Trimmer recommendation? Stihl? Echo? something else....

[atsah]

Stihl or husqvarna would be my choices for battery operated..

 

[Tangoddess]

Stihl or husqvarna would be my choices for battery operated..

Any particular model number (s) for either of these brands?

Also, what sort of minimum specs should I look for e.g. 40v, 80v, what cutting swath should be the minimum, I presume the minimum string length should be higher e.g 0.09 or something?

These specs will really help us narrow down on a model.

Thank you

 

[atsah]

Husqvarna 115iL Battery Powered Weed Eater


STIHL FSA 65 Lithium-Ion Curved-Shaft Grass Trimmer | STIHL USA

Always keep batteries inside at household temps, it makes them last many years.. I have the Husqvarna and had it for two years, works great and when I need to bring it in the car to my moms house 4 hours away there is no smell of fuel..

 

[Tangoddess]

Thank you I will look into these models and any others that may be recommended

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Quick update, just to try it out, since it was on sale, we purchased a Black and Decker 40v trimmer and blower combo. The trimmer model is LST140 40V MAX* String Trimmer/Edger. It is a very basic trimmer, 40v battery, 1.5 amp, 13 inch cutting swath, line diameter 0.065in and 6.4lbs.

Sadly it stopped working after a few tries (it just clicks when we pull the trigger, so it will go for a refund or replacement).

We like the battery powered option because it is easy to start, especially for the older or less strong family members.

We want to purchase a 'real' battery operated which is stronger and can cut through the thicker weeds we have.

Which in your opinion, especially @girlwhowantstractor is a great strong battery operated trimmer, with a good warranty?? Please please please

Thank you!

I have no experience with Stihl battery-operated (plenty with their gassers). Some with Husqvarna....my old stuff I love; my new stuff I hate. I'm just one opinion here.

I came out strong for the Dewalt because it has exceeded my wildest expectations from battery-operated tools, of which I have owned a few over the years. I'm fussy about my tools (and frankly, everything). I always see where things could be better. I even pick apart my new tractor.

My Black and Decker battery trimmer is several years old, and only around an 18 v. Still running strong, and useful for small quick jobs, but nowhere near the power of the Dewalt, as expected. Perhaps, as often happens, B&D has experienced a reduction in quality recently. IMO overgeneralizations about brands are no good any more. A brand /model is great for a few years, then not.

My Dewalt stuff was bought in the last few months, so I think I can recommend these particular models with some confidence. My only gripe (and I will always have some ) is the lack of harness. Bought one third-party. Truly a monster. So powerful, it even digs.

I will say about the B&D trimmer, with mine it is tricky to fully engage the battery. I really have to slam it home. Yours SHOULD have a button you can push to show battery strength, so check that.

 

[newbury]

Quick update, just to try it out, since it was on sale, we purchased a Black and Decker 40v trimmer and blower combo. The trimmer model is LST140 40V MAX* String Trimmer/Edger. It is a very basic trimmer, 40v battery, 1.5 amp, 13 inch cutting swath, line diameter 0.065in and 6.4lbs.

Sadly it stopped working after a few tries (it just clicks when we pull the trigger, so it will go for a refund or replacement).

We like the battery powered option because it is easy to start, especially for the older or less strong family members.

We want to purchase a 'real' battery operated which is stronger and can cut through the thicker weeds we have.

Which in your opinion, especially @girlwhowantstractor is a great strong battery operated trimmer, with a good warranty?? Please please please

Thank you!

Remember - when you get in to "battery operated" tools you are buying into a "system".

My tractors, truck, van, VW TDI all run on diesel. My "small engines" - Honda civic, lawnmowers, trimmers run on gasoline or gas/oil mix. So that's two "systems" I maintain.

My really small engines/motors run on electricity, mostly corded. But it's getting so there is a lot of crossover between tools that run on small gas or gas/oil and tools that run on battery alone. But running on battery can require a unique battery and charger. Or not.

I've about settled on the DeWalt 20V max/FlexVolt line. I've over a dozen tools, and several flashlights that use the 20V max batteries, and just bought a trimmer that uses the Flexvolt (flexvolt batteries work on most 20V max tools, 20V max batteries DO NOT work on flexvolt tools). It is very handy to be able to swap in batteries.

So when choosing a battery operated trimmer consider what other tools will use the same battery.

Also, I'm impressed with my DeWalt Flexvolt trimmer, but have only run it for about 15 minutes (got it last night).

 

[not2old]

I bought my first Echo toll without much research as I needed it NOW for business use. Bought it from Home Depot and picked this particular blower because of the specifically stated part about a warrant for being sure to start. That was over ten years ago and it still starts reasonable easy with mixed gas over two years old. This caused me to purchase an Echo for my next trimmer and recently a chain saw after being a satisfied Husky owner for many years. That had a couple of "getting familiar" issues and now I'm definitely impressed with all three tools.

 

[Tangoddess]

A belated Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you.

After some discussion over the break, we decided that maybe we need one strong, commercial grade or near commercial grade Gasoline trimmer as a replacement to the heavy duty homeowners one we have now, which is regularly breaking down.

If we are ok spending about $300-400 or so, which brand/model (Gasoline) do you recommend?

We want a unit that has a good warranty, good quality (not breaking down every few weeks) and can take a thicker diameter string?

Shindaiwa? Echo? Stihl? Honda?

Please advise!!!

Thank you

 

[Wagtail]

And a Happy New Year to you too. I can't remember if I've already advised you on what I have but, I have a Stihl FS85 = 2-stroke, straight shaft, 'bicycle handle', with a chest harness. It came with an interchangeable tri-blade cutter which I use on thick vegetation and 'woody' ferns (bracken).

Thick & woody vegetation will eat trimmer string for breakfast.

I've had flawless operation for the past 4 years of operation. The 'bicycle handle' & chest harness eliminates harmful/painful vibration to your hands + is less exhausting during prolonged operation. IMHO.

 

[TMGT]

I've had very good luck with Echo, the oldest I have is a handheld blower that's probably about 30years old. I also have a PAS 266 trimmer, it does great although in heavy vegetation I wish I had gone with the 280.
My large backpack blower is 2 pull cold and 1 pull once it's been started for the day, love it, it's about a 5year old PB770. The trimmer is a little more temperamental when cold but still starts easy, although there is some adjustment to the carb so I'm sure I can fatten it up a little.

Nothing wrong with Stihl but I've had more issues from them, just had to disassemble my dads BG86 the other day because a front cover bolt backed out and jammed into the flywheel. He's lost a number of bolts from backing out, well maintained but seems to be a little more "attention" then the Echo's. Same for some other Stihls I've been around in the past.

 

[herm0016]

Very happy with my echo pas. So happy in fact, that I wish I would have gotten an echo chain saw and not my sthil wood boss.

 

[TMGT]

I have a smaller 35cc echo saw I use for trimming and love it, however I actually prefer Dolmar/Makita for my larger saws.
My dad has a 40somthing cc Echo saw and has been very happy with it.

 

[ning]

We've had a nice Echo that my wife picked up 15 years ago for about $300ish, I can check the model tomorrow. *Never* any problem even leaving gas in it over winter. We run 0.155 in it, buy a big spool and cut lengths with wire cutters. We have the 3-pointed blade but don't use it any more because this area is practically explosive from May through November...

 

[TMGT]

Oh, and the Echo speed feed head is the best thing ever!

 

[dragoneggs]

Love Stihl gassers... never had an issue. Where is the wood! Have a gas trimmer, hedger and a little garden tiller that my wife loves. Am thinking of migrating to battery power versions soon just because it would make life easier for my wife (I start them for her occasionally) and me too I suppose!

 

[ArlyA]

We have several ECHO power heads with Pro Attachment Series (PAS) and one straight shaft unit that's an old timer. They've been pretty good units. As stated by others, Stihl trimmers seem to be good as well and I'd recommend whichever brand has the best dealer for you. Good service is important! If you'd like to cut heavy or woody type growth, you'll need to get a string head to hold the heavier variety. All our heads hold .155 string but I see they have thicker string offered these days. These are cam lock heads, not coil feeder heads. With this setup is how we do 95% of our grass/tree shoots whacking with. I'll add a photo of one. We do this for a 500 hours each summer clearing, trails.

 

[TMGT]

I've seen those heads, not sure they would work for my uses.
I guess they just use standard time line cut to length as opposed to the special string segments some companies use?

As for self feeding heads, the Echo speed feed head is the only thing I use, just wish i had the larger version.

 

[ArlyA]

They can't make feeder heads to work with larger string. Seems .090 is the limit. Yes, you need to cut a handful of proper length string and head into the field. We buy it by the reel (right word?) and its quite inexpensive and strings are darn easy to change. We need to train people to use these on a regular bases. Its easy.

I've seen those heads, not sure they would work for my uses.
I guess they just use standard time line cut to length as opposed to the special string segments some companies use?

As for self feeding heads, the Echo speed feed head is the only thing I use, just wish i had the larger version.

 

[ning]

We used the self-feeding (bump-style) head for a little while and then gradually moved up string size to the 0.155.
By "we" I mean my wife; somehow I've managed to avoid this chore for 20 years (my kids did it as well when they were here).
Occasionally she cuts a bunch of pieces of the "string" from the large spool, and if I recall just jams them into the holes, which bite into the string so it can't be pulled back out; you remove the dregs from the hole in the middle.

 

[TMGT]

The 450 speed feed can use up to .130 line, and if your using .095 itll hold 25ft of it.
I also buy by the roll but most of my trimming is done on manicured lawns, however I do do some clearing with it in the woods and on the back side of a dam that gets pretty bad with vines etc. (Usually end up using a metal blade).

If I was doing a lot of clearing with no sheild I could see the advantages of that style head.

Another advantage of the Echo is of you're left handed, it spins opposite of most trimmers