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.