In the market for string trimer

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - In the market for string trimer (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 8/22/2017 6:58:44 AM EST

I have a worx cordless which has been ok but recently moved into much larger home with much more property

I also installed a fence recently which means I have even more to trim around

Im looking for a quality gas string trimmer that I can also edge with

Posted: 8/22/2017 6:59:27 AM EST

[#1]

Second battery.

Posted: 8/22/2017 6:59:51 AM EST

[#2]

Stihl Kombi with attachments. Serious but once, cry once and have a plethora of tools at your disposal.

ETA:. I have the Milwaukee string trimmer now, but for my Kombi I have the articulated hedge trimmer, saw blade, limbing saw, edger and extension bar. One motor to run all of them.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:02:29 AM EST

[#3]

Stihl

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:06:01 AM EST

[#4]

Echo

Best warranty 5 years. Worth every penny. Fires up on two pulls and cuts like nothing else.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:06:13 AM EST

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stihl

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Pick which model is best for you. I've used Stihl in both professional and homeowner capacity, no complaints.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:09:22 AM EST

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thank me later.

Best warranty 5 years. Worth every penny. Fires up on two pulls and cuts like nothing else.

View Quote

Same here just gas and go.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:10:13 AM EST

[#7]

Echo

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:10:23 AM EST

[#8]

Picked up a Stihl FS70 recently and that thing makes trimming a joy.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:11:52 AM EST

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stihl

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FS 91r

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:12:02 AM EST

[#10]

Stihl, any flavor.

When my husky went tits up I bought the cheapest Stihl at my dealer (Fs45 maybe). I beat the shit out of it. 7 years, no maintenance, no winterizing, still going strong.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:15:25 AM EST

[#11]

I'm lazy and got a walk behind trimmer.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:18:37 AM EST

[#12]

I live in Florida.

That means that I use mine more than 10 months per year.

I bought a Ryobi powerhead that does triple duty as edger, trimmer, and blower.

It cost me $89, is 5 years old now, and is about to finish another season.

If you know how to maintain a 2 stroke motor, they will last forever.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:19:18 AM EST

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stihl Kombi with attachments. Serious but once, cry once and have a plethora of tools at your disposal.

ETA:. I have the Milwaukee string trimmer now, but for my Kombi I have the articulated hedge trimmer, saw blade, limbing saw, edger and extension bar. One motor to run all of them.

View Quote

kinda overkill if all he needs is a trimmer.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:21:18 AM EST

[#14]

STIHL

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:21:28 AM EST

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Echo

Best warranty 5 years. Worth every penny. Fires up on two pulls and cuts like nothing else.

View Quote

This. My Echo straight shaft trimmer has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:22:15 AM EST

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Echo

View Quote

+1. I have the SRM225, it's been great. Just make sure you go straight shaft with whichever one you you with

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:24:36 AM EST

[#17]

Echo 225.

Powerhouse of a motor / speedfeed for the string is very easy to load -takes about 2 minutes is all. Great trimmer.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:25:47 AM EST

[#18]

There are brands other than Stihl?

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:29:34 AM EST

[#19]

The Ego 56v trimmer gets me just under 1.5 acres of residential trimming (fence lines etc) per charge. The other battery powered units just don't seem to compare

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:31:48 AM EST

[#20]

the new flex volt Dewalt

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:32:14 AM EST

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Same here just gas and go.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Thank me later.

Best warranty 5 years. Worth every penny. Fires up on two pulls and cuts like nothing else.

Same here just gas and go.

I have an Echo I bought in 2006. It's up to 3 pulls now.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:36:11 AM EST

[#22]

I have an Echo and I have a Stihl.

I prefer the Echo. Both are great. I think the Echo is better but the Stihl is still hands down better than anything else you will find.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:37:45 AM EST

[#23]

They're all made in China and are disposable.

Spend $55 at Lowes.com and get a Remington Rustler delivered. It will work as well and last as long as a $200+ "brand name" one.

They have a version that accepts attachments too, for a few bucks more.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:37:50 AM EST

[#24]

Stihl, Echo, or Husky. Pick the one you can get parts/service for the easiest in your area.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:40:46 AM EST

[#25]

Echo

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:46:23 AM EST

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

+1. I have the SRM225, it's been great. Just make sure you go straight shaft with whichever one you you with

View Quote

Straight vs Curved is nothing but personal preference. In entry level trimmers both use a cable drive so neither is superior to the other.

Now if you step up to a trimmer with a solid drive shaft that is a different story and those only come in straight shaft.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:54:47 AM EST

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

+1. I have the SRM225, it's been great. Just make sure you go straight shaft with whichever one you you with

View Quote

Totally agree. I have the same one. Before that I was using a borrowed Echo from a neighbor that was older than the hills, but was still working. That one was a curved shaft though. Going straight shaft was a huge improvement.

Posted: 8/22/2017 7:55:07 AM EST

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stihl Kombi with attachments. Serious but once, cry once and have a plethora of tools at your disposal.

ETA:. I have the Milwaukee string trimmer now, but for my Kombi I have the articulated hedge trimmer, saw blade, limbing saw, edger and extension bar. One motor to run all of them.

View Quote

bought one of these 6 years ago..... still starts 1st pull every spring. best weedwhacker/edger/brush cutter I have ever owned.

Posted: 8/22/2017 8:33:56 AM EST

[#29]

Echo powerhead

I bought this a month ago, to go with the smallest powerhead echo made 20+ years ago. The old one runs great and fires right up. It struggled a bit with the big weeds and vines, but did great with the chainsaw on a stick attachment. I have been using the new powerhead now for weeds, and holy crap! This thing makes me laugh at times, nothing slows it down. I think it is going to take out my 20+ year old trimmer head though, that thing gets a bit warm now!

Posted: 8/22/2017 8:49:29 AM EST

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:

kinda overkill if all he needs is a trimmer.

View Quote

True, I am making the assumption that a larger property will likely have more / bigger hedges, trees, etc. , requiring the additional tool options.

Posted: 8/22/2017 8:50:51 AM EST

[#31]

Echo.

Posted: 8/22/2017 9:19:03 AM EST

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
Echo 225.

Powerhouse of a motor / speedfeed for the string is very easy to load -takes about 2 minutes is all. Great trimmer.

View Quote

This. I have the same and it's been great. I have the bruch cutting and edging attatchments as well. A bit of a pain to change attatchments but not terrible.

Posted: 8/22/2017 9:22:38 AM EST

[#33]

I have a lot of trimming to do. My deWalt 20 volt brushless has been excellent. No gas, very quiet.

Posted: 8/22/2017 9:27:37 AM EST

[#34]

if you get a gas-operated trimmer, use ethanol-free gas. Your trimmer engine will last longer. If there aren't any ethanol-free gas stations nearby, get a 5-gallon jug and go buy some to last you for a while.

ETA: here is the list of stations in IN: Pure-gas.org

Posted: 8/22/2017 9:27:57 AM EST

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
Echo

Best warranty 5 years. Worth every penny. Fires up on two pulls and cuts like nothing else.

View Quote

Attached File

I bought this ECHO last year at HD after an ARFCOM recommendation and it's been great!

It has the easiest line replacement system I've seen.

Cheers!

ILB

Posted: 8/22/2017 9:57:15 AM EST

[#36]

My Stihl FS-56 is a very good trimmer. By far the best I've ever had over the last thirty years or so of home ownership. Would it hold up to commercial use? I don't know for sure but I'm betting it would give a Hell of a run at it. Mine sees about two hours of run time every weekend during the growing season. It's easy to start and the line is never an issue. I wouldn't mind if it had a bit larger spool but that's really a minor complaint.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:00:55 AM EST

[#37]

I have a few I recommend. My old Echo SRM210 straight shaft has done double duty as a trimmer and brushcutter over the near 20 years I've owned it, and it never misses.   This is a pre-Shindaiwa merger unit so it didn't come with the Speed Feed, but since Shindaiwa sold the rights to that to Oregon years ago I just retrofitted an Oregon Speed Feed head and it works great.   Any Echo would work great.

I also have the Stihl Kombi, fantastic unit including a good trimmer, but the Stihl spooling system sucks after you get used to the Shindaiwa/Echo system so again, I retrofitted the straight shaft trimmer head with an Oregon Speed Feed and the unit just rocks.   I also use the hedge trimmer and the pole saw with the extension, they work great.

For trimming my folks place I use the Stihl FSA 56 battery unit (not much property), uses the AK battery. I did upgrade it to the larger AK battery (stock one doesnt' last long) and the spool is only rated for .080 line and they don't last, but I just preload extra spools and carry them in my pocket, takes seconds to swap out and keep going, if necessary.   Decent unit but I wouldn't recommend it for over an acre.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:06:14 AM EST

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
Echo 225.

Powerhouse of a motor / speedfeed for the string is very easy to load -takes about 2 minutes is all. Great trimmer.

View Quote

This is what I have used for two years on my fenced 2 acres.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:06:15 AM EST

[#39]

I've been very happy with my Echo PAS set-up. Trimmer, edger, and recently got the tree trimming attachment. Haven't had any problems with it in the 5+ years I've been beating it up.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:10:40 AM EST

[#40]

Stihl.

Mine (and the edger) sat for 2yrs with fuel/oil mix in them... Drained them, poured some seafoam in them and primed, let sit over night. Poured the left over seafoam in the tank out, filled with new fuel/oil, fired up on the second pull. Only problem I've ever had was the cord breaking on the trimmer (older).

I like the combo tool they make, but I already have a trimmer and edger, so...

I get the attraction of batteries and the negatives of fuel/oil, but I'd rather stick to the old school. Those batteries are pricey.

eta: I have the FS5x trimmer, I've put the blade on it and actually cut limbs with it.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:11:45 AM EST

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
There are brands other than Stihl?

View Quote

Nope

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:11:52 AM EST

[#42]

Echo. I've had my string trimmer and backpack blower for five years. Both are great.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:24:53 AM EST

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:
Echo

Best warranty 5 years. Worth every penny. Fires up on two pulls and cuts like nothing else.

View Quote

that's some funny shit there.

Nothing outcuts a pre 2010 shindiawa 242. But they are hard to find will prob need cleaned up some.

You said bigger house OP but didn't say how big. For cheap consumer grade I have had good luck with the Troy built 2stroke model. Used it in the burbs for the past three years.

If you need comercial I would look into husky, Stihl or even a newer shindiawa. Can't go wrong with either. They just don't make them like they used to with the new emissions BS

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:36:31 AM EST

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
if you get a gas-operated trimmer, use ethanol-free gas. Your trimmer engine will last longer. If there aren't any ethanol-free gas stations nearby, get a 5-gallon jug and go buy some to last you for a while.

ETA: here is the list of stations in IN: Pure-gas.org

View Quote

If you can't find regular pure gas, Avgas from the airport works and is a lot cheaper than TruFuel.

Posted: 8/22/2017 11:57:47 AM EST

[#45]

Stihl FS94R or Husqvarna 525LS and install an Echo SpeedFeed 400 head.

Posted: 8/23/2017 6:42:39 AM EST

[#46]

Anyone have/use the echo pas?

Looks like home depot has the echo pas with trimmer and edger attachments for $300. Seems like a pretty good deal considering what you get

Posted: 8/23/2017 6:49:37 AM EST

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stihl

View Quote

Posted: 8/23/2017 7:09:54 AM EST

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stihl Kombi with attachments.

View Quote

this is the answer you seek.

look on CL for a "used" (read stolen) one and take it to an ACE hardware store to have it looked over.

it's hands down the best. I've had mine for over 15 years and it still cranks on the 2nd-3rd pull..