Are the stick edgers worth the money??

[KJC Landscaping]

I am looking at buying a new edger. Since I already have the WB type, I was looking at the stick edgers. My equip. dealer was telling me that they don't work that well, and that I am better off with the WB. My question is do any of you guys use the stick edgers and how well do they work?

[bob]

I have WB edger and 2 stick edgers. Use the WB on heavy stuff and the stick edger to maintain afterwards. I wouldn't buy a 2nd WB, if thats what your dealer is telling you.

[BRIAN GALLO]

I have tried one, but couldn't seem to get the hang of it. I think I got a better job with the string trimmer turned on it's side (that's just me). I understand though that a stick edger is a must for thick southern grasses.

[jason2]

I've never used a wb edger. I have a Shindaiwa LE260 stick edger, works great. It isn't the best in unmaintained areas when creating a new edge, although it will work. I have cut new edges for beds on one job. Not ideal for that kind of work, but it surprised me that it would do it at all.

For me it's worth its weight in gold for maintaing edges weekly. Plenty of power, I could edge and run with it if I wanted to.

[Randy Scott]

KJC, buy one, you won't regret it!

[bullfrog]

I once tried a WB (McClane), and could never get the hang of it -- I kept turning into the concrete. Returned it to Home Depot, and got a Stihl stick edger. Very handy.

With warm season grasses that creep over concrete, a trimmer doesn't cut it as well -- and in areas that get snow, edging (along with removing grass in the cracks) makes snow removal easier on sidewalks.

[65hoss]

I have both. The w/b is NEVER used anymore. I can do anything with the new Stihl that the w/b can and much faster.

The stick edger was probably one of the best all time investments I made. It save tremendous amounts of time. Around these parts you must edge every week. The new stihls have a front wheel to help. It cuts as fast as you can walk.

[Shady Brook]

I'm with 65 hoss as usual. I have had both, but would never go back to a walkbehind unless I was cutting sod type stuff. The stick is so much faster, plus it does not take up trailer deck space. You will be very happy if you get a stick. I think your dealer may have profit in his eyes.:confused:

Jay

[odin]

With you to jay on the stick edgers its also cuts out another piece of equipment to load on the trailer you can put it in a trimmer trap

[RB]

Here in Pgh. Pa I never saw an edger on a truck before. I guess it's the cool season grass we have that doesn't creep. I can keep a nice edge on walkways w/string trimmer. I do agree that a crisp edge is the final touch for a well maintained lawn.

I have a question: Do you guys that need to use an edger weekly charge extra for that or is that just expected in your area?

P.S.
Brian Gallo - your name sounds familiar. Could we have met at Penn Hills Rental?

Ron

[mdb landscaping]

i too have a stick edger. it works out absolutely great. my piece of equipment is actually an echo split boom power head, and i bought the edger attachment. i work solo, so i couldnt justify a whole different piece of equipment for edging. you just unscrew the bolt, and pop of the edger. when im done with that i just throw my line trimmer head back on. they offer many attachments, and its real convenient.

[excel25]

My WB is hidden out in the garage, under lots of stuff. Thats how much I've used it since I got a stick .:D

[walker-talker]

I use my stick edger every other week (every week in the spring, or when needed) and the cost is figured in with the mowing. This is not an extra.

MATT

[luv of green]

HOW CAN U BEAT A LIGHTWEUGHT POWER TOOL THAT PUTS A FRESH EDGE ON THE WALKS EVERY WEEK AND DOESNT TAKE UP ANY MORE ROOM THAN A STRING TRIMMER, BLADES BR CHEAP ALSO, LIKE 2 FOR $5. A GREAT INVESTMENT

[lawnranger44]

Here in Pgh. Pa I never saw an edger on a truck before. I guess it's the cool season grass we have that doesn't creep. I can keep a nice edge on walkways w/string trimmer. I do agree that a crisp edge is the final touch for a well maintained lawn.

I agree I barely ever need to edge, and with the guy i used to work for we always used the string trimmer. I guess we're just lucky to live in PA!:D

[TLS]

I live in PA and HAVE to edge sidewalks every week! Just looks sloppy without it! In hot summer, I can MAYBE skip a week without doing it, but the nicer lawns get it EVERY week!

I also have a split boom Echo with the edger attachment. It is used as a full time stick edger. Hasn't been apart since new! I am thinking of buying an articulated hedge trimmer head for it and putting it in place of the weeed wacker head (which has never been used!) If I go that route, I may just keep it for a hedge trimmer only, and buy a dedicated stick edger (little more power in heavy stuff). This way I will have all three loops used on the Trimmer Trap.

[Evan528]

I also Live in PA and edge every one of my accounts weekly! I use a push edger for the first edge of the year and then a trimmer turned upside down to edge weekly. For me, a stick edger has no advantage because I can edge perfectly with a trimmer as fast as I can walk. Also saves a trip back to the truck to get the stick edger...... If you have employees doing the edging and dont want to spend the time training them to edge with a trimmer (which isnt easy to teach) I think a stick edger is a great idea....much eaiser to learn...

[Double D]

I have a Kawasaki stick edger, and it was by far the best time saver investment I made last year. Here in my area, edging is figured into the price.

[JimLewis]

We've used the stick edgers for years. We don't even own a WB. They ROCK!

[65hoss]

Double D is right. In our area you figure it into your price.

[TJLC]

My stick edger is one of those tools that I can't believe I didn't buy sooner. For me it is a standard and very necessary tool that I use every time I mow. I never could master edging with a trimmer so my edger is a must to get that nice clean edge.

[KJC Landscaping]

Let me start by saying thankyou.:D I really appreciate the advice.

My whole idea of buying a stick edger, is like most of you guys have. One less tool on the trailer to take up space, I can just hang it on the trimmer trap. I also can be more productive, and less tired by not having to push around a bulky machine.

My dealer's point was that he didn't want to sell me some thing he would not use himself. But any way after the positive comments I thing I will order one tomorrow.

Once agian thanks for the advice. Great site.
:blob3:

Kevin
KJC Landscaping

[PRECISION LC]

I perchased a Stihl FC85 straight tube edger. I found that it was a great improvement in time and quality. This is compaired to Running a string trimmer as a edger for 2 years. It mad the edging go faster on yards with more edges, it made them look nice and straight, and my favorite is when you pic up a new customer who has no edge, having that to make a great, beautiful edge in one swipe.
kyle:blob2:

[dlandscaping]

the trimmer is easier to use and is less time consuming. i flip the trimmer over and edge. i do have a stick edger attachment for my echo 2601 pas but i never use it (waste of $90) when you use a trimmer to edge u can always just flip it over and trim around obstacles saving time versus using two machines to do the single job wasting more time and money for gas.

[JimLewis]

dlandscaping is correct. The trimmer is about the best edger there is. I edge primarily with the string trimmer in all areas except those bordering concrete (hard edges).

On hard edges it's best to use a blade edger (stick or old fashioned WB). It's better for several reasons. For one, it's a heck of a lot easier. And even though I can edge just about perfectly with a string trimmer along concrete, it takes a LONG time to get that good and it still doesn't ever make the perfect edge that a blade does along concrete.

Second, it's difficult to train someone to do it. And if you plan to expand and hire people you want to do stuff that's easily duplicatable. Training someone to edge along flowerbeds (soft edges) is not too difficult. It takes a week or two but they can catch on. But training someone to edge along hard edges with a string trimmer is like training Madonna to keep her legs closed.

Third, a string trimmer doesn't ever get that deep groove that looks so good along grass next to concrete. And the groove a blade edger creates is wider as well. It stands out more and gives a crisper look.

The final reason is because many times (as with new clients or clean-ups) you come along an area that hasn't been edged in a while. The grass is overgrown onto the sidewalk an inch or two. And it's next to impossible to edge something like this with just a string trimmer. Even if you are that good, it takes a HECK of a lot more time and effort than it does with a blade edger.

So since you gotta own two machines anyway, you might as well carry them both with you. In my experience, the best edging technique is to use the string trimmer for soft edges and a blade edger for hard edges. The next best technique is to use a blade edger for all edges. And the least desirable technique is to use the string trimmer for all edges.

[trimmer]

I don't even own an edger. It was stolen so it was never replaced, I just use my weedeater to do edging it is faster and much cleaner. I have owned them in the past and highly recommend them over the w/b.

Here in Florida you must trim and edge every time that you mow, you guys up north sure have it easy.