Recommend a String Trimmer!

[JZiggy]

Ya'll are my go-to people for hardware recommendations, so here goes:

A buddy and myself are going in together on a lawn trimmer, and our plan is to get a high-quality one that will last a long time. I'm not adverse to keeping up with the maintenance.

Looks like there's a lot of good options out there. I'm really leaning toward a 4-stroke, and the Hondas look great.

Straight shaft, and would prefer a detachable end for a blade edger, but that's just a nice-to-have.

Please school me!

 

[mpvue]

Stihl.

 

[tig1]

Echo is the main machine used by the pros round these parts. My Echo weed wacker is 10-12 years old. Runs very well to date.

 

[JHZR2]

Stihl, echo, husqvarna.

 

[Spazdog]

4 stroke? Shindaiwa. But you still have to use premix and good luck finding a dealer.

But otherwise I would just get an Echo. I may try Stihl too when it comes time to replace my wretched Troy-Bilt but only if it is a much better deal than a comparable Echo.

 

[Tdbo]

+1 on the Echo. Just bought a new straight shaft this year. Great quality and good value.

 

[heyu]

Stihl or Echo for sure

 

[bretfraz]

Originally Posted By: heyu
Stihl or Echo for sure


X1000

I'm currently rocking an Echo but have had Stihl before. After burning through several retail brand trimmers, I won't ever go back.

Support your local OPE dealer. It's always good to have a local source of parts and repair.

 

[JZiggy]

The Echo SRM-230 looks like a stout machine with really good reviews...

 

[badger05]

Originally Posted By: bretfraz
Originally Posted By: heyu
Stihl or Echo for sure

Support your local OPE dealer. It's always good to have a local source of parts and repair.


+1

Bought an Echo SRM 225 from a local dealer over a year ago and am very pleased with it. I suggest going to your local dealers where they will let you give them a test spin!

 

[stephen9666]

I have a Stihl tiller that uses the small trimmer engine and I've been really happy with it.

On another forum I frequent, Stihl and Echo are the two highly recommended brands.

 

[Astro14]

Stihl or Husqvarna - I have broken or worn out other brands of OPE...but every Husky or Stihl machine (chainsaw, trimmer, blower) that I have ever bought is still running.

If it's going to sit or see infrequent use, then I recommend you use one of the premixed fuels with a long shelf life. I have had issues with E10 degrading in the tank and clogging up carbs...

 

[13brian]

Stihl is always one of the best and a safe bet. I have a friend that does commercial lawn care and he swears by his RedMax trimmers.

From what I understand 4 stroke style trimmers wear out (lose compression) fairly quickly. They are also quite heavy. I have an Echo that is almost 20 yrs old, granted it is not commercial use, but I really like it.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

A DR wheeled string trimmer. After having one I'll never go back to the little 2 strokes again.

No gas/oil to mix-a real 4 stroke engine.
No bump and thump head (and hope it works).
Reloading string takes less than 30 seconds.
Trims nicely, and will take down everything up to a small sapling if needed.
Being on wheels it's much easier to control.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Echo is the main machine used by the pros round these parts. My Echo weed wacker is 10-12 years old. Runs very well to date.


+1 to Echo being a good machine. I have a 12-14 year old SRM2400 that is still running as good as the first day. I use royal purple 2-cycle...if that matters.

BUT this Shindaiwa is arguably the best machine out there to date.

Only draw back i see from the new model string trimmers is that there are NO (visible anyway) carb adjustments. I'm thinking most likely an EPA thing!!

 

[afoulk]

Tanaka is also a good one you could add to the list. I had an old echo gt1100 that I had trouble getting to run, so I now have a husky that comes apart to use different attachments with(120L i think?) and so far I'm very happy with it.

 

[440Magnum]

Echo or Stihl. Both are clearly above your Homelite, Poulan, Ryobi, etc., and even above the stuff that otherwise reputable companies like Toro and John Deere let their names be put on.

My string trimmer is a 15+ year old Echo that my FIL gave me on one of his first "sell everything and downsize" moves (which of course led to him getting bored and eventually buying new stuff, but that's another story). I've pounded the living boogers out of it for years. A couple of times a year I have to go to my vacant lot and cut weeds that should really be cut with a brush mower, and then I go back through and cut down sprouting saplings with a metal blade attachment. Its been very reliable, and I was pleasantly surprised that when I needed a part for it they are readily available online and are NOT expensive at all. Its still going strong and I see no reason to even consider replacing it. Total cost of ownership (figuring the numbers as if I'd bought it

) on a quality trimmer is less than buying the 3-4 lower-end brands that you'd go through during its lifetime.

 

[bxd20]

Are you going to be trimming grass along fences, curbs, landscaping.... or are you using it to clear large areas that a mower can't access, like drainage ditches?

For trimming, I have had a Ryobi 18V cordless trimmer for the past decade. It has stood up to LOTS of use. Each charge runs the trimmer for quite a long time, plenty to handle the trimming around an acre home, with many trees and flower beds.

I just wouldn't use it to clear brush --- if you have large areas with saplings, wild grass, etc that you need to clear.

But for typical suburban trimming of grass, the convenience of having no cord AND no noise / exhaust smell / gas mixing and odor... is wonderful. I can weed whack the yard and 5 min later go out for dinner with my wife without smelling awful.

Good luck.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
Stihl.


+1

It's hard to go wrong with a Stihl.

 

[Slick17601]

Echo or Stihl, take your pick from a local dealer.