one more time..........stick edgers..............

[turfguy33]

I know that this has been talked about a little more than 40 times in the last year, but I need to know. In my area, very few lco's have owned or even has used a stick edger. Everyone around here uses a plain trimmer to do the job, even though the quality is not as good. as a matter of fact, not many dealers know what a stick edger is with out explaing to them. And none in the area carry one. I did have a edgit on a shindaiwa, but lost it going down the road, it shattered into a couple pieces. So now, I have decided to consider an edger. How do all of you like them? Are they hard to get used to? And Do all of you just edge like once a month, and do routine edge re-shaping with a trimmer......I'm uncertain since I'v never used one......... I'm considering buying a kawisaki since I have a couple of there trimmers now, and love them, but what is your opinions.......Any and all info would be greatly benefited from

[lawrence stone]

Buy the best model Stihl has to offer.

[tomoaktree]

I just bought my first edger and am working it into the bus. Just got done wuth a sidewalk that hadn't been done before. Lots of grass and dirt. My honda 4-stroke ,31cc handled it pretty good though.

[kris]

I found one buried under a bunch of stuff in one of the greenhouses last year... cleaned it up , new plug , changed the oil twice and away I went....it is good for spring clean ups ...once or twice a year is all that is needed ...the rest of the time you can keep it in shape with the string trimmer..I love it ...it makes a world of difference on the job

[Mark]

:blob3: Ive never used a stick-edger i use a commercial curved shaft for edgeing and 2601 echos for trimming. I do know alot of my friends use them and they do a nice job, but i can do just as good or better with the curved trimmer. Marks Mowing Service

[TJLC]

I used to use a curved shaft trimmer to edge with, but not very good results. Then I bought an echo stick and what a nice difference. The only thing I don't like is the blades seem to bend pretty quick and then you get a bad vibration and have to change the blade. I've started to turn them over when this happens and that seems to help. That is the only downside I have found with a stick edger.

[AVRECON]

Get one and you'll love the job it does PERIOD!

[65hoss]

I bought the new Stihl and its great. Cuts through even the worst edges and I have yet to bog it down. :blob3: :blob3:

[lawnman_scott]

Stihl is the best, shindiawa are ok also. And you guys are lucky, i have to edge every one of my lawns every week.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Well to answer the question Yes They work great I have a shindiawa. We edge every other week. It would look really bad if it went any longer. I would like to see a picture of an edge done with a string trimmer. I have done it before but IMHO its no match for an edger.

[65hoss]

I think the edges with a trimmer look better. You get a cleaner edge with a trimmer than an edger. Its just not as fast. You can use the Stihl as fast as you can walk forward. People that are really good with trimmers usually have a better edge than an edger.

For the sake of speed and the heat, I use the edger on all larger properties and on difficult jobs.

[ChadsLawn]

i have 2 shindawia T260's 26cc motors..I love them..all my 2 stroke is shindawia they seem to last forever.
Stick edger is the way togo..Get 1 that has the most power,makes t easier on those over grown edges.

[CSRA Landscaping]

Get the new Stihl FS85 split boom, that way you can have all KINDS of attachments that go with it. Definitely a first-class machine. I use the trimmer, edger, pruner, and the infamous (every week) hedge-trimmer attachments.

[swn]

I bought a stihl edger this year and I really like it. I use it every other week. I thought I did a pretty good job edging with the trimmer, but using the edger gives better results with less effort.

[JimLewis]

I agree with most of these posts. When I began 6 years ago stick edgers were just coming out. So I began my business with one and have only owned one of the older kinds of edgers. And I sold it within a few months. I LOVE the stick edgers. They are definitely the way to go.

As for brand, I think any of the high end 2 cycles are good. Stihl always makes great products. Echos are great. We have used Shindaiwas for years and just recently switched to the new Honda Stick edger. I love the Shindaiwas. They are as reliable and strong as heck. But I can't find anyone to service them quickly around here. The honda shop turns stuff out for in in 2 days. So I buy honda everything now, just because I save so much on down time.

I think the Honda is also a better machine than the rest. It has some nice features to it. For one, it's a 4 cycle, which makes it stronger and more conveinent (no oil to mix). For two, the wheel at the bottom is extremely conveinent. Most stick edgers come with a little wheel near the end that helps you balance. But as anyone who ever used a stick edger soon finds out, that's the first piece of equipment you remove. Their usually anoying as heck. But with the Hondas, you can adjust them so their totally out of the way as if it's not even there. Then adjust it back down if you need it.

There's my 2 cents.

[turfguy33]

:blob3: Thanks for the responses...........I've heard alot about the stihl's. I assume there the preferred choice among all of you. I didn't know.. I run Shindaiwa and Kawisaki trimmers and the Kawisaki is great, but I like to learn from others, if everyone loves there stihl's, it must be for a reason.......Off to order one now......See- ya and thanks for the help

[Double D]

turfguy, I run Kawasaki equipment also, and have the stick edger that they make. I love it, was my best purchase this year. It saves me lots of time, and I think looks much better than doing it with a trimmer (maybe I just sux with trimmer). If you already have Kaw. trimmers, get the Kaw. stick edger, you will love it!

[HOMER]

I can spot a curb edged with a trimmer a mile away. No way does a trimmer do a neater job than a dedicated edger.........no way!

[BOBCAT36]

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT STICK EDGERS ARE GREAT. TRIMMERS DONT'T LEAVE A NICE CLEAN GROOVE. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THER LOOK YOU WANT

[syzer]

I agree we edge our accounts once a week in the growing season. I don't belive a trimmer could ever be even close to the job a stick edger does. If so you would have to be there for three days making sure you don't cut into the grass. stick edges are awesome and fast. Really puts the finishing touch on the property.

[oneEXMARKfan]

The cc displacement on the T-260 is 24.1

[lee b]

Get you a good stick-edger and you'll never regret it. I tried using a trimmer before, there's no-way you can edge properly with a trimmer. I just replaced my old cheap Poulan edger with a Husky 225 EX, it's great and has more than enough power. Not very many people on here use the Husky's, but they work great for me.:blob3:

[KD'sLawns]

If it is a new account or spring clean-up, I use my stick edger. Once I get the lawn shaped, I use my straight shaft trimmer to edge. Every time I mow, I also edge. And, by the way I can edge with my trimmer as fast as I can walk!

But, I would suggest getting a stick edger. Especially for overgrown sidewalks and drives.

[gogetter]

Originally posted by lee blount
I just replaced my old cheap Poulan edger with a Husky 225 EX, it's great and has more than enough power. Not very many people on here use the Husky's, but they work great for me.:blob3:

Lee, would you mind if I asked what you payed for your Husky?. I don't know if you saw my other post about the Husky 325EX that I just bought, but I'm wondering whay they usually go for at the dealers?
Thanks.

[Runner]

Agree completely!

[mike01]

We use a stihl stick edger and a 3hp power trim walk behind. We do use a trimmer on areas that are impossible for a true edger, such as natural stone retaining walls etc. I will tell you this, there is a noticable differance between a walk way or drive if you use a edger verses a trimmer. If I am wrong, show me the pictures, I am never to old to learn.

[Bluegrass Group]

We have a bunch of Red Max stick edgers. They are way better than string trimmers, not as powerful as the push edgers but faster than both. The only draw back to edgers of any kind is that they can reek destruction on irrigation heads if they are right up against the sidewalk. I can see using trimmers on fescue cause all you have to cut is the leaf blade, but on warm seasons like bermuda and zoysia you need to get deeper and cut stolons and that means getting into the soil.