Best weed trimmer wanted.

[Duwop]

I am tired of the big box store trimmers over the last twenty years I think I've bought 8. Two years maybe three
is about the max time I remember having the same trimmer. Are the stiils, husquavaras that are sold by the tractor dealers really better? I've spent a bit of time reading reviews for the various trimmers but am not getting the feeling they are any better. I would gladly spend the extra doe for a trimmer that starts easily without the pull cords ripping the flesh from my callused fingers with string heads that are easily reloaded. I have to maintain 6 acres of mixed use land with trails which is about 3-4 hours of use per week. If you can help please do include make and model and your experience with the model.

 

[groundcover]

You need one of these !
Duecker DUA MaeherKombi MK25 am Unimog U423 (Euro6) u. Fendt 514 / DUA Mower Combination

I've run Echo For years , first from the start !

 

[murphy1244]

Echo will be the easiest to start. I have a srm 225.

 

[The Deerslayer]

Check out the Stihl line of trimmers, you may pay more but in the end it is well worth it. If you are doing that much trimming, I recommend getting one of the models with the bike handle and a straight shaft. I believe I have the FS56 and I have had nothing praise for it. I have a substantial amount of horse fencing I trim as well as trimming near the woods edge as well as the house and barn. I probably run it 2-3 hours per week.
I was done with cheap trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws. Once I started getting decent equipment the difference was very noticeable and my frustration level went down.

 

[Tompet]

I have two new Echos (SRM225 & SRM266S) and think they are very good. I just "retired" the first string trimmer I purchased and it was an Echo from late 80's. It saw a lot of use.

I also use a Husky that I really like for it's lightweight feel and it is about 10 years old and starts right up every time. I would recommend straight shaft trimmers. I get all my Echo tools from local dealer, but I see Lowes (Husky 126?) model I would recommend) and Home Depot (Echo) each sell straight shaft models that are fine.

The main thing on all these small engines is 89 octane gas always drained at end of season or at a minimum gas stabilizer.

The new quick load trim heads are easy to wind and reload.

What were you buying previously?

 

[mjonesnh]

Purchased a Stihl FS 130 back in April to work on fence rows and as a general purpose trimmer. The standard grass cutting head is a 2 line .095 or .105 line which just eats tall grass and keeps asking for more. If I remove the head and put on a brush cutter blade I can cut 2"-3" saplings without bogging down. This is a 36.4 cc trimmer that uses a 4-mix engine, has valves but no crankcase. Uses 2 stroke gas,oil mix. Love this trimmer! Starts with just pushing primer bulb a few times with no choking although manual tells you to choke it when cold but not necessary with mine. Weight is about 13lbs but balances out really well. Not cheap at 399.00 but should last for many years!

 

[smstonypoint]

I have to maintain 6 acres of mixed use land with trails which is about 3-4 hours of use per week. If you can help please do include make and model and your experience with the model.

First, have you thought about using a herbicide to reduce the amount of trimming you have to do each week?

I have been pleased with my Husqvarna 223R -- the bicycle bars and harness are relatively easy on my back, and it has been easy to start. I use a steel brushcutter blade, so I can't comment on how the 223R string head performs.

I also have a Stihl FS 90 with a loop handle. It is also easy to start, but seems to be louder that the Husqvarna and is more tiring to use.

Steve

 

[hwatkins]

I would recommend Stihl, it's amazing how much better they are than the typical Ryobi (or other big box consumer brand). Mine starts easily the only time I have issues is if I leave the fuel in over the winter, the ethanol mix just doesn't store well, but a quick change of the fuel and it's starts right up. They have so much more power than the consumer brands and stuff just works for the most part, especially the chainsaw. The weed trimmer I've had some slight issues with the string feeding, but it probably has more to do with me winding the string than the tool.

I'll agree with Deerslayer "I was done with cheap trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws. Once I started getting decent equipment the difference was very noticeable and my frustration level went down." I've been swapping out all my yard tools, blowers, chainsaws and weed trimmers with Stihl and it's made me much more productive.

One last thing to add is looks at the landscape trailers going down the road, the only two brands I see on them are Stihl and Echo, so I think those are your two choices for real quality.

 

[crazyal]

I broke down and bought a 35cc Honda. It doesn't have all the attachments some of the others like a broom but it has string and a saw blade, that's all I wanted. I've had it 6 years now and it's worked great. I would never buy a 2 stroke trimmer again. It's very easy to pull, has a primmer bulb, and has always started in two or three pulls when cold and one when hot. Best of all it's quiet and has tons of torque. I start it and leave it on the ground idling while I put the harness on, it just purrs away waiting to go to work. I find myself not using full throttle very often, it's just not needed. Because it's a 4 stroke and it has so much torque it sips the fuel. When firewood season comes and I fire up the chainsaw I quickly realize how nice it is not having to smell the burnt oil. I don't know what model Sthil this is in the video but it's fun to watch a 4 stroke vs a 2 stroke.

 

[4570Man]

I have a sthil, echo, shindaiwa, and several cheap trimmers. The echo is my least favorite of the good trimmers because I don't like the guard on the front, and the shape of the handle. The sthil and the shindaiwa are tied for first. The sthil starts easier usually with one pull, and has a little more power. It is also a little bit heavier. The shindaiwa has plenty of power for its intended purpose. It is a little bit lighter than the sthil. It usually takes 3 pulls to start. Stay away from curved shaft trimmers unless you are 4 feet tall. The worst trimmer I have ever used bar none was a Troy-built curved shaft 4 stroke.

 

[Carhartt Cowboy]

Are the stiils, husquavaras that are sold by the tractor dealers really better? I've spent a bit of time reading reviews for the various trimmers but am not getting the feeling they are any better.....

I'm not sure the defining line is where the product are sold. The higher end manufacturers have different lines of machines. Some geared toward the home owner, cheaper and made for light usage. Then a line made for commercial use, higher quality made for day-in day-out use and of course, more expensive. I would do some interweb searching for the brand you like but look for the commercial line. In my limited experience a person very seldom regrets buying quality.

 

[Redneck in training]

My wife likes her Honda. It is somewhat on heavy side but it starts easy and reliably. No messing with two cycle gasoline mix. It is also quiet. The head design is OK but not the best.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I have a 25cc Craftsman Weedwacker. A couple of years ago I needed to get a rebuild kit for the carb. $31.00 for a rebuild kit, or $34 for a new carb. i ordered a new carb it was different but it fit and my weedwhacker continues to run and start easily.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm a Stihl guy... love mine, straight shaft, don't remember the model but I can put a brush blade on it. I have had Echo and a couple of cheeps. Echo okay but I personally didn't think it was much better than the box store others. You will pay a premium for the Stihl though but the engine in my opinion (whatever) is top notch. Quality is no. 1 again my two cents. Its performance over the years convinced me to buy their light weight garden tiller. I thought that was a joke but my wife loves it to till her garden.

 

[Msgtmje]

I have a 15? Yr old shindaiwa (inherited) and a brand new Redmax (gift) I like them both, I did however put a shindaiwa speed feed head on the redmax. Best trimmer head I've found, easy to load, advance line and high capacity. I agree with other posts cheap equipment is no bargain especially when it has to be replaced every 2 yrs. get it once and maintain it. I also have a sthil chainsaw and I belive their equipment is made/assembled in the U.S. Important to me and others.

 

[BethelHntr]

Bought a stihl fs 80 weed whacker in 2003 still going strong today, I run non oxygenated gas and use stihl two stroke mix. If there taken care of they'll last for many years.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I am tired of the big box store trimmers over the last twenty years I think I've bought 8. Two years maybe three
is about the max time I remember having the same trimmer. Are the stiils, husquavaras that are sold by the tractor dealers really better? I've spent a bit of time reading reviews for the various trimmers but am not getting the feeling they are any better. I would gladly spend the extra doe for a trimmer that starts easily without the pull cords ripping the flesh from my callused fingers with string heads that are easily reloaded. I have to maintain 6 acres of mixed use land with trails which is about 3-4 hours of use per week. If you can help please do include make and model and your experience with the model.

Go to a commercial mower dealer and get a good commercial trimmer. We run Stihl and RedMax. Both are good brands. I've been through probably 20 or 30 of them over the past 12 years. They last me about 2 years, and get used for a couple hours every day.

 

[Egon]

Find yourself a dealer that sells professional models. Then pick one that suits you.

 

[oosik]

I have a Stihl FS 480. Its been a good unit for the time I've had it - 5+ years, I think. I've got all sorts of cutter heads but the best, for my use, is the head with the three removable, free swinging nylon blades. I took one of the nylon blades to a welding shop and they made duplicate blades out of high carbon steel. Now this cutting head runs three high carbon steel cutting blades. I use it to cut down everything from 1" saplings on down to meadow grass.

I run Stabil in my small engine gas year round and in the off season I spray WD-40 down the spark plug hole to keep the unit well lubed. It takes a few extra pulls to start the unit the following spring because of the WD-40 but otherwise its been a good unit.

I don't have the time or patience to fiddle with small, dainty, finicky equipment and anything I have & use will be subjected to rather extreme cutting conditions.

This Stihl has measured up.

 

[flusher]

Get yourself a professional grade string mower. My Tanaka TBC245PF lasted me 8 years around my 10 acre place (1/2 mile of fenceline and ditches, small almond orchard, usual landscape trimming). I had a solid shaft (straight). I got rid of the bump feeder which was a PITA and went with the clamp-type string holder that takes 16" lengths of plastic string. I use 0.155" string.

Replaced it with a similar RedMax. No problems after two seasons.

Good luck.