Looking for a string trimmer. Any opinions?

[motownbrowne]

I'm looking for a straight shaft string trimmer. I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of options from each manufacturer, so I thought I'd see if I could get some help.

My budget is $250, I'd like something that can run a blade, so I think that means it needs a solid shaft instead of a cable. I won't use the blade much, maybe a few hours/year, just trimming some fence lines and thinning small maple saplings.

I'll probably use the trimmer for a total of 20-30 hours/year around the farm, so I don't need anything super heavy duty, and I'd prefer something light weight. I'll use this for a little bit of edging, and occasionally for trimming in between the garden beds, so I don't want one with the bicycle handles.

I'm not picky on brand. I don't think stihl has anything line what I want in my budget. I've heard good stuff about the Echo trimmers, I have a good Dolmar dealer, there's definitely Husqvarna dealers around also.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[murphy1244]

I use a Echo st 225 trimmer with a blade kit but it is a pain to go from one to another so I bought another trimmer.

 

[s219]

I like my Echo a lot. Got the PAS-266 powerhead and two attachments: string trimmer, brush cutter. Plan to add the pole saw at some point.

 

[4570Man]

I have a fairly new unknown model Echo, a Stihl KM90, and a Shindaiwa T242. For trimming the Shindaiwa is my favorite. MSRP is above your budget, but I think I paid $230. I have a blower, pole saw, hedge trimmer, and string head for the Stihl. The blower isn't very powerful, I like the pole saw, the hedge trimmer is nearly worthless, and I like my Shindaiwa better for trimming.

 

[CurlyDave]

Just this afternoon I got a Husqvarna 223L for $220. There is a promotion right now and they are usually $260. So it fits right in your price range. Weight was claimed to be 9 lbs, which I think is good.

With the promotion it looked as good a value as anything out there right now, but time will tell.

I think it has a cable not a solid shaft, so that may not fit with your needs, but if you could stand some time with a lopper it looks like a buy.

 

[sseelhoff]

I like my Echo a lot. Got the PAS-266 powerhead and two attachments: string trimmer, brush cutter. Plan to add the pole saw at some point.

We have the echo, too. I have the strng trimmer and blower. Will get the cultivator next. It`s a good unit. Always starts and runs well.

 

[DieselnHooters]

I think any brush cutter worth anything will run you way more than $250, mine is a Shindaiwa T282, very capable with a blade but a bit on the heavy side as a mere string trimmer, I dont remember exactly how much it was but likely in the $500 CAD range, could be around $400 US down your way....well worth it.

 

[Wagtail]

You've asked for my thoughts and here they are;

I've had a hand-held 2-stroke Echo 'line trimmer', straight shaft and with a blade attachment. It worked well but for one thing; vibration. Constant, hand numbing to the point of agony vibration. Not the sort of vibration due to an imbalance, just the sort of vibration you'd expect from a 2-stroke engine due to gripping the shaft & shaft-mounted handle. I even tried wearing 'diver' foam neoprene glove to alleviate the effect and related pain, to no avail. Perhaps a golf-bag type strap may have helped to reduce the vibration, I wouldn't know as I honestly couldn't bear the thought of seeing if it would.

I went into town and bought a Stihl bicycle-handle (as you say), straight shaft with a body/hip harness. It came with a 3-pointed blade, which is dead easy to change out. I've never looked back.

I sold the Echo to a mate of mine, with fair warning.

 

[4570Man]

I think any brush cutter worth anything will run you way more than $250, mine is a Shindaiwa T282, very capable with a blade but a bit on the heavy side as a mere string trimmer, I dont remember exactly how much it was but likely in the $500 CAD range, could be around $400 US down your way....well worth it.

I agree. Even though their website says my T242 is capable of running a blade it isn't very powerful. 99 percent of my use is string and I wouldn't want to carry around a stronger trimmer. For my very minimal blade work I have a junker Ryobi trimmer that I don't care if it breaks with a blade on it.

 

[DK35vince]

I have an Echo SRM 225i for a couple years now, and like it so far.
Price was around $250 if I remember right.
Never tried a brush cutter on it yet.