Stihl FS38 or FS45 trimmer?

[dave123]

Originally Posted By: Joe_Power
Drop some coin, and go with a descent Stihl. I would stay away from the cheap homeowners models. I have an FS90R, and couldn't be more pleased with it. Trust me. You'll thank me later.


Now you think he should buy a 350.00 dollar trimmer because the lower line of Stihl is junk???

 

[ron350]

I wish I could go with a heavy professional trimmer bit I have a bad back and can’t.
I think my old Featherlite Plus weighed less than 9 pounds and sometimes using that hurt my back.

 

[Joe_Power]

Originally Posted By: dave123
Originally Posted By: Joe_Power
Drop some coin, and go with a descent Stihl. I would stay away from the cheap homeowners models. I have an FS90R, and couldn't be more pleased with it. Trust me. You'll thank me later.


Now you think he should buy a 350.00 dollar trimmer because the lower line of Stihl is junk???


Absolutely!!! Duh!! You're quick!

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: ron350
I wish I could go with a heavy professional trimmer bit I have a bad back and can’t.
I think my old Featherlite Plus weighed less than 9 pounds and sometimes using that hurt my back.


+1. I am exactly in the same boat.
I have a old Featherlite that I bought in 2002 for $56.@ Wallyworld.
I like it, it does the job and with degenerative disc, degenerative arthritis and the need for a spinal fusion that I refuse to have, it is a lightweight trimmer.
I had the need for a straight shaft trimmer.
I bought a new Echo SRM-225 a year ago.
It is great piece of equipment, but I have only used it three times in the year that I have had it because it kicks my rear because of the weight of the unit.
My Featherlite is on its way out too. I hesitate to buy another because I doubt that I will be as lucky as I have been with this unit. Have never done anything to it except put oil/gas in it and trimmer line. Had to break down and put a plug in it for the first time this year.
In the pursuit of a replacement, the only viable options I can find is a new Featherlite or the Stihl that you are looking at. I'll probably end up w/ the Stihl when the time comes.

 

[Joe_Power]

If your backs hurt so much, that even running a weed whacker puts you guys in so much pain, don't you think you ought to do something different? Like, maybe NOT using a weed whacker? Pay some highschool kid to do it? Or better yet, go have surgery and have a better quality of life?

 

[ron350]

Joe if I could afford to pay someone to take care of the yard I would love to.
I barely have enough money every month to buy food much less pay for yard care. My last estimate for cutting and weed eating the yard was $200 that I don’t have.
So as long as I am able to walk behind a lawn mower and occasionally run the weed eater I have no other choice.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Joe_Power
If your backs hurt so much, that even running a weed whacker puts you guys in so much pain, don't you think you ought to do something different? Like, maybe NOT using a weed whacker? Pay some highschool kid to do it? Or better yet, go have surgery and have a better quality of life?


Talk to someone who has actually had that kind of back surgery. Generally it is not successful.
Perhaps we do not have a plethora of high school kids that are available to do it.
Perhaps we do not desire to pay a high school kid to do it.
Perhaps we want to do it ourselves instead of being sedentary.
Perhaps some of us want a lightweight weed whacker because it meets our individual needs. I have gotten 12 years out of a $56. Wally World special. It owes me nothing.
Perhaps some of us do not view a < $150. weed whacker on the same plateau as a $20K car or a career decision.
It is merely a tool. A relatively expendable one at that.

 

[123Saab]

Originally Posted By: Joe_Power
Originally Posted By: ron350
Joe if I could afford to pay someone to take care of the yard I would love to.
I barely have enough money every month to buy food much less pay for yard care. My last estimate for cutting and weed eating the yard was $200 that I don’t have.
So as long as I am able to walk behind a lawn mower and occasionally run the weed eater I have no other choice.


Wow. No money to buy food, but we have a computer and internet. Oh, and don't you have a 2013 car? Maybe obama can buy you a weed eater. Priorities......


Ok.....

 

[bubbatime]

Originally Posted By: ron350
Well Tanaka is not of the question because of the recall and because no dealer in the state has a curved shaft for me to look at.


Straight shaft trimmer is easier on the back and easier to use. All low end stuff is curved shaft and all high end stiff is straight shaft. I'm not sure why you are so fixated on curved shaft? Once you go straight shaft, you never go back.

Put plainly, curved shaft sucks.

 

[ron350]

All I wanted to know was what was the difference between a FS38 and a FS45 and that has been answered.
If the moderator wants he can delete this entire post that has gone way off topic.

Why is it that people are so quick to attack others on the internet?
You can search all of my posts and see that I try to be polite.

To set things straight I drive a 1975 Chevy truck that my father left me.
Wish I did have a 2013 car that got good mileage but I don’t.
My computer is a hand-me-down Gateway Pentium 3 from the 90’s running XP Home.
My ISP is Fry’s $6 a month dial-up service.
That $6 a month for dial-up is the only money spent for entertainment.
My TV is a 1986 20” Toshiba and a digital converter box with rabbit ears.
My lawn mower is a hand-me-down Sears 22”front wheel drive from the early 90’s.
Things can always be worse but I would not call this the good life.

 

[123Saab]

So what did you decide on Ron?

 

[Jon3800]

Ron

The fs38 isn't actually a new model as its been around for years in the Canadian market. It only came to the us this year
Here are the differences

1.The fs38 is the cheapest model and its the only classic 2 stroke model they offer. The rest of the lineup are strato charged motors they call the 2mix
2. The 38 has a much shorter curve shaft than the 45
3. They both have the same engine but 38 is slightly Weaker
4. 38 is made in china vs the 45 in us
5. The handles are different the 38 is equipped with a d style handle vs a loop handle on the 45

If you want a good lightweight trimmer I'd look into the fs94. A lot better than the fs90. No need for valve adjusting, lighter, power is nearly equal and weighs a lot less (10lbs vs 12 on the 90). Also fuel efficient. Plus it's a straight shaft model that you can put a blade on it.

 

[Ope_Freak]

I wouldnt worry about price, if you like keeping stuff for a long time. When I buy another trimmer it will be a Dolmar. If it was a 2 smoker, I would probably get a Redmax.