Description
If you want a petrol chainsaw that feels genuinely capable for home and smallholding work, the STIHL MS 212 is built for exactly that. It’s positioned as STIHL’s most powerful homeowner petrol chainsaw, ideal for processing firewood, pruning thicker branches and taking on the occasional small-tree felling job when you need a bit more muscle than entry-level models.
At the heart of it is a 38.6 cm³ engine producing 1.8 kW, using STIHL’s 2-MIX technology for strong cutting performance with sensible fuel use. The MS 212 runs a 3/8″ P saw chain with a narrow kerf for efficient cutting, and is available with 14″ (35 cm) or 16″ guide bar options, so you can choose a setup that suits your typical timber and working space.
It’s also designed to be easy to live with. Single-lever operation keeps the controls simple, and the combi lever with stop function makes stopping and restarting straightforward during stop-start jobs. For comfort, the STIHL anti-vibration system helps reduce vibration at the handles, which makes a noticeable difference if you’re cutting for longer stretches.
Practical details round it out: tool-free fuel and oil caps speed up refuelling, a transparent oil tank makes it easy to see when you need to top up chain oil, and side-mounted chain tensioning keeps adjustments quick and protected. The built-in compensator helps maintain performance as the air filter gradually loads up, so you can often go longer between clean-outs.
