Hello. I am looking to buy a good string trimmer. I would like to buy a Stihl, but for what trimming I have to do, they are kind of expensive. Does anyone have a good economy gas powered string trimmer that they recommend? (approx $120 range)
Best String Trimmer on a budget
- Thread starter spierceisu
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All I can add is that i have had both a Black & Decker and a Ryoibi, and the B/D is far superior.
How much trimming do you have to do? I got so sick of my gas trimmer and the maintenance involved, that I bought a cheap Black And Decker rechargeable one as a back-up, it uses battery packs like the drills to. It soon became my primary trimmer and I sold my gas one off last year. I actually do a lot of trimming with it as well as I have about 120' along our back yard that backs up to a nature preserve, so It's a constant fight with those weeds. I have to carry the 2 spare batteries with me when doing the full trim, but I have a lot of trimming to do for a house in the burbs. It's the longest part of my mow day.
Anyways, if you don't have a lot of trimming to do, look into the battery ones. Plus the auto string feed cartridges are a God Send.
Anyways, if you don't have a lot of trimming to do, look into the battery ones. Plus the auto string feed cartridges are a God Send.
I just bought the 20V lithium Black and Decker last week. Only used it twice - but for my fairly lightweight trimming it has been more than sufficient. And the first time around, I had to take down some sizeable grass and weeds as I hadn't trimmed yet.
The battery charger leaves something to be desired and the string is a lighter weight than my old craftsman gas trimmer - so I may be burning through that faster than I realize. But for my smaller city lot - it's I'm plenty happy.
I was hoping being that B&D owns Dewalt, that I could interchange the batteries with my 20V drill/wrench combo. But it would seem B&D thought of that and even though the batteries are near identical - they have slightly different track alignments so no joy there.
As others have said - I just got sick of the issues and upkeep with the gas trimmer.
The battery charger leaves something to be desired and the string is a lighter weight than my old craftsman gas trimmer - so I may be burning through that faster than I realize. But for my smaller city lot - it's I'm plenty happy.
I was hoping being that B&D owns Dewalt, that I could interchange the batteries with my 20V drill/wrench combo. But it would seem B&D thought of that and even though the batteries are near identical - they have slightly different track alignments so no joy there.
As others have said - I just got sick of the issues and upkeep with the gas trimmer.
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Menards has MTD trimmers are good priced and good trimmers. Have had better luck with mine than any name brand one.
I started out with a battery powered line trimmer and thought it was complete junk. Bought a Craftsman gas line trimmer and haven't looked back. Significantly more power, doesn't get stuck in heavy grass, and can actually do a good job of edging. Paid 140 for mine.
Anyone have any experience with the "GreenWorks" trimmers and leaf-blowers? Those got my attention...
I am in the market for a trimmer as well...
I am in the market for a trimmer as well...
If you want a gas trimmer - this is the way I'd head as well. My Dad has one for a larger country property - and it's a bigger trimmer. But that thing seems to have the juice to cut down a tree.
What kind of battery life do you get per charge. We had a B&D battery powered one but it seemed like I could barely make it around are average sized yard before it started to lose power.
I'm thinking about just getting a cheapish B&D corded trimmer, I'm sure the cord will be annoying but I figure an extra 5 minutes of hassle getting out the cord and winding it back up won't be too bad.
I bought a cheap home Homelite from HD about 9 years ago and it's been great. It starts every time on the first pull. Only two negatives.
1. Have to mix the gas but this only happens about once every two years.
2. I didn't like replacing the trimmer line nor the bump head so I bought something like this
1. Have to mix the gas but this only happens about once every two years.
2. I didn't like replacing the trimmer line nor the bump head so I bought something like this
What will killing a goat with a scythe accomplish? Some sort of ritualistic sacrifice?
The other nice thing about buying a cheap one is that you can treat it like crap. The first few years I was all worried about draining it for the winter and changing the plug. Now I just fill it up with fuel and run it close to full boar all the time.
Due to working a bunch of grounds-crew jobs when I was younger and more just personal use here recently, I've had the luxury (if you call it that) of working with lots of different kinds throughout the years, and if I've determined anything, it is that they are all really just cheap junk no matter what the brand for the most part, and operate that way. Take a push Honda lawn mower for instance and it's quality and reliability is blatently apparent and consequently makes it drastically stand out from all the junk around it. Now, in the string trimmer world, what I've figured out is that there is no Honda lawn mower equivalent that stands out like that. Theres really just a bunch of junk and it is a matter of choosing which one is the least junkiest.
With that said, I've settled on the Stihl ones being the leader of the junk pack and I'm almost hesitant to even recommend something that is at its height, the best of the worst. Overall, they are decent though and what I'd recommend. Don't expect something that looks like its built like a tank though as it is still fairly chinsey and loaded with cheap parts. The most common flaw of the Stihls though is that they all have a tendency to flood easily, and especially with the one I have.
With that said, I've settled on the Stihl ones being the leader of the junk pack and I'm almost hesitant to even recommend something that is at its height, the best of the worst. Overall, they are decent though and what I'd recommend. Don't expect something that looks like its built like a tank though as it is still fairly chinsey and loaded with cheap parts. The most common flaw of the Stihls though is that they all have a tendency to flood easily, and especially with the one I have.
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Do the straight ones work better for taller people? I find that I'm constantly bending my back while using mine.
Truthfully, I've only used a straight one a couple times so I'm not an expert on those, but for the few times I did, I really liked it and and thought it was easier on my back. I think they are supposed to be a little more reliable as well. I personally have a curved Stihl right now, but if I did it over again, I'd probably get a straight one. Again, I don't speak from a ton of experience here.
I've only used it the couple times. Grand total of about 20-30 minutes worth. Nice thing about the cordless/electric - you can save that charge instead of always on with the gas.
As it was - I didn't even get through the 1st battery (comes with two) - and I'm sure it was nowhere near charged. Maybe an hour on the charger.
The one I got (Lowes - $99 last Friday) also has two "speeds" that supposedly extends the life. I ran it on the higher setting the whole time. The lower one did seem a bit wimpy. Maybe it would help the charge, but mine is small enough - why bother.
I'm not going to vouch for the thing as I've only had it 5 days. But I was half expecting to take it back after the first use - and ended up rather impressed.
As for the corded - I have a corded blower. For as little as that's used (gutters is about it), it's ok. But the cord is a pain in the arse. I have a corded edger which gets the job done, but I need about 125-150' by the time I get to the far edge. Again - not bad couple times in the spring and fall - but sure wouldn't want to deal with it every week.
I'm kinda intrigued by this trimmer having a edger setup. You sort of rotate the trimmer head around and there's a wheel on the string guard to ride on. Not expecting much - but hoping that I can use the edger for the big work and use the cordless to just keep things tidy. I did use it (kinda) to clean the edge of my landscaping and it did an ok job.
