ARTICLES RANGE FOCUS GREAT OFFERS HINTS AND TIPS

CHAIN OF COMMAND From the humblest of origins, the chain saws that became world-beaters - see page 3ALL FOR THE FALL Or autumn, as we say in Blighty; vacuum cleaners, blowers and pressure washers - see page 4GIVE YOURSELF THE HEDGE Top topiary tools for keeping hedges in trim - see page 6WINNING THE POWER STRUGGLE Weedy batteries are a thing of the past with our new cordless range - see page 8VIKING TREASURE Some of the smartest, most efficient lawn mowers and shredders this side of the North Sea - see page 11KEEP ON THE GRASS Nowhere is off limits for these grass trimmers and brushcutters - see page 13BEAT THE SYSTEM The KombiSystem means you don’t need seven separate tools - see page 14

AUTUMN 2011

In this issue...

Clean up with one of our amazing blowers or shredders, or Cut wood to keep you toasty warm during the Cooler nights.

STIH

L HER

OES

. HELP

ING

YO

U EN

JOY

YO

UR

GA

RD

EN

Up to

OFFGREAT OFFERS

INSIDE

£80

ALL FOR THEfall

2 STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 2011

POWERPR

ECIS

ION

FUN

CTION

ALITY

WELCOME to STIHL LIFE, our look into gardening; one of Britain’s most fulfilling, fanatical hobbies and pastimes. Whether it’s a modest square of daisy-flecked-green bordered by narrow beds, or endless swathes of verdant lawns in amongst acres of woodland, we love our gardens. And whatever their size or shape, there’ll be plenty of jobs that STIHL tools can tackle. STIHL LIFE will give you some fascinating insights into all sorts of gardens and all sorts of gardeners. It will also introduce and take you through ‘STIHL HEROES’; our guide to helping you enjoy your garden with less backache.

STIHL LIFEAUTUMN2011.

WHAT A STIHL CHAIN SAW CAN DO FOR YOU.Just the phrase ‘chain saw’ conjures up instant images. Somewhere in the remotest Canadian wilds, rough, tough, strapping men in checked shirts yell ‘Timber!’ as mighty trees crash to the ground.

Yet a STIHL chain saw is equally handy at lopping branches in Britain’s Cheshire, as it is felling trees in British Columbia. Talk chain saws with a professional or a truly discerning domestic gardener, mention STIHL and watch their face. It’s like saying ‘Belgian’ to a chocoholic or ‘Purdy’ to a regular on the grouse moors on the glorious twelfth. STIHL chain saws have

earned a reputation that is legendary. A STIHL chain saw gives you the ultimate cutting performance, and its combination of low weight, optimum ergonomics and state-of-the-art technology results in a precision machine that is a joy to use. If you want an informed opinion on chain saws ask a professional arborist, amongst whom STIHL is a world brand leader; surely that says it all.

“Brilliant, just brilliant what

else can I say...”Rob Ross about his MS 181 C-BE ‘Comfort’ chain saw

Sean’s Easy Tip

I keep a spare ch

ain (actually

2 spares) with my chain

saw

kit. So that I can sw

itch in a

few minutes and not have

to

sharpen in an aw

kward place.

A sharp chain makes the

work

faster and a lot

easier. Sean :-)

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UKOther STIHL chain saw models are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs.

FUN

CTION

ALITY

3

CHAIN of command.from the humblest of origins, the Chain saws that beCame world-beaters

STIHL chain saws

BUDGET BONANZA Compact chain saw MS 170 (12")STIHL entry level chain saw, easy to handle, light and perfect for pruning and cutting smaller branches, and firewood.NOW £165

BEST SELLER Compact chain saw MS 171 (14")Popular with gardeners, craftsmen, DIYers and farmers, here’s a chain saw that offers great versatility, lightness and ease of use.NOW £199

TOUGH TERRIER WITH BITE Compact ‘Comfort’ saw MS 211 C-BE (16")With ErgoStart and Chain Quick tensioning, this is a popular saw with landowners and serious firewood users.£385

REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS Electric long reach pole pruner HTE 60Perfect for trimming overhanging branches and pruning fruit trees with a reach of 3.2 metres.

£345

HOMEOWNERS ‘DREAM’ SAWVERSATILE ‘COMFORT’ CHAIN SAW MS 181 C-BE (14")

You’ve heard of a ‘dream’ holiday destination, a ‘dream’ car; but a ‘dream’ chain saw? The fact that this machine achieves perfection in all it sets out to do, coupled with the fact that it is a world-wide best-seller puts it right there in the reverie bracket. This is a chain saw packed with STIHL comfort features, such as an anti-vibration system for comfortable cutting. You can tighten the chain in 15 seconds, without the need of a tool and has STIHL ErgoStart, which means effortless, smooth starting every time.

NOW £249

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W ANT to hear some impressive statistics? Currently the STIHL Group employs some 11,300 people across the world, 370 of whom are designers and engineers, and we sell our products through more than 38,000 Approved Dealers in 160 countries. But it wasn’t always like that.

It began a long time ago, with one very clever man with an extraordinary vision. In 1926 in the pretty spa town of Bad Cannstatt, near Stuttgart, Germany, an enterprising young fellow by the name of Andreas STIHL built the world’s first bucking chain saw with an electric motor. Clearly there was something invigorating about the mineral spas of Cannstatt, because several decades previously it had been the home of one Gotleib Willhelm Daimler, who designed another world first: the internal combustion engine. Needless to say young Andreas’ invention caught on, his small company grew and grew; employing

more and more people, innovating more and more products. In the years that have passed many more milestones have been achieved, and the company today is still owned and run by Andreas Stihl’s descendants. But 1926 was the year. The year that a bright young man built the chain saw; the tool that starts with a mighty roar and effortlessly lops branches in domestic gardens, and fells mighty trees in lumber farms the world over. Of course since 1926 much competition has come along, but the standards of excellence established by Andreas STIHL back then set STIHL apart. Those resolute principles have been fanatically preserved and are equally evident in 2011; to such an extent that STIHL, amongst discerning domestic gardeners and professionals alike, enjoys a formidable and deserved reputation as a designer and manufacturer of garden power tools of the utmost quality, robustness and endurance.

Andreas Stihl Original factory Humble origins Continual research and development

The Stihl family

IMPORTANT PROTECTION Chain saw protective clothing

STIHL Dealerships stock a great range of protective clothing and equipment to keep you safe – you’ll look the part too.

Well I never!Aside from supplying the majority of professional

arborists with chain saws, stihl also manufactures

a rescue chain saw, widely used by fire and

rescue services.

I love MY STIHL BECAUSE...“I use my STIHL chain saw every year to prepare our winter firewood. I love the way that it starts straight away after six months without use and is light, safe and reliable. I love it so much that when I had it serviced I bought another one.”RICHARD BURTON, chain saw user

Anti-vibration systemReduced vibration for more comfortable cutting.

Quick chain tensioning15 second tool-less adjustment to tighten loose chains.

ErgoStartFor effortless, smooth starting every time.

OFF30£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF41£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF51£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

Bar and chainPremium bar and chain exclusively manufactured by STIHL.

STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 20114

or autumn, as we say in blighty; VaCuum Cleaners, blowersand pressure washers

H ERE’S a pub quiz question for you: According to the New7Wonders Foundation, what, on July 7th 2007, were announced as the new Seven Wonders of the World? So the next time you’re sipping a pint of best and are tempted to pretend to go to the loo to have a sneaky Google on your iPhone, remember these (answers over page).

Many feel that were an eighth to be added to the list, then it would be the fall in New England on the east coast of the States, with the utterly breathtaking vista of billions of leaves turning wondrous hues of copper

and orange and witnessing Mother Nature giving one of her most dazzling performances.

What we also share with our American brethren at this time of the year is Halloween, and we’ve adopted their custom of scooping out a pumpkin, cutting out a scary face and putting a candle inside – they’ve even managed to successfully export ‘Trick or Treat’ to us.

And once those billions of New England leaves have finished showing off, they’ll be dropped gently to earth, creating a heck of a product demonstration for a STIHL blower.

“Blow, suck, shred, I am the king of Autumn, dude.”

Andrew Dawson about his SH 56 C-E blower/shredder

The NEW 7 Wonders?Can you name them? Answers on opposite page...

01

03

06

04

07

05

02

Sean’s Easy TipI like to blow all my autumn leaves onto my lawn then shred and collect them without pain using my lawn mower. Easy, peasy, no more leavesy.

Sean :-)

STIHL blowers, vacuum cleaners and pressure washers

ALL FOR THEfall.

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UK

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Powerful blowingEasily converts to a very powerful blower.

Easy shreddingPowerful suction and shredding to reduce leaf volume to 1/10.

Other STIHL models are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs. 5

ANSWERS TO THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD qUIZ

01 Chichen Itza, Mexico 02 Colosseum, Rome, Italy03 Petra, Jordan04 Taj Mahal, Agra, India 05 Great wall of China, China06 Christ the Redeemer, Brazil07 Machu Picchu, Peru

I love MY STIHL BECAUSE...“I love my STIHL, with its efficient use it means I spend half the time maintaining my garden and more time enjoying it.”CHRIS REED

Well I never!

STIHL vacuum shredders are so powerful they shred and compact

leaves and cuttings to less than 10% of the

original volume.

WHIP UP A STORMGeneral purpose ‘Comfort’ blower BG 56 C EA genuinely powerful and easy handling blower. Throw the rake away and say goodbye to backache. Prepare yourself for a cleaner front path, back garden, patio, driveway, street…NOW £199

LOW WEIGHT SIMPLICITY Electric blower BGE 71A keenly priced powerful blower with neighbour-pleasing noise reduction. It will also convert into a vacuum shredder with an optional kit. Very zippy at only 3kg (7lb).NOW £79

MR CLEAN High pressure washer RE 98Fitted with a rotary nozzle, this cold water pressure washer blasts muck off patios, bikes and garden furniture. Very reliable and with genuine back up service.

£179

CALLING ALL DIRTY CARS... High pressure washer RE 108Light and portable with a telescopic handle and built in storage compartment, so it doesn’t take up much room in the garage.

£220

SUCK THE PATTERN OFF WALLPAPER Wet & dry cleaner SE 61Can be used indoors and outdoors, sensational suction on dirt and liquids with a great range of optional accessories.

£145

LICENSED TO THRILLGENERAL PURPOSE (COMFORT) SHREDDER VAC AND BLOWERSH 56 C-E

If Q, James Bond’s gadget wizard, ever designed a garden power tool it would look like this. The SH 56 C-E is an ingenious device that offers gale-force blowing power and converts to a vacuum with colossal suction in seconds. And, get this, it also compresses leaves and cuttings and shreds them into organic compost and mulch. At STIHL we call it Mr Versatility, and it also comes with ErgoStart, STIHL’s every time unbelievably easy starting system.

NOW £239

WHAT A STIHL BLOWER, VACUUM CLEANER AND PRESSURE WASHER WILL DO FOR YOUThere’s no doubting autumn is a beautiful season, but in the garden it’s also a messy and untidy one.

Never will you handle a machine more fit for purpose than a STIHL blower, or combined vac and blower. Immensely powerful and nimble to manoeuvre, our blowers don’t so much blow leaves away as blast them into oblivion, whilst on one of our products the vacuum function has exceptional

suction and ability to not only suck up huge quantities of leaves and cuttings, but shred them too – so forget buying any more compost or mulch. STIHL pressure washers are very satisfying to use and do such thorough and excellent work they’ll leave you with a great sense of a job well done.

Sean Says...

My pressure washer m

akes

mossy paths and

mouldy

garden furniture a drea

m to

clean. No more rubber glo

ves

and soggy knees.

Kids, bring

out your muddy bikes.Sean :-

)

ErgoStartFor effortless, smooth starting every time.

OFF51£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF20£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF51£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

6 STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 2011

Give yourself the hedge.top topiary tools for keeping hedges in trim

T AKE a stroll through a Cotswolds village, or indeed any other quintessentially chocolate-box British backdrop, and feast on a vista of lush green, gigantic and mesmerising creatures erupting out of hedges. Welcome to the ingenious, painstaking and immensely clever art of topiary; sculpting captivating shapes out of perennial, plentiful plants.

It would be quite understandable to assume such a quirky and delightful horticultural art form had its origins in British eccentricity, but it would also be quite wrong. Although many topiary creations adorn dwelling places going back 300 plus years here, the art goes back much further – to ancient Greece, in fact. Topia is Greek for ‘places’, the word was hijacked and elongated to topiarius by the Romans, Latin for ornamental landscape gardener. Topiary really started to come into its own when a chap by the name of Cneius Matius Calvena, in the circle of Julius Caesar, introduced the first topiary features to Roman gardens.

It has caught on in the Far East too, particularly in Japan, giving rise to ‘Karikomi’; Zen gardens with beautifully sculpted shrubbery, particularly visually alluring after a light dusting of snow. Topiary has also made its artful presence felt in the world of cinema: who can forget Tim Burton’s creation of ‘Edward Scissorhands’, brilliantly portrayed by Johnny Depp; now there was a bloke who was a bit tasty when it came to snipping a hedge into a squirrel in seconds! Squirrels, elephants, rabbits and peacocks; all are regularly created in topiary form. But you may be thinking ‘Peacocks to that, I don’t want to carve out a 12 feet tall West Highland Terrier – all I want to do is neatly trim my hedge.’

Well whether you want to manicure a privet, or tame a wildly out of control leylandii, STIHL has a comprehensive and versatile range of hedge trimmers up to any job.

Sean’s Easy TipI like to trim my hedges by small amounts (1” – 3”) repeatedly rather than chop heavily. That way I can check

the straightness, and all the clippings are small and easier

to collect.

Sean :-)

Sean Says...

I can’t believe my Dad still

insists on climbing ladd

ers

to do the top of

his 9 foot

hedge. I adjust the h

ead of my

“long reach” and

simply walk.

Quick, safe, easy. Sean :-

)

STIHL hedge trimmers

Well I never!

STIHL also manufactures an ultra low vibration

hedge trimmer, the HS 81, which will cut through thick

branches with minimal fatigue for the operator.

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UK 7Other STIHL hedge trimmer models are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs.

“I do take pride in my garden’s appearance.”

Walter Roso about his HS 45 (24") hedge trimmer

I love MY STIHL BECAUSE...“I love my STIHL because it goes through my hedge like a hot knife through butter, brilliant.”CHRISTOPHER McKENDRICK

WHAT A STIHL HEDGE TRIMMER CAN DO FOR YOU.Whether using a standard hedge trimmer, or a long reach model, STIHL hedge trimmers are finely balanced, so they are very comfortable to use.

They’re also very sharp, cutting cleanly and quickly - so you won’t have to grit your teeth and work up a sweat, as they require minimum muscle from you. Unlike your average domestic hedge trimmer, STIHL hedge trimmers have been

manufactured to cut through the thickest of thickets and seriously overgrown hedges. If you’ve used another hedge trimmer, then switch to a STIHL, it’s rather like driving a 1 litre runabout, then taking the wheel of a Porsche.

SHORT BACK AND SIDES PLEASE General purpose hedge trimmer HS 45 (18")Great all-rounder with a slightly shorter 18" (45cm) cutter bar for lower weight and narrower, smaller hedges. Normally retails at £329, but buy one before 21st December and it’s just £249.NOW £249

LOW WEIGHT SIMPLICITY Electric hedge trimmer HSE 42 (18")This very reasonably priced model, offers optimum STIHL performance for the proud home gardener. Weighing a mere 3 kg (6.6 lb) it’s also very manoeuvrable and easy to hold.£119

COME DOWN TO EARTH Petrol long reach hedge trimmer HL 95Electric long reach hedge trimmer HLE 71STIHL also has a range of long reach and fully adjustable hedge trimmers that will reach up to 3.5 metres – that’s 11' 6" to those of you born during pounds, shilling and pence.£696 / £370

POPULAR LABOUR SAVERGENERAL PURPOSE HEDGE TRIMMER HS 45 (24")

With a sharp 24" (60cm) cutter bar, this is a hedge trimmer that can comfortably save you hours of hard hedge trimming work. Like all STIHL hedge trimmers, the HS 45 has been designed to cope with overgrown thickets and particularly long hedges. It is powerful, manoeuvrable and if you buy one before 21st December it’s available at just £259.

NOW £259

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Up to

OFFUNTIL 21 DECEMBER

2011

£80

Double sided bladesIdeal for discerning home owners and land owners.

Tough cuttersRobust teeth to work hard season after season.

Handle designErgonomic handle design for optimum comfort.

Translucent fuel tankFor easy checking of fuel level.

OFF80£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF80£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

NEW

WINNING THE power STRUGGLE.weedy batteries are a thing of the past; a new Cordless range with robust, enduring power

T HE invention of the battery is largely credited to Italian physicist, Alessandro Volta, when in 1800 he linked together a ‘pile’ of several cells in series. Volta eponymously termed his invention the ‘Voltaic Pile’ and his name is printed on millions of car batteries the world over to this day.

However, in 1749, a certain Benjamin Franklin linked together a series of single capacitors to increase power output, and coined the term ‘battery’ to describe his invention. The word clearly stuck. Inventing the battery was but a trifling task for someone who was a prolific Renaissance Man. Aside from being a scientist and inventor, Franklin was an author, a printer, a politician, a musician, a satirist, a civic activist, a statesman and a diplomat – now that’s what you call multi-tasking! Deservedly his portrait would be printed on U.S. dollar bills for centuries to come.

Whether you are in the Volta or Franklin camp of battery inventiveness, some believe it was devised many years previously. In 1936 archaeologists excavating a site

near Baghdad in Iraq, uncovered a set of terracotta jars containing rolled up copper sheets, wrapped around an iron rod. It is believed that these were ancient galvanic cells, created 2,000 years previously; they were subsequently dubbed ‘the Baghdad Batteries’.

Harnessing the power of cells has moved on somewhat, to the extent that battery power propels the stunning Tesla Roadster, a quite astonishing sports car designed in California and assembled here in the UK, at Lotus’s HQ in Norfolk. The Tesla Roadster travels 244 miles on one charge, accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 125 mph, making it no milk float.

The state-of- the-art of the battery is the lithium Ion battery, which powers the Tesla Roadster, and the new STIHL cordless range. We can’t promise you 0 – 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, but we can promise you enduring power comparable to petrol or electric, an ingenious ‘one battery fits all’ system for every tool, greatly reduced noise levels and zero emissions near the operator.

Sean Says...

I can’t believe ho

w powerful

my battery chain

saw is.

I wish I had more fireplaces

in my home. Now, how is

Nancy next door d

oing with

her wood pile.

Warm scones please..

. Sean :-)

Benjamin Franklin

STIHL cordless range

8 STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 2011

TRULY A WHIZZ IN THE WOODPERFORMANCE CORDLESS CHAIN SAW MSA 160 C-Bq KIT

Even Andreas would have been impressed with this! One charge enables up to 35 minutes of powerful cutting time on this low weight, incredibly versatile machine – that’s 150 cross cuts of 10cm x 10cm spruce timber. It is perfect for DIY gardening, cutting firewood and general sawing. Like all tools in the STIHL cordless range it’s manufactured with brushless technology, which means less wear and tear and enhanced reliability.

£439 with a battery & charger (£269 without a battery & charger)

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Anti-vibration systemReduced vibration for more comfortable cutting.

Quick chain tensioning15 second tool-less adjustment to tighten loose chains.

Simple triggerFor ultimate hassle-free control.

Bar and chainPremium bar and chain exclusively manufactured by STIHL.

NEW

I love MY STIHL BECAUSE...“I am very impressed with the cordless blower I requested from my girlfriend for my birthday, the build quality is fantastic and saves hours of sweeping up grass and leaves in the garden.”MARTIN EVANS

Well I never!Lithium ION batteries are one of the most common batteries used in portable

consumer electronics, such as mobile phones.They have a slow loss of charge when not in useand a negligible loss of

capacity, even afterseveral hundred charges.

9TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UKOther STIHL battery options are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs.

Tareanna Dunn about her MSA 160 C-BQ battery chain saw

“No more waiting for someone

to help.”

WHAT THE STIHL CORDLESS POWER SYSTEM WILL DO FOR YOU.Battery powered garden tools have been around for some time – but never like this.

Lightness of weight, great manoeuvrability, significantly reduced noise and zero emissions near the operator have been the driving factors for choosing cordless. Alongside all of those virtues, the STIHL cordless range offers you unparalleled levels of power; genuinely comparable to petrol or electric. Powerful 36 V machines, coupled with ‘the heart of the system’,

powerful batteries and chargers, (you will only need one of each, depending on your requirements). But whichever you choose, the battery is compatible and interchangeable on every tool – including a VIKING lawn mower; once a job is done, simply click the battery out of one tool and snap it into another. How clever and convenient is that?

DON’T HEDGE YOUR BETS Powerful cordless hedge trimmer HSA 65 KIT (AP 80 & AL 100)Absolutely no power compromise whatsoever when trimming hedges or thinning overgrowth.

£319 with battery & charger (£229 without battery & charger)

LOW WEIGHT WONDER TRIMMER Cordless grass trimmer FSA 65 KIT (AP 80 & AL 100)Low weight portability and power in areas where your mower won’t reach.

£275 with battery & charger (£185 without battery & charger)

THIS IS ROCKET SCIENCE Cordless power blower BGA 85 KIT (AP 160 & AL 300)So powerful you’ll forget a battery is powering this blower as it blasts away the leaves and cuttings.

£429 (with battery & charger) £259 (without battery & charger)

STANDARD OR WITH EXTRA SAUCE Chargers and batteries

The AL 300 charger is a fast charger and the AP 160 battery has greater capacity; whereas the standard AL 100 charger and AP 80 battery will adequately meet the needs of homeowners with smaller gardens.

LEAN GREEN CUTTING MACHINEVIKING cordless lawn mower MA 339 KIT (AP 160 & AL 100)Exceptional manoeuvrability across 6 cutting levels, this lawn mower is so useful it’s hard to believe it’s powered by battery.

£459 with battery & charger (£319 without battery & charger)

NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW

STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 201110

VIKING lawn mowers and shredders

Well I never!Aside from manufacturing

a great range of lawn tractors and ride-on

Mowers, VIKING also produces a rather neat trailer for them which

is great for transporting waste or logs.

“Now I have another reason to look forward

to the weekend.”Hugh Freeman-Rice about his GE 150 shredder

WHAT A VIKING LAWN MOWER, LAWN TRACTOR AND SHREDDER OR TILLER WILL DO FOR YOU.VIKING is proudly part of the STIHL Group.

Choose a VIKING product and you’ll be working with a tool that will make your life so much easier in the garden. They are easy to use, simple to maintain and designed and built to really last. You’ll be impressed by the labour saving solutions found on the lawn mower range. VIKING tillers are perfect for the larger

garden or serious veggie gardeners. You’ll be the most popular person at the allotment. VIKING shredders, whether petrol or electric, process vast volumes of cuttings and waste, chipping branches and bark and shredding soft material to give you more organic compost than you could shake a stick at.

Sean’s Easy Tip

I personally like m

ulching

mowers which chop up the

grass and return it to

the

lawn. Absolutely no need to

stop and empty the

catcher

box. Saves time and ha

ssle.

Sean :-)

I love MY VIKING BECAUSE...“Its a quality product, easy to clean and reduces piles of cuttings, clippings and branches in minutes. My garden is so much tidier with great compost.”SU ARMITAGE, VIKING Shredder owner

ELECTRIC CHIPPER SHREDDER GE 105One of several powerful chipper shredders with a gargantuan appetite for cuttings and waste, and hey presto! It turns waste into organic compost and mulch.NOW £259

GARDEN SHREDDER GE 150A short, inclined feed chute and patented cloverleaf opening make feeding the GE 150 easy and effortless. NOW £334

POWERFUL GARDEN SHREDDER GE 250A powerful electric garden shredder for processing large amounts of soft material.

NOW £390

TILLER HB 445 ROur new tiller makes easy work of turning soil, ideal for your veggie patch or the allotment.

NOW £595

SCARIFER LB 540 (15")Remove moss, thatch and weeds for a lush, enviable lawn.

NOW £529

Other VIKING lawn mower and garden care models are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs. 11TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT VIKINGMOWERS.CO.UK

Viking TREASURE.some of the smartest, most effiCient lawn mowers and shredders this side of the north sea

I T is difficult to imagine that a race of barbaric, raping, pillaging, brutal savages were the ancestors of the civilised, restrained and conservative people who gave us Volvo, IKEA and Abba.

But back in a period that ran from the 8th to the 11th century you’d have been wise to have given that attractive combination of blond hair and blue eyes a wide berth. The Vikings were drawn predominantly from Scandinavia, though a few western Germans also got involved in the fun and games. The word ‘Viking’ is an Old Norse noun, which literally translates as ‘expedition overseas’, and boy, what expeditions they were.

The advent of the Vikings is put down to the fact that back then the people of Denmark, Norway and Sweden were primarily coastal dwellers, who had pretty much exhausted all natural resources. One way of unearthing more would have been to travel inland to set up new settlements, however such was the density of forestation this was thought too difficult to achieve. Had STIHL chain saws been around then, the Vikings as we know them may never have come into being. So rather than undertake the herculean task of clearing acres of forest in search of their own supplies of food and what have you, they decided a far easier alternative was to go and pinch someone else’s.

Scandinavians are an organised lot, and it was the same back in the 8th century. The Norwegians went north and west, to Ireland, Scotland and Greenland, the Danes came over to us and France, and the Swedes to the east, founding what they called ‘Kieven Rus’, which today we know as Russia.

In fact they got everywhere, reaching Labrador in the west and as far as Baghdad in the east, as they regularly sailed the Volga, trading in furs, tusks, animal fat for boat sealant, and, if you wanted a slave, they stocked a range of those too. Nonetheless, their antics are steeped in rich

folklore, myth and legend and they did give us those crazy hats, which, by the way, were only worn on ceremonial occasions; loads of those packed into a long ship would have somebody’s eye out.

VIKING is a leading European garden power tool brand and a proud part of the STIHL Group. VIKING is manufactured and head-quartered in Kufstein, Austria. Confusing perhaps, but great products nonetheless.

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SIMPLE PUSH MOWERMOWER MB 248 (18")

For small to medium gardens this is the perfect mower. With an 8 stage centrally located height adjuster, a lightweight fabric grass catcher box and tough sheet steel housing, this is a compact and cost-effective lawn mower.

NOW £259

OFF75£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF75£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF50£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF75£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF50£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 201112

ANSWERS TO THE GRASS CLASS qUIZ

01 Sacre Coeur, Paris02 The White House, Washington DC03 Buckingham Palace, London04 Chateau de Versailles, Paris05 Centre Court, Wimbledon, London

STIHL grass trimmers and brushcutters

Well I never!Aside from supplying

perhaps the most complete range of grass trimmers

and brushcutters anywhere, STIHL also manufactures

an extensive range of accessories to be used with grass trimmers and brushcutters. There are

harnesses, tool bags – even a specially designed pair of

stihl branded trousers, which feature a 3 ply front

to provide protection against thorns and

brambles. And it doesn’t matter who wears the

trousers in your home as they’re suitable for

men or women.

“Overgrown grass or weeds are no problem. I get ‘em all.

Bish, Bash, Bosh.”Christ Radin with his FS 50 C-E

easy starting grass trimmer

WHAT A STIHL GRASS TRIMMER OR BRUSHCUTTER WILL DO FOR YOU.Don’t despair at that seemingly wildly out of control long grass or thick undergrowth – a STIHL grass trimmer or brushcutter will whittle it down to nothing.

With a range that serves the needs of landowners and homeowners with smaller domestic gardens, STIHL grass trimmers and brushcutters are devastatingly effective and show no mercy to grass

and undergrowth, in even the thickest of thickets. They mean business, but have a gentle side too. With a powerful low-emission STIHL petrol engine, you’ll be taming the environment, and doing your bit for it.

Sean’s Easy T ip

I like to trim the law

n

edges and fence

lines before

mowing the lawn. So the

mower does the clea

ning up.

Neat edges make the

job look

really complete. Sean :-

)

I love MY STIHL BECAUSE...“As a woman my STIHL FS 45 is easy to handle easy to maintain, no effort at all. My garden looks professional.”STEPHANIE FRANKLIN

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UKOther STIHL line trimmer and brushcutter models are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs. 13

KEEP on THE GRASSnowhere is off limits for

these grass trimmers and brushCutters

01 02 03 04 05

GRASS class Can you name these world famous examples of grass? Answers at bottom of page 12.

T O most, there isn’t a lot to the subject of grass. It’s green, you mow it once a week, you sit on it sipping something cold when the sun shines… and that’s about it.

But there is so much more to grass, and, if your interest is aroused, the paragraphs that ensue will enlighten you. Next time you host a dinner party, how about this for an opening conversational gambit?

‘Do you know how many species of grass there are in the world?’

At this point some of your guests might reach for the Chablis to numb the pain, however they will surely be surprised, astonished even, when you inform them that there are in excess of 3,500. However you might start to lose them again with further elucidation on the subject. Grasses, technically, are graminoids, or if you really want to show off, monocotyledonous herbaceous plants. Animals that eat grass are termed ‘graminivores’, these include cattle, sheep, horses, rabbits and many invertebrates.

But the grass you are no doubt most familiar with is that mentioned in the first paragraph – your lawn. Authors have penned books on the subject of lawns, not exactly John Grisham, but some interesting and astute observations have been made on the subject. For example, American writer, Virginia Jenkins, in her tome, entitled, The Lawn, almost scathingly declared, ‘Upper middle-class Americans emulated aristocratic society with their own small, semi-rural estates.’ So much for doing your bit to keep up the appearance of the neighbourhood!

Finally, another little bit of dinner party repartee over the port and stilton, ask your guests what is regarded to be the most expensive lawn in the world. Smile knowingly as they say ‘Hampton Court’, or ‘Buckingham Palace’, then, with a flourish put them out of their misery – it’s The Centre Court at Wimbledon.

Not all grass is as immaculately manicured as that in SW19. It grows wildly in abundance in places where your lawn mower won’t reach, but a STIHL grass trimmer or brushcutter will tame it with ease.

qUICK STARTING, EASY FINISHINGVERSATILE ‘COMFORT’ GRASS TRIMMER FS 50 C-EWhether mowing a small area of grass, or finishing areas where the mower wouldn’t reach, this is the tool for the job. Low weight and featuring ErgoStart, STIHL’s effortless, every time starting technology, the FS 50 C-E is impressive and easy to use.

NOW £169

the r

ight

tool

for t

he jo

bST

IHL

HER

OES

ErgoStartFor effortless, smooth starting every time.

LOW WEIGHT SIMPLICITY Electric grass trimmer FSE 41Quiet but effective, this very low weight trimmer (only 2.6kg, 6lb) has an adjustable handle for different size users and a pivoting head for very easy lawn edges. Easily trims edges and corners leaving a perfectly manicured garden. NOW £59

A RAMBLING WE WILL GO Light duty grass trimmer FS 40With this lightest petrol grass trimmer in the STIHL range you can roam where you like. Up hill or down dale, or just to the bottom of your garden. Excellent value for money and ideal for allotment owners. NOW £135

OFF16£

OFF34£

Bent shaftFor trimming in tight confined spaces.

Bump feed cutting headWith robust nylon line.

OFF41£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

WIN THE JUNGLE WARFARE Tough general purpose grass trimmer FS 56 REqually adept at large garden or land maintenance, offering great power and can mow a small area of grass, or provide a neat, finishing touch to the work of a lawn mower. NOW £295

LARGER GARDENS – NO WORRIES Powerful brushcutter FS 70 RThis is a tool that will step in to tackle the task. Perfect for steep slopes, areas studded with bushes; equally at home gently trimming edges, or shredding tangled undergrowth. NOW £359

TIMBERSPORTS, STIHL AND VIKING MERCHANDISE

Not only does STIHL provide you with an incredible range of power tools to make your garden look great, we also provide a range of clothing for every member of the family to look great in it.

14 STIHL LIFE AUTUMN 2011

BEAT THE SYSTEM.the kombisystem means you don’t need seVen separate tools

STIHL KombiSystem

Well I never!While these Kombitools

simplify a multitude of garden jobs, there are other equally impressive attachments in

the range. For example; the Kombi Bristle Brush

which is fantastic for removing moss from paving

or renovating hard tennis courts; and the Kombi Scrub

Cutter, just likea hedge trimmer but designed for cutting grass and weeds

under fences or in narrow spaces.

WHAT A STIHL KOMBISYSTEM WILL DO FOR YOU.You could go somewhere that thoughtlessly sells garden power tools and buy several separate tools, or you might prefer to go to your nearest Approved STIHL & VIKING Dealer and invest in something far more versatile and effective.

Rather than disappearing into the abyss of the shed to put away one tool before rummaging around for another, it is far more satisfying, and, indeed efficient, to hear a pleasing click, followed by a slight twist as you snap another attachment into a STIHL

KombiSystem. Whether trimming grass or hedges, clearing lawns or paths, pruning trees, edging borders or cultivating soil, you’ll do a better job in much less time with this incredibly versatile and highly effective system.

“I can do it all with my KombiSystem.”

Diane Hunt with her KM 56 RC-E easy starting Kombi machine

THE SOURCE OF ALL POWEREASY STARTING KOMBIENGINEKM 56 R C-E

The STIHL KombiSystem starts with a powerful engine, perfect for the discerning domestic gardener. It produces lower emissions and uses less fuel over a longer working period. It features ErgoStart, STIHL’s effortless, every time starting system, and provides ample power across every task. Other KombiEngines are available, providing landowners and professionals with even more power and torque for tougher tasks.

NOW £199

04

15TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UKOther STIHL Kombi solutions are available. See your Dealer for specific advice on your needs.

T HE STIHL KombiSystem offers the ultimate in versatility in power garden tools.

It’s a single engine into which you slot a variety of separate attachments, though you only need buy the ones you want. The STIHL KombiSystem will carry out most garden tasks with efficiency and considerable ease. This really is the Swiss army knife of garden power tools; an instrument with a truly fascinating origin.

In 1897 in the small town of Ibach in the Canton of Shwyz, a fellow by the name of Karl Elsener owned a niche business manufacturing surgical instruments. The business was small, but successful - even so, Karl was looking for opportunities to diversify. Karl Elsener shared a widely held character trait common amongst the Swiss in that he was highly patriotic, and was horrified to discover that penknives issued to the Swiss military were made in Germany. Something had to be done about this, and Karl set to work. Realising that soldiers needed to perform various tasks in the field he hit upon the idea of designing a spring loaded multi-function penknife, which, given his highly patriotic nature, he branded with the Swiss military logo of a white cross and shield on a red background.

So impressed were Swiss military top brass they commissioned Karl’s firm to manufacture and supply the Swiss army; however, probably to his chagrin, they split production between Karl’s company and a rival outfit, Wenger SA, who until then had manufactured cutlery.

It’s thought this was done to soothe any tensions between the French speaking and German speaking halves of Switzerland in awarding such a large contract. In 1909 Karl’s much loved mother, Victoria, died and, in her memory, he re-named his company Victorinox. The arrangement of splitting production carried on right up until 2005, when Victorinox acquired Wenger SA.

Dependent on which model you purchased, your Swiss Army knife would have within any number of the following (deep breath): two blades (large and small), tweezers, toothpick, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, slotted and flat head screwdrivers, nail file, metal file, scissors, wood saw, hacksaw, magnifying glass, fish scaler, hex wrench, pliers and key ring attachment.

If you think that’s impressive, today you can buy one which features a detachable USB drive, a laser pointer and an MP3 player.

Finally, the term ‘Swiss Army Knife’ was actually coined after WWII, by U.S. soldiers, as the product’s original Swiss name of ‘Offiziermesser’ didn’t exactly trip off the tongue; clearly Karl’s knife-designing skills were right up there, but he wasn’t so hot on branding.

Whilst a STIHL KombiSystem may not offer you storage for your computer files, it does provide an all in one power blower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, pole pruner, edger and soil cultivator.

the r

ight

tool

for t

he jo

bST

IHL

HER

OES

NEAT AND TIDY WITH EASE Kombi grass trimmer attachment (bent shaft) KM – FSBCurved shaft for manoeuvring. Also features AutoCut bump feed mowing head for easy line feed.NOW £99

TAME TOUGH GRASS AND WEEDS Kombi grass trimmer attachment (straight shaft) KM – ACA hard working tool that will trim right up to walls, under hedges and beside borders. NOW £129

VERSATILE HEDGE MASTER Kombi hedge trimmer attachment (adjustable) KM – HL 135 degreesWhatever the shape of your hedge this will adjust easily through 0 to 135 degrees to trim it thoroughly.NOW £239

OVERHANGING BRANCHES? Kombi pole pruner attachment KM – HTA chain saw attachment that reaches up to lop branches over 10 ft high. NOW £179

NO LEAF UNTURNED Kombi power blower attachment KM – BGA handheld blower with an impressive performance that blasts leaves and cuttings. NOW £149

PRECISE LAWN EDGES Kombi edger attachment KM – FCBFor sharp, precision edges on lawns, along paths, driveways and flower beds. NOW £99

VEGGIE PATCH OR FLOWER BEDS Kombi soil cultivator attachment KM – BFYou won’t be in need of a Radox bath after this has turned your soil and dug out the weeds.NOW £149

A TALLER YOU Kombi Extensions 0.5 metre/1 metre A lightweight 1 metre carbon fibre attachment, or a metal 0.5 metre attachment for additional reach with Kombi hedge trimmer and pole pruner attachments.NOW 0.5m £55/1m £79

OFF16£

OFF10£

OFF16£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF26£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF46£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF31£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF31£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF21£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

OFF31£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

I love MY STIHL BECAUSE...“I love my STIHL because the Kombi range is so flexible versatile and reliable.”HAROLD D BROWN

The best part of

my Kombi

is that it fits into

the boot

of my car. No, the b

est part

of my Kombi is the variety

of trimming, pruning, blowing

and weeding jobs I can do.

Actually, the best pa

rt of my

Kombi is my legend status at

the allotment. Sean :-

)

Sean Says...

OFF50£

UNTIL 21 DEC 2011

Quick Release CouplingFor quick tool attachment changes.

On / Off SwitchSimple quick start mechanism.

ErgostartFor quick, easy, effortless starting.

STIHL Approved Dealers

The real deal.forget the blank stare treatment in shops, instead be guided, adVised and helped by someone who knows their subJeCt inside out and baCk to front.

A RE you one of those people who despair at the level of service in some shops these days? You know the sort of thing; being pounced upon as soon as you walk through the door ‘Can I help you?’ but if you want in depth advice you’re greeted with a blank stare.

At STIHL we are very fussy about how we manufacture our tools, and we’re also very fussy about who sells them. That’s why STIHL garden power tools are only available from Approved STIHL & VIKING Dealers. To become one means being knowledgeable on their product range and able to offer genuine

after sales service. We demand that our customers are treated with respect and courtesy, and receive thorough advice when purchasing our products.

We have a network of more than 500 Approved STIHL & VIKING Dealers across Great Britain, a great many of which we’ve been in partnership with for many years. Whichever STIHL & VIKING Approved Dealer you choose, you can be certain you will be in the hands of a genuine expert. They will match your requirements with the right product.

This catalogue is current as at 01/10/2011 and may be superseded in the future. All prices offered are quoted in pounds sterling based on recommended retail price inclusive of VAT @ 20% (RRP inc VAT) unless otherwise stated. STIHL reserve the right to change the scope of supply as regards to form, technology and equipment. No rights whatsoever can be claimed from the information and illustrations in this catalogue. Part number 7009 871 0319.

Terms and conditions: Up to £80 off selected STIHL and VIKING products between 1st October and 21st December 2011. Terms and conditions. 1. Offer only available at participating STIHL and VIKING Dealers. 2. Offer only valid on purchases in-store. 3. Offer not valid for online purchases. 4. For a full list of discounted products please visit stihl.co.uk. 5. STIHL Reserves the rights to cancel/alter promotion at any time.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY FROM A STIHL & VIKING APPROVED DEALER✓ They are outdoor power

equipment specialists

✓ They stock a wide range of products to suit your needs

✓ They provide starting and operating advice on all machines

✓ Our products are not sold ‘in a box’, they are assembled and prepared for you

✓ They service what they sell

✓ They stock a full range of protective clothing and accessories

WE HAVE APPROVED DEALERS ALL OVER GREAT BRITAIN, VISIT OUR

WEBSITE TO FIND FULL DETAILS OF YOUR LOCAL STIHL & VIKING

APPROVED DEALER.

stihl.co.uk

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER, PLEASE VISIT STIHL.CO.UK

WITH OVER 500 APPROVEDSTIHL DEALERS NATIONWIDE

THERE’S A DEALER NEAR YOU.

Not all Dealers aremarked on this map.

Well I never!Our approved dealers have

proven knowledge and years of experience, so they can help you choose the tool that fits your needs precisely. They can offer you a genuine

personal service. This includes helping you decide between models,Showing you how to use the Tool safely and easily,

and making sure it’s in perfect working order before

handing it over to you.

“Get down to your local STIHL Dealer to find the

tools that best suit your needs.”