Weed Whacker Suggestions

[DmansPadge]

I'll throw my vote in for Echo. I currently have a Stihl and have had several Stihl's in the past. Not bad weedeaters at all. The ones I've had were ex-rental units and I'm sure had their share of abuse. I became a quick fan of Echo after I bought a CS 440 chainsaw last year. I have put a ton of use on it since I had a 1/2 acre of heavy woods cleared and then about 2 months later Hurricane Rita took it upon herself to blow down about 15 trees. It is a really great saw. I told myself after using it for a while that anymore 2 stroke equipment I buy will likely be Echo. For the quality vs. price ratio... they are tough to beat. I believe Echo has a straight shaft model for $199 at HD. I would opt for the straight shaft over the curved. You could get the same model at a local Echo dealer as well if you would rather not buy from one of the big stores.

 

[DmansPadge]

I'll throw my vote in for Echo. I currently have a Stihl and have had several Stihl's in the past. Not bad weedeaters at all. The ones I've had were ex-rental units and I'm sure had their share of abuse. I became a quick fan of Echo after I bought a CS 440 chainsaw last year. I have put a ton of use on it since I had a 1/2 acre of heavy woods cleared and then about 2 months later Hurricane Rita took it upon herself to blow down about 15 trees. It is a really great saw. I told myself after using it for a while that anymore 2 stroke equipment I buy will likely be Echo. For the quality vs. price ratio... they are tough to beat. I believe Echo has a straight shaft model for $199 at HD. I would opt for the straight shaft over the curved. You could get the same model at a local Echo dealer as well if you would rather not buy from one of the big stores.

 

[Joe1]

Rob:

All of the better weed eaters are straight shaft models. They supposedly hold up better than the curved shaft and can have a stronger drive shaft than one that needs to be felixible.

There must be a retailer near you that handles these things.

I'm not knocking the Craftsmen product, but I would not go there for advice. I usually know more about the products I'm looking at than the sales people, simply from looking on the internet or their brochures. They are just uninformed.

 

[Joe1]

Rob:

All of the better weed eaters are straight shaft models. They supposedly hold up better than the curved shaft and can have a stronger drive shaft than one that needs to be felixible.

There must be a retailer near you that handles these things.

I'm not knocking the Craftsmen product, but I would not go there for advice. I usually know more about the products I'm looking at than the sales people, simply from looking on the internet or their brochures. They are just uninformed.

 

[aesanders]

One more to throw ut at you. I purchased a Honda 4 stroke trimmer around 6-7 years ago. Liked the idea of the 4 stroke engine so I didn't have to mix fuel for it It has never given me an ounce of problems. Still starts on the 1st pull or two after many season. I have only changed the oil and air filter on it. The 4 stroke has tons of torq and is super smooth. Only negative thing is the weight (it's a little heavy), but other tha that it is one nice trimmer. One of the best investments I ever made

 

[aesanders]

One more to throw ut at you. I purchased a Honda 4 stroke trimmer around 6-7 years ago. Liked the idea of the 4 stroke engine so I didn't have to mix fuel for it It has never given me an ounce of problems. Still starts on the 1st pull or two after many season. I have only changed the oil and air filter on it. The 4 stroke has tons of torq and is super smooth. Only negative thing is the weight (it's a little heavy), but other tha that it is one nice trimmer. One of the best investments I ever made

 

[Bird]

It seems that all the professional lawn workers I see are using Stihl or Echo. When I went shopping for a new one, I knew that I was only interested in a straight shaft model, and I was looking for the lightest weight I could find; generally nothing to trim except lawn grass and small weeds. And I use the string trimmer for an edger. I bought the Stihl FS55RC with the Easy Start system. I think it would have been just under $200, but the Easy Start was a $30 or $40 option and so far, it's great.

 

[Bird]

It seems that all the professional lawn workers I see are using Stihl or Echo. When I went shopping for a new one, I knew that I was only interested in a straight shaft model, and I was looking for the lightest weight I could find; generally nothing to trim except lawn grass and small weeds. And I use the string trimmer for an edger. I bought the Stihl FS55RC with the Easy Start system. I think it would have been just under $200, but the Easy Start was a $30 or $40 option and so far, it's great.

 

[PineRidge]

Paid a bit more but since I was happy with the Stihl chain saw that's the route I took. It's been 6 years now using it and besides for a spark plug or two the only other thing I had to replace was the fuel line, as the original got brittle and split. I really like the straight shaft and it has an option of using a blade if need be. Easy starting too.

 

[PineRidge]

Paid a bit more but since I was happy with the Stihl chain saw that's the route I took. It's been 6 years now using it and besides for a spark plug or two the only other thing I had to replace was the fuel line, as the original got brittle and split. I really like the straight shaft and it has an option of using a blade if need be. Easy starting too.

 

[hclawncare]

Coming from someone that makes their living with stihl trimmers. Spend the extra money and step up to a FS80. It is a quality trimmer that with residential use will outlast its user. We beat the crapout of 'em day in day out. I own four of them and these things are abused more than any other piece of equipment I own. I am talking thrown 15-20ft, falling of trailers, anything you can imagine the morons that work for me can do. For reference I bought one last month and its $290 or so. BTW use the stihl oil in the orange bottle. Its your money, but I thought you might like to hear from someone that has probably over a thousand hours behind a trimmer.

 

[hclawncare]

Coming from someone that makes their living with stihl trimmers. Spend the extra money and step up to a FS80. It is a quality trimmer that with residential use will outlast its user. We beat the crapout of 'em day in day out. I own four of them and these things are abused more than any other piece of equipment I own. I am talking thrown 15-20ft, falling of trailers, anything you can imagine the morons that work for me can do. For reference I bought one last month and its $290 or so. BTW use the stihl oil in the orange bottle. Its your money, but I thought you might like to hear from someone that has probably over a thousand hours behind a trimmer.

 

[Rob_H]

Thanks hclawncare - that's the kind of real world experience I was looking for.

I'll do some shopping for the Echo and Stihl trimmers this weekend.

Thanks to all for their input and recommendations - that's what makes the TBN such a valuable resource.

Rob H.

 

[Rob_H]

Thanks hclawncare - that's the kind of real world experience I was looking for.

I'll do some shopping for the Echo and Stihl trimmers this weekend.

Thanks to all for their input and recommendations - that's what makes the TBN such a valuable resource.

Rob H.

 

[gamble77]

The Shindaiwa T2510 with the Shindaiwa Speed Feed head is on of the best trimmers on the market, give it a look.

 

[gamble77]

The Shindaiwa T2510 with the Shindaiwa Speed Feed head is on of the best trimmers on the market, give it a look.