Stihl and Dolmar chain saws.

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July 13th, 2015, 03:22 PM
jaycee

Stihl and Dolmar chain saws.

There was a thread previously , someone asking about chain saws, both Stihl And Dolmar were recommended as they were made in Germany and of high quality.
I spoke with a friend of mine that uses chainsaws daily, he said he no longer buys or uses Stihl saws , or Dolmar because they are now ,made in China , Stihl has been for 10 years and quality is down considerably hard startingone of the reasons .
What he uses now is/are Jonsered saws and a couple of Echo's , even though Echo are made in Japan , the quality is better than any Chinese built junk according to him.

http://blog.stihl.com/stihl-worldwid...ty-made-stihl/

http://blog.stihl.com/wp-content/upl...-1-680x451.jpgThe STIHL production and sales company in Qingdao, China
July 13th, 2015, 05:11 PM
Fishy Wishy

Of course they are. You can buy Stihl at Home Depot. Big box stores have a knack for ruining once great brands.
July 13th, 2015, 05:15 PM
exgunner

Stihl is not at any box store Eco and the rest are I still have no issue with any off sthil saws and they have be used more then most
July 13th, 2015, 05:52 PM
terrym

My Dolmar has been great for the near 25 rs I have owned it but it doesn't have to provide me with my winter's source of heat. Not sure if they still do but Makita used to sell one which was a rebadged Dolmar. Chinese made isn't comforting but Japan gave us Honda and Yamaha anf Toyota and Acura and on and on.......
July 13th, 2015, 05:59 PM
yellow dog

My Dolmar was purchased 10 years ago and is a fantastic little chainsaw. I had jonsered before that and had nothing but problems with it.
July 13th, 2015, 07:26 PM
JoePa

German engineering is one of the best in the world - as long as they have good quality control their saws can continue to be good no matter where they are made - I have 6 different Stihl products - 2 chain saws, a small tiller, a leaf blower, a bush clipper and a weed wacker - from my experience I like each one of these -
July 13th, 2015, 07:54 PM
topher

I was gonna get the sthil chainsaw. . Until I talked to the sthil dealer.. sthil now makes 2 grades of tools pro and homeowner.. but they don't tell you it's homeowner quality.. (this is from the sthil dealer near me) basic unless your going to spend a lot of $$$ the smaller sthil equipment won't last as long as they used to.

Ended up with the echo chainsaw.. 5 year warranty 1 year contractor warranty.. the sthil of the same size was 1 year homeowner only no warranty for contractor. . Hmm.. that say anything?
July 14th, 2015, 06:41 AM
patvetzal

The pro grade is still the long lasting unit but the homeowner grade is meant to compete with the Home Depot, Can Tire quality for those who use their tools twice a year- during the moose and deer hunt.
I blame this on the dealers who don't push quality over price. I've had my 023 Stihl for 17 years, used as a rental prior to that. After two 170's I gave up and will buy Echo for my small " bike" saw.

in the China article, they do mention that it was "the entry level" product that was produced there. They also mention that the plant must meet company standards. These standards are set by the market and the shareholders, not the country of manufacture.
July 14th, 2015, 09:59 AM
werner.reiche

Quote:

Originally Posted by topher

I was gonna get the sthil chainsaw. . Until I talked to the sthil dealer.. sthil now makes 2 grades of tools pro and homeowner.. but they don't tell you it's homeowner quality.. (this is from the sthil dealer near me) basic unless your going to spend a lot of $$$ the smaller sthil equipment won't last as long as they used to.

Ended up with the echo chainsaw.. 5 year warranty 1 year contractor warranty.. the sthil of the same size was 1 year homeowner only no warranty for contractor. . Hmm.. that say anything?

Most stihl dealers are pretty open about the two separate model lines. Used to be the pro lines were even numbered 026, 028, 044 etc. Not sure how well that has transferred into the new model numbers. It's pretty easy to tell which are the pro models by the price though.

Re: warranty - most things I buy - I try to buy the one that I won't be needing warranty on. Maybe my GM cars and trucks are a bit of an exception to that - but if you are planning on keeping something 3 or 4 times its warranty period, is it that important?
July 14th, 2015, 11:39 AM
Fishy Wishy

Quote:

Originally Posted by exgunner

Stihl is not at any box store Eco and the rest are I still have no issue with any off sthil saws and they have be used more then most

My Bad. It is Husqvarna's that are sold at Lowes. But I could swear I've seen Stihl in a big box store, not a saw but blowers and trimmers, I could swear by it. Maybe it was TSC, but I cannot find anything to support my comment.
July 14th, 2015, 04:41 PM
flowerjohn

I buy my saws blowers from these guys in scarboro. If you buy the fuel stabilizer and the oil from them(about 60 dollars worth) you automatically get the extended warranty. I figure i need that stuff anyway so its a no brainer. Alpine is the company.
July 14th, 2015, 05:05 PM
topher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishy Wishy

My Bad. It is Husqvarna's that are sold at Lowes. But I could swear I've seen Stihl in a big box store, not a saw but blowers and trimmers, I could swear by it. Maybe it was TSC, but I cannot find anything to support my comment.

I heard Walmart In the us. but I haven't been able to verify that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerjohn

I buy my saws blowers from these guys in scarboro. If you buy the fuel stabilizer and the oil from them(about 60 dollars worth) you automatically get the extended warranty. I figure i need that stuff anyway so its a no brainer. Alpine is the company.

The sthil dealer by me if you buy the 6 pack of oil you get an extra yrar warranty
July 14th, 2015, 05:16 PM
flowerjohn

Quote:

Originally Posted by topher

I heard Walmart In the us. but I haven't been able to verify that.

The sthil dealer by me if you buy the 6 pack of oil you get an extra yrar warranty

Yeah its something like that. You would probably be best to buy from the guys who service the landscape trade because i find that they really stand behind the stuff and they have small equipment mechanics on staff every day.
July 14th, 2015, 07:39 PM
yellow dog

A friend of mine went to China about 8 years ago and toured many tractor and power tool manufacturers. He bought a whole load of products and had them shipped to sell from his small equipment dealership. I bought a gas powered weed whacker with a harness for trimming brush on my property(high powered). It was a STIHL knock off and I paid $125.00 ! Best piece of Chineese equipment I ever owned and I put it through hell. I purchased a few for the municipality i was working to be used on the grass crew and proofed to be well worth the investment at $100.00 each ! All replacement parts were STIHL .
July 14th, 2015, 08:01 PM
flowerjohn

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow dog

A friend of mine went to China about 8 years ago and toured many tractor and power tool manufacturers. He bought a whole load of products and had them shipped to sell from his small equipment dealership. I bought a gas powered weed whacker with a harness for trimming brush on my property(high powered). It was a STIHL knock off and I paid $125.00 ! Best piece of Chineese equipment I ever owned and I put it through hell. I purchased a few for the municipality i was working to be used on the grass crew and proofed to be well worth the investment at $100.00 each ! All replacement parts were STIHL .

Well then set us boys up dog!
July 14th, 2015, 08:18 PM
yellow dog

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerjohn

Well then set us boys up dog!

PM sent.
July 15th, 2015, 05:38 PM
JeffD

Stihl has had homeowner and pro models for a long time. Pro saws are mot china junk. Same as anything pay the money and get something that will last or get something thats going to need work after 10 cords. There is nothing that compares to the husky or stihl pro lines
July 15th, 2015, 06:34 PM
seabast

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffD

Stihl has had homeowner and pro models for a long time. Pro saws are mot china junk. Same as anything pay the money and get something that will last or get something thats going to need work after 10 cords. There is nothing that compares to the husky or stihl pro lines

It doesn't matter if it's a pro or not, Stihl or husky, the parts and most of the assembly is made in China. Quality parts can be made there too, so we should all get use to it. Try to find a gas engine under 20hp that's not made in China or same kind of place, beside honda, there is none. Briggs, vanguard, Kohler and so on... Only the bigger engines are still made in NA.
July 16th, 2015, 06:56 AM
werner.reiche

Ouch.

http://blog.stihl.com/stihl-worldwid...ty-made-stihl/

"“Made by STIHL” is a brand promise – no matter the location of production. So STIHL and China have been a very successful combination for many years. Since 2006, our plant in Qingdao has been proving that tried-and-tested STIHL quality can also come from China. The secret? Production processes, quality standards, occupational health and safety standards, and environmental standards at STIHL are equally high all over the world."
July 16th, 2015, 08:36 AM
Waftrudnir

Quote:

Originally Posted by seabast

I... is made in China. Quality parts can be made there too, so we should all get use to it. ....

yes, you'll find absolutely top notch quality products made in China. the problem is they are NOT cheap, compared to all the other garbage you get from there. so if you manage to have a customer paying good $ (thinking they buy top quality) and find a knock-off (and we all know there are plenty there), you just need to swap out the source and you will at least triple your profit. there is not much that goes directly from China to the western world; typically there are always traders and distributors in between...
July 16th, 2015, 09:31 AM
jaycee

Quote:

quality standards, occupational health and safety standards, and environmental standards

That is what I have problems with, melamine which is used to make unbreakable dish's used as a filler in dog food, milk products that were recalled because people died plus many others involving safety, health and environmental standards.
The company may be Stihl , but the country is CHINA.
July 16th, 2015, 11:49 AM
yellow dog

Quote:

Originally Posted by seabast

It doesn't matter if it's a pro or not, Stihl or husky, the parts and most of the assembly is made in China. Quality parts can be made there too, so we should all get use to it. Try to find a gas engine under 20hp that's not made in China or same kind of place, beside honda, there is none. Briggs, vanguard, Kohler and so on... Only the bigger engines are still made in NA.

Yes you are absolutely right quality is being made in China ! When my buddy went over to China to tour the manufacturing plants he saw everything from no steel toe work boot to flip flops being worn. He saw every health and safety code being broken to stringent code being followed by others ! It really depends on who they are manufacturing for.
July 16th, 2015, 12:18 PM
seabast

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow dog

Yes you are absolutely right quality is being made in China ! When my buddy went over to China to tour the manufacturing plants he saw everything from no steel toe work boot to flip flops being worn. He saw every health and safety code being broken to stringent code being followed by others ! It really depends on who they are manufacturing for.

It might be a shock for some but I have been wearing running shoes, and the odd time flip flop, instead of steel toe for while, right here in Canada, so why would it be different there..... As you mentioned, "It really depends on who they are manufacturing for. ".
July 16th, 2015, 01:59 PM
topher

Quote:

Originally Posted by seabast

It might be a shock for some but I have been wearing running shoes, and the odd time flip flop, instead of steel toe for while, right here in Canada, so why would it be different there..... As you mentioned, "It really depends on who they are manufacturing for. ".

Not a shock at all to me. I see dummies all the time wearing running shoes on job sites. quite often I see those dummies a few days later with broken feet.
I guess it's a special kind of person who thinks a 600lb valve won't hurt their feet.

Big difference here is liability. A worker hurts themselves on the job site and ISN'T wearing required ppe (s)he get find, supervisor/foreman gets fined, owner gets find.

Owners wsib rates go through the roof...

I wouldn't think of working for an employer who didn't DEMAND property PPE be worn AT ALL TIMES. In my experience is the "fly by night" companies who let stuff go and when an accident does happen they are no where to be found.

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