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Chainsaw Hire

Chainsaw Hire

Hire a Stihl petrol chainsaw from Hirelink for pruning, felling small trees, cutting up storm damage, log preparation, and general garden work. We hire the Stihl MS 171, a lightweight petrol chainsaw with a range of bar lengths for different cutting jobs. Daily, weekend, and weekly hire is available. We deliver across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Aldridge, and the wider Midlands from our four local depots.

The STIHL MS 171 is a lightweight and versatile petrol chainsaw ideal for general cutting, firewood, pruning and small-scale tree work. Its efficient 31.8cc 2-MIX engine delivers reliable performance, while the compact design, anti-vibration system and side-mounted chain tensioning provide easy and comfortable operation.

Key Features:

  • Anti-vibration system
  • Side-mounted chain tensioning
  • Transparent fuel and chain oil tanks
  • Suitable for firewood, pruning and general cutting
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  • Stihl MS 171 Petrol Chainsaw
  • Bar Lengths from 12 to 16 Inches
  • Daily, Weekend & Weekly Hire Available
  • Delivery Across the Midlands
  • Inspected, Chain-Tensioned & Sharpened Between Hires

Additional information

Make

Stihl
Model

MS 171 Petrol Chainsaw

Product Specification

CHAINSAW STIHL MS171 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

 

The Cost

Chainsaw Hire Sizes & Prices

Hirelink’s chainsaw hire is the Stihl MS 171. Bar length is the main variable to think about when booking: choose a bar longer than the diameter of the wood you plan to cut, but don’t go so long that the saw is heavier than the job needs.

NOT SURE WHICH SIZE YOU NEED? CALL THE TEAM AND WE’LL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

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The Reason

Why Choose Hirelink for Chainsaw Hire in the Midlands?

Every chainsaw we hire is the Stihl MS 171, a lightweight petrol saw at around 4.3kg. Light enough for extended use without wearing your arms out, powerful enough for the garden and light timber work most people hire chainsaws for. Stihl’s build quality means the saw arrives sharp, tensioned, and starts first pull.

A dull chain is a dangerous chain. Every saw is checked, sharpened, chain-tensioned, and PAT tested before it leaves the depot. If your saw arrives cutting badly, tell us and we’ll swap it or bring you a fresh chain.

If you don’t own proper chainsaw PPE, we can hire a full safety kit alongside the saw: helmet with visor and ear defenders, chainsaw trousers, cut-resistant gloves. Let the team know when you book. Don’t run a chainsaw in ordinary work clothes; the cost of proper PPE is minor next to the cost of a leg injury.

Hirelink operates from four depots: Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Aldridge, and near Birmingham Airport. Chainsaw hire is available for collection or delivery across the Midlands. Same-day handover for storm damage or urgent tree work is often possible; give the team a call.

The standard weekend slot is Friday afternoon collection with Monday morning return, which gives you a full weekend on the saw for one weekend rate. Popular for one-off garden clearance or log-cutting jobs at home.

The MS 171 runs on 2-stroke premix fuel (petrol mixed 50:1 with 2-stroke oil) and uses biodegradable chain oil. Both are available with the hire. Spare chains and replacement chains can be added if you’re doing a lot of cutting and want a backup.

The Return

Stihl MS 171 Chainsaw Hire - What You Get

A chainsaw is a hand-held motorised saw with a chain of cutting teeth that runs around a guide bar. It’s the tool of choice for cutting timber, felling small trees, cross-cutting logs, clearing storm damage, pruning larger branches, and general woodland or garden work where a handsaw or reciprocating saw would take forever. There isn’t really a substitute for the job it does. There’s also no other hire tool that hurts you as badly if it goes wrong, which is why the safety section above matters.

Our chainsaw hire is the Stihl MS 171. It’s Stihl’s compact petrol chainsaw at the domestic and light professional end of the range: 30.1cc engine, around 1.3kW power output, 4.3kg weight without the bar and chain. It’s not a professional felling saw for large trees (that’s the MS 261 class or above), but it handles the vast majority of jobs a home gardener, small farm, or landscaper needs a chainsaw for. Bar lengths of 12, 14, or 16 inches cover most cutting up to about 35cm timber diameter.

Common jobs include cutting logs for firewood, felling small trees up to about 30cm diameter, cross-cutting fallen branches after a storm, pruning larger tree limbs from ground level (never from a ladder or a tree), clearing overgrown gardens and reclaiming boundaries, cutting timber for garden projects, breaking down pallets and timber offcuts, and general woodland management on smallholdings and paddocks. Anyone with a mature garden knows why you keep the number of the local hire yard on your phone.

Hiring is cheaper than buying for anyone who uses a chainsaw a handful of times a year. A new Stihl MS 171 costs around £280, plus a chainsaw safety kit at another £150-£250, plus fuel, chain oil, and annual sharpening. For a weekend of garden clearance or a week of firewood cutting, hire is the right commercial call. You also get a saw that arrives properly maintained and sharp, which most home-owned chainsaws aren’t.

The Difference

Petrol Chainsaw, Cordless Chainsaw, or Electric Chainsaw - Which Do You Need?

Petrol Chainsaw (Stihl MS 171)

The standard choice for anything beyond very light pruning. More cutting power, longer continuous run time, no battery to run flat halfway through a log. Louder, produces exhaust, and vibrates more than cordless. Runs on 2-stroke premix fuel. Best for garden clearance, storm damage, and log-cutting.

Cordless / Battery Chainsaw

Battery-powered saws (Stihl MSA range, Husqvarna 535i, Makita) are quieter, produce no exhaust, and vibrate less. Good for enclosed spaces, urban gardens with neighbours nearby, or short bursts of cutting. Battery life limits them for continuous work. Not currently in our standard hire range; call the team if you really need cordless.

Domestic-Grade Chainsaw (Stihl MS 171)

Lighter and easier to handle. Suits gardens, small woodland work, log-cutting for firewood, cross-cutting storm damage. Right choice for domestic and light professional use. Not designed for felling large timber or continuous professional felling work.

Pro-Grade Chainsaw (Stihl MS 261 class)

Larger engine, longer bar, built for continuous professional use. Right choice for tree surgery, forestry work, and any operator who’s using a saw daily. Requires proper certification (CS30/CS31 or equivalent) and should not be hired by anyone without formal training. Not currently in our standard hire range; call the team.

The Logistics

Chainsaw Hire Delivery Across the Midlands

Hirelink delivers chainsaws from four Midlands depots located in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Aldridge, and near Birmingham Airport. Together, these depots cover the full West Midlands region and large parts of Staffordshire.

Delivery and collection is available with every hire, though many customers prefer to collect so they can go through the handover in person with the depot team. Areas served include Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Stafford, and the surrounding towns and villages across the Midlands.

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The Process

How to Hire a Chainsaw from Hirelink

Tell Us About the Job

Give the team a description of what you’re cutting (log diameter, tree size, how much work you have to do) and your hire dates. If you’re new to chainsaw use, tell us honestly – we’d rather advise you honestly or point you to a tree surgeon than hire a saw to someone who’s going to hurt themselves with it.

Confirm Booking, PPE, and Handover

We’ll check availability, confirm pricing, and arrange collection or delivery. Let us know if you need chainsaw PPE hired alongside the saw. For collection hires, the depot team will run through a safety briefing when you pick up the machine.

Cut Safely, Return

Fuel the saw with 2-stroke premix, fill the chain oil reservoir, check chain tension, start with the chain brake on, and cut. Never work above shoulder height, on a ladder, or in high winds. Return the saw on your agreed collection date.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Chainsaw Hire

Chainsaw hire prices depend on how long you need the saw and whether you need chainsaw PPE and consumables (fuel, chain oil) alongside. Daily rates suit one-off pruning or clearance jobs, weekend hire works well for a full garden project over Saturday and Sunday, and weekly rates work out cheaper per day for longer work. A refundable deposit is required. Call Hirelink or submit an enquiry for a current quote on the Stihl MS 171.

For domestic garden use on your own private land, there’s no legal requirement for a formal chainsaw certification, but you must be competent to use the saw safely. For commercial work, employed operators must hold current CS30 (chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting) and CS31 (felling small trees up to 380mm diameter) certification or equivalent. Some hire companies only rent chainsaws to trade account customers or require a competence declaration; call 0121 355 2626 to confirm Hirelink’s current policy.

The minimum PPE for chainsaw use is: a chainsaw helmet with visor and ear defenders (protects against kickback and flying chips), cut-resistant chainsaw gloves, chainsaw trousers or chaps (Class 1 minimum for domestic use), and chainsaw boots with steel toe caps and cut-resistant uppers. If you don’t own chainsaw PPE, we can hire a full safety kit alongside the saw. Never run a chainsaw in ordinary work clothes or a hi-vis vest; you need proper chainsaw PPE.

Match the bar length to the wood you’re cutting. Choose a bar that’s at least a few centimetres longer than the diameter of the wood you plan to cut, but don’t go longer than you need (a longer bar means a heavier saw and more chain to sharpen). For most garden work and firewood cutting, a 14 inch (35cm) bar is the sensible middle ground. Go 12 inch for pruning and light work, 16 inch for larger trees and log preparation.

The Stihl MS 171 runs on 2-stroke premix fuel – unleaded petrol mixed with 2-stroke oil at 50:1 ratio (Stihl’s own MotoMix pre-mixed fuel is easiest). Never run it on straight unleaded, or you’ll wreck the engine. The saw also has a separate chain oil reservoir that needs topping up regularly (biodegradable chain oil is standard). Both fuels are available with the hire.

No. Chainsaws should never be used on a ladder or up a tree by anyone without professional arboriculture training and climbing certification. This is one of the most common ways people get killed with chainsaws. For any work above shoulder height, either work from a proper access platform (which requires its own training) or hire a tree surgeon. Ground-level cutting only with hired chainsaws.

Kickback is when the tip of the chainsaw bar hits an obstruction and the saw jumps violently back towards the operator’s face and torso. It’s the single biggest cause of chainsaw injury. The MS 171 has a chain brake designed to stop the chain instantly if kickback happens, but prevention is better: never cut with the tip of the bar, keep both hands on the saw with a firm grip, and stand to the side of the cutting line rather than directly behind it.

Yes. Hirelink offers daily hire on the MS 171 for smaller jobs like a few pruning cuts, cutting up one fallen tree, or a one-off afternoon task. For anything longer than a single day, weekend or weekly hire usually works out better value.

The petrol Stihl MS 171 is our standard chainsaw hire. Cordless battery machines exist and are quieter with less vibration, which suits urban gardens with neighbours or short bursts of cutting. If you’d prefer a cordless option, give the team a call and we’ll advise on what’s available.

Fair wear on the chain during a hire is normal, and we sharpen chains between hires as part of our service. If you badly damage the chain (hitting stones, wire, buried nails – which is a known way of ruining a chain fast) or the bar, replacement costs will be charged. If you hit something unexpected and think the saw isn’t cutting straight afterwards, stop using it and call the depot; a damaged bar is a safety issue.

Hirelink is a Midlands-based hire company with four depots covering Birmingham and Staffordshire. National hire chains run larger national fleets but work through national call centres and longer delivery distances. For trade and domestic customers across the West Midlands, Hirelink offers local service, an in-person handover, and a direct line for advice on safe operation.

For most hires we’ll need photo ID (driving licence or passport), proof of address dated within the last three months, and a refundable deposit. Depending on Hirelink’s current chainsaw hire policy, a trade account may be required, or a competence declaration signed at collection. Bring your own chainsaw PPE if you have it, or hire a full safety kit alongside the saw.

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The Hire

Ready to Hire a Chainsaw? Get in Touch with Hirelink Today

Chainsaw hire from Hirelink is straightforward, but we take safety seriously. Tell us the bar length you need, your hire dates, and whether you need PPE alongside the saw, and we’ll have the Stihl MS 171 sharpened, fuelled, and ready. Call the team, or complete the enquiry form below and we’ll get back to you.

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