String Trimmers

[cherron]

This is the Definitive Guide to Brands and Manufacturers of String Trimmers and ancillary branded products.

Manufacturers of String Trimmers and their affiliated brands

Ariens Corporation
>Ariens
>Gravely
>Locke
>Stens

The Black & Decker Corporation

>Black & Decker
>Grasshog
>Firestorm
>DeWalt
>Porter Cable
>Delta Machinery
>DeVilbiss Air Power
>FLEX
>Oldham Saw Blade Company
>Kwikset Locks
>Baldwin Locks
>Weiser Lock
>Price Pfister Plumbing
>Dustbuster
>SnakeLight
>Scumbuster

Briggs & Stratton Corporation

>Briggs & Stratton
>Generac
>Animal
>Blockzilla
>Raptor
>Classic
>I/CIndustrial Plus
>INTEK
>Murray
>Quantum
>Quattro
>Snapper
>Sprint
>Vanguard
>Simplicity

Echo Incorporated

>Echo trimmers
>Bear Cat chippers
>Lockwood potato planting and harvesting implements
>Crary agricultural equipment

Electrolux Home Products

>Jonsered
>Electrolux
>Frigidaire
>Eureka
>Husqvarna
>Poulan
>Weed Eater
>FeatherLite
>Tornado

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

>Honda

John Deere & Company

>John Deere
>Frontier

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

>Kawasaki

Komatsu Ltd

>Komatsu
>Redmax

Makita>Makita

Maruyama Premium Outdoor Power Equipment

>Maruyama

MTD Companies

>MTD
>Yard-Man
>McCullouch
>Cub Cadet
>Cub Cadet Commercial
>Lesco
>Troy-Bilt (primarily a Lowes Brand manufactured by MTD)
>Yard Machines
>Bolens
>White Outdoor
>Marshall
>Southwest
>MTD Pro
>Arnold

Original Power, Inc.

>Original Power

Sarlo Power Mowing

>Sarlo

Shindaiwa Kogyo Co ,Ltd

>Shindaiwa

STIHL Incorporated

>Stihl

Swisher Mower

>Swisher

Tanaka Power Equipment (now sub of Hitachi Koki Corporation – Hitachi Power Tools – purchased out of Bankruptcy by Hitachi)

>Tanaka
>Hitachi

Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd (TTI Group) – limited partnership between Home Depot, Emerson Electric and Ridge Tool Design Company.

>Ryobi
>Ridgid
>Homelite
>Regina Vacuums
>Royal Vacuums
>Dirt Devil Vacuums
>Vax
>Milwaukee Electric Tool
>Atlas Copco Electric Tools,


The Toro Company

>Toro
>Exmark
>Lawn Boy
>Lawn Genie
>Dingo
>Irritrol
>Aqua-TraXX
>Blue Stripe
>Hayter (GB)

 

[EddieWalker]

I kept going back and forth between the Echo and Stihl. Both seem like great trimmers, so it came down to recomendations and what I saw being used by the pros.

Seems like allot of people like both, but Echo won out for me. I bought the SRM210 for $199 tax free. Then I put three tanks of fuel through it cleaning up my fence line. There were some realy thick and nasty areas, but it just tore it up. I had debris flying all over the place!!!! It was FANTASTIC.

Only time will tell if I did good or not, but thanks to everyone for all your imput and advice. This has been a great thread.

Eddie

 

[exNCite]

I bought a Ryobi straight shaft trimmer back in the late 1990's (I don't know if they even make them anymore, haven't seen any for a while).

Anyway, it has all the interchangable options (blower, edger is all that I got). Neither is probably as good as a dedicated unit, but plenty good for casual homeowner use.

I really like the idea of eliminating a few engines to maintain by sharing the powerplant for multiple attachments.

Good luck

Timely thread. I have the Ryobi too. Especially liked the idea of all the various attachments. Had it about 10 years and now it's not running. Hardest part is getting someone to service it. Add to that the cost of repair and we've added another throwaway item to our inventory.

So the head has died...now what do you do with all the attacments? Throw them out too I guess and start all over again. I'm struggling with getting the individual tools and dealing with multiple engines to service instead of one vs having a bunch of obsolete attachments when the engine dies.

Been to Home Depot and Lowes. Just not crazy about the quality of those units. My Simplicity dealer swears by Echo. More money for sure but may be worth it in the long-run.

 

[LBrown59]

Swears by Echo or AT Echo. They might work well but I find customer service poor. I emailed them twice about a problem and haven't heard from them yet. I have more confidence in Stihl.

I stihl like Stihl.

 

[vrman]

Timely thread. I have the Ryobi too. Especially liked the idea of all the various attachments. Had it about 10 years and now it's not running. Hardest part is getting someone to service it. Add to that the cost of repair and we've added another throwaway item to our inventory.

So the head has died...now what do you do with all the attacments? Throw them out too I guess and start all over again. I'm struggling with getting the individual tools and dealing with multiple engines to service instead of one vs having a bunch of obsolete attachments when the engine dies.

Been to Home Depot and Lowes. Just not crazy about the quality of those units. My Simplicity dealer swears by Echo. More money for sure but may be worth it in the long-run.

I also have the Ryobi 9xx with multiple attachments. The first one I had died after about 5 years. I just bought another one to replace it so it will work with all the attachments. I really like the all in one tool it provides me. Leaf vac, blower, brush cutter, string trimmer etc. And for the price of them, I can afford to replace it every 5 years or so.

We have a store here in Illinois by the name of Menards that still carries them. Unfortunately they dropped their Poulan chain saws. I love my 16".

 

[Mud Dr.]

I've had a Shindiawa for 18 years. I changed the spark plug the other day cause it was running rough. Turns out the small fuel line had a small tear in it. I was able to cut out the bad piece and re-connect it. Can't believe I wasted all of that money on a spark plug. Seriously, this thing has serious power and just won't quit. I won't think twice about what brand to buy.

 

[exNCite]

Well, found out it hasn't died...just needs a little surgery along with a new carburetor. So I can have it fixed for $100 and throw the attachments out or buy a new unit. The Echo with trimmer, edger, mulcher will run about $600. Any bets on which one I chose????

 

[wushaw]

Well, found out it hasn't died...just needs a little surgery along with a new carburetor. So I can have it fixed for $100 and throw the attachments out or buy a new unit. The Echo with trimmer, edger, mulcher will run about $600. Any bets on which one I chose????

Surgery is a good thing to keep something a little longer without paying through the nose all over again

 

[Jason B]

Hi

I would go with Stihl for a weedeater. They have been very reliable. I have had to do some repairs to my older Stihl weedeater, but this was because it has been used alot( since I am a commerical operator) and everything wears out eventually. Just put a new switch in her and she runs like she is brand new. My older Stihl is now 5 years old and still does a lot of trimming. Bought a new Stihl (55R) last year as I needed a second trimmer and love it. Both do great jobs at trimming. My only regret is not going with the commerical Stihl weedeater, but I am impressed with my 55R and 55T. Also, go with the straight shaft, as you can reach farther underneath trees, low lying brushes, shrubs, etc to get at weeds that are difficult for a curved shaft. I also have a Deere( Echo built) curved shaft weedeater that is 10+ years old still going strong. Runs good, although with the curved shaft, you easily get covered more in grass clippings then you do with a straight shaft( this is if you cut heavy weeds with a curved shaft though). Anyway best of look. I would go with either Stihl or Echo. Take Care Jason B

 

[IMCA38]

I have to share my experience. When we moved to our first acreage in the fall of 1994, I picked up a WeedEater brand trimmer on close out at Target. Paid $56.00 for it, I found the receipt in with my owner's manuals today. It is a small curved shaft unit, and any more, I'm not so terribly fond of it. It only has .080 line, which is forever breaking off in the spool and I have to stop and re-thread the line off the spool out through the head. I would replace it in a heartbeat with something better, but problem is, I can't kill that stupid thing! I have NEVER drained the gas out of it, and it probably takes me 2 years to use up a gallon of mix, and I don't remember ever changing the spark plug in it. I have a new spark plug in the shop I bought several years ago, but the one in it works just fine. I choke it full, pull once or twice, cut back to half choke and it fires off on the first or second pull. Anyway, I'm a bit of a tightwad, so I can't see retiring something that isn't ready to be retired yet. So, I guess I'll keep running and abusing it until something finally shells out for good.