re in the market for a new commercial chainsaw, give us a call at 972-235-2086 or stop by our location in Richardson, TX. We’d be happy to chat with you about your options and show you the different models of STIHL and Echo chainsaws that we carry.
