What should I look for in a weed wacker (whip)? It will be used to cut a series of paths in the tall grass around our summer home. That doesn’t sound like much work but the grass can get almost waist high. I’m pretty sure I want a gas powered one but, beyond that, I don’t have a clue: straight shaft or curved, brand names to trust, size of the string, horse-power, ??? If anyone out there has some suggestions I’m listening. Thanks.
Chip Tam
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Replies
Can't go wrong with Stihl.
The kind with the shoulder strap and bicycle-like handlebars are great if you're gonna use it a lot.
I hever heard of a gas power weed whip.
http://www.americanhiking.org/hikers_store/trailtools.html
Unless it was gunner after eating some of his concoctions.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Most of the gardening pros I have seen around here use Echo string trimmer. I have three of them and like them as they aren't fussy about old gas and start up readily after sitting for a long time. I have one with the string trimmer, one with the brush blade, and the third is actually a convertible model that has interchangeable parts to be a tree trimmer, string trimmer, and a few other things. Some have Shindaiwa, which is supposed to be good but not as widely distributed (Echo is handled by Home Depot.)
I had a Homelight and could never get it to run right consistently so tossed it after only a few hours of actual use.
Lot of commercial guys use Echo. We used to when
we did that. I have had a Stihl for the last 6 years.
Never fails to flail.
Straight shaft works better in tall grass.
Echo, or Stihl. Straight shaft. Look for one with interchangeable components for the drive.
Echo or Stihl. Get one that you can toss a blade on. Takes out small saplings and brush in addition to grass.
I have a straight shaft Echo, and like it a lot. I burnt up a cheap Ryobi curved shaft trimming a lawn. I'd used my dad's Echo reclaiming an area that had about 10 years to get overgrown, so I bought one myself as the Ryobi's replacement. I have to agree with their ability to handle bad gas. I've since moved into town since purchasing it and sometimes go six months without using it and have had zero problems with it in the seven years I've had it. I think my dad's sat longer - he doesn't use it for grass, just small brush in the patch of woods between his house and the road every year or two.
Don't get a curved shaft - they use a flex drive that really heats up due to friction. The straight shafts use a gear assembly at the head. Curved shafts also put the end much closer to your feet so you are limited on your attachments because of safety. With the straight shaft, you can get blades rather than string to really cut through the brush (they recommend a cross handle with this setup). I've done fine buying the thicker, square-shaped string.
I bought the lowest powered Echo that could handle a blade and the largest size of string. It has more than enough power for everything I've tackled, including waist high grass.
Like many have mentioned, the Echo is great. Starts easliy, even after sitting 9 months (not much to cut in the summer in CA). I have the curved shaft, only because most of my cutting is on a 30% slope. Amazingly enough, I had a HD aisle guy who actually knew something, and was able to intelligently discuss the different brands, models & options and I'm glad he directed me to the curved shaft.
Echo trimmers stand out from the others for their fit and feel. I haven't used another that is so effortless, and that makes a major difference after a short time cutting. They are expensive but worth the extra. I like the double handled models.
http://www.echo-usa.com/prods_list.asp?Category=BRUSHCUTTER
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. You gave me lots of good information. From your replies, it seems like Echo has an excellent reputation. Yesterday, I picked up an Echo catalog from my local equipment dealer (lots of choices). Didn't realize that Home Depot also carries Echo. I'll check them out, as well. I also stopped in at Lowes and looked at a couple of Husqvarnas. I guess the company has a good reputation but I don't know anything about their weed wackers. Thanks again. I'll post a reply when I finally purchase one.
Chip Tam
I'd buy it from the local dealer, not HD ( I own HD stock! ). If and when it comes time for repair, you go to the end of the line like a red headed step child if you didn't buy it at the dealer, and I don't blame them. They're not punishing you, they're taking care of their customers first.
MGMaxwell, point taken about buying from a local dealer. I usually try to do so if the local dealer's price is, at least, in the ball park. "A red-headed step child", that's a new one for me. Where does that expression come from? Perhaps, Ann of Green Gables?
Karl, this weed wacker won't get a lot of use. It's probably no more than 100 yards of path twice each summer. That's probably no more than a few hours work each time. However, as I mentioned in my original post, the grass gets very tall. It almost looks like a Nebraska wheat field. A weed wacker I borrowed last summer was constantly bogging down even doing light passes. So, even though light would be nice, I want to make sure I get one that can handle the job.
Chip Tam
I bought a craftman from sears, straight shaft, 32cc about two years ago. Probably too powerful for yard trimming. I wouldn't buy craftsman again though. I'm having trouble keeping it running. Sears has to send it out to get fixed which is a minus. All parts have to be ordered, even an air filter. I would go with a dealer.
Edited 5/23/2007 12:29 pm ET by sano888
One other thing: I never used the self feeding string head
when I did commercial. Used the manual type that you cut off a short
length and used it until it wore down. A few seconds to
replace. Cut a bunch of pieces before going out, carried
in your pocket. You can use heavier line this way too.
I now have the head with the 3 plastic cutting fingers.
Nice but they cost a fortune and they wear down quickly
on anything but grass. Effective though if you are
just a homeowner.
Have you considered a "string mower"? They have the two large wheels and the really heavy string, (two short lengths that you feed through a couple holes). I have had one for the past 6 or 7 years. I like it because I dont have to carry it, the heavier string lasts much, much longer, no gas oil mixing. I use mine to cut the grass in the ditch near the road (rocks from road used to do a number on a bladed push mower), trim against the rock garden edging, cut undergrowth and taller weeds in woods and around the pole barn a couple times each summer.The weed wackers I had previously never seemed to last more than 3-4 years before getting finicky over the gas mix.
My wife has an Echo, I put a shoulder strap on it.
Got it at HD, always starts and runs. She loves it.
Joe H
My wife has an Echo, I put a shoulder strap on it.<<<MAnnnnnnn...yer leavin' yourself wide open with that line...
"Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit." Abbie Hoffman
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
It was the first wife sounded like that.
Joe H
I've heard of a wife having her own zip code, but never an echo...
Fight fire with water.
I own a large stihl straight shaft trimmer with bicycle handlebars. I don't use it that much for light duty work as it ends up being a bit cumbersome between the shoulder strap and handlebars.
I am currently thinking about buying stihls trimmer that takes other attachments (hedge trimmer) and buying their lightest, smallest 2 stroke model. I think I would use the trimmer for edging the lawn and detailing the yard a lot more if I had a very lightweight model.
Unless you are doing heavy duty clearing on a regular basis you might consider lightweight and manueverability as highest priority over power.
Karl
I would echo the advise to go with a small equipement dealer, not a box store. The equipment dealer knows what he's doing, will tune up and test the trimmer before it goes out the door and will stand behind it if there are issues.
I have a straight shaft Stihl with bicycle bars and a strap. You can go for a long time without fatigue with this setup. I often run it with a 3 point blade for brush etc. This blade also works great for tall grass.
I second all of that.
Stihls are great, but I have a Husqvarna, straight shaft for the past few years, it's beautiful. $300 at Lowes.
Get the biggest engine you can afford (at least 1 HP) and ask them to show you how "easy" it is to load line in the cutter head. The only thing more annoying than having the engine stall is a head that requires untangling every five minutes.
I have a curved shaft Stihl that is probably fairly lightweight... no handlebars, no strap. It is a very reliable machine, always starts, always runs, uses old gas... BUT... I hate the string head. It does not auto-feed new string when tapped on the ground, and the string wears down quickly. I'll probably get the three-plastic-blade head fairly soon.
A customer of mine has a string trimmer on two wheels, sort of like a push mower. The string is not much short of PEX tubing, it is massive. I'm sure you could push it straight thru a thick field and cut a path without a sweat. She uses it to whack brush off at the ankles.
Go with the straight-shaft Stihl, with handle-bar controls and shoulder harness. For the kind of grass you're talking about, you need at least 1.5-2hp or you're gonna spend all your time taking light cuts and cussing.
Something like this would be good:
View Image<!---->
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Edited 6/4/2007 12:52 am ET by Dinosaur
I bought a Honda at Ace Hardware a few years ago and it has really been great, uses regular gas with no mixing and starts without fail after sitting around all winter.
If they still make them this is a very good machine.
I like to reconfigure the head to use .155 cords. I make the cords by cutting the proper length and putting a copper bullit crimp, like the electritions use, on one end and feeding it out through the head. Centrifugal force keeps the cord in place and it will last all day in grass and weeds.
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on: nor all your Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it." - Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Dino, David, and Arrow,
Thanks for the additional feedback on my question about weed wackers. I still haven't purchased one and may not do so until we get to our summer home in Canada. There's a used Stihl advertised on the local (Detroit) craigslist but $200 seems a bit high for a used machine (I think it's the FS 100).
Dino, I've been lurking at your Northfest site. Sounds like fun. Sadly, I'll be wacking tall weeds in Trinity, Newfoundland at the time of the fest.
All the best,
Chip Tam
$200!!?? Jeeez, b'y jist git yerself a goat 'n tie her to an old tire.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Find a dealer who sells REDMAX. Worth the time and money. Run synthetic oil for the mix.