weed eaters for farm use

[Bill Barrett]

Another for Stihl, I have one just like you want, strap, handle bars, and such.
I've had this unit at least 20 years, with poor maintenance on my part.
I grab what ever gas mix I get my hands on.
Just 2 years ago pulled it apart to grease cable that should be done every year.
All that has been done to it, plastic gas hose, and maybe two spark plugs.
Last year I put a blade on it, just keeps running!

 

[Bill Barrett]

There is another option you might look at. The DR wheeled string trimmer/mower which now comes in a self propelled version. It uses cord up to .175 plus a 12" saw chain edge blade. I have an older version (not self-propelled) and loved it until my knee and hip problems got so bad I could not operate it without a lot of pain. I am thinking about selling it rather than letting it just set there.

DR stuff is pricey however.

Vernon

Also not a bad idea, big string/blade cutters can get to be a hand full, for us old guys!

 

[mike194]

I have one of these with the 6hp ohv briggs. It will cut through anything , I use Braided steel wire as string (probably very dangerous) but it is very effective on 6ft tall cattails. you can also buy Blade type attachments. There is one downside they cost over $700 i got a beat up one they were selling at auction at my work for $90.


Estate Trimmer- All Terrain Yard Care Machine

 

[wbb]

Also not a bad idea, big string/blade cutters can get to be a hand full, for us old guys!

I also have one of the DR trimmers. DR® Power Equipment - Many Uses
Mine is an older (6 years) model. I have used it to mow under miles of electric fence. I use it around the farm buildings - grain bins - road ditches - and such. The trim head moves to the side and angles down so it makes it great to mow up against a woven wire fence also. I don't have the saw blade for mine. Not even sure if my old one will accept it. But I inherited Grandps's Mini-Mac 10 chain saw ( 10 in. bar ) that I use for light brush cutting

One of my boys has a Stihl trimmer. It is a beast but after 1/2 hour or so, it kills my back. I ain't as young as I used to be...

 

[Charlesaf3]

I have a heavy duty husqvarna. $500, but it's great - will cut down small trees. I'm betting the equivalent stihl is equally good

 

[john_bud]

Michelle, I'm glad you came to a decision your satisfied with. There are plenty of quality products out there.

JohnBud, I was just about to put a vote out there for Efco as well. I don't know that I've seen anyone else with Efco products on TBN. I've got a similar model to yours and one of their larger cc chainsaws. Certainly not cheap, but WOW do they do the job with no downtime at all. My Efco dealer sells Stihl also but says Efco is the better product. That is just his opinion -- I haven't tried the Stihl so I don't know, but I am very happy with both my Efcos. My one gripe is parts are hard to come by and the dealer is almost an hour away.

Yeah the EFCO's were big for a while then sort of went away. The only issue I've had is the head grenaded when a buddy was using it. Seems he hit a 4-5" tree with it and the blade was pinched while he held the throttle on full. Torque has to go somewhere.... He paid like $200 for the repair. Stand up guy, did it with no whining.


That one has been used to cut many many miles of trails before I bought a tractor. Not so much use since then, but it started up with 2 pulls after sitting for 3 years. That's a nice feeling!


jb

 

[bigshovel]

I just bought a Stihl KM130 combi head with sickle attachment and string trimmer that runs up to 155 line. I used the 24" sickle attachment on my 600'
long bank and wow what a time saver. Claering a two foot swath at a time and not having to deal with trimmer line is pretty sweet. Running a 2hp motor head with a 6 pound attachment hanging off the front will take some getting used to though,

Brad

 

[Tom_H]

I have the commercial duty DR on wheels. It's a tough machine. I wish I had the new self-propelled version that texbaylea mentioned.

Here is a 3ph mounted, PTO powered string trimmer. It cuts under a fence line. When it hits a post, it pivots. After passing the post, a spring pushes it back under the fence.

Weed Chopper

Though not PTO powered, Swisher makes a tow behind model similar to that, powered by a 6.75 hp Briggs & Stratton gas engine. Northern carries it for $599.99:

Swisher ATV Postmaster Trimmer — 6.75 HP, Model# PST67522 | String Trimmers | Northern Tool + Equipment

Here's a similar tow behind in the archives:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/9807-fence-line-trimmer.html

 

[flusher]

hi everyone
did not know where to post this.
i have alot of structures at my place in town and the farm. i have recently had a couple of the homeowner brand weedeaters- weed eater and riobi brands - they are not "cutting it" and my neighbor can get them to stay running (carburation).

i need to go back to the weedeaters that receive at least .095 string and have the shoulder harness and bike handle bars preferrred.

brands i am going to look at are shindaiwa, honda, redmax -

any experiences or advice. i have tractor and bushhog. need to get around the structures- don't want to kill my back and need durability.

thanks all,
michelle

Get yourself a commercial-grade Tanaka. That's what the landscaping pros around these parts use. They're bulletproof.

Tanaka Commercial String Trimmers and Brush Cutters

I have a solid-shaft Tanaka TBC-255PF that I use around my 10-acre spread. It cost about $350 at the local Ace Hardware store. This is the 3rd season and I've had zero problems. I've owned other brands (Ryobi, Toro) but the Tanaka has these beat.

Whatever you do make sure you get a string trimmer with a solid steel drive shaft. Don't get one of those cheapies with the flexible speedometer-type cable drive.

 

[PAB_OH]

Get yourself a commercial-grade Tanaka. That's what the landscaping pros around these parts use. They're bulletproof.

Tanaka Commercial String Trimmers and Brush Cutters

I have a solid-shaft Tanaka TBC-255PF that I use around my 10-acre spread. It cost about $350 at the local Ace Hardware store. This is the 3rd season and I've had zero problems. I've owned other brands (Ryobi, Toro) but the Tanaka has these beat.

Whatever you do make sure you get a string trimmer with a solid steel drive shaft. Don't get one of those cheapies with the flexible speedometer-type cable drive.

Tanaka builds Echo IIRC.