Time for a new trimmer....What should I get?

Another vote here for the Stihl FS line. We have an older FS120, and trim under miles (literally) of electric fence year after year with zero repairs. Probably 12 to 14 years old by now. We've also run the triangular blade, which does well up to pencil-sized brush. Have not tried a saw blade on it. Nice power to weight balance - wife and daughters also put many hours on this trimmer. {edit: Bicycle handles are very nice}

My wife brought a Husquavarna 345FR home from work tonight, and we are going to try it to see if we want to buy one for more serious brush/invasive management. I was happy to read it will take a trimmer head, too. She tried the 555FR but decided it was too heavy.

 

The wife told me if I got something lightweight and easy to start she'd do the trimming sometimes.

I absolutely hate trimming. I used to have to do a cemetery that took 3 or 4 solid days every other week. It broke my soul.

 

I've got a Stihl km90 Kombi system set up I like just because it's pretty nice to be able to swap attachments. I mainly use it with the string head for trimming the yard which is a 45 minute project weekly! I've also got the three point steel brush blade which is great on finger size stuff and golden rod, not so much thick grass though. Also I've got the pole saw attachment and I may buy the blower this week! My only complaint is the weight, but what can you do?. I wouldn't rule out the echo quick change either there is two guys at work that have and love them.

 

Ditto on the FS 85, 16 years and no problems for me.

 

The more I think about it, I don't want to get into this for a bunch of $ on the chance I may want to run a brush cutter in the future. I'd really only use the brush cutter a couple times a year to tame the back of the yard along the property line.

Hmmmm. Thinking a lightweight model is going to be the best route so I can get the wife more trigger time on it.

 

Redmax commercial line, makes the others look like Fischer Price tools

 

I just buy box store trimmers I get them to last 10 years . Polan 32 cc with tree trimming attachment also . Whole set up $200 also came with brush cutter attachment. If I buy echo or Honda etc. They seem to have same amount of maintenance issues so I just went the cheap route . And been having good luck.
My lawn is 4 Acer's with about 50 100 year old oaks. So trimmers get tortured around here.

Woodblocker55

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I have a FS 130 and its unstoppable.

 

Straight shaft Stihl. Depends how much power you want. More power is gooder.

 

Look at the Husky 223L. 9lbs, stright shaft, 1 hp, 24.5cc. I can literally one hand it when needed. Plenty of power. I gave my old one to my Sister. I had it for 8 years before I gave it to her last year (nothing wrong with it, but she needed one and didn't want her wasting money on junk). Went and got myself a brandy new one. It does have a little vibration, but for the money this trimmer has to be near the top o the heap. I imagine you could likely run a saw blade on it occasionally in lighter duty situations.

Husqvarna Trimmers 223L

Edit: It does also have the easy start recoil on the newer models. Neither my old one or the new one have ever been difficult to get running.

 

Been pleased with my Husky 128ld for 4 years now. Starts easy. Lightweight. Straight shaft. Enough power to trim a path through brush heading to our stream easily. It was a refurbished unit from VMinnovations. I think I paid $150 or so...

 

Stihl FS 80 R here, can't remember how old it is, I've replaced carb one time, have lots of hillside that I've let countless hired hands use and every other week general trimming that I maintain...spins a blade like a saw,, use .95 line-hope I never need another. Whatever its equivalent is these days would get my vote...just my .02

 

Good thread as I am in a similar situation. I am looking to replace/upgrade my 10+ year old box store trimmer too and I would have the occasional need of a heavy weed/brush saw.

Interesting because I was checking out an mid sized Echo at my local TSC and the first thing that came to my mind was how heavy the unit was. What model do you have?

I like the curve shaft trimmer for trimming around the house/cottage but I have had to rent brush cutters in the past for occasional heavier stuff.

After reading through these posts I am now thinking of a Stihl Kombi system with a curved shaft trimmer and then a straight shaft brush cutter. This would cover my current needs and gives me the options for down the road for a pole saw, power sweep, blower.........

My question now is, does anyone used a loop handle unit with a brush cutter? I prefer the loop handle for the 95% grass trimming I will do but have only used bicycle handle brush cutter units.

 

I didn't look at the model number. It was an entry level commercial straight shaft is all I know. Sorry. I was comparing it to a stihl fs90r.

 

Makes sense as I was comparing it to my old box store Poulan. I may be in for a surprise looking at a Stihl.

 

i picked up a FS130 this year. I have a FS80R for around the house trimming thats about 12 years old and still running strong. The 130 is in a different league power wise. Have used it only for cutting brush and trees with the chisel blade. For just doing around the yard stuff, its way overkill.

 

Retired my old box store trimmer and blower this spring and picked up a small 20V lithium trimmer blower set for the around the house. Light, handy and easy to use for the wife and kids.

For the cottage and hunt camps, I ended up picking up a Stihl Kombi KM 94R with straight shaft grass/light brush blade and the BG KM blower (I've heard good things about these blowers ). I picked up a string head too to swap out the blade for everyday grass trimming.

 

The echo trimmers are not bad. What ever you decide, get the straight shaft I believe they are built better than the curve shaft trimmers.