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Replies

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  Ben OBrien November 15, 2012 at 8:28pm

  Hi Alex, I've recently purchased a stihl 130 combi with strimmer / brush cutter and hedge trimmer attachments, which compared to my old strimmer is a joy to use makes much lighter work of jobs which used to be a pain and worth every penny
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  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd November 15, 2012 at 8:43pm

  I have a 52cc Kawasaki strimmer which is the business. I also have a Stihl FR480 (back pack model) which is also the business.
  
  The Stihl is definitely more powerful despite having a smaller engine but the kawasaki is much cheaper to purchase.
  
  If I was going to be strimming all day, every day then I would get the Stihl. If I wanted a beefy strimmer for semi regular or occasional use then the kawasaki is fine.
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  Brian www.mibservices.co.uk November 15, 2012 at 8:43pm

  A certain amount of snobbery and crap customer service. They are good kit, I have several of their machines. But I certainly dont rate them any better than my Husqy, Echo, Kawa, Honda or any of my other kit. Most people have favorite manufacturers for certain bits of kit, for strimmers mine is Robin.
  Stihl spare parts are a pain to get quickly, thats my biggest gripe with them oh and their expensive. Each to their own though :-)
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  Dan Frazer Gardening November 15, 2012 at 8:51pm

  Echo brushcutters are excellent, smooth, slim and powerful. I'd simply suggest buying what you can service easily (what brands do your local machinery place stock and service?).
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  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd November 15, 2012 at 8:59pm

  I would say that my local Stihl dealer is rubbish for spares but slightly further afield Briants offer a next day mail order service....or you can buy bits over the counter.
  
  I have yet to order something that isn't in stock - including a nozzle for Stihl BR400 blower which hasn't been manufactured for years....
  
  Their website is here http://www.briantsltd.co.uk/
  
  Nick
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  briggsandscrapem November 15, 2012 at 9:06pm

   No snobbery here. Stihl's just another brand, we're Echo lads in the briggs camp.
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  Alex Brown November 15, 2012 at 10:24pm

  Thanks for all your replies, interesting to see all the different makes people use! Looking at a Husqvarna 345rx now, anyone used/have one? Thanks again!
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  David Benson November 15, 2012 at 11:40pm

  i have used husky strimmers for the last 15 years no real probs they went off the boil a bit when electalucks bought them but now its back to husky i Manley use the line but have used the metal blade and saw blade all work well. stihl went off the boil a couple of years ago but i think they have got there act together again. sales of new machinery is slow so a good discount can be obtained
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  Matthew Crudgington November 16, 2012 at 12:03am

  i'm in the same situation, i've used stihl gear but have got feed up of waiting for parts.  Had a look at honda strimmers but the weight was quite heigth.  The best one i've found so far is tanaka, the commerical warranty is greater than most offer, 2yrs pro use on the top end stuff and costs less than stihl.  nowadays i tend to stick to the japanese stuff, light, well made, good warranty.  Husky is good aswell got a little 120 strimmer still working at over 12yrs old.
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  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance November 16, 2012 at 10:49am

  I have had husqy brushcutters since i started. Two models i remember fondly were the 39r and 240r. Still using the 240r - 40cc and big enough for everything i have had to tackle so far including the use of a saw blade for small trees.