Best String Trimmer?

[doc623]

I have haad a run of bad string trimmers of late.
I had a WeedEater L20 at 20cc. for three or four years and the coil went bad . I called the service center number on the lable. I was told that a replacement coil costs $35-$40 to replace plus labor and the nearest certified repari service is 45-50 miles away.
I opted to replace with a new trimmer. Went to WalMart and got a new L20 WeedEater for $69.00. Took it home; put it together and it ran for about 10 minutes. Back to WalMart for a replacement - no problem. Got home and the same problem with new WeedEater number 2. This one is also going back to WalMart.
I know that one manufacturer builds string trimmers for sever different brands/retailers.
Any suggestions for a good light weight(so the wife can use it) string trimmer?

[Jan Doling]

I use a Black & Decker 18V Cordless Electric 12 In. String Trimmer (Home Depot $99). It uses rechargable batteries, which I repower simultaneously using the charger from the old trimmer that died this year. With 2 batteries charged, I can run it about 30 to 40 minutes per session, which gives me a good excuse to take a few hours break while the batteries recharge.

When school was out, I would mow 30 minutes before work and another 30 minutes after work and my DD15 mowed twice in between those times. We use it instead of a mower as it is less noisy and we don't have to mess with gas fumes. Also, we can mow even if the weeds are have been rained on.

[katy]

I have a husqvarna that does a really good job. Purchased from an independent at $165.00, but I expect it to last 5 years minimum. It is a grass trimmer and does a great job on that and good work on small weeds. It can be overwhelmed but have not damaged it at all.

http://www.ruralking.com/24-cc-124-c...g-trimmer.html

While it was not easy to pay that kind of cash, we have two Ryobi's sitting around here NOT working and that is after spending $40.00 repair on them, which lasted about 2-3 weeks.

[foxtrapper]

You might want to look at the troybilt units. They have an 110v hand held electric starter motor. Since you mentioned wanting your wife to be able to use it, firing it up by just holding a starter motor at the back sure is easy.

[Stephen in SOKY]

I have used (And hired help has abused) Stihl brand trimmers here for years. Even their lower end models have held up great. My current one has the detachable shaft so I can swith to hedge trimmers etc. and although I was concerned about the drive shaft connection, it has performed flawlessly for 8 years now.

[retire2$]

Look at what your state roads crew and other professional landscapers use. More than likely it will be a Stihl. You can nickle and dime yourself with cheap trimmers that will last a short time or you can pay more upfront for a trimmer that will last for many years. Whatever trimmer you use I would suggest using a mid grade gasoline and mixing it with a good grade two cycle oil. Do not keep the fuel for more than a month at a time in the smallest container that will hold a months supply. At the end of the season run the trimmer dry and put a paper towel in the fuel tank. Also discard the old fuel in your gas container and put a paper towel in it also. This will absorb any moisture. At the beginning of the season remove the paper towels and start the season with new gas in the container and trimmer.

I know this is more information than what you asked but you would be surprised how many people bring their equipment into the shop to be repaired when a little care at the end of the season would prevent those expensive trips to the shop.

[Win07_351]

I bought a Ryobi (hand held gas powered) back in 1993 and it's still going good. I've always found the key to long lasting 2 stroke engines is to mix the fuel/oil a little bit on the richer side. This has worked well with my circa 1985 Homelite chainsaw too (although they do smoke a little more from the richer oil mixture in the fuel).

[Randy Rooster]

get a troy bilt 4 stroke and at the seasons end run all the gas out of it. You wont be sorry. Mine is by far the best string trimmer I have ever owned.

[DW]

we really use ours and hubby is on his second stihl...he likes them and says they are worth the money

[Jolly]

Stihl. Or go really cheap.

Most anything under $100, I consider disposable...

[pheasantplucker]

I am on my second Husqvarna. Straight shaft. they will cost you a pretty penny, but I use my like the dickins and they work incredibly well. Very easy to start too.

[oldmanriver]

Stihl been using the same one for 7 years and I bought it used

[Hike4beer]

If money is not an option, Honda 4 stroke is the way to go in my book. I do a lot of trimming, and years ago had a maintanence business, I will NEVER consider going back to a 2 stroke. I'm sure there are other good 4 strokes, but Honda was the first I knew of, and I've used it for several years without a single problem.

[Cabin Fever]

I've had my Jonsered brush cutter/string trimmer for at least 10 years. It has cut acres of brush over the years (up to 2" diameter) and keeps on cutting. It has an interchangeable string head we use for trimming around the house and yard. It has a straight shaft, bicycle-style handlebars, and a ~40cc gas engine.

[Hank]

I use an Echo stright shaft. It's the best i've ever used.

Hank
http://www.doublemfarmandchuckwagon.webs.com

[jrpoland]

I'm with Hank on this one: my echo trimmer is awesome and it has a 5 year residential warranty.

I had terrible luck with 2 troy-bilts: one lasted about 14 months and then died. The other barely lasted a year. At $110 a pop, I decided to try the echo and I have not regretted it.

[tyusclan]

Stay out of Wal-mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, or any box store when buying equipment. SOME, and I repeat, SOME of the Husky stuff at Lowe's or Home Depot is okay. Some of it is junk made just for them, so be careful.

Go to a local small engine or outdoor equipment dealer, and spend the money for commercial equipment. You will save money in the long run.

Stihl, Husky, Echo, Jonsered, and Shindaiwa all make good quality, commercial trimmers, saws, etc. Find whatever you have LOCALLY that has a good service department and knowledgeable staff. You will NOT be sorry.

[Micahn]

I have a 4 stroke troy-bilt and love it.
Now with that said it does have some stuff that is bad over others I have used. The main thing is it is heavy. I have a large yard and it wears me out by the end of things using that thing.
The string seems to get used up fast to me over others I have used.

Now do not get me wrong I like the thing. It starts after a pull or 2 every time, I can buy the electric start unit if I want as it is ready for it but do not see the need.

[swamp man]

I detest posting on thios forum, but here ya' go....I spend roughly fifty hours a week cluthchin onto one these dang things, depending on it to help me make a viable income. I suspect one day I'll go down like old man Weber, and die lwith a string trimmer in my hand, but only if I'm lucky.

Stihl used to make a good trimmer, but not anymore. The E.P.A. hobbled 'em a few ywears back, deemed the old FS 85 to be "dirty". If the FS 85 were still available, us pro's would be breaking each other's necks to get our hands on one. The "four-mix" technology stinks, though, unless you're as glutton for string-trimmer frustration, or have a fetish for replacing gimpy carburetors......please, don't expose yourself or yer wife to that degree of despair.

Redmax makes the only good trimmer currently in production, period. It will need servicing after approximately 20 hours of use, as they come from the factory with the carb out of tune, just to fudge the emissions to meet the nazi-esque standrds that E.P.A. demands. After a carb-tuning, it'll run like a raped ape, but it's gotta' be run at full-throttle, as it don't cut by way of low-end torque like a Stihl, but operates on RPM. The crummy little tool that's supposed to pull off the crummy cap so's you can adjust the carb don't work, so don't waste your time, just pry it out with a wee screwdriver.

.....and don't wear no short pants while running your new RedMax....if it flings a pebble at your shin, you'll think you just got shot.

If it ain't a RedMax, it's just a "daddy's l'il Helper".

[rickfrosty]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

I've had my Jonsered brush cutter/string trimmer for at least 10 years. It has cut acres of brush over the years (up to 2" diameter) and keeps on cutting. It has an interchangeable string head we use for trimming around the house and yard. It has a straight shaft, bicycle-style handlebars, and a ~40cc gas engine.

Have a heavy-duty Husqvarna & don't use a string trimmer much, so can't comment on that, but a little trick I learned for brush is to use my old carpenter circular saw blades after a carbide tip or 2 has broken off - they cut brush like crazy.