I have the battery electric entry-level Stihl one. Easy to replace the plastic blades at the drop of a hat. 

johno1234:

 

Two reasons to get the Ego:

 

1) Battery electric. No starting issues. No petrol, oil, spark plugs or filters. Quiet. No fumes.

 

2) The self loading bump feeder head. On most trimmers, stopping to load more line is a pain. Ego's powerload is so quick and easy with no need to pop the spool off the head with attendant spring flying off into the weeds. Just poke through a few meters of line and press the button to wind it in. And unlike others I have had, the bump line feeder always works.

 

Tip: don't use line that is too thick. IIRC the spec is 2.5mm and it would not wind in 3mm. Or something like that.

 

 

 

Which Ego model do you recommend?

networkn:

 

johno1234:

 

Two reasons to get the Ego:

 

1) Battery electric. No starting issues. No petrol, oil, spark plugs or filters. Quiet. No fumes.

 

2) The self loading bump feeder head. On most trimmers, stopping to load more line is a pain. Ego's powerload is so quick and easy with no need to pop the spool off the head with attendant spring flying off into the weeds. Just poke through a few meters of line and press the button to wind it in. And unlike others I have had, the bump line feeder always works.

 

Tip: don't use line that is too thick. IIRC the spec is 2.5mm and it would not wind in 3mm. Or something like that.

 

 

 

 

Which Ego model do you recommend?

 

This one: https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/56-volt-cordless-powerload-line-trimmer-skin/p/321311 (if you already have a battery, otherwise get the kit with 2.5Ah battery and charger).

I also have the self propelled 52cm mower - as MikeAqua says, it is a grass eating beast.

johno1234:

 

This one: https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/56-volt-cordless-powerload-line-trimmer-skin/p/321311 (if you already have a battery, otherwise get the kit with 2.5Ah battery and charger).

 

I also have the self propelled 52cm mower - as MikeAqua says, it is a grass eating beast.

 

Wow $450! For that price it had better be pretty freaking awesome. Dare I even look at the Mower? 

I bought an ozito pxc one last week.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-pxc-18v-blower-and-grass-trimmer-kit_p0203462

Came with 2.5ah battery, charger, and a blower for $129.  

Replace a makita line trimmer.  these blades are so much easier to use.  its light, handles my 840m2 section fine.  best trimmer ive used.   hated a petrol one.  the blades you can buy for super cheap from aliexpress, and takes seconds to replace vs a line.  

I know its not for everyone, but for the average house, i think its perfect.

I use a 4.0ah battery though since I have 4.0ah ozito batteries.  

My parents have the same one, been using it for about 6mo, they love it too.

After seeing a neighbours gardener use a brushcutter, I now want one of those instead of a line trimmer. Way faster to get thru the overgrowth.

@xpd if it's not too late, I'd be keen to hear if you manage to get it going using the method I posted. More out of curiosity than anything else. 

networkn:

 

Wow $450! For that price it had better be pretty freaking awesome. Dare I even look at the Mower? 

 

You can get both for about $1,000 on special from time to time.  You won't go back to petrol.

MikeAqua:

 

 

 

FF a couple of week and I trimmed the (extensive) gris hedge.  Normally I would bag up all the trimmed branches and take them to green-waste.  So I tried the mower, again sans catcher.  It mulched all the leaves and little branches no problem.  Much quicker than picking them up and no green-waste costs.  

 

I did that with our Escalonia hedge, shredded with the mower and topped up compost bins and mounded potato growing containers. Did it last with last seasons MANY pumpkins leaves. Didnt work, they are so water filled it was a sludge, but oh well :-)

networkn:

 

@xpd if it's not too late, I'd be keen to hear if you manage to get it going using the method I posted. More out of curiosity than anything else. 

 

Will give it a go this evening :)

If you hear of a police call out at Silverdale Bunnings, its just me "returning" the thing ;)

Very happy with mt Ryobi One+ line trimmer ($250 with battery and charger).  More than enough for the typical suburban property.  Longer grass or larger semi-rural type sections may need something more powerful.  If getting a battery one, suggest to look at what other tools you may want so you can swap and change batteries among them.    

Was so happy when my petrol one finally died after about 20 years loyal service.  That too had a VERY specific start up procedure, miss a step or not do it quite right and you were doomed.  Get it right though...and worked every time.    

scuwp:

 

Very happy with mt Ryobi One+ line trimmer ($250 with battery and charger).  More than enough for the typical suburban property.  Longer grass or larger semi-rural type sections may need something more powerful.  If getting a battery one, suggest to look at what other tools you may want so you can swap and change batteries among them.    

 

Was so happy when my petrol one finally died after about 20 years loyal service.  That too had a VERY specific start up procedure, miss a step or not do it quite right and you were doomed.  Get it right though...and worked every time.    

 

I have the Ryobi and I think it's OK. Just OK.  I likely wouldn't buy another, but it's streets ahead of the Ozito I had before with it's stupid little plastic tag things.

scuwp:

 

Very happy with mt Ryobi One+ line trimmer ($250 with battery and charger).  More than enough for the typical suburban property.  Longer grass or larger semi-rural type sections may need something more powerful.  If getting a battery one, suggest to look at what other tools you may want so you can swap and change batteries among them.    

 

Was so happy when my petrol one finally died after about 20 years loyal service.  That too had a VERY specific start up procedure, miss a step or not do it quite right and you were doomed.  Get it right though...and worked every time.    

 

Yep. My Stihl hedgetrimmer starts the same every time using this process:

Throttle on and throttle lock on. Choke on. Primer bubble empty so 2 pumps to get fuel showing, then 5 pumps (as per manual).

Pull start, it will try to fire on 2nd pull. Choke off. 2 more pulls and it will always start. 

tdgeek:

 

Pull start, it will try to fire on 2nd pull. Choke off. 2 more pulls and it will always start. 

 

Sounds like one of our lawn mowers. Never again. We have a nice push button self propelled model that would cut through concrete.

networkn:

 

tdgeek:

 

Pull start, it will try to fire on 2nd pull. Choke off. 2 more pulls and it will always start. 

 

 

Sounds like one of our lawn mowers. Never again. We have a nice push button self propelled model that would cut through concrete.

 

 

 

I thought my process was quite simple. 2 stroke anything can be nitpicky, but IMO quick and easy.

 My Masport President AL6000 mower isn't that fancy, but it has some fandangled something in it that, from cold, one easy gentle pull and it starts. Always first time. I'm not electrically minded so no idea how it works. Same as it was circa 5 years ago when I bought it

EDIT: Re read my one liner "Pull start, it will try to fire on 2nd pull. Choke off. 2 more pulls and it will always start."  Yes, back in the day the mowers were an alternate exercise machine :-)