Strimmer / trimmer - info required

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Mairin

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I need to buy a strimmer or trimmer as they are sometimes called. I have heard via the grapevine that the pull start ones are terribly hard to start. Apparently, the arm would be worn off you, just starting it. I need one for my father's garden. He is a man of 79 years - so I don't expect him to start it. On Saturday's, when I am down, some of my sisters are there but none of the husbands so isn't not that I can get a man to start it.

I see on the Woodies catalogue there is a Ryobi "Touch Start" Line Trimmer. Do any of you know if this is as simple as it sounds to start - i.e. press a button?
Any comments much appreciated.
 
If you only need it for light strimming around paths/kerbing a cordless electric one might do the job.
 
No -the garden is a half acre, to the left of the house so I would never get a cable long enough to get to the far side. Hence the need for one which allows me to move freely.
 
It's an exaggeration to say that they are terribly hard to start. They do involve a little bit of effort to start from cold, perhaps a dozen pulls, but you don't need a lot of power on each pull. Once they have been going, a single pull will usually re-start them.

Don't get the most powerful model, because a bigger engine needs a stronger pull. Anyway, a small engine will be enough for most garden purposes, and it's likely to be cheaper.

If you buy one, be sure to buy protective gear because of the possibility that it could kick up small stones. Wear wellies, gloves, and a face protector.
 
My dad has a very powerful petrol one, and I find it awful to start and very heavy to lift and carry. I have an electric flymo one for my own garden, and use a really long extension lead to do the front and back gardens, with no problems. I also stretch it across the road of my estate and do the green areas with no problems.
 
I have a homelite petrol one, much handier than the electric ones. Cant fault it in anyway, apart from the fact they are heavier.
 
Ah Padraigb, but you are a man! Bet you think starting a lawnmover is a piece of cake. In father's house, we (all the daughters) manage to flood the engine first trying to start it and have to wait half an hour or so before we try again. It's a drama in itself getting the lawnmower started. Some of the men who work with one of my sisters said that as hard as a lawnmower is to start, a strimmer is worse.
 
I am a retired man, not cut out for hard physical work (Herself will testify to that).

The effort involved in pull-starting any engine varies with the size of the engine, and I know from experience exactly what you mean about lawnmowers -- so I now have an electric-start mower. A small strimmer is far easier to start.
 
Would you not just pay a man to cut it initially and then keep it in shape with a lawnmower. I have an electric strimmer myself with an extra long lead. I am unable to start lawnmowers even the easy pull/easy start ones so I would stay away from the petrol strimmers.
 
Glad to see I'm not the only one with these problems. I have a bumby old country garden with natural hedges and all sorts of awkward stuff like trees in the middle of the lawn (about 0.3 of an acre)

I had a lovely black n decker rechargeable line cut strimmer and it was grand but the battery wouldn't last very long on each use and eventually wouldn't charge up to full power. MrRibena convinced me to get a big petrol yoke from woodies and I can barely lift it, can't figure out the harness and would be scared stiff if I got it started (which I can't so no worries). Of course, he promised me he'd do all the strimming but that was before his work took him away from home.

I really need one because the garden is still really untidy even after mowing the lawn. If anyone could recommend a model, it would be brill.
 
Our local residents association bought a Stihl Strimmer a year or so ago.

Haven't looked back since - haven't stopped strimming since either! :)

Meant to be good, and have several attachments for heavier work.

Around a grand if I recall correctly, but meant to be a good product.
 
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