Stick edgers

[HarryD]

who uses them . are they worth a **** and which ones are the best

thinking of getting one or a large walk behind type not sure which way to go

[gusbuster]

I have both.

Stick edger is fine for doing not too high(cememt level). I have this machine due to limited space on my truck. The walk behind, I use 2 to three times a year on those high lawns I take care. I don't carry either machine unless I'm going to re-define an edge. I edge lawns faster using a line trimmer.

John

[65hoss]

New Stihl is great.

[CooperLawncare]

I just bought a new tanaka and learned they only work worth a **** if the soil is fairly dry. But i think applies to all stick edgers. Otherwise i bum dads big 3hp Craftsman, it works good on big runs.

Dustin

[ilovethisgame]

I still prefer edging w/ the line trimmer. I bought a power trim w/ a 3.5 b&s it works great on lawns that haven't be maintained & bed edging although there's a big learning curve w/ it.

-Dave

[Doc Pete]

I found they work faster and leave a better edge on sidewalks. Everything else I use a trimmer.
Pete

[JasperStorm]

Each type of edger has its advantages.

A stick edger is more maneuverable around curves, you can carry it in one hand to get from one area to another (try pushing a Power Trim up a steep grass hillside), and you can go from sidewalks to curbs without making any adjustments.

A push edger, with it's more powerful engine, will make a cleaner cut than a stick edger (although the difference is not noticed by most). Overgrown sidewalks that would bog down most stick edgers can be cut with a push edger.

I use one of each. Echo stick edger, Power Trim w/ Honda engine. Crafstman/B&S aren't generally suited to heavy duty use, although they are fine for the part timer.

[cowman66]

The trimmer is the only thing i use:D

[Cut 2 Please]

I use an echo PAS 260 split boom. I have the trimmer attachment, edger and hedge trimmer to go with it. This unit works great and has great power. I love the edger attachment it does a great job and is very fast. Best thing is when I leave my truck I can put everything in the tool box, since it is a split boom, and nothing is left out to be stolen. Trimmers and stick edgers grow feet fast around here. Also I always have them with me no matter where I go. Only the mower stays on the trailer.

[marcusvh]

I had very similar questions when I decided to get into this business. I bought both a walk-behind (McClean) and stick edger (Stihl) on Ebay. To my surprise, I use the walk-behind only on new jobs where the grass is really overgrown. I use the stick edger on EVERY job, as it leaves a much cleaner edge than a string trimmer and is a lot more "mistake" proof. I've seen too many (other people's) jobs where bad string edging leaves a ragged edge with dead spots (not that anyone that subscribes to this forum would do such a thing).

Bottom line - I consider my stick edger to be an essential tool, and use it on every job.

[watatrp]

Stick edgers have their place. If you maintain a property and use the stick edger every three to four weeks max you will be able to edge w/ the stick edger as fast as you can walk.

[GrassMaster84]

Stick edgers come in real handy when you have a lot of sidewalks and long driveways to edge, they are much quicker and leave a better finishing touch compared to trimmers, don't even think about a walk behind edger, go and get you a Stihl FC75 stick edger, you will not be dissappointed!!!!;)

[trimmer]

You will never get the edge that a trimmer can produce with a stick edger. It takes time to get good at it, but I do any length with trimmer, know is it worth the time. No, most long lengths of sidewalks are found on commercial sites that don't matter any way.

[cutntrim]

Shindaiwa stick edger. Single worst purchase I've ever made. I can trim much faster and cleaner with a string trimmer. The edger has sat in our mechanic's shop all season waiting for a buyer. No takers so far. :mad:

[robert payer]

Very pleased with stick edgers. Buy the extra horse power.

[JML]

we have a split shaft shindaiwa weed wacker/ stick edger..
We only use the stick edger on long sidewalks where back whipping with the weed wackers gets tiring. Its does a pretty good job. I don't think I would buy a dedicated one, but the split shaft is nice because we can use it as both....

[wolfpacklawn]

a stick edger is essential equipment in my opinion. I can edge as fast as I can walk and all of my accounts are edged weekly.

I don't want to get into another debate as to whether or not a string trimmer can edge as well as a stick edger but I think that most people cannot make an edge look as good with a line trimmer as they could with a stick edger. I've seen Trimmer's pictures that he has done with a line trimmer and they look great but I think his skill is the exception rather than the rule. Trimmer must be a human gyroscope to hold his lines that tight. There is no way I could get as good a look with a line trimmer as I can with a stick edger and I would hate to see what my employees would do with an edge using a line trimmer.

Get a stick edger, they are well worth the $. I would recomend getting a split shaft one that you can get a line trimmer attachment for. This is what I have and it allows me to have a back up line trimmer in case of break downs.

[Currier]

I HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE!!! I kept thinking "yeah well I'm good with the trimmer but I"ll bet the stick would be better..." $300+ later it sits 95%of the time taking up space. Who wants to make extra trips around the yard? The thing it a brute stihl fs 85 and cuts a decent edge but is quite ineffective for my needs. If you are debating it...I'll bet you don't need it, at least I didn''t.

It would go under my single worst purchase for the biz except earlier this year I flushed a ton of $$ by buying a Millcreek aerator (and the required imp. hitch) for the walker. Thank goodness my dealer took the junk back in trade on a new deck, but I digress...

[coonman]

I can make a nice edge with the trimmer but it is more time consuming than the stick. I used to think it would slow me down too much to use the stick and then start my trimming. Once you get used to the stick you will always use it. Like it was stated earlier you can walk as fast as you can and make a perfect edge. On most residentials it takes me 3 or 4 minutes to edge everything, and the edge is always very nice.

Steve :cool:

[MikeLT1Z28]

if you get the stihl, get the fc85, it's a straight shaft and listed as the commercial model as opposed to the 75. i use it, hoss uses it, we both love it. works fine in wet or dry conditions and i can't think of more than one time that mine bogged down really bad (more than 4 inches of dirt/turf overlapping the walkway).

[HarryD]

well most guys ive seen that say trimmer edging is just as fast have probly edged the walks first at some point with a walk behind or stick edger

i string trim edge all mine now but im sure they would look much nicer if i used a bladed edger first

i think im gunna go with a stick edger will have to go shoping and compare all models that were stated in this thread

thxs all for the imput

[HLC]

Harry D,
I don't know how the grass is in Nebraska, however (with the exception of Trimmer:D ) in the south you have to use a stick edger to get the best results. I have said it before and I'll say it again, the folks who say that they can get just as good of an edge with a string trimmer are not working in the Southeast. I saw Trimmer's pics and they are awesome. Correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like a St. Augustine lawn and, no doubt, sandy soil. If you're doing Bermuda in red clay or prairie soil you gotta have the stick or else you'll still be "edging" while I'm kicked back at the house with a cold one.

Oh and my vote's for the Husqvarna 325....love mine.

[brucec32]

Ha. Big 4 cycle walk behind edgers are a joke. Use them if you have to edge really overgrown stuff with dirt over the edge, then park them.

I use only a straight shaft string trimmer and I edge super clean and fast. It's more work and requires more expertise, but much faster for my type of work than switching back and forth from trimmer to edger. Stick edgers may be required for big properties where you edge a LOT, and with unskilled employees who can't use a trimmer worth a flip. They will of course, instead burn up your edger blades. ha.

I don't like the way stick edgers will leave a few blades behind if the curbing has voids in it. You can't get the nooks n' crannies with a stick edger.