Brushcutter / strimmer

[Justme]

Looking for a new strimmer / brush cutter. As I have the Sthil AP300s bats already from my MSA 220 chainsaw I have been looking at the FSA135 & KMA135 head with brushcutter shaft. Best price seems to be about £400 / £450 inc VAT.
However I am getting tempted by the Makita 40v power head unit.
For about the same money I can buy the Head, shaft, charger, 1 4ah battery & carry bag.
One thing also putting me off the FSA135 is the lack of a power spec for it.
The Makita is 1kw. The only ref to power I have found for the FSA135 is 300watts but I doubt thats correct.
Has anyone used the FSA135/KMA 135?
Whats it like for power?
Is it just a garden strimmer or can it do rough ground too?
I have been using a cheapo 50cc back pack but its a pain to start & not comfy.
After using it I am broken.

 

[Miranda]

2stroke every time. But a good one

 

[8ob]

As above, hang the said strimmer around the neck of one of the kids and shoot down the pub for a few hours go off for that all important meeting

Bob

 

[Justme]

2stroke every time. But a good one

Getting out of 2 stroke stuff.
Dont use it enough to stop fuel going bad & gumming it up.
Bad shoulder & elbow suffer if they dont start easily.
Moving to a battery chainsaw was a game changer for me.
Taking a bit longer due to lower power on a battery unit is fine as its only a big clean up once per year & then little trims as needed.

Only engine powered hand held kit I will be keeping for a while is a Sthil BR800 back pack blower.
Not had it long & only got it as a raffle prize. Did consider selling / swapping for a battery one but it is a beast of a blower & as its a 4 stroke (4mix) it starts real easy.

 

[Justme]

As above, hang the said strimmer around the neck of one of the kids and shoot down the pub for a few hours go off for that all important meeting

Bob

I would come back to total carnage with even thing strimmed to death by getting to close to trees, Polly tunnels pots etc.

 

[Miranda]

I don’t buy into this gone off fuel thing. I buy diesel and petrol in bulk …. Diesel by the 3000 litres, petrol by the 50s. I do treat the diesel when it comes in… these days it lasts a year or two, petrol never had an issue. Sealed containers, darkened cool room……

 

[Cobbler]

Not tried a battery strimmer, but have a Bosch battery hedgecutter, that is far better than the petrol one that I replaced as it was too heavy & a nuisance to start.

 

[Miranda]

If it doesn’t start, second pull, you need to be looking at why.

 

[James1979]

Sounds like you need a brush cutter not a strimmer. There is a difference. I also suggested a decent sized engine on another thread about this.
As Miranda. 2 stroke or 4 stroke on the big stuff rather than battery.

 

[Justme]

I don’t buy into this gone off fuel thing. I buy diesel and petrol in bulk …. Diesel by the 3000 litres, petrol by the 50s. I do treat the diesel when it comes in… these days it lasts a year or two, petrol never had an issue. Sealed containers, darkened cool room……

Yes but a fuel tank on a tool is not sealed & has extra oil added.
So the volatiles can gas off & leave behind a less explosive mix with extra oil in it.
Even in sealed containers I have had some pure fuel go bad / smelly after a long time.
Diesel is much less volatile & will keep much longer.
In a sealed container in the cool much less volatiles will be off gassed.

 

[Justme]

If it doesn’t start, second pull, you need to be looking at why.

true, mostly its bad fuel or just plain old getting old & worn out.

But I would rather spend the time doing the work not making the tool start.

Like I said using a battery chainsaw was a game changer for me.
Yes slightly slower than the saw it replaced (2kw compared to 2.4kw) but more than made up for the lack of fiddling time at the start of the day & not feeling like I have been mugged at the end of the day.
No fumes, much less vibration & noise.
Plus enforced breaks to re charge.
I often need to go out in the dark & clear our road so guest can get in / out.
With a 2 stroke its a pain of a job.
With the battery saw its almost a pleasure.

 

[Robbie260]

Have one of the stihl 94 multi tools, great machines, if you go this route get the brush cutting head instead of the strimmer one, it's much cheaper and easier to swap it between line timing and brush cutting. Like the multi tools for thier versatility. Oleo mac/efco are also pretty good quality too, not quite so spendy.

 

[Guzrik]

I have the Stihl mt set as well great stuff.
KM 131r fourstroke drinks Stihl's motomix (which has five(?) year warranty), only downside for the neighbours is the terrible noise. But a proper Stihl battery is just too expensive per year.

 

[Justme]

View attachment 297606View attachment 297605

Have one of the stihl 94 multi tools, great machines, if you go this route get the brush cutting head instead of the strimmer one, it's much cheaper and easier to swap it between line timing and brush cutting. Like the multi tools for thier versatility. Oleo mac/efco are also pretty good quality too, not quite so spendy.

Basically looking at the battery version of that tool (KMA135) or going slightly cheaper with the FSA135 but then its only brushcutter / strimmer.
Only other tools I might use would be the pole saw & hedge trimmer.

 

[Justme]

I have the Stihl mt set as well great stuff.
KM 131r fourstroke drinks Stihl's motomix (which has five(?) year warranty), only downside for the neighbours is the terrible noise. But a proper Stihl battery is just too expensive per year.

I have the Sthil batteries already.
But even then the tool is costly compared to Makita where I can buy the complete set up for about the same as a bare tool from Sthil.

 

[Robbie260]

Basically looking at the battery version of that tool (KMA135) or going slightly cheaper with the FSA135 but then its only brushcutter / strimmer.
Only other tools I might use would be the pole saw & hedge trimmer.

I'd say it's worth it only one engine to look after, and as many tools as you need basically.

 

[Guzrik]

And thats the great thing from the multitool idea, lets you buy 9 more tools. I am now looking at the rotating broom

 

[Robbie260]

I have the Sthil batteries already.
But even then the tool is costly compared to Makita where I can buy the complete set up for about the same as a bare tool from Sthil.

Makita ain't worth it a couple of friends have had them and they are finished within a year, worn out completely.

 

[Blobber]

Battery stuff just doesnt do it for me, I can be using the tools for a good few hours and a good few acres away from anywhere to charge up, can of fuel and your off again!
The thing people forget about 2 stoke stuff is to give the tool a good shake before you start it, the oil splits out and it can be the first thing the carb sucks in so it aint gona start! servicing as well even if its just clean the air filter and plug

 

[8ob]

I would come back to total carnage with even thing strimmed to death by getting to close to trees, Polly tunnels pots etc.

Sounds like they have you trained, I would stand over them until they got the message I think you should be having a serious look about the place with the view to getting everything a bit more manageable.

Bob