Hi there everybody! I hope this put up finds you nicely. It seems I’ve upgraded to a cordless line trimmer. I suppose the right identify could be brushless and I believe it has one thing to do with the motor. I by no means wished a battery-powered trimmer as a result of I assumed it meant a scarcity of energy. In 2018 (I believe) I made a decision we would have liked a brand new extra highly effective trimmer. Nicely, since I used to be doing the trimming as an alternative of father, I used to be extra thinking about energy and efficiency. I wished one with a brush cutter attachment as nicely. Dad had an Echo, his second one, nevertheless it simply wasn’t as much as snuff. I’m not saying Echo isn’t a great model, it’s simply that this one was not enough for all of the trimming I used to be doing. The opposite drawback was the motor would get extremely popular and burn my arm (I discovered I might simply flip the motor to resolve that concern).

The native small engine store had a number of Jonsered trimmers out there with brush cutter attachments. They’d the noticed blade that I assumed could be higher however the value was over $300. Dad wasn’t going for that so we went to Tractor Provide in Clinton to see what they’d… Nicely, we regarded them over and pop selected the Cub Cadet BC490… The comb cutter attachment was like those I used to be steering away from however since dad was paying for it, I agreed. How a lot? Over $300! We might have purchased the higher Jonsared for a similar value!

The Cub Cadet BC490 was significantly better than the outdated Echo GT225 in some ways. I wished a 4 cycle so I wouldn’t have to combine gasoline and oil which I assumed was a great factor. However it’s so HEAVY purchase the time it ran out of gasoline I used to be additionally out of gasoline. The straight shaft was additionally a plus and the string is less complicated to load than the Echo.

Nicely, in Could I began portray the inside of a rental home in Clinton for a pal (additionally the minister of the church I attend) and I wanted to mow the yard. We went to his home and loaded his using mower on the trailer and he grabbed his trimmer. Initially, I had used his mower a few occasions earlier than… A Simplicity… At first I assumed (to myself) Simplicity was some type of an off-brand. As soon as I used it I used to be shocked! It might run circles round my John Deere! It labored nice! It was extra comfy and had a greater turning radius than my John Deere LT120. The yard at this rental was uneven and there have been plenty of holes however the Simplicity did an excellent job. It’s onerous to think about, nevertheless it appeared versatile. That sounds whacky, I do know, however versatile is the one phrase I can consider. I quizzed him concerning the mower after which regarded it up on-line and discovered Simplicity is NOT an off-brand in any respect. Simplicity purchased Snapper in 2002, then Simplicity was purchased out by Briggs and Stratton in 2004. Nicely, in addition they have an attention-grabbing historical past. I had identified for some time that inexperienced paint isn’t what it was…

Now, for his trimmer… It was a Stihl FSA85. With a battery… I assumed, “GEEZ!” I picked it up, regarded it over, and I used to be considerably skeptical. It weighed nothing in comparison with my Cub Cadet… I didn’t even know how one can flip it on and needed to ask. He confirmed me and all I needed to do was press the security change and throttle and it simply got here on… It was very quiet, and once more, I assumed, “GEEZ!” There are two settings, one for prime pace and one for a decrease pace, relying on the grass and what you might be chopping. The decrease pace additionally conserves battery life. Nicely, every little thing I exploit needs to be in full throttle…

Stihl FSA85.

Nicely, I used to be shocked! This factor actually labored so I assumed I wanted one. As soon as he paid me for my work, I got down to discover one… Earlier than that, I watched a number of movies on YouTube concerning the Stihl FSA85 and some about trimmer evaluations. Ace {Hardware} in Clinton sells Stihl however they didn’t have this mannequin. I went to the mower store the place David purchased his, however he didn’t have any in inventory both. I did get the costs, although, which wasn’t very nice… I knew Heritage Tractor (a John Deere dealership additionally in Clinton) bought Stihl so I went there. Ummm… Similar deal however the value was rather less ($10). The salesperson, who I labored with earlier than to get elements for my mower, defined much more to me and he stated he might have one in every week. He stated I used to be beneath no obligation and so they might simply have one despatched from one other retailer. So, I agreed…

I might have purchased an upgraded battery and charger, however I made a decision the usual fashions could be adequate. For me, they’re fully high quality. If I purchased an upgraded battery it could last more and the upgraded charger would cost sooner. The usual battery lasts lengthy sufficient within the warmth anyway. I’m not one to know when to give up typically, so when what I’m utilizing stops working or runs out of gasoline, it does assist to remind me perhaps I ought to take a break.

Some evaluations I learn had been destructive, saying the trimmer string would advance nicely, it wasn’t highly effective sufficient, and so forth. Truthfully, each trimmer I’ve used has some points with the string advancing 100% of the time. I needed to fiddle with the Cub Cadet nearly each time I used it. So far as energy, it has loads. Evaluations and different individuals’s opinions are typically debatable. It’s like studying evaluations of films. Even when I believe a film is completely nice, there are others who assume it stinks. Nicely, I do have so as to add my opinion to the combination. (I’m a movieaholic and have been because the early 1980’s when movies first got here out).

SO, how does the Stihl evaluate to the Cub Cadet? I’m was impressed how highly effective it was to be so quiet. It minimize by way of tall, heavy, thick clumps of fescue nearly as quick because the Cub Cadet. As soon as I noticed this, I didn’t maintain something again and it took every little thing I dished out. It minimize by way of the clumps proper all the way down to the filth. The Stihl has a wire guard you can swing down to guard small bushes or no matter you don’t need to minimize down. I discovered it really works nice round metal fence posts that usually play heck with trimmer string. ALSO, and this was a miracle… Tall grass stems, like with fescue and foxtail, had been on a regular basis wrapping across the shaft above the trimmer head with the Echo and Cub Cadet. I used the comb guard within the down place and by no means as soon as had any points with the stems wrapping across the head. No extra repeated stopping to unwrap the grass saved plenty of time. The underside electrical fence wire across the backyard is fairly low and it all the time gave me just a few points when trimming. I simply slid the comb guard beneath the underside wire and went to city. I do know, I do know… If I trimmed each time I mow I’ll not have this concern. I mow roughly three acres, so who desires to trim after that? Consequently, the grass within the two ditches, round fences, bushes, foundations, the water hydrant, the martin home pole, the barn, storage, two sheds, the rooster home, the wagon… It will get taller than it ought to. One time somebody talked about it regarded like I must do some trimming. I instructed them I used to be letting the fescue go to seed. 🙂

Oh, yeah. I nearly forgot to say the Stihl trimmer’s motor will not be on the highest of the deal with… It’s on the backside the place the guard is, making the trimmer extra balanced. The deal with is absolutely adjustable so you possibly can transfer it to the place it’s the most comfy to your peak (the others in all probability try this, too). It solely weighs a little bit over 6 kilos… I suppose all battery-operated (brushless trimmer) motors are on the backside of the shaft.

From left to proper… Weedeater FL25C, Echo GT225, Cub Cadet BC490, Stihl FSA 85, and the outdated weed whacker.

SO… My first expertise proudly owning a trimmer was the Weedeater FL25C that I purchased once I was on the mansion in Mississippi. I didn’t have some huge cash, however I wanted a trimmer. Nicely, you understand, they all the time say you get what you pay for. It didn’t have an auto-advance for the road and it was additionally onerous to load by hand… It did get the job finished, nevertheless it was very irritating. The letters FL stand for FeatherLite… Sooner or later I did some yard work for a pal who had a straight shaft trimmer,  a really costly model however I forgot what. I did their panorama upkeep, cleaned and painted a rental for them, and when their housekeeper give up, I began cleansing their home. Anyway, it was my first expertise utilizing knowledgeable trimmer with a straight shaft. I’m not even going to check it with my small cheap weedeater.

Once I got here again right here in 2013, dad had an Echo GT225. Now, you’ll assume something that claims GT could be badass. Just like the Mustang GT and different efficiency vehicles, GT meant one thing about efficiency. Nicely, I’m positive for a mean house owner with a little bit trimming to do each week, it could be high quality. My drawback is, I’ll admit, I exploit my instruments for all they’re price primarily as a result of I used hand instruments with my very own energy for a very long time. So long as I saved the blades sharp there have been no points. SO, I generally tend to attempt to pressure insufficient instruments to do greater than they had been made for. I believe I bent the shaft on the Echo as a result of it’s bizarre now… LOL! Honestly, I by no means instructed dad that and he didn’t use it after I began. WHEW! Rattling child! I did learn the place grass wrapping across the shaft can bend it. I might by no means see how, however that “may very well be” what occurred. Dad stated to start out on the high of the grass and go down, however I assumed I had sufficient grass on me for that.

Brushcutter attachment for the Cub Cadet BC490.

Hmmm… The comb cutter on the Cub Cadet BC490 takes A LOT of getting used to. Whereas it really works OK on smaller saplings and a few thick weeds, there are just a few issues it refuses to do. Typically you must whack what you might be chopping after which it really works OK. (Hmmm… That will in all probability bend the shaft, too, huh?). Like with Ironweed… The primary time I attempted utilizing it with Ironweed was fairly attention-grabbing. The sparks flew and there was smoke! I’m very tempted to place a small noticed blade on it to see what occurs… It needs to be higher than this gizmo however it could in all probability void the guarantee that has now expired… I simply have to recollect it is a trimmer, not a chainsaw…

Oregon Magnum GATORLINE ™ and Vortex™ Skilled Trimmer Line on the proper.

Then there’s the road concern. All trimmer strains are NOT created equal. I had been utilizing the identical line dad had been utilizing from the small engine store for years and we had to purchase a brand new roll each spring. Thankfully, after we purchased the Cub Cadet, it got here with line was A LOT totally different and lasted a very long time. I did some investigating on-line and discovered sq., and even three-sided line didn’t final that lengthy. I discovered this Vortex™ Skilled Trimmer Line on Ebay in 2018 and I would lastly run out this summer season. It has lasted that for much longer than the opposite sq. line of the identical thickness.

Vortex™ Skilled Trimmer Line.

It seems like two strains wrapped collectively and it lasts a very long time. You need to watch out as a result of the road can ultimately put on the place it comes out of the top and break off. Once I was at Heritage Tractor, the salesperson confirmed me a few of the different attachments and line they’d that wil additionally break off earlier than it wears out. In case you are within the Vortex™ string, it’s half #27-12161. It will get a Belmont Rooster 5 Gold Star score…

Prime left to proper, Black and Decker 22″ cordless and Black and Decker 16″ corded trimmers; Heart, Corona shears; backside, 100′ extension twine.

Once I moved again right here in 2013, dad had a Black and Decker hedge trimmer that was type of uninteresting. I’ve no clue what occurred to the one I had in Mississippi… Nicely, I primarily used the Corona shears on the mansion as a result of they did a greater job. There was an overgrown Privet hedge at the very least 150′ lengthy and elements of it had been in all probability 12′ tall alongside the road. There was additionally holly all alongside the entrance porch and sunrooms that had been perhaps 8′ tall. The hedge had different bushes and Poison Ivy blended in as well. I managed to get all of it trimmed again and so they regarded excellent after just a few years. The holly was a nightmare to trim and I had scratches all up and down my arms. It was definitely worth the battle scars in the long term, although.

Dad’s Black and Decker hedge trimmers had been simply high quality with the Yew in entrance of the home. He all the time instructed me to verify I cleaned up good as a result of the Yew would uninteresting the mower blades. I all the time mowed the grass earlier than I trimmed the Yew so I might clear up higher anyway. The trimmer blades had been positively uninteresting and typically I simply used the Coronas. In 2019, I believe, I began doing the panorama upkeep for Kevin, the pal I’ve talked about earlier than a number of occasions. Anyway, his Privet hedge runs alongside one aspect and in entrance of his home. I might positively inform not solely had been the electrical trimmers uninteresting, so was the Corona… I figured it was from all of the sap from the Yew. The highest of his hedge would actually flip white due to all of the smashed leaves. They regarded like they had been sunburned, however once I regarded nearer I might inform it was from uninteresting trimmers. I cleaned the trimmers with these items that was additionally a lubricant, and it did appear to assist.

Black and Decker 22″ Cordless Trimmer.

Final summer season I went to the ironmongery shop to see about shopping for a brand new pair however the one factor they’d was a cordless trimmer that value about $100. Nicely, I handed at first however later in the summertime once I had the additional cash I went forward and acquired one. My first battery-powered trimmer…  By that point, I didn’t want them for Kevin’s hedge, however I did for my very own…

I’ll inform you I used to be very impressed. The tooth are farther aside plus I had an extra 6″ of blade and the battery lasted the entire time I used to be trimming. This trimmer additionally has an influence button to make use of while you get into thicker branches. On Monday, I went to Kevins to strive it out on his hedge for the primary time. Sadly, his brother-in-law had already finished it… GEEZ! I had extra crops for his planters, so I completed planting then got here again house.

Since I used to be within the trimming temper, I began in on the Yew in entrance of the home… Once I got here right here in 2013, dad had been trimming the Yew as particular person bushes. I instructed dad they’d look higher in the event that they regarded extra like a hedge. He didn’t care, so I allow them to fill out. They began rising like weeds and inside a few years, they regarded nice. I needed to actually give the entrance a great pruning AGAIN as a result of they’re getting so huge. I’m not completed but… I in the reduction of a lot you possibly can see the gaps between the person bushes and the highest edge wants extra work.

The one on the nook is extra of an upright grower that I’ve managed to trim spherical for just a few years. Earlier than, it was simply plain bizarre… There are nonetheless just a few holes due to the best way it grows. A number of the longer branches, or no matter you name them, must department out.

Significantly, I believe I would like different shrubs right here moreover Yew. They definitely aren’t my favourite bush. Neglect about low upkeep, as a result of these are positively not that… Each time I trim, they appear to get taller. I tied a baling string alongside the entrance of the porch just a few years in the past I used as a information to maintain the hedge degree. The yard type of slopes, so it’s onerous to maintain them degree if you find yourself strolling downhill… The string is sort of a foot beneath the place the highest of the hedge is now… Hmmm…

Over time, I’ve realized to be open-minded on the subject of instruments and model names. Larger corporations, not essentially higher, have purchased out different corporations to the purpose you don’t know who owns who. You need to actually do your analysis as a result of a few of the inexpensive model identify merchandise are made by not-so-favorable corporations… A number of years in the past, Electrolux purchased out Huskavarna and Jonsared. The story goes when Huskvarna turned extra well-liked and made extra earnings, they purchased the corporate again from Electrolux and likewise purchased Jonsered. Each Huskvarna and Jonsared are from Sweden like Electrolux. I keep in mind Electrolux vacuum cleaners, however the firm additionally owns plenty of different corporations now, primarily vacuums and main home equipment. The Weed Eater firm was purchased out by Emerson Electrical which merged with Poulan which was later purchased by Electrolux. Now Weed Eater and Poulan are on Huskvarna’s listing of manufacturers. Electrolux purchased White-Westinghouse which had purchased out a number of different equipment corporations. Nicely, equipment corporations are a unique ball of wax.

I don’t need to get into MTD, however In September 2018, Stanley Black & Decker purchased 20% of MTD Merchandise for $234 million. Stanley Black & Decker could have the choice to amass the remaining 80% of MTD (beginning July 1, 2021). With the acquisition of Craftsman by Stanley Black & Decker, the model’s merchandise are actually produced by MTD by way of this partnership… MTD owns a number of corporations or manufacturers, so Stanley Black and Decker… The listing of corporations Stanley Black and Decker owns in lots of segments is VAST and it makes a great learn! I’m not an MTD fan, by the best way…

Stihl is privately owned by the descendants of its founder, Andreas Stihl, and has a producing firm in america.

I higher cease wanting up corporations or this put up will get means out of hand. 🙂

In closing, you must get the proper stuff to your wants that works nicely or the duty at hand turns into extra of a chore. Typically, I’ll admit, I splurge on one thing of higher high quality that I actually can’t afford. When you accept much less, chances are you’ll be disillusioned in the long term.

I began two posts earlier than I wrote this one, however I wished to jot down concerning the new trimmer. Then, I trimmed the shrubbery and thought I might write concerning the new hedge trimmer, too. Grammarly appears to be operating gradual, nicely it’s the web, so there could also be just a few bizarre phrases on this put up. Grammarly’s purple circle simply retains turning so one solely is aware of… 🙂

Till subsequent time, be protected and keep constructive! All the time be grateful and GET DIRTY.