Petrol Strimmers

I need a petrol strimmer and i am completely baffled as to what i need.

I'm going to be the one using it so it can't be too heavy and it needs to be fairly heavy duty as i have a field of weeds to maintain about in about a 3rd of an acre. ( i'm slowly converting it to kitchen garden and orchard.

does anyone have any advice? local DIY stores worse than useless, as they thought i was a mad woman asking to try on harnesses!

thanks Jo

Hi Jo,

Can't really be much help I'm afraid,except to say don't get a Flymo XLT - I did because it seemed just the job and was quite cheap - but it's been difficult to use and has needed fixing twice. I think the moral is buy the best you can afford.

Hi Jo, have you considered using a scythe, instead? Nice article here

Kate

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/brush-cutter-trimmer.asp

Think about whether you want a strimmer or a brushcutter.The latter is more expensive but has interchangeable heads so you can replace the plastic corded strimmer head with a metal blade that will cut through tree saplings up to an inch thick. I had a Ryobi brushcutter and it was terrific for shifting brambles and saplings as well as grass and soft weeds. I had to clear several acres of rough growth under trees in a woodland and it lasted me for 15 years. The shoulder strap balances it so that it is easy to manipulate. 

I have recently begun a gardening business so i was comparing alot of mowers trimmers and strimmersa etc i decided on a macalister petrol strimmer from b and q they are by no means a large brand but at £100 i am rather pleased its heavy duty and great and clearing large areas double outlet bump release syetem to only down fall there is no harness but i made one 

I have a Stihl split shaft, with an attachment for strimmer and brush cutter, but then I bought an attachment for the strimmer so it takes 3 or 6 lengths of strim line. Don';t use the brushcutter much as the strimmer has either 6 or 12 blades with the lines. The Oh can't use it, says it's too heavy, but I am only 5'3 and don't have a problem. I can't abide the harnesses either. But I spose it is a heavy bit of kit. But once you get used to it it's fine.  I wouldn't buy anything froma DIY store for heavy duty work like a field. It needs to be a good machine and you get what you pay for.

google sthil model fs50 and see what you think around £200 but as previous backyardee says you get what you pay for