STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® COMPETITION POWER TOOLS
Competition power tools for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® generally include custom saws and axes which are only used for competitions. the only exception is Stock Saw, which uses a standard, unmodified MS 661.
The right competition axe
Axes used in the events are specially developed competition axes which are not designed for normal use. The axes are made from special steel, sharpened by hand and are so sharp that you could theoretically shave with one! One of these axes weighs 2.5-3 kg, and costs between €300 and €400. Most competitors have a number of axes, because not every axe is suitable for every type of competition timber. During a competition, athletes take two axes onto the stage so that they always have a spare available.
SAWING WITH UP TO 80 HP
The Hot Saw discipline uses the heaviest and loudest competition power tool used at events. Hot Saw uses specially tuned chainsaws with single-cylinder two-stroke engines with up to 80 HP, which are often taken from snowmobiles or high-performance motorbikes. The basic cost of a Hot Saw tool starts at €5,000. The tuned chainsaws can weigh up to 30 kg and have a chain speed of around 240 km/h, making them extremely difficult to control. Keeping the saw steady is the key to success, as athletes in the Hot Saw discipline must cut three discs from a 15 cm section of log within a matter of seconds.
SINGLE BUCK HAND SAW
The custom one-man hand saws used in the Single Buck discipline are two metres long, and as such they are suitable for competitions but certainly not for everyday use. To manufacture these 5 kg saws, the metal is first cut using laser technology, then the 10 cm teeth are manually sharpened. The basic investment required to buy just one of these saws comes to around €1,500.
STIHL MS 661
The STIHL MS 661 chainsaw is a series production power tool. Delivering 7.3 HP with a cubic capacity of 91.1 cm³, it weighs in at around 7.4 kg. This power tool is used in the Stock Saw discipline.
SPRINGBOARD
The 1.7-metre-long boards are made from spruce or beech. The German word for springboard is “Sprungbrett”. The discipline’s name comes from the up-and-down motion of the anchored board as athletes stand on it, with the objective of cutting through a log with an axe at a height of 2.80 m. But first athletes must use the axe to create anchor points – known as “pockets” – in the upright trunk; the springboards must be securely fitted into these so the athlete can climb up to the necessary height.
