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• PRO

  Andrew Watts February 15, 2016 at 9:51pm

  I tested the stihl electric strimmer with backpack and was impressed.

  If petrol, I'd probably go for the fs 56 striaght shaft and no bull horn bars if turning.
• PRO

  Richard Gadsby February 15, 2016 at 10:01pm

  I would get the 40 or even the 38 but I use shears rather than turning the machine. It does not take long with practice and for me at least the finish is better. It only take 10 minutes on the biggest lawn I cut.
  I think the bent shaft may be easier to turn over for the edges?
  • 

    Colin Hunt > Richard Gadsby February 17, 2016 at 4:59pm

    I agree Richard, you really can't beat an edge finished with side shears. I have never seen the point of shaving a few minutes off a job if it means the finish suffers.    
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  Niall Hamilton February 15, 2016 at 10:07pm

  I use a tanaka 230, had it for 3 years.
  Great machine! and nice and light for cutting lawns all day.
  • 

    Graham Wright > Niall Hamilton February 15, 2016 at 10:08pm

    Same, great light strimmer, very reliable. Cheap too :)
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  Mitchel ingham February 15, 2016 at 10:27pm

  I've got Fs38 currently not very happy currently.
  
  So am i better off with straight shaft then bent shaft?
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    Graham Taylor > Mitchel ingham February 15, 2016 at 11:02pm

    You should be alright with the bent shaft if it's just for very light use however there's a reason they put the straight shafts on the more expensive models........ the drive is a lot stronger as it doesn't have to flex round a bend. I'd recommend the most powerful of the 2-stroke (rather than the 4 stroke) models... FS94. Its a professional model which can cope with heavy work but is still very light with less vibration. If necessary, you can also attach a hedgecutting or polecutter attachment which can be very handy.  It really isn't worth scrimping for the sake of £100 or so.......... you buy the cheap one and you'll be cursing when it packs up with expensive repairs.  Like Richard, I prefer shears for the edging........... doesn't take long and a much better job.
  • 

    Graham Wright > Mitchel ingham February 17, 2016 at 9:00am

    Straight shaft is better all round really. If you flip a bent shaft you end up with the head in an awkward position.

    There's lots of vids on youtube showing the technique. It makes life easier if people don't want super crisp edges. If they do, that's when the edging shears come out :)
• PRO

  Seth Burgess February 15, 2016 at 11:32pm

  FS 70 / 94
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  matt evans February 16, 2016 at 7:03am

  Fs 55 I use for my domestic runs. Light enough to grab and quickly use round a lawn and powerful enough for some clearance work.
  
  
  I use a Fs410 for commercial use and it's a bad boy but to heavy for small gardens and faffing around with the harness would be a pain.