Basic edger recommendation?

[Quattro Pete]

I need something to trim grass near concrete walkways and driveway around the house.

I've got a few pieces of Stihl equipment (blower, trimmer) that I like, but their edger costs $250+. I'd rather not spend this much if there's something else out there that'll do the job for half the price.

I know Stihl sells an edger attachment, but I don't think my trimmer (FS40) accepts that - nothing mentioned in the manual.

Anyway, can you recommend something?

Thanks.

 

[Jim 5]

I used a home depot quality black and decker electric one borrowed from my neighbor. It did the job well enough. Since you only need this tool (around here) once every 2 or three years, my own tool buying policy says buy consumer quality or borrow if you can.

Stihl/Echo is great for stull you use all the time like a leaf blower or trimmer.

 

[BrianWC]

My MIL gave me the Troy-Built gas edger for Christmas. Think it's around $199 at Home Depot (or Lowes?). Very basic but it gets the job done.

 

[JTK]

If you truly want basic, go this route. This is all I've ever used for edging around my patios and walks:

Joel

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Jim 5
I used a home depot quality black and decker electric one borrowed from my neighbor. It did the job well enough.

Was it something like this?

Seems to be getting decent reviews.

 

[greenaccord02]

Go on craigslist and look up a used edger with a briggs 2 1/2 to 3 1/2hp vertical flathead on it. They go for less than $50 all the time and you can bet they have low hours. That electric and 2T stuff is for the birds when it comes to doing real edging.

 

[ksJoe]

$3.87 option

HF used to sell an edger attachment for the quick link weedeaters. I've had one for years and it works great.

 

[Gilitar]

Originally Posted By: JTK
If you truly want basic, go this route. This is all I've ever used for edging around my patios and walks:

Joel


Oh man! I had one of those. With centipede grass it's back breaking to say the least!

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Jim 5
I used a home depot quality black and decker electric one borrowed from my neighbor. It did the job well enough.

Was it something like this?

Seems to be getting decent reviews.


Yes, that's the one. It did a very nice job, and had tons of power.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Gilitar
Originally Posted By: JTK
If you truly want basic, go this route. This is all I've ever used for edging around my patios and walks:

Joel


Oh man! I had one of those. With centipede grass it's back breaking to say the least!


It would be for that tough Southern stuff. My closely-cropped western NY weeds are nothing in comparison! That, and I've only got about 80ft to ever worry about edging. There's no sidewalks or anything out where I live.

Joel

 

[coachditka]

The basic Echo stick edger is a lifesaver. 5 year consumer warranty, costs about 200 at Home Depot. Worth every penny.

 

[Pete591]

Couldn't resist. Ariens with a 6 HP Subaru engine...it is something that lasts for life and in that vein.. the cheapest...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stor...28X-_-100661989

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Pete591
Couldn't resist. Ariens with a 6 HP Subaru engine...it is something that lasts for life and in that vein.. the cheapest...


That is a beauty Pete! That's a nice machine for the price. Love the Subaru engines:

Joel

 

[greenaccord02]

+1 That's a fine machine. And here I am thinking they don't make 'em like that any more...

 

[punisher]

I have had my eye on that one to, but I still have a B&S powered edger that won't die. Shame on me for buying a decent piece in the first place.

Home Depot had another Robin powered edger out front with an EX17(I think) for $189, down from $249. It wasn't nearly as nice as the above posted though.

 

[SuperDave456]

I grew up with a B & S edger that looks just like the one in the picture above, but painted white. My father used it most of his life, and then I used it.

The funny thing is that I bought a house this summer and the professional power equipment store had a Briggs identical to the one my father has for $99 bucks. I bought it and a Toro and am glad I did. It works like a champ.

I would shop around and see what you can find. If you have alot to do dont shy away from more expensive items. You pay for what you get.

 

[ViragoBry]

I guess I've never seen the need for one. My old TroyBilt trimmer has a handle that, at the push of a button, inverts the trimmer head, positioning it perfectly to cut a straight line down the edge of the sidewalk, wiping out all the St. Augustine crawlers and leaving a nice clean edge.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: JTK


That is a beauty Pete! That's a nice machine for the price. Love the Subaru engines:

Joel


I tried that thing out at Home Depot. I actually picked it up off the shelf and put it on the floor. The thing weighs a ton. I would not want to work with that thing all day. My McLane is feather light in comparison. Who the [censored] needs a 6HP engine for an edger?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Just as an update, I did give the Black&Decker electric one a try. Got it for around $70 after a 10% discount. It did the job that needed to be done. Didn't get stuck on anything. Maybe not the most elaborate or well put together piece of equipment out there, but for the price, I have no complaints, really.

Thanks to everyone for the discussion.