Looking for a string trimmer. Any opinions?

[motownbrowne]

I'm looking for a straight shaft string trimmer. I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of options from each manufacturer, so I thought I'd see if I could get some help.

My budget is $250, I'd like something that can run a blade, so I think that means it needs a solid shaft instead of a cable. I won't use the blade much, maybe a few hours/year, just trimming some fence lines and thinning small maple saplings.

I'll probably use the trimmer for a total of 20-30 hours/year around the farm, so I don't need anything super heavy duty, and I'd prefer something light weight. I'll use this for a little bit of edging, and occasionally for trimming in between the garden beds, so I don't want one with the bicycle handles.

I'm not picky on brand. I don't think stihl has anything line what I want in my budget. I've heard good stuff about the Echo trimmers, I have a good Dolmar dealer, there's definitely Husqvarna dealers around also.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[murphy1244]

I use a Echo st 225 trimmer with a blade kit but it is a pain to go from one to another so I bought another trimmer.

 

[s219]

I like my Echo a lot. Got the PAS-266 powerhead and two attachments: string trimmer, brush cutter. Plan to add the pole saw at some point.

 

[4570Man]

I have a fairly new unknown model Echo, a Stihl KM90, and a Shindaiwa T242. For trimming the Shindaiwa is my favorite. MSRP is above your budget, but I think I paid $230. I have a blower, pole saw, hedge trimmer, and string head for the Stihl. The blower isn't very powerful, I like the pole saw, the hedge trimmer is nearly worthless, and I like my Shindaiwa better for trimming.

 

[CurlyDave]

Just this afternoon I got a Husqvarna 223L for $220. There is a promotion right now and they are usually $260. So it fits right in your price range. Weight was claimed to be 9 lbs, which I think is good.

With the promotion it looked as good a value as anything out there right now, but time will tell.

I think it has a cable not a solid shaft, so that may not fit with your needs, but if you could stand some time with a lopper it looks like a buy.

 

[sseelhoff]

I like my Echo a lot. Got the PAS-266 powerhead and two attachments: string trimmer, brush cutter. Plan to add the pole saw at some point.

We have the echo, too. I have the strng trimmer and blower. Will get the cultivator next. It`s a good unit. Always starts and runs well.

 

[DieselnHooters]

I think any brush cutter worth anything will run you way more than $250, mine is a Shindaiwa T282, very capable with a blade but a bit on the heavy side as a mere string trimmer, I dont remember exactly how much it was but likely in the $500 CAD range, could be around $400 US down your way....well worth it.

 

[Wagtail]

You've asked for my thoughts and here they are;

I've had a hand-held 2-stroke Echo 'line trimmer', straight shaft and with a blade attachment. It worked well but for one thing; vibration. Constant, hand numbing to the point of agony vibration. Not the sort of vibration due to an imbalance, just the sort of vibration you'd expect from a 2-stroke engine due to gripping the shaft & shaft-mounted handle. I even tried wearing 'diver' foam neoprene glove to alleviate the effect and related pain, to no avail. Perhaps a golf-bag type strap may have helped to reduce the vibration, I wouldn't know as I honestly couldn't bear the thought of seeing if it would.

I went into town and bought a Stihl bicycle-handle (as you say), straight shaft with a body/hip harness. It came with a 3-pointed blade, which is dead easy to change out. I've never looked back.

I sold the Echo to a mate of mine, with fair warning.

 

[4570Man]

I think any brush cutter worth anything will run you way more than $250, mine is a Shindaiwa T282, very capable with a blade but a bit on the heavy side as a mere string trimmer, I dont remember exactly how much it was but likely in the $500 CAD range, could be around $400 US down your way....well worth it.

I agree. Even though their website says my T242 is capable of running a blade it isn't very powerful. 99 percent of my use is string and I wouldn't want to carry around a stronger trimmer. For my very minimal blade work I have a junker Ryobi trimmer that I don't care if it breaks with a blade on it.

 

[DK35vince]

I have an Echo SRM 225i for a couple years now, and like it so far.
Price was around $250 if I remember right.
Never tried a brush cutter on it yet.

 

[hosspuller]

A point to consider... I've had & used trimmers for 20 years. The 2 stroke are stinky and use a lot of fuel. The 4 strokes are much better on fuel & torque.

 

[lennyzx11]

Stihl km90 here. Never looked back. Just flat works. All the time. Every time. Also have the polesaw and brushcutter attachments.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I have a Stihl fs90 that I run the "brush knife" on most of the time and weed eat with it some too (just switch out the blade to the trimmer head....easy to do). It's slightly underpowered when running the blade but not enough where I want to step up to the next model. I hate heavy trimmers and the fs90 is one of the best power to weight ratio out there. I held an Echo (forgot the model number but it was a commercial grade). Love the ergonomics but was a little heavy for my tastes.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have 3 Stihl chainsaws and one Echo chainsaw. The echo is far easier to start. When I decided to buy a quality weed eater, I went to the same dealer that sells Stihl and Echo. He told me that for the same amount of money, I could get an Echo with a bigger motor and gear box when compared to Stihl. He also said that he personally uses Echo over Stihl. I bought the Echo and love it.

One other thing he told me was to use square string. It cuts better and last longer. I've seen the difference and would never buy round string a gain!!!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I have an Echo that does not use the reel of string; it uses two pieces of string that have to be inserted every time you trim. I love that feature, because it eliminates the pain of messing with the reel, but it does require that you insert new pieces at least once, at least in my yard. I also love it's light weight, although I do get the "String Trimmer Shakes" occasionally. It normally starts really well, but have taken it in for service after about 4 years. Apparently the carburetor on this model is not up to snuff; man said it would just about as cheap to buy a new one than it would be to replace the carburetor.

 

[teejk]

I think all blade units require the straight shaft for safety reasons. According to the both Stihl and Echo they also require the handle-bar set-up as opposed to the loop handle but my Echo dealer says he ignores that. I have an older Stihl that I never particularly liked because it is hard starting and the string never seemed to feed properly. I also have an Echo with the curved handle and the insert strings as opposed to the spool. My wife uses that one and loves it because it is well balanced and starts easy. I have another Echo set up with a blade. That is awkward because of the handle-bar and harness but it works. I think the Echo uses a "purge" button as opposed to the typical primer...they look the same but my dealer was very quick to tell me they operate differently.

 

[DK35vince]

I have an Echo that does not use the reel of string; it uses two pieces of string that have to be inserted every time you trim. I love that feature, because it eliminates the pain of messing with the reel, but it does require that you insert new pieces at least once, at least in my yard. I also love it's light weight, although I do get the "String Trimmer Shakes" occasionally.

The echo trimmer I have , has the U turn trimmer head.
Cut 20' or line, push an equal amount through the holes in the trimmer head, wind the trimmer head to wind the cord in. Done
Very fast, easy setup for reloading trimmer cord

 

[Carl_NH]

I have several - Echo 210 works fine but the spool to body clearance means tall stringy plant material (like day lilies, and tall grass) wraps around the spool shaft area and I was looking for a brush cutter too and a solid shaft unit as well and not wrap itself up every few minutes of trimming.

I found a Tanaka TCG22EASSLP with a solid steel splined shaft and 10 Lbs is very light -and very powerful - much more torque than the Echo and it runs a 10" blade no problem. This is a commercial unit or close to it and the head doesnt wrap the strands of tall grass and weeds due to the design of the head.

The Hitachi is also the same as Tanaka - heres a link $179 Tanaka TCG22EASSLP 21.1 CC 1.2HP 2 Stroke Grass Trimmer with S-Start

IMO its a very good unit for the $.

 

[4570Man]

I used to have a head that you inserted string into. I hated it. I like to bump my bump head pretty often to keep the string as long as possible. With those heads you are forced to run your string down to a nub and then stop to change it. I also hated my old curved shaft trimmer. Straight shafts are way better IMO.

 

[RobertN]

I'm a big Stihl fan. Husky is nice too.

But when I bought a new trimmer for my property, I went with a 4-stroke Honda. That thing has been awesome!

FWIW though, I still like the Husky shoulder harness rig best. So I use my Husky harness with my Honda trimmer.

This is the latest version of my trimmer
Honda HHT35SUKAT String Trimmer and Brushcutter Model Info | Honda Trimmers