powered stick edger/ old fashioned stick edger

[agriffn]

is it a waste of money to spend 300 bucks on a stick edger when i can buy a old fashioned stick edger and just use alittle bit of muscle to move it?

[65hoss]

I'm not sure what you mean by old fashioned, but the New Stihl Stick Edger FC85 is awesome. For me, it was definately worth the money. It edges as fast as I can walk.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

He means the old one they used in the 50's.

A handle with a wheel and a star shaped cutting blade you pushed that cut the edges.

Weed eater with the string turn to 90 degrees to the ground works much better and faster.

[kerr lawn]

shindaiwa le260 works wonders for me
takes no time at all for us and it will make you 300 so fast

[TJLC]

I used to also think it was a waste to spend money on a stick edger, until I bought one. I feel it's one of my most important tools now. As far as an old manual one, why would you want to work that hard? Invest in a good stick edger, you won't be sorry. Good luck.

[goodbeus]

Originally posted by agriffn
is it a waste of money to spend 300 bucks on a stick edger when i can buy a old fashioned stick edger and just use alittle bit of muscle to move it?

The best $300 you'll spend...the old fashioned edger gets clogged all the time making the wheel and cutting blades not turn...I think they're around $15 and operate on that level too...I graduated from a walk-behind edger to a stick-edger when they first came out, and I work circles around the guys who still use the them and the guys who use trimmers for edging....

[HLC]

The best $300 you'll spend...

I agree 100%

[proline32]

Yup, gots me a nice husquvarna stick edger few weeks back and fell in love with it. said good by to the old (large) gas edger. Stick edger much faster to work with and good on the back too.

[Tony Harrell]

Well, all I can say is the manual edger does work; and I do mean WORK!
I would have one anyway beause they are so cheap (and I do). Don't try to start a propery using this or you'll be there all day long. Hey, it's the reason I have a stick edger! Maybe sometime if your customer is there watching you, you could pull it out and pretend like you're realy sweatin' cuz there's nothing customers like more than to see someone workin' their butts off. It kinda justifies in their minds your service.

[TOSLC]

I have a manual edger, If you pay the postage I'll send it to you! Ha! Buy a stick edger (Echo or Stihl) and I'm sure you'll be a lot happier in the long run.

[Doogiegh]

Ok, question:

I have a Ryobi curved-shaft trimmer. It works fine on getting all the grass knocked down around fire hydrants, telephone poles and where-ever else I need to edge.

(I'm not in business yet so don't judge on the Ryobi brand)

What I want to know is to edge a lawn, such as where the sidewalk and grass meet, I can easily turn the head 90's and walk with my little Ryobi and whamo, the lawn is edged. I can do this fine and dandy, especially with .90 green or orange string.


So, what does a stick edger do that is so much better or different? I'm just not sure or what the difference is.

I know there is a difference between a straight-shaft edger and a curved shaft edger.

Is a straight-shaft trimmer the same as a stick edger?

Thanks

[CSRA Landscaping]

Agriffn,
It really depends on your current situation. If you have lots of extra energy and/or a small number of accounts, I'd say stay simple for the time being.

I've never used the old ones but I get the impression that what takes me 2 minutes with my Stihl would take me 30 minutes with the manual one. It just isn't feasible for the size accounts that I'm maintaining right now. One place takes me over 45 minutes just to edge it, with my stick edger. :eek:

If you have a small number of accounts and aren't that beat at the end of the day, though, use a manual one.


Doogiegh,
No, the straight-shaft trimmer isn't the same as a stick edger. A stick edger actually has a rotating blade on it that does the edging. I feel like it does a much neater & faster job than a trimmer.

[Doogiegh]

Thanks CSRA for the info.

I'll do a search and see what I can come up with.

I just did a quick one and see how it's a rotating blade on the edge of a stick. I assume this is a good one for steel tipped shoes, just in case of a Woops. <G>

Now, I have a "walk behind" gasoline powered pull blade edger, I think it's a Mcmullan or Macullen, I forget the name brand..

How do they compare to the "stick" edgers other than that I know of course they take up alot more room in the truck etc.

The one I have I believe is belt-driven and whirls around a 9 inch blade at variable depths.

Gary

[grass1]

ive got a little wonder dule belt 3.5 hp its the best tool ive got it never slows down and does a very clean and fast job

[johnhenry]

I purchased a shindaiwa stick last spring and fell in love with it.It all depends on how many lawns you edge.The only drawback I have is I go through the blades in this soil.

[luv of green]

the tightness and crispness of a stick edger is un comparable it takes 2 min a week and will beat a string trimmer any day

[CSRA Landscaping]

I had a McLane push edger before I got an enclosed trailer. That was an expensive lesson in security.

The only drawback I have is I go through the blades in this soil.

Tell me about it! I have a property that uses up a whole blade each time I edge it. :(

[Tony Harrell]

I have the Ryobi that breaks down in the middle and has several attachments like ; stringtrimmer, edger,brushcutter,tiller(this one is really cool). I'm just starting out so I figured I'd use what I've got for now. Besides, if business goes crazy(yeah baby,yeah) I'll be able to afford the commercial stuff. Besides, my experience at home is that I don't have to run the edger more than once or twice a month.

[Doogiegh]

Hey CSRA -
Can you sharpen the blades that these Mclane or stick edgers use, just like you would for a lawn mower? Or is that not normally done? Just curious, thanks


And Yeah TOny Harrel - I have all the Ryobi attachments as well; the leaf vac-blower, the "higher velocity" blower, cultivater tiller which is cool, and of course the trimmer head. I turn the trimmer head sideways to edge and with thick string, it does a fine job. I never let the edgeing get so bad that it can't handle the job. I'm sure "professional" equipment would make absolute mincemeat out of the Ryobi product, but I've had mine now for about 4-5 years and it's still been working.. So far, so good. I like the Quick-Release part of it so you can just change the heads and do what you want.

[CSRA Landscaping]

Gary, I don't think that the sharpened edger blades would really be effective here. After using them to edge a few properties, the blade is half-gone, so what edge there was would be totally gone anyway.

[goodbeus]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Doogiegh
[B]Hey CSRA -
Can you sharpen the blades that these Mclane or stick edgers use, just like you would for a lawn mower? Or is that not normally done? Just curious, thanks


You replace the blade once it's wore down...usually about $1.00...

[kerr lawn]

my dealer hooked me up with 50 for 50 bones and they are more durable then the shindiawa blades. i love them.
more useless info, since i have no idea who makes them, but i know they work.

[Toroguy]

Little Wonder

Its a hybrid walk behind/stick edger, similar to a wheel barrow. It as TJLC stated seemed a big expense, buy one I have been more than pleased with. The little wonder is easier on my back. It tends to roll around in the back of the truck...the only drawback.

I would rather use the string trimmer than use the manual hand tool edger any day.