rlmccarty2000
Active member
On the battery operated side, I`ve got a Ryobi and it is ok for small jobs and the battery also works on my blower. Again, great for small jobs or a secondary weed eater/blower. No comparison to a real gas tool.
Best weed eater/string trimmer
- Thread starter donbeezy
- Start date
donbeezy
New member
thanks everyone. went with a stihl 56 straight shaft. do I need to put a sealant on it before using it?
donbeezy
New member
I looked at that one and the stihl for 30 mins in the store. dude was looking at me crazy. loved the grip and weight of it but ultimately the power and name of stihl made me buy it
donbeezy
New member
Accumulator
Well-known member
DonBeezy- That Stihl should be great! I got mine (one of their Commercial models, also straight-shaft) back in *1988* and it`s still going strong despite a *lot* of awfully hard use. In all that time it`s only needed maybe three spark plugs and one replacement auto-feed head (and that one`s lasted over 20 years). I don`t even run it dry before Winter or use a fuel stabilizer, it simply *works* every time.
donbeezy
New member
I fought with that craftsman for 30 minutes each time I had to use it. such a pain in the butt. finally had enough of it
crystal seal did make it easy to wipe down! even darkened the black plastic some lol
GearHead_1
Long Time Member
I didn`t read all of the posts in this thread so forgive me if this is redundant. Tanaka, Red Max (Shindawa sp?), Stihl and commercial Echo`s are all fine string trimmers. I`ve said this before and you`re probably tired of hearing it but I`ve fixed small engines for over 30 years and the one thing I will tell you is whatever manufacturer you choose, make sure you get one that has a fully supported crankshaft. Simply said make sure the pull rope is on the back of the machine and not up towards the shaft. The ones with the pull rope towards the front have a cantilever crank shaft. These will NOT stand up to the same type of use and abuse as a fully supported crank.
I have a couple of Red Max both straight shaft and curved and a couple of Echo`s. I really like Red Max. I think it`s important to remember that most manufacturers make both a commercial and a consumer grade trimmer. The consumer grade trimmers will have cantilever cranks. It`s been a couple of years but I was looking at Craftman trimmers while kicking around Sears. The had at least 8 different models of trimmers on the floor. Not one of their trimmers had a fullly supported crank. I think this speaks volumes and not just about Sears. Most of the big box stores follow suit. If they offer a commercial line, look at it, there is a reason they`re better.
One last thought here. If you need to trim down the side of a lot of concrete consider owning both a trimmer and an edger. The cable driven edgers of today are not the old 3 or 4 wheeled, 3 HP edgers of old. Those edgers will cut circles around the old edgers are lighter, easier to store and just flat do a better job. I know many people that have told me that they can do anything they need to do with a string trimmer but once they`ve actually tried a bladed edger they wouldn`t consider tipping a string trimmer on it`s side to march down 60 yards of concrete. Anyway...
I have a couple of Red Max both straight shaft and curved and a couple of Echo`s. I really like Red Max. I think it`s important to remember that most manufacturers make both a commercial and a consumer grade trimmer. The consumer grade trimmers will have cantilever cranks. It`s been a couple of years but I was looking at Craftman trimmers while kicking around Sears. The had at least 8 different models of trimmers on the floor. Not one of their trimmers had a fullly supported crank. I think this speaks volumes and not just about Sears. Most of the big box stores follow suit. If they offer a commercial line, look at it, there is a reason they`re better.
One last thought here. If you need to trim down the side of a lot of concrete consider owning both a trimmer and an edger. The cable driven edgers of today are not the old 3 or 4 wheeled, 3 HP edgers of old. Those edgers will cut circles around the old edgers are lighter, easier to store and just flat do a better job. I know many people that have told me that they can do anything they need to do with a string trimmer but once they`ve actually tried a bladed edger they wouldn`t consider tipping a string trimmer on it`s side to march down 60 yards of concrete. Anyway...
Angus
AspiringProductSpecialist
Great choice!!! You`ll be happy with it. Stihl makes great stuff. Next you`ll need a Stihl backpack leaf blower, aStihl chain saw, and a Stihl hedge trimmer...
Is your 56 an "easy 2 start" model? If so it may take some time getting use to how little effort it takes to pull/ avoid yanking hard on it. I gave my dad an easy 2 start Stihl chainsaw a few years back - I`ve never gotten used to pulling it.
Swanicyouth
New member
I ended up going to Lowes today and getting their 80v lithium cordless for $200. Dunno. I don`t have a ton of weed whacking to do and this thing has great reviews. I have about an acre - will will see how it does.
Seems to be a lot more powerful than 24v and 40v cordless machines based on the reviews. Run time is up to 90 mins - charge time is 30 mins. Warranty is 5 years. Motor is brushless... Reviewers say it`s very quiet and doesn`t vibrate compared to gas machines. We will see.
Mebbe this is the iBrid of weed wackers.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Seems to be a lot more powerful than 24v and 40v cordless machines based on the reviews. Run time is up to 90 mins - charge time is 30 mins. Warranty is 5 years. Motor is brushless... Reviewers say it`s very quiet and doesn`t vibrate compared to gas machines. We will see.
Mebbe this is the iBrid of weed wackers.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
donbeezy
New member
it is the easy 2 start. light pull and cranks on first try. love it so far
donbeezy
New member
old crafts with the pull on the front
stihl with the pull on the back side
guess i did good!
i had an attachment edger with the craftsman, kind of miss how easy it is to use but i think ill get use to edging with the trimmer. the stihl is so powerful.. with a new set of strings i can edge quickly but just have to concentrate on my edging more lol
i only have about 50 feet of concrete to edge along
512detail
New member
Wow sweet.I ended up going to Lowes today and getting their 80v lithium cordless for $200. Dunno. I don`t have a ton of weed whacking to do and this thing has great reviews. I have about an acre - will will see how it does.
Seems to be a lot more powerful than 24v and 40v cordless machines based on the reviews. Run time is up to 90 mins - charge time is 30 mins. Warranty is 5 years. Motor is brushless... Reviewers say it`s very quiet and doesn`t vibrate compared to gas machines. We will see.
Mebbe this is the iBrid of weed wackers.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Let us know how it works out.
I really don`t want a gas one and i was eying that one i got last week.
512detail
New member
Btw those black 5hr energys got me thru grad school 
GearHead_1
Long Time Member
You will no doubt like that trimmer very much. They make very good products.old crafts with the pull on the front
stihl with the pull on the back side
guess i did good!
i had an attachment edger with the craftsman, kind of miss how easy it is to use but i think ill get use to edging with the trimmer. the stihl is so powerful.. with a new set of strings i can edge quickly but just have to concentrate on my edging more lol
i only have about 50 feet of concrete to edge along
Bunky
Detailing Gnosis
I have an electric Stihl. It is a 1 string trimmer and prefer 2 strings. I also have an ancient 4 cycle Ryobi that has a blade, etc- heavy but nice.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Those are still going strong for me after decades of (ab)use too.
Swanicyouth
New member
I used the 80v trimmer today for the first time. I have a new lawn with weeds sprouting up here and there, and some thick brush on the side and back.
Used it about 40 mins one speed 1. Only showed I used 1/3 the battery when done. 90 mins seems doable. I basically couldn`t lift either wrist when I was done - gotta get a strap for it.
Machine itself is smooth, very powerful, and didn`t bog down no matter how thick the weeds. I never needed to bump to let more line out either.
As long as it doesn`t break (5 yr warranty) - I can`t see how it could be much better.
rlmccarty2000
Active member
How heavy is the weed eater with the 80v battery? Battery power is great if it is not too heavy and you said you got a 5 year warranty. Hopefully that covers the battery too. Does that 80v battery work in other tools? Most of the time the battery costs more than the rest of the tool. Post how you liked the weed eater at the end of the growing season please.