Looking for a new weedeater/brushcutter - suggestions

Tried to knockout some end of the season tall weeds, brush and the old Echo I brought back to life a few years ago is giving me fits. Believe the coil is on its way out - runs for 20-30mins then shuts down without warning.

Looking for a new bicycle handle that will take care of small saplings- mostly poplar & sweetgum, with good ergonomics.

Any pros/cons from both the box stores or Stihl/Husqy - have dealers within 10miles

 

The Stihl FS line gets great reviews. We’ve used ours for heavy string trimming and light brush work and have no complaints or issues. I’m trying to knock back a lot of invasive vines and shrubs, and bought a Husqvarna 345FR this spring. So far so good with it. Saw blade is easy to sharpen, and the triangle blades is nearly twice as stout as our smaller Stihl’s. Too few hours to know how well it holds up.

 

I hVe a Stihl FS 250. It has been a great brush cutter. I also have a 130 Kombi unit-it has just a little less power than the 250. I have been happy with both.

Will

 

I can't give you any recent advice, but I'm Stihl running my 30? year old Stihl FS-90. All sapling/small tree work with a modified 10" carbide tipped chop saw blade in it.

(probably just jinxed my self)

 

Can't help still using my old Ryobi, here is another thread

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

 

I also have the Stihl FS250 with 2.2 HP, it's tackles all the really heavy stuff I need done... I run the .105 string which lasts way longer than I'm used to.

This guy is way over the top, but Stihl an interesting review...

 

Stihl loving my new 2-stroke Kombi KM 94R. Bought it with the grass blade and added the string trimmer head and blower so far. Light and powerful!

Here are the before and after photos from this thread: 20 minutes and a Stihl Kombi

 

Sooo...uhm... how long were you on vacation?

 

That there's some serious weed whakin LOL.

 

The guy is funny, sounds like he's doing an infomercial

 

I have a couple of FS-85s with handlebars and the saw blades on them for brush and small trees. They've been good, but now that I have a Shindaiwa 242, they don't get used much at all. Shindaiwa starts easier, runs much smoother, and seems to have just as much power.

 

Love my FS130 as well.

If I did it over again I'd get the Kombi with various attachments though.

 

I really like my FS 110, I use it a lot got a 3 star blade and the string head for it.

 

I have a Stihl 131R Kombie system and I absolutely love it! That thing has some serious power for whatever you need it for. Go for it!

 

yes this man loves his weedeaters just a touch to much....
I held both FS91R - bike handle and FS131 and the weight doesn't warrant the bike handles, as these things have become so light compared to my old FS353av.
I'll update when the machine is in hand

 

That 345FR is quasi overkill for what I actually do with a brush cutter anymore - I'm sure its a sweet machine though

 

I’m in a war against the invasive species, and they have a pretty good head start on me. The old FS has started to stall every-single-time I hit a rock or too big a stem with the triangle blade, and that got old fast. I’ve got some Striped Maple saplings and Alder clumps to cut - maybe I can get the Mrs to film the 345FR in action.

The Stihl line is time-tested and a solid product - mine doesn’t owe me a penny.

Follow up with fuelrod on his modified blade (the standard Stihl saw blade isn’t too impressive).

 

I just punched out the arbor hole to the right size
The blade was not sharp enough for woodwork and I figured the carbides would fly off with the first rock. More of an experiment with a junk blade than anything else.
That was several years ago.

 

Well how did it do?

 

We use Stihl C410's. Picture incoming....

Bob