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Best String Trimmer under $200?

Stihl km91 here on 5 woody weedy acres. Going on 6 years and it just works well.
 
Get a battery one , screw gas....

I'm using a EGO 56v auto head little heavy in the back but good whacker
 
I'm similarly looking also but I also would like to add a brush cutting blade. It seems anything very capable is in the $400 to $500 range. Anyone have some personal experience?
 
got a troy bilt (chinese) 4-stroke one the neighbor threw away because the primer bulb got cracks in it
it's been holding up to abuse so well that I even changed the oil on it
it has run a saw blade, but it really doesn't like it at all, lacks power for that kinda stuff

are you anywhere near any population at all? there's seemingly always free ones to be had
 
Lil'John said:
I bought this guy last year(Troy-Bilt TB252S 25cc 17" Gas Straight Shaft String Trimmer):
www.ebay.com

Troy-Bilt 41AD252S766 25cc 17" Gas Straight Shaft String Trimmer w/Attachmnt New 84931848528 | eBay

Model 41AD252S766. Troy-Bilt 25cc 17 in. 25cc 2-Cycle lightweight engine is comfortable for everyone. Drive Shaft Type Straight. SpringAssist technology for easier pull starts. Starter Type Pull. Power Type Gas.
www.ebay.com
it was $120 and so far, I've been very happy with it. It knocks down some pretty tall/heavy stuff.
Click to expand...
pretty much this one but it isn't the straight shaft model

the interchangable heads seem to swap out with other brands, got a poulan straight shaft end with a saw blade stuck on it that I've used occasionally
 
DozerDan82 said:
How big of an area? I loved my M18 string trimmer, but it was just not enough for my property. Picked up a Stihl FS 131 R, it is over kill but works. Biggest complaint is keeping string on it, not sure if it is the rocks or brush I am hitting but it eats string.
Click to expand...

Get a spool of the Russo brand line on e-bay, the smooth stuff. And get a small bucket to keep it in water with some bleach. All the square, triangle, and star lines I've ever run break too easily. And if you let your line get too dry it'll break a lot. I string trim a lot of gated pipe every summer to make irrigating easier. This is the only thing I've found yet that works.

www.ebay.com

5lb .095 Round Green Round Commercial String Trimmer Line Spool | eBay

From the quality and strength of the spool itself to the actual materials used to make line, this product is nothing but heavy duty! Why buy from EPR Distribution?. The best products, the best prices!Our team works hard to find you the best deals and provide you with a wide selection of products.
www.ebay.com

If you go through a lot of line you can look on ebay and they sell multi-packs for even cheaper.

IMG_2022-05-19_17-24-32.jpeg


IMG_2022-05-19_17-24-41.jpeg
 
Put thicker string on the electric trimmer you have. And trim more often. Especially if battery life ain't a problem, stay electric.

If battery life is a problem, then 2nd on the shindaiwa. I used to weedeat for 8 hours at a time on a golf course. Those shindaiwas are tough bastards.
 
After watching a project farm video from a few years ago I decided I wouldn't hate having a milwaukee trimmer/blower combo like what's being suggested here. When he made that video the trimmer was the same price as the Ryobi at $250. Now just the trimmer and a battery and charger are like $500. Am I missing something there? :eek:
 
TrikeKid said:
I'm pretty happy with the 20v DeWalt trimmer I bought for my mom, it's not as good as my 60v but it does fine.

Gas around 200 bucks I'd check out the Echo SRM-225.
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This. I have a Echo trimmer for big jobs or when I need a blade attachment. But for grass and lawn needs I love my 20v Dewalt.
 
Thefishguy77 said:
This. I have a Echo trimmer for big jobs or when I need a blade attachment. But for grass and lawn needs I love my 20v Dewalt.
Click to expand...
Talk to me about the blade attachment. What model of Echo and what kind/size of blade? How well does it work on, lets say, 1" and smaller brush.

What I'm looking at is clearing underbrush around through some woods.

Thanks....
 
What is your battery system?

I am a Makita house.
All my shit is Makita, from my weed whacker, to my blower, to my chainsaw, grease gun, air pump, drills, impacts, grinder, sawzall, etc. Don't being any other shit into my house.
 
Leadfoot21 said:
Love my Milwaukee trimmer and leaf blower .
Click to expand...
XtremeJ said:
M18 Trimmer and Blower rock

Might even get near your budget if you follow the M18 Tool thread and catch one of the specials
Click to expand...
X whatever.

Man up and pay it. It will pay for itself with never dealing with bad gas, mixing fuel, carb gunking over the winter, and it will rip through just about anything. I get tired of whacking before the battery dies, too.
 
DRTDEVL said:
X whatever.

Man up and pay it. It will pay for itself with never dealing with bad gas, mixing fuel, carb gunking over the winter, and it will rip through just about anything. I get tired of whacking before the battery dies, too.
Click to expand...
X2...1 battery is my limit
 
'84 Bronco II said:
I want a string trimmer to knock down weeds in the corners and around trees where I cant get with my tractor. I bought a cheap Black and Decker 20V 12" model (LSTE523), and it is a turd except on the most tender of weeds. I hardly even bother trying to use it anymore. The electric bit is kind of nice being quiet and no fuss, but I am thinking I need to step up to a gas model so I can do something more than just tickle the weeds.

My father told me he just got a "Wild Badger Power" 26cc gas powered string trimmer he seems pretty happy with: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Badger-Bad...ush-Cutter-Blade-and-Bonus-Harness/5001743513

I haven't seen it in person, but he came from a Ryobi electric string trimmer and says it is a pretty big upgrade. I just don't know if part availability is an issue with the off-brand tools.

It seems the Stihl straight shaft models are pretty solid, but their FS 56 RC-E is kind of straining the budget, and is it really worth $100 more? Anything else I should consider? I estimate I will be putting only around 5 hours on the string trimmer at most per year.
Click to expand...
I have the 20V dewalt and it is great as a grass yard trimmer but it isn't great for anything like real weeds and larger. Even with upgraded line. I was running a Homelight straight shaft for clearing the local MTB trails. It worked "well" on everything up to mature mustard with a 0.090 line. I punished that thing going through two tanks of fuel some days without much rest. I now have the big boy Wild Badger 52cc with the bike bars. Honestly it is too big. Great for when you get out there as it doesn't slow down for much. I just can't ride it out on the bike as it is massive. I imagine the 26cc would be about perfect with 0.090 or 0.105 line. The key is to use the fuel in the can and not gas station stuff. Since spending a little more on the good gas all my stuff starts up everytime.
You would probably be good with the larger 60v cordless too. Cordless stuff doesn't like to be worked for a long time at full load. The batteries get hot, cutting your run time.
 
Endlesstrails said:
The key is to use the fuel in the can and not gas station stuff. Since spending a little more on the good gas all my stuff starts up everytime.
Click to expand...
You need to pick your fuel sources better. I can go to the Casey's and get ethanol-free 91 or the BP for Amoco Ultimate 93 for a fraction of the price and it doesn't foul out like regular corn gas.
 
Thumping said:
I'm similarly looking also but I also would like to add a brush cutting blade. It seems anything very capable is in the $400 to $500 range. Anyone have some personal experience?
Click to expand...

Recently picked up a Stihl FS131 and it fucks shit up with a death blade on it. Picked up a cheap 3 pointed blade off Amazon and it is hilarious how quickly it knocks shit down.

We have a small fenced in area behind our barn that we let get out of hand. It was basically 4-5' tall weeds in there and this thing laid waste to it all.

Just don't hit rocks with it :laughing:
 
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DRTDEVL said:
You need to pick your fuel sources better. I can go to the Casey's and get ethanol-free 91 or the BP for Amoco Ultimate 93 for a fraction of the price and it doesn't foul out like regular corn gas.
Click to expand...
I am not in a free state with options. We don't even have the option for 93 much less a different blend.
 
DRTDEVL said:
Give me a city... there are still 25 locations in CA selling ethanol-free.
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Simi Valley. Just because they are selling ethanol free, doesn't mean it is coming out of a pump. There are lot's of stations that sell VP fuel in 5 gal cans at the station. It is basically the same stuff I am buying in 1gal no mix or qt 50:1 at the hardware store. There are a couple around that used to pump 103 race gas but that was real expensive too.
 
Gots_a_sol said:
Recently picked up a Stihl FS131 and it fucks shit up with a death blade on it. Picked up a cheap 3 pointed blade off Amazon and it is hilarious how quickly it knocks shit down.

We have a small fenced in area behind our barn that we let get out of hand. It was basically 4-5' tall weeds in there and this thing laid waste to it all.

Just don't hit rocks with it :laughing:
Click to expand...
$500 to $600 for the Stihl. I'm not wanting to put that much into one. Yeah, I know you get what you pay for but damn.

I'm thinking I may give the 52cc wild badger and try. The reviews look promising but yeah, it may blow chunks. :laughing:
 
Thumping said:
$500 to $600 for the Stihl. I'm not wanting to put that much into one. Yeah, I know you get what you pay for but damn.

I'm thinking I may give the 52cc wild badger and try. The reviews look promising but yeah, it may blow chunks. :laughing:
Click to expand...

It isn't that much more than the $400-$500 you said :flipoff2:I went in to it as buy once, cry once. Plus my local dealer had it in stock for me to finger fuck :laughing:



Forgot to mention , I do have a DeWalt 20v for around the house stuff/wife use. The Stihl is for property maintenance for the other 20 acres we have/barn/chicken coop areas and trail work.
 
Thumping said:
$500 to $600 for the Stihl. I'm not wanting to put that much into one. Yeah, I know you get what you pay for but damn.

I'm thinking I may give the 52cc wild badger and try. The reviews look promising but yeah, it may blow chunks. :laughing:
Click to expand...
It is BIG. I was surprised in the difference between the Homelight and the wild badger in heft. The harness sucks but works. I might try and find a different brand harness to use. First start out of the box was tough but it starts well after that once you figure out the method. I ran 0.155 line even though the head wont bump feed it. But I am also clearing a mix of brush, mustard, and grass on the trail. If I was dealing with more grass / weeds I would probably step down to a 0.105. The line that comes with it is junk. The brush blade works well on the larger stuff but it smaller diameter and it sucks bumping the ground so I find myself running string more than the blade.
 
Endlesstrails said:
Simi Valley. Just because they are selling ethanol free, doesn't mean it is coming out of a pump. There are lot's of stations that sell VP fuel in 5 gal cans at the station. It is basically the same stuff I am buying in 1gal no mix or qt 50:1 at the hardware store. There are a couple around that used to pump 103 race gas but that was real expensive too.
Click to expand...
Simi Valley Sucks.:flipoff2:

Your best bet is heading over to Covina on occasion to a Mobil station selling 86 octane non-ethanol fuel.
 
Gots_a_sol said:
Recently picked up a Stihl FS131 and it fucks shit up with a death blade on it. Picked up a cheap 3 pointed blade off Amazon and it is hilarious how quickly it knocks shit down.

We have a small fenced in area behind our barn that we let get out of hand. It was basically 4-5' tall weeds in there and this thing laid waste to it all.

Just don't hit rocks with it :laughing:
Click to expand...
That's what I have as well. It's a beast. I go the stihl saw blade/chainsaw looking disk attachment for it as well for it. That thing will take down trees.

Buy good gas, and it just works, starts first pull every spring.
 
billybob_81067 said:
Get a spool of the Russo brand line on e-bay, the smooth stuff. And get a small bucket to keep it in water with some bleach. All the square, triangle, and star lines I've ever run break too easily. And if you let your line get too dry it'll break a lot. I string trim a lot of gated pipe every summer to make irrigating easier. This is the only thing I've found yet that works.

www.ebay.com

5lb .095 Round Green Round Commercial String Trimmer Line Spool | eBay

From the quality and strength of the spool itself to the actual materials used to make line, this product is nothing but heavy duty! Why buy from EPR Distribution?. The best products, the best prices!Our team works hard to find you the best deals and provide you with a wide selection of products.
www.ebay.com

If you go through a lot of line you can look on ebay and they sell multi-packs for even cheaper.

IMG_2022-05-19_17-24-32.jpeg


IMG_2022-05-19_17-24-41.jpeg
Click to expand...

I started doing that this spring with my spools. Amazing how much longer the string lasts,
 
I've been using the same HomeLite Home Depot cheap ass special for over a decade. It's finicky because I don't take care of it. Old gas, don't clean anything ever, gas left in over the winter. But once it starts, it runs full bore. So long as you keep it half choked. Only issues have been 1. The original line feeder wore out some years ago, so I would stop it with my boot and spool out the wire by hand. I finally replaced the head this year. 2. The trigger hand grip padding is long gone. And 3. There is a pin hole in the primer, so a little gas comes out if your thumb isn't in the right spot when priming.
 
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