would like comparison of string trimmers

[dodge man]

Most of my stuff is Stihl also. For me to say they are the best isn’t true because other companies make good stuff too.

 

[newbury]

What great input. I am attempting to compare/narrow down the trimmers by weight(would like around 10 lbs) and cc(may stay around 25). And, to keep it simple, will not be looking at any trimmers that accept attachments, that will just complicate comparisons. Probably will not go battery option as I did get a battery powered chainsaw and dislike it intensely, mainly for the lack of power.
Saw comments, on a lawn care site, that the Stihl FS94 can be persnickety in starting. Especially when warm outside. Have you found that so?

String trimmers are made for a wide variety of materials, from thin grass to thick weeds. Those that will take thick weeds can usually handle a "brush" cutter type blade.
So what are you needing to cut? how often? how many hours at a time?
And remember to soak your string.

 

[EddieWalker]

I think that I have 4 Stihl Chainsaws, two Husqvarna Chainsaws, and one Echo Chainsaw. The Echo is the newest one because I'm tired of dealing with all the issues getting the other brands to start. Echo is night and day better at starting!!!!

My Stihl Dealer also sells Echo. When I complained to him about all my issues getting the Stihl Chainsaws to start, he told me that it was an issue, but also that with Echo, you get more power, more features then Stihl, for less money.

I never owned a Stihl String Trimmer, my Dealer put the Stihl next to the Echo and for the same money, and the Echo had a bigger motor, and bigger gear box. Or for the same power, Stihl was more money, but still didn't have the bigger gear box. There really wasn't a good comparison between the two. I loved the Echo Trimmer, but for whatever reason, I left it in my lean-to over the winter, and never used it over the summer, and it sat out there another winter, and it never started again. Dealer said the carburetor was all gummed up and needed to be cleaned, and probably rebuilt.

I held off on having them fix it, and out of nowhere, my wife bought me a cordless Makita String Trimmer. I already have a bunch of Makita cordless tools, so she knew that's what I prefer. It takes to 18 volt 5A batteries. I can do my entire yard on those batteries and not run out of power. No gas, no noise, nothing to maintain. It sits in my shed all Winter long, and when I put batteries in it, it runs perfectly!!! It uses a small string, but I buy the better quality string, and it cuts through everything I need to use it on!!!

I gave the Echo String Trimmer away a couple years after that. I don't know if he ever got it running again. I should of drained the fuel out of it when mowing season was over, but forgot. I also should of used premixed gas. I'm using that now in my chainsaws, and feel the results are worth the price. I'm also buying Ethanal free gas for all my small engines with good results. More money, but less headaches and more power with easier starting!!!

 

[nancyk]

The gal who does the weedeating on my property( I do all the mowing, w/tractor and finishing mower and Ferris zeroturn), when she weedeats, usually goes two hours at a time, sometimes more. I do not envy her, especially now in yellowjacket season. It is at times trimming around the house but mostly out and about in long grass/thick grass, along fencelines, hillsides/along the long drive I cannot get with the mowers, along a stream. She has no interest in using a blade(one older Shindaiwa is set up with a blade and she does not use it). She does not like a weedeater that needs to be pulled more than twice to start. I do use 100% gas and mix it with Stihl oil. The string we use is .095

 

[newbury]

The gal who does the weedeating on my property( I do all the mowing, w/tractor and finishing mower and Ferris zeroturn), when she weedeats, usually goes two hours at a time, sometimes more. I do not envy her, especially now in yellowjacket season. It is at times trimming around the house but mostly out and about in long grass/thick grass, along fencelines, hillsides/along the long drive I cannot get with the mowers, along a stream. She has no interest in using a blade(one older Shindaiwa is set up with a blade and she does not use it). She does not like a weedeater that needs to be pulled more than twice to start. I do use 100% gas and mix it with Stihl oil. The string we use is .095

So you want to get her something that: does long grass/thick grass, no brush that requires a blade, goes for two hours, starts easy, handles 0.95 string., < 10lbs.
Seems like an excellent application for a good battery operated trimmer.

 

[ultrarunner]

I really like my Stihl Battery powered equipment but prefer Echo Gas for the heavy duty brush clearing.

I do have a DeWalt battery trimmer… it was part of a ACE Hardware Christmas Promo so for the price of the batteries got Trimmer, Blower, Drill, Circular Saw and Reciprocating Saw.

Definitely lower quality but adequate in a pinch.

I need a blower for the 50’ of front walk and the noisy DeWalt does it ok and I keep it near the front door..

My advice is pick a line/brand you like with interchangeable batteries and build from there.

My theory is Stihl has the best shot of same battery over the long haul.

I have friends that really liked their other brands only to learn discontinued.

 

[aesanders]

Absolutely love my Echo PAS 2620. This is the power head model that can run multiple attachments. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.

As far as attachments, I have an articulating hedge trimmer, polesaw, tiller, and brush cutter. Would probabaly pas on the tiller as I have a BCS tiller that is really good( tiller is not bad for loose easy tilling, but you w8nt do much else with it), but the other attachments are awesome.

 

[2manyrocks]

Might need two or three batteries to do continual, heavy weed eating for two hours.

I like not having to pull start and like the quiet of battery powered trimmers, but reach for my Echo gas trimmer when I have a lot of sustained, heavy weed eating or whenever I need to use a metal brush blade.

 

[RustyA]

Don't be afraid to check out harbor freight line of Atlas cordless 80/40volt lawn tools. I have the trimmer, pole saw, leaf blower, chainsaw and hedge trimmer plus two batteries and fast charger. Kept my gas powered stuff for backup for three years and haven't started any of them since. Chainsaw is a beast, blower is as good as gas. Plus you can set them down and restart without jerking a string. No gas to go bad and super quiet.

 

[Thomas]

Over the decades had very good luck with Husqvarna compare to ECHO...handling starting etc.

 

[Duds13]

Echo 2620 owner here. Love it. Starts much easier than my pervious Stihl trimmer, and changing the line is so much easier with the speed feed. I'm 6'3" but still added the attachment in the link below and it is a game changer.

Buy Darwin’s Grip PRO for USD 69.99-329.99

Stand tall with the heavy-duty Darwin's Grip PRO. This aluminum weedeater and string trimmer extension lets you stand up straight & reduce strain.

www.ballard-inc.com

I have been using an Ego electric at my parent's house recently and it is pretty nice. Much shorter though so the attachment in the link above would make it much better.

 

[kenmbz]

I have a Stihl FS110, always finicky on first start after a few months, but once running I use a blade to take out brush. With the handlebars it is quite easy to handle and the weight is a big improvement over my last brushcutter. I have hundreds of hours and it runs like new.

I have an M18 string trimmer, but I already have many M18 batteries. I use it for 2 hours at a time to get through the many sections. 600 foot shared road, 150 foot trench , both sides. Around the road frontage about 300', and along the lawns about 900'.
So I do one section at a time in rotation.
The easy loading head works great, use. Weight is good with 8AH batteries. Use 3 batteries per section.
Third year using this trimmer instead of a gas one.

I am 6' tall and find the straight shafts just long enough for me.

If I ever switch the Stihl back to trimmer, I would get the same/similar head like the M18 has.
Being able to just line up the head and slip in 15' of string and turn the head to wind the spool means I can be back up in a few minutes out in the field with string.

 

[kozal01]

What great input. I am attempting to compare/narrow down the trimmers by weight(would like around 10 lbs) and cc(may stay around 25). And, to keep it simple, will not be looking at any trimmers that accept attachments, that will just complicate comparisons. Probably will not go battery option as I did get a battery powered chainsaw and dislike it intensely, mainly for the lack of power.
Saw comments, on a lawn care site, that the Stihl FS94 can be persnickety in starting. Especially when warm outside. Have you found that so?

The FS94 I had has been the only Stihl tool that I didn't like, it was finicky and not very powerful. My KM130 Kombi unit has been a workhorse and absolutely reliable for the 10 or so years Ive had it.

 

[skipmarcy]

Maruyama here. On my 2nd one now for 8 years, the first one lasted 19 years. 23cc - NEVER a starting issue on either one. I use it HOURS at a time, .095 Oregon square string on speed feed head(s) - I go thru heads every 2 or 3 years. Light weight (10 lb) and less vibration than Husq and others I've tried.

 

[kozal01]

Maruyama here. On my 2nd one now for 8 years, the first one lasted 19 years. 23cc - NEVER a starting issue on either one. I use it HOURS at a time, .095 Oregon square string on speed feed head(s) - I go thru heads every 2 or 3 years. Light weight (10 lb) and less vibration than Husq and others I've tried.

I should have mentioned Maruyama, I have one as a lightweight option for big trimming jobs. It is a fantastic trimmer, light, powerful for its CC and butter smooth. If I could only have one trimmer though Id keep my KM130, its way more powerful than my 25cc Maruyama.

 

[mrmikey]

I would like to try the Darwin grip because of all the good reviews on it but I'm not going to get hosed on price because I live in Canada. The US$ price of $70 is CAN$95 so why is it CAN$145 which equates to US$ 107