Weed wackers? What to get

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

yea  gotta go ethanol free

[Northwoods]

^^^ Not possible anymore around here.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

i just spent 90 bucks for 20 gallons of ethanol free from a marina.  plus i hada drive 35 miles roundtrip to get it.  its worth it.  my 399 1999 y2k generator started on second pull yesterday.  i thought my neighbor was gonna cry

[MechAg94]

I just bought a Troy built HD 4 stroke from Lowe's, and its been running real well.

I've got one of these with the edger attachment and it has worked well for 3 or 4 years with little maintenance.  Same for my Troy Built push mower, but add a couple years. 

[RoadKingLarry]

41% glyphosate concentrate mixed 3 oz to the gallon of water and a 3 gallon pump sprayer. One of my favorite yard and garden tool.
I rarely use a weed whacker.

[zxcvbob]

41% glyphosate concentrate mixed 3 oz to the gallon of water and a 3 gallon pump sprayer. One of my favorite yard and garden tool.
I rarely use a weed whacker.

I was at Tractor Supply this weekend and noticed they had 2.5 gallon jugs of 41% glyphosate for $50.  I can remember when a quart of 41% was almost $50.

[Chuck Dye]

Mine is a Stihl FS-85.  I can recommend it, 'though it seems it is no longer cataloged due to EPA restrictions.  Whatever you buy, go for power.  I prefer the straight, solid, shaft to the curved cable drive.

[K Frame]

I've got a mid-grade Toro electric. Don't need gas.

It works well.

[Hutch]

I have boughten two "Red Max" power products in the last few years, 3 if you count the one I gave my son-in-law.  I'm cursed with bad luck on small engine stuff, especially 2-stroke.  I've been amazed and delighted with the Backpack blower and  weed eater.  Even I can't get one to quit.

[charby]

I was at Tractor Supply this weekend and noticed they had 2.5 gallon jugs of 41% glyphosate for $50.  I can remember when a quart of 41% was almost $50.

Isn't it great when patents expire. :)

[Sergeant Bob]

some call that a kaiser blade.

Chris

I'm pickin' up what you're throwin' down.

[coppertales]

We call those sling blade weed cutters mexican golf clubs around here.  Been using one since the 50s.  They do work pretty good.  My powered weed wacker is a Sears with 4 stroke motor.  It is a bit heavier than the 2 stroke machines but is trouble free and uses the same gas as my lawn mower.....chris3

[Tallpine]

We call those sling blade weed cutters mexican golf clubs around here.  Been using one since the 50s.  They do work pretty good.  My powered weed wacker is a Sears with 4 stroke motor.  It is a bit heavier than the 2 stroke machines but is trouble free and uses the same gas as my lawn mower.....chris3

We always called it a "whim-wham"   

Must be a Texas term 

I leave mine over at the barn and use it in spare moments to knock down the lambs quarters and mullan, etc.

[never_retreat]

Oh I use plenty of glyphosate around the property.
But I doubt the other half would appreciate large dead circles under all the shrubs in the yard the tractor won't fit under.
We used to have a lawn service (no tractor came with the house), but last fall I scored a free cub cadet lawn tractor from one of my bosses that was moving to Florida and downscaling the lawn size.
I figured if its free its for me. We have almost 2 acres of grass, the lawn guy was 55 bucks. At the time I could not see spending a large amount of cash on a big mower. This was the first time doing the lawn with it. It took about an hour 20, but I had to go pretty slow in some spots because it was thick. So I figured since I don't make 55 bucks and hour its worth my time.

[MechAg94]

41% glyphosate concentrate mixed 3 oz to the gallon of water and a 3 gallon pump sprayer. One of my favorite yard and garden tool.
I rarely use a weed whacker.

I've used grass killer before as well.  Works great for keeping grass off the fence and off the house.  If the grass gets above the the concrete to the siding, it encourages ants who think my walls are better than the dirt. 

[mtnbkr]

I'm pickin' up what you're throwin' down.

I like them French fried potaters

Chris

[MillCreek]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-40-Volt-Lithium-ion-Cordless-String-Trimmer-Edger-RY40210/203161566?N=bx8iZ1aw#.UXb93EqaWvB

I bought one of these a while back, and boy am I pleased with it.  It advertises that you can trim a half acre on one charge, and it handles my 6000 sq. ft. lot with power to spare.  Lightweight, well-balanced and it charges in 90 minutes. 

This is replacing a B&D 18 volt cordless. I would get maybe 10 minutes per battery pack and I had three of them.  Each battery pack takes nine hours to charge.  Trimming and edging would be a two-day affair when the grass was thick.

[never_retreat]

Might either get a stihl fs55 or and fs70.

[Sideways_8]

Stihl. At home we have an FS-130 that runs like a champ. For gas, buy premium and mix it one gallon at a time. After 60 days, if you haven't used it all, put it in your car and go mix another gallon. Gas with ethanol sucks, but as long as it isn't sitting for a long period of time you'll be fine. We've ran a lot (5 gallons a week) of low grade crap gas through our saws at work with no ill effects.

[TechMan]

Stihl. At home we have an FS-130 that runs like a champ. For gas, buy premium and mix it one gallon at a time. After 60 days, if you haven't used it all, put it in your car and go mix another gallon. Gas with ethanol sucks, but as long as it isn't sitting for a long period of time you'll be fine. We've ran a lot (5 gallons a week) of low grade crap gas through our saws at work with no ill effects.

Are you saying to dump a gas mixture with 2 cycle oil into your car's gas tank?

[MechAg94]

IMO, electrics work okay, but I have never seen one that had the power of a gas engine week cutter.  Also, I always run into grass runners or other stuff that is a bit thick and gas powered units just cut right through them.  If electric/battery models work for you, great.  I prefer the engine powered units. 

[Tallpine]

Are you saying to dump a gas mixture with 2 cycle oil into your car's gas tank?

It works just fine.  I've used it when I was running low on gas in the truck.   

In fact, I have always wondered about dumping a can of 2 cycle mix in every tankful for upper cylinder lube. 

[TechMan]

It works just fine.  I've used it when I was running low on gas in the truck.   

In fact, I have always wondered about dumping a can of 2 cycle mix in every tankful for upper cylinder lube. 

Never heard of doing that. 

[Tallpine]

Never heard of doing that. 

Which...?  Using some saw gas in a truck in a pinch, or putting in the mix deliberately?

Years ago they used to sell stuff to put in your gas for extra cylinder lubrication.  I wonder how different it was?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

i've run 100's of gallons of premix through my truck.   that way saw gas is always fresh