Best weed trimmer wanted.

[Carhartt Cowboy]

Are the stiils, husquavaras that are sold by the tractor dealers really better? I've spent a bit of time reading reviews for the various trimmers but am not getting the feeling they are any better.....

I'm not sure the defining line is where the product are sold. The higher end manufacturers have different lines of machines. Some geared toward the home owner, cheaper and made for light usage. Then a line made for commercial use, higher quality made for day-in day-out use and of course, more expensive. I would do some interweb searching for the brand you like but look for the commercial line. In my limited experience a person very seldom regrets buying quality.

 

[Redneck in training]

My wife likes her Honda. It is somewhat on heavy side but it starts easy and reliably. No messing with two cycle gasoline mix. It is also quiet. The head design is OK but not the best.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I have a 25cc Craftsman Weedwacker. A couple of years ago I needed to get a rebuild kit for the carb. $31.00 for a rebuild kit, or $34 for a new carb. i ordered a new carb it was different but it fit and my weedwhacker continues to run and start easily.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm a Stihl guy... love mine, straight shaft, don't remember the model but I can put a brush blade on it. I have had Echo and a couple of cheeps. Echo okay but I personally didn't think it was much better than the box store others. You will pay a premium for the Stihl though but the engine in my opinion (whatever) is top notch. Quality is no. 1 again my two cents. Its performance over the years convinced me to buy their light weight garden tiller. I thought that was a joke but my wife loves it to till her garden.

 

[Msgtmje]

I have a 15? Yr old shindaiwa (inherited) and a brand new Redmax (gift) I like them both, I did however put a shindaiwa speed feed head on the redmax. Best trimmer head I've found, easy to load, advance line and high capacity. I agree with other posts cheap equipment is no bargain especially when it has to be replaced every 2 yrs. get it once and maintain it. I also have a sthil chainsaw and I belive their equipment is made/assembled in the U.S. Important to me and others.

 

[BethelHntr]

Bought a stihl fs 80 weed whacker in 2003 still going strong today, I run non oxygenated gas and use stihl two stroke mix. If there taken care of they'll last for many years.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I am tired of the big box store trimmers over the last twenty years I think I've bought 8. Two years maybe three
is about the max time I remember having the same trimmer. Are the stiils, husquavaras that are sold by the tractor dealers really better? I've spent a bit of time reading reviews for the various trimmers but am not getting the feeling they are any better. I would gladly spend the extra doe for a trimmer that starts easily without the pull cords ripping the flesh from my callused fingers with string heads that are easily reloaded. I have to maintain 6 acres of mixed use land with trails which is about 3-4 hours of use per week. If you can help please do include make and model and your experience with the model.

Go to a commercial mower dealer and get a good commercial trimmer. We run Stihl and RedMax. Both are good brands. I've been through probably 20 or 30 of them over the past 12 years. They last me about 2 years, and get used for a couple hours every day.

 

[Egon]

Find yourself a dealer that sells professional models. Then pick one that suits you.

 

[oosik]

I have a Stihl FS 480. Its been a good unit for the time I've had it - 5+ years, I think. I've got all sorts of cutter heads but the best, for my use, is the head with the three removable, free swinging nylon blades. I took one of the nylon blades to a welding shop and they made duplicate blades out of high carbon steel. Now this cutting head runs three high carbon steel cutting blades. I use it to cut down everything from 1" saplings on down to meadow grass.

I run Stabil in my small engine gas year round and in the off season I spray WD-40 down the spark plug hole to keep the unit well lubed. It takes a few extra pulls to start the unit the following spring because of the WD-40 but otherwise its been a good unit.

I don't have the time or patience to fiddle with small, dainty, finicky equipment and anything I have & use will be subjected to rather extreme cutting conditions.

This Stihl has measured up.

 

[flusher]

Get yourself a professional grade string mower. My Tanaka TBC245PF lasted me 8 years around my 10 acre place (1/2 mile of fenceline and ditches, small almond orchard, usual landscape trimming). I had a solid shaft (straight). I got rid of the bump feeder which was a PITA and went with the clamp-type string holder that takes 16" lengths of plastic string. I use 0.155" string.

Replaced it with a similar RedMax. No problems after two seasons.

Good luck.