What do I need to look for in a gasoline powered string trimmer? What is the difference between ones with a straight shaft or curved shaft?

I am considering Stihl and Echo, but am open to other brands. I want something that isn't a pain in the ass to change or feed the string.

 

I have a STIHL (don't have model # handy tho) It is the curve shaft - not straight. When it is time for a new one, I may look more closely at straight ones - at the time guy told me to get curved, don't recall if straight was "more for the Professionals etc" ... not sure or if it was a price issue on my part - but I doubt that...I like to buy things once and willing to spend extra $$ if necessary. But I can tell you it has been a great machine and the rethreading of the spool - while it is a pain when you have like 1 or 2 things left to edge and you run out - it only takes a few minutes. I bought a big spool of the thread and can rethread the trimmer in about 5 minutes - very easy...takes longer to walk back to the garage. I use it to trim all around house and even flip it on its side and trim both sides of driveway and all my mulched beds. Does good job. Noisy - but maybe they all are. Be sure to get good pair of muffs.

 

I've got a straight shaft

I should have bought a Stihl or Echo, but I got a JD one (it'a a homelite) with the quick-ttach deal. I like the fact that I can use the craftsman/robyi/etc attachments on it...

My step-dad bought a kawasaki one, and damn that thing is quiet (that the reason he bought it).

 

My shaft is curved...


Straight shafts feel heavier in the hands... The curve helps balance things out. I went with a Toro from Home Depot.

Works great.

 

I have the Stihl with the attachments. It is a straight shaft.

Curved sharts=better balance
Straight shafts=more options

As for string changeout, look for a two string system which takes.90 or larger and then the save is you don't have to change out string often at all.

 

Ok, I'm going to look at the Stihl and then goto HD to look at the Echo and whatever else they have.

From my readings on the web it says the straight shaft is good for tall people (I'm 6'5") yet I see Stihl makes a unit that has a curved extra long shaft for tall people.

:theghey:

 

Ive got a crapsman (thats been a good one) but im looking for a new one this year. Im looking at a honda trimmer. I have a honda mower and love it.

 

I think I saw one on their web site for like $500 but I haven't seen it in stores. I wound up going electric because all of the gas ones I found are 2 stroke.

 

I ended up with an Echo SRM-210. The curved shaft stuff was way too short for me. The straight shaft is a good height. The engine makes much less noise than I expected. The trimmer is very powerful.

As far as 4 cycle/2 cycle, I like 2 cycle for stuff like this. The new 2 cycle engines run much cleaner than the old stuff. It's nice not having to worry about what angle you are holding the thing at.

 

i bought a 4 cycle last year at sears after i had a difficult time with the retractable spool from the one at lowes.

this one i have to cut the string to length and insert

 

Interesting - I wonder if that is why I find mine so uncomfortable some times - I tried to adjust the handle, but did not help...I will check it out next time I am in store see if it makes a difference for me like you noted...

 

I got a Ryobi 2-stroke with a straight shaft because of my height. Everything just seemed way too short and uncomfortable.

And I also made sure it had a good grass gaurd on it. I don't mind the legs, but I hate getting hit in the face and chest with wet grass peices.

 

I've had a straight shaft Homelite for about 4 years now. It works. Nothing fancy, but does the job.

It's a two cycle and spits out a fair amount of smog and is fairly noisy.

I found the straight shaft more comfortable too.

 

Whoa

 

I got 2 Stihls but I own a Lawn care business. one stright shaft and one the curved shaft. The best thing I like about Stihl is the one dealer I go to for all my Stihl stuff(like chainsaws,leaf blowers,weed trimers) they stand behind their stuff. they don't give me any run around on warrenty work. I take it to them, they call me when it's done and I pick it up.

Now the stright shaft one ( I got it as a demo model) so I got a package deal where they had a it was a saw blade(it's a circular spinning saw blade)(you use this in heavy stuff), the normal string head, a heavier 3 blade cutter(you use this in medium stuff), then the "auto loader"head which you bump it on the ground and more string Spools out i use this head probably 80-85% of the time.
the curved shaft I found in the "For Sale" section of the news paper
it was like 2 years old It just had the normal string head on it. I bought it for 50 bucks had my stihl dealer go over it pretty good. he said it's in pretty good shape.
I'll probably be replacing the stright shaft one here in about a year due to tax write offs for the mowing business. the stright one about 8 years old. maybe I can talk my dealer into getting another "demo" in.

 

As far as "auto loader" heads I've never really had much luck with them. Don't know why, just always had problems with them.

I've always liked Stihl chainsaws. My dad has one about 20 years old and my uncle's is almost 30 and they still run pretty good. Me and my brother bought ourselves a new one a few years ago and we've never had any major problems with it.

 

How long does it take to get good at using one of these things? I can't see where the string is spinning and I end up damaging trees/bushes if I get too close. I've used mine 3 times.

 

At least one season... Like everything, it all about practice, practice, practice...

I'm just taking a break, gotta go weedwack now, then cut the grass...

I used to cut first, and then weedwack, but when wacking first, I can use the tractor to cut up any of the crap I clipped w/ the wacker...

 

Today I ended up buing th Ryobi straight shaft one that was in their flier this past week for $129. So far seems good.