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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Common_Clay on April 24, 2006, 02:18:06
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Does anyone have any advice on what to look for when buying a petrol strimmer, please? I've seen them range from £90 to £190, and all were 2-stroke.
I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks! :)
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While I have my bath, check back on Search - quite a bit's been said on this,
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;) Domestic electrical tools are a lot cheaper and/or you may already have them, have you considered buying a generator instead?
You can run a variety of tools off a genny, saws, hedge trimmers, drills, strimmers, you can even boil a kettle. ;D
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I got one from B&Q for about £70 its 21cc & is good for grass & genreal use.
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Hi all,
I have a McCulloch trim mac 210, brought from B&Q last year for about £70, it is excellent for strimming long grass, & overgrown nettles. It is a bit too powerful for trimming the edges of the lawn however, things get cut down that I didn`t want to cut down ::)
Adrian.
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Thanks a lot everyone, something to think about, definitely. I have the option of borrowing a generator but for regular use through the summer months it's not very practical as it's so heavy and would not leave it on the site... that kettle idea is a nice thought though, lol.
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I've a Trim Mac too; it's nice and light for those of us with duff backs, and doesn't take long to tidy the paths.
Teamaking best done with a butane gas stove and mini-kettle! Argos sells stoves for £17.99. Highly recommended, especially when doing the initial clearing as flasks of tea or coffee are never big enough!
moonbells
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For what it's worth, mine's an old Ryobi, can't remember the model but it'll be obsolete now anyway. The two criteria on my list were: 1) a name I'd heard of, and 2) the biggest engine for the money (29cc). From memory, it was about £90.
If you do end up with a 2-stroke, use the best oil you can. More important than most people think. I use synthetic scooter oil from the motor bike shop. So far (seven years) so good.
Tea here also by gas. ;D
Geoff.
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Glad you mentioned Ryobi euronerd, was thinking about getting one from B&Q (want a Stihl, but can't afford it :( )
(Tea here is brought to me on a tray by my son :D)
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Jenny. You wont go wrong with a Ryobi i got one last year work's well. As
Euronerd said use the best oil you can and get the mix right and you wont
go wrong
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While I have my bath, check back on Search - quite a bit's been said on this,
Careful
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If you have never used one, try and borrow one before splashing out the cash. I intended to buy one myself, but found the vibrations and the noise so unpleasant I bought a good pair of hand shears and a new hand mower.
Life is a bit slower, but quiter, and I'm getting fit !
RK
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They're horrible things, but after wearing out a cordless one, I think it's going to be needed.
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Argos are seeling the McCulloch trim mac 210 for £60 and the McCulloch Trim Mac SL for £64, I'm off to get one tomorrow. I'll show those weeds whose the boss!!
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i bought a mcculloch one last year and used it to keep the jungle at bay while i tried to clear the plot. i don't know how i would have managed without it. i'm taking a tip from wardy and keeping a very small patch of grass for sitting on. ha ha when do i sit!!! ::)
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Is it worth spending the extra and getting one with a blade as well as the line?
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I bought a challenge one last year at first no problems then the safety button broke & this year it won't start tried adjusting the carb but have snapped the adjusting screw so it's for the skip....
Have just reserved one of the McCulloch Trim Mac SL for £64 from Argos think the lesson is you get what you pay for only well known names from now on for me!!!!!
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They did have them in Aldi a week ago for about £60, not sure what make. Will check out the argos idea, thanx :)
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Both Focus and Aldi are flogging them for the sale price of £49.99 at the moment. The pigdog capitalist concept of the Gardening Season must be nearly over because everything horticultural seems to have gone cut price. ::) Still, good news for us cheapskates! ;D
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Crash, I don't know how much extra they cost with a blade (Didn't even know you could get them), but from experience, a 2mm line will slice through any thickness of bramble or similar. I think somehow the power of the engine determines the thickness of the line, so perhaps this is something else to look for when buying.
Geoff.
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I have seen a couple that have a disc type blade for thicker stuff. You need to go for about a 30cc motor to get the blade option. Thats about £100.. Not sure if I need to go that expensive. Knowing me I will ponder about it for ages and every visit think I need to buy one but keep attacking it with the shears.
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I got a Stihl -because it has a long hedgetrimmer attachment which means that I can reach 10' plus. The price grieved me -but it's already paid back the cost of someone cutting the hedges -and when I did it by hand, I was out of work, and it took the best part of a week.
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Envious here derbex, good investment a Stihl!
Grassroots, euronerd, what model Ryobi did you get?
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Hi jenny, I just dug out the paperwork and it's a RCT2800. I don't know if they're still available but I've had no complaints with this one, which is just starting its 8th season. There's a little label on the engine that says 'made in USA', and for all these years I've assumed it was something that came out of the East lol.
Geoff.
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As the engines are up by the handle, do you find them very smelly with the fumes? Thanks.
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I gave my plot a good going over with a petrol strimmer last weekend and they're not too bad smell-wise. Can be rather noisy (but you get used to it) and apart from a bit of smoke when first started up it was an OK experience. I'd advise goggles though - my face and hair were caked in chopped grass and bramble (and a few disembowelled slugs!) within minutes.
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I gave my plot a good going over with a petrol strimmer last weekend and they're not too bad smell-wise. Can be rather noisy (but you get used to it) and apart from a bit of smoke when first started up it was an OK experience. I'd advise goggles though - my face and hair were caked in chopped grass and bramble (and a few disembowelled slugs!) within minutes.
Goggles and ear defenders are compulsory as far as I'm concerned. I got some strimmed nettle in my eye despite the goggles yesterday! Stones are even worse, though even if you do have ear and eye protection, remember to keep your mouth shut!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
moonbells
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3rd'ed -I strimmed some nettles and the goggles were covered.. Strimming's OK for fumes -but using it as a hedgecutter you end up with a lot more as the motor is in front of you (not enough to make me cough though).
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Does anyone have experience of the split shaft strimmers that allow you to unbolt the strimmer head and substitute a mini rotovator?
I have fixed beds, and can't get a full sixed rotovator in, so this looks like a good option ...
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we got a Stihl last year and must admit was worth every penny. Hubby strimmed whole lottie in about an hour on Sunday. Noisy but didn't notice any fumes. Definately must have goggles (hubby very keen on Health and Safety) as a stray twig flew several metres and hit me...
p.s love your signature misterphil - as fellow ICT teacher I know where you are coming from.....!
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I bought my strimmer today after pondering on it for a while. Good job too, I was going to pay £139.99 in a local shop (Elmers Hardware Kesgrave) cheaper than on the net. When I got there it was the last one but had a damaged box.... Oh no not a damaged box! They had marked it down to £89.99. How quick did I carry it to the checkout? Bloody quick!
Anyway used it for a few hours and now 6 hours later my arm is still shaking! Could only just hang on to my pint!
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On the technical side.....
H.A.V.S Hand-Arm-Vibration-Syndrome or the cause of white finger.....
Stihls KM series that allow you to change from the strimmer to hedgecutter gives an allowed time of 30 minutes per day before damage to the hands will happen
the larger stihl FS series (50cc) on nylon cord 4 hours max with blade 2 hours
This assumes that the antivibration bushes are no older then the permitted 12 month old legal limit for industrial use.
The domestic strimmers/hedgecutters tend to have no A.V. bushes. Due to at moment there is no legal reason for manufactures to fit them (you buy it and take the risk of personal damage)
But you can be assured the vibration risk of damage is a lot lower then a few hours !!
As for fumes and noise with the engine being so close to you... the exhaust is designed with the output pointing away from you to help clear the fumes away from you. But if the wind is blowing to you ....well....
Noise... 2 stroke give out around 95 to 110 decibels so hearing protection needs to be worn
you can get 4 stroke strimmers ..the noise is lower, the vibration is lower( but still will cause damage) due to running at around 4500rpm compared to 2 stroke at 10,000rpm but the cost is higher..... ::)
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On the technical side.....
As for fumes and noise with the engine being so close to you... the exhaust is designed with the output pointing away from you to help clear the fumes away from you. But if the wind is blowing to you ....well....
Noise... 2 stroke give out around 95 to 110 decibels so hearing protection needs to be worn
I ride a 2 stroke Vespa so I know all about vibration nad noise ;)
On a more serious side I've stopped shaking now but my muscles are still sore. A little less next time I think.
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;) Domestic electrical tools are a lot cheaper and/or you may already have them, have you considered buying a generator instead?
You can run a variety of tools off a genny, saws, hedge trimmers, drills, strimmers, you can even boil a kettle. ;D
I absolutely agree with that suggestion of a generator. We bought a petrol strimmer (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=67550&ts=46926 (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=67550&ts=46926)) and I don't enjoy using it, it's noisy and tends to run away with me, I can't strim the path edges neatly like I can do with my electric strimmer. It's good for cutting rough grass but if you want neatness and straight edging then forget it. We then bought a generator which we used for the first time today (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=43168&ts=46599 (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=43168&ts=46599)) and it's fantastic, much quieter, uses very little fuel by comparison and I'll be able to use the mower and any other electric power tools and garden tools that I want to. And it's about half the price we paid for the stimmer.
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;D Shrewd buyer Jesse ;) incidentally I bought an electric strimmer that I am very pleased with that really does the biz down on the lottie, I paid £40 for it last September it is a Black and Decker GL290 http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=4501&langId=-1&searchTerms=0420927
I have just had a thought ::) does anyone use a circuit breaker with their genny's? I see the more modern ones have them built in, I must try one with it :o
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On the technical side.....
Very technical, but also very interesting. Thank you.
Geoff.
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My eye Jesse, I didn't realise gennies were so inexpensive! :o If I do need power tools on the plot, I'll definitely think about going down the gennie plus electric route.
For anyone interested, the Which report, June 2005 gives the following Best Buys:
The Flymo Contour 500 Power Plus (exclusive to B&Q) was the clear Best Buy of the mains electric models. It combined power with ease of use — we particularly liked the way its head rotated for edging and the edging wheel.
The Wolf GT845 is more expensive, but is light and performed equally well. We liked its adjustable wheels for edging.
We cannot wholeheartedly recommend any of the cordless models, but the Bosch Accutrim 23 was the best of the bunch. With plastic blades rather than a line, it was easy to use and should cope with a well-kept lawn.
Petrol machines are worth considering for tackling rough vegetation or long grass, but are awkward for lawn edging, and noisy. Our Best Buy is the Performance Power PWR21CCSGTA — it just out-performed the other models.
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My OH was all for giving up the allotment yesterday after failing to get our petrol strimmer started! It'a McCulloch, not sure what model. We had it serviced last year because it was so hard to start, but it doesn't seem to have made much difference.Any tips, please?
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My OH was all for giving up the allotment yesterday after failing to get our petrol strimmer started! It'a McCulloch, not sure what model. We had it serviced last year because it was so hard to start, but it doesn't seem to have made much difference.Any tips, please?
Make sure it is on full choke, keep pulling until it coughs, then switch to half choke, pull and it should start.
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Make sure the fuel in the strimmer is fresh if more than a month old discard it safely and refill with recently purchased fuel not stuff you have kept from last year.
If it has been serviced then I would suspect bad fuel. ;)
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McCullochs are prone to piston ring seizure usually caused by incorrect fuel mix (33:1 with most oils) this inturn will cause low compression although the recoil may seem stiff to pull due to the seizure.
If this is what as happened --its a right off :'(
Check by removing the exhaust and look at the bore.
Incidentally 2-stroke mix settles and separates when stood. Always remember to shake the can before filling up. This also applies any fuel left in the machine.
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Have a look on e-bay. I have just bought a brand new MacCulloch still in the box, Retail price £190...e-bay price £84.00.
I haven't used it yet but I'm sure it'll make mincemeat of anything I need to slash. It's got a blade too which it says will cut through shrub stems up to 4 inches.
Probably all a bit over the top for the lottie but will be great for attacking the overgrown wilderness at my little place in France.
Stork.
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... but has anyone actually used any of the extra heads - e.g. the tiller option?
I like the idea of being able to trim the edges, and do the beds, without having to have multiple machines!
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... but has anyone actually used any of the extra heads - e.g. the tiller option?
I like the idea of being able to trim the edges, and do the beds, without having to have multiple machines!
I seem to remember someone having the hedge trimmer head for theirs.
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I'm still not sure which is the best option for controlling the grass paths.
I'm 'quite' tempted with a pair of shears, although this is going to be hard work now. Does anyone use a push along mower - I don't want to be laughed at on the lottie but I need to do something soon, last year I used weedkiller and I really don't want to do that again...
Do petrol strimmers work in the wet, or when the grass is wet? If I wait for it to dry out I'm afraid the grass will be about 3 feet high :-\
Oh no it's thundering again, that'll be another 2" of growth :-\
Aaahhhh!
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our petrol strimmer works okay on wet/damp grass. the push pull mowers (non-powered ones) are okay for short grass but once it gets too long you'll have a job trying to cut it with one of those.
Something I thought about yesterday whilst at the allotment, a lot of us have a petrol strimmer/generator etc, why didn't we all get together and share-buy one that we can all use, it seems silly us all having our own one which we only use once a week or less. If there are others at your site who don't have a petrol strimmer why not ask if they'd be interested in clubbing together to share buy one.
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... but has anyone actually used any of the extra heads - e.g. the tiller option?
I like the idea of being able to trim the edges, and do the beds, without having to have multiple machines!
I seem to remember someone having the hedge trimmer head for theirs.
Yes, I have the hedge cutter head for my Tanaka petrol strimmer, one of the best things I have ever bought, saves me hours of work when I come to cut my hedges, which is twice a year.
Jerry
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Thanks Jesse it's reassuring to know they work on wet grass. I will need to strim now before I could cut it with any type of mower. I hired a strimmer last year when I was starting out but would be looking for something slightly smaller and easier to manage than the big industrial beastie they gave me!
I've taken note of the test driven machines A4Aers (?) have used and will be looking in the local DIY shops later.
Unfortunatley there aren't that many plots on our site (which is whey the parish council don't give us priority for grounds maintenance) so not many people to share stuff with..
BTW I went to a v.large garden centre (Frosts) at the w/e and after walking round amongst the BBQ's for a bit eventually asked where the mowers and strimmers were and was told they don't sell them - can't compete with the DIY shops! Garden centre = no mowers??
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one day garden centres won't sell plants either! ::)
have a look at screwfix too, their prices are quite reasonable sometimes.
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I went ahead and finally got a McCulloch Promac 320X petrol strimmer after reading all the threads on this. Thanks for everyone's comments.
The spark plug was sawn off before I could get to use it (not sure how it happened) and have temporarily replaced it with the spark plug from a cultivator I have, the same size. The strimmer was impressive once it got going, having only used an electric strimmer run off a generator. It's much heavier, but then it does it in half the time.
One concern though, and I wonder if anyone else has also had trouble... trying to find spares for the McCulloch is not an easy thing... still haven't found anywhere that sells the spark plugs, so I'm going to have to buy them from the company I got the cultivator from. For a well-known brand I find it quite unusual. If anyone knows any different, please could you point me in the right direction?
Thanks. :)
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Thinking of an EBay bid for a petrol strimmer, could certainly do with it at the plot, but with postage at £23 to Belgium it sort of kills the bargain!
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have temporarily replaced it with the spark plug from a cultivator I have, the same size.
One concern though, ... still haven't found anywhere that sells the spark plugs, so I'm going to have to buy them from the company I got the cultivator from.
Thanks. :)
What type of plug and what is the code on it?
Eg. NGK- BPRM20
I can not understand your difficulty in finding plugs ??? If you can give me the code i can tell you the equivalent for all the common brands
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:o
Just a comment...my Ryobi 2345 or something (B&Q £80 last year) has been completely ignored since last October. Could not remember if I left fuel in it or not. Got it out on Tuesday and filled up with fuel, got the instructions out...followed them...IT STARTED!!!
It will do for me!!!
;)
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B&Q are selling a JCB petrol strimmer for about £65. I'm hoping to get one for my birthday. Can anyone recommend this one?
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Ditto Katy, year after year. ;D
Geoff.
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So you can recomend Ryobi? Kate and Euro. Sprout my brother had a JCB hedge trimmer, proper pile of poo only lasted 3 months. Argos have strimmers in at the mo £30 off never heard of the make though Landxcape its £49.99 Decisions decisions. It might be worth forking out an extra £30 or £40 and getting something Reliable.
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:-\
Northerner...this is the only strimmer I have ever owned, so not in a position to compare. All I can say is that mine has coped with all the average lottie can throw at it, it's not too heavy and makes no more or less noise than any other I have heard. Also, judging by my shameful neglect over the winter, it can take a fair amount of abuse without coughing and giving up the ghost.
If I had to buy another one I would buy the same!
;)
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Argos have strimmers in at the mo £30 off never heard of the make though Landxcape its £49.99
Bought one last week, looks decent quality wise, does everything it's meant to. Time will tell
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Argos have strimmers in at the mo £30 off never heard of the make though Landxcape its £49.99 Decisions decisions. It might be worth forking out an extra £30 or £40 and getting something Reliable.
I bought that make and sent it back in less than a week, petrol leakage and poor starting scared me off of it, they also trade under a different name, (Hilka) also from Argos. :P :o >:(
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Well mine is over a week old now and it's fine :P
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;D Just think it will be twice as old next week ;D
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LOL. Lovely ;D ;D ;D
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I'm off to check out a local DIY store this morning. 10% off all strimmers. I'll let you know what I find. (Belgium).
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No well known names anywhere to be found. Settled for a Gardenier(?) cordless shrub cutter....!
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Just think it will be twice as old next week
True :'( :'(