Weed eater/string trimmer....

Anybody want to tell me what they love or hate about their current model or others they have tried? It is time for me to buy a new one. I have to say first off, I cannot stand electric ones because I feel like I am chained to the house and also because there are too many obstacles. They also seem to lack the power I need. We have tried several models over ten years. My most favorite wore out at the end of last season. It was one of the big Ryobi gas powered professional models that you could put attachments on. It was pretty expensive compared to others and the only drawback was the weight. That thing gets quite heavy by the time I finish my yard! It also seemed to over heat quite often. It lasted over five years though. My yard is a quarter acre and I have to do the whole perimeter, plus around all the beds and I usually do it every weekend or every other weekend. So tell me how you feel. :)

I don't know what brand mine is right off hand, but it's green if that helps. LOL! It's a gas powered one, but the only thing I don't like about it is that I can't start the thing myself. Even dh has worked up a sweat by the time it starts up.

Years ago, we had a Stihl dealership, and their larger models of string weed trimmers also had cutter attachments available. They were also balanced well for easy use. They are pricey, but it would be worth looking into.

We have a DR trimmer and I love it. It was pricey but well worth the cost.

I bought a WeedEater XP or something like that. It's wonderful was about $100 but is very easy to start and works great. My only complaint - no real shrub attachments. This one is also light weight and doesn't "jiggle" me to death when I use it for several hours straight. If you want more information on mine email me and I'll go out and get the info for you.

That's the problem with the gas models...weight. That's why the balance is so important. It should have adjustments for different sized people...wand length, etc. My DH does most of the weedeater work with the gas model, since he is 6ft tall and I'm 5'3"! I prefer the electric, myself, just because it can plug it in and it works!..not cranking and cussing!

But Weezi, the cranking and cussing is half the fun! LOL I would hang someone with a power cord and they aren't long enough to get the whole yard unless I hook them together. Then there are five kids and two dogs to get around. Makes for much excitement and worry. LOL See, I have a secret, I do all the yard work so hubby will clean the house. LOL Then I *need* all these great power tools to do my job. :) After the weed wacker, I NEED a new chainsaw. giggle, chuckle, grin

I used to pull greenchain in a small circle saw mill, so you'd think I wouldn't get all flustered and female over a two cycle engine, but I think these babies hate me! After cranking on a weedeater for 5 minutes, I'd as soon get on my hands and knees and bite the grass around my flower beds!

LOL 'flustered and female'?? LOL I love my tools. Anything that keeps me away from a vacuum, washer and dryer, steam cleaner, all the better! Sometimes I would offer to do the neighboring yards just to use the chipper/shredder. ANYTHING to be outside! Hubby thinks the compound mitre saw, scroll saw and table saws are great toys for him. HA! I only let him get them so I could learn how to use them. Silly me! I get stuck with most of the projects. :) But, that's okay too. I get enough of the great indoors during the winter.

Thank you all for offering your suggestions! I have been out pricing weed eaters. I cannot believe how some of them look like toys. LOL Yesterday I looked at Echo (too expensive), John Deere (didn't know they made them), Homelite (don't look sturdy enough for me-I am a brute when it comes to tools) and brands I have never even heard of. Well, today I ran to a little neighborhood store and there were the Ryobi, on sale even. Plain old string trimmer is $80 and the one that takes attachments is $120. Just so happens there is not a thing wrong with my edger attachment. Evil grin. Guess I will run up the road as soon as hubby gets home. The rain isn't supposed to be back for a few hours. :) Yeah, I know it will still be heavy as &*(_#o, but the last one lasted over five years. Pretty cheap when you think about it. I got my moneys worth.

My choice would be electric because I hate the smell of gas and think of all those emissions!! Ouch!!! Who threw that!!! :-)

The big gas powered baby I am dreaming about is a wood chipper. Man, I'd be the queen of compost if I had one of those! I have an old gas range in my kitchen with a broken hinge, so I have to keep it propped shut with a stick. I never consider spending money on replacing that. Guess that separates the gardeners from the normal folks!

I would love a chipper and then I too wouldn't ever have to buy mulch again. Hey, I've enough material here that's for sure!! I procrastinate over everything except my garden!!

I also wish I had a chipper also, DH said "don't know why you need one but get it if you want it" but hate to spend that much money. Yea, I know I'm not going to take it w/me when I go. I hear that from my girls they think if you want it get it. LOL

My DH is the same - thinks money grows on trees!!

The next gas powered baby on my list is a big new chainsaw! Already have a tiller, chipper shredder and now my nice new weed attacker. Next it HAS to be a big chainsaw. My 16" was good when we first got it, but it just isn't enough to cut down these locust trees of mine. Lou, I meant to ask you if your new riding mower is going to be peddal powered since you don't like that stinky gas and emissions! LOL

No, it's going to be horse drawn....lolol!!!

Smarty pants! LOL Is that going to affect the amount of methane gas put into the air????

Hey, Louisa: Good idea you can fertilize as you mow, but I sure wouldn't use the grass catcher bag!

lol!!!! I would take barnyard smells over gas any day!! Even baby poo Chele!!

I'll forever have this picture of you riding a three wheel bike with a cutting wheel on the back. You are wearing a tennis skirt, little gloves and peddaling around, cutting your grass! LOL

lol!!! Wrong!!! A bike maybe but gloves and tennis skirt - I don't think so!!! How about shorts and bare feet!!

I just can't picture you all grubby and dirty! LOL I want proof! I want a picture! LOL And that is something I will not reciprocate! ha ha ha

Chele it's such a funny coincidence you saying that!! Yesterday I was really a mess and I mean dirty!! It was so windy, my hair looked like something from out of space so I went and got a baseball cap and stuck that on. The dust bowl that is my lawn really attacked me and I was covered head to toe in this lovely hue of orange (almost looked like a tan - almost but not quite). My neighbour brought round a pile of newspapers and he looked at my feet!! Ye gads!! I felt very small!! Then I told DH to bring out the camera so I could show just how hard I really do work....hee-hee!!! Unfortunately, and this is true, the roll showed one frame left and DH wanted to take a photo of the tree we planted in honour of Ben. So you will have to wait for the 'real' me a little while longer. But just so that you don't think I'm a completely dirty little devil, I do shower and today I wore my first dress of the season to go to church. Chalk and cheese - that's moi!!