I used a rented Stihl today on my overgrown construction site. It had a 3 blade head with the bicycle handbars. It went ok, seemed to have a small gas tank but as it keeps the weight down and I have an herniated disk that's ok. Starting was a big tricky though. I have lots and lots of huge....road hemp? Sort of looks like marijuana. Some of the stalks were probably 2-3" at the bottom. Also lots and lots of button weed (?) as in I felt like a forester at times. If I fell down I didn't think anyone would find me. Did good on the big weeds but the grass would slow it up oddly enough. I didn't want to have to buy one but think I might have to break down. I would like the lightest weight model, safety and this sort of brush cutting power. Sounds like the Stihl or Tanaka are favorites here. No Craftsman? I have no idea where to get these other than looking at the big box stores. Mary

I pasted from another site: topsites LawnSite Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond Virginia Posts: 13,619 Quote: Originally Posted by IRRITECH Rebuild your old equipment???? You mean you don't run right out and finance a brand new widget if the old one burps. I don't get the satisfaction I used to get out of doing that anymore. Bastards, just to get the coil replaced under warranty I have to pay them for the labor of installing it! They say it's the only way they can tell for sure the old coil is (was) bad, fine. But it costs almost as *(&%^ much as just ordering the coil. Which I can do that right from here, get it in the mail in a few days and install it. All in all that's no worse than to have to drive back-and-forth to the dealer. Then the last time I went through this nonsense it appears they didn't adjust the coil gap right! I just figured that out couple of weeks ago, pure chance, after the trimmer sat for another year not running. I had figured it would never run again... See... When I take a piece of equipment in... It costs dang near $120 every single time, lets not forget the $9 copper core spark plug. Do that 3-4 times and I could've bought a new one, but they crap out, too. So for the same money, I can just order a carb and a coil. The next trimmer I order, if I ever order another one (since I got all 3 of mine running now). Won't be coming from no local dealer. Because a few weeks ago I was so frustrated I was GOING to just get a new one. And I drove out there, walked in, only two people in front of me but way things were going... It didn't take long for me to see it would take an HOUR just to get service. I walked back out, didn't want it no more. It was that evening I decided to work on my old, non-running stuff. Now I got my dang running trimmers, took some time and doing but it wasn't as expensive. And this lesson is going to repeat itself time and again. Until service and workmanship and quality AND prices improve. Which, I won't hold my breath.

Ehh I.M.O both Stihl and Shindaiwa are neck & neck "hybrid-4 is just a fancy name like 4-mix is for Stihl" they both work exactly the same. Ohh yeah and a correction I have Br600 blowers not 500 it just says magnum on the cover I thot they were 500's this whole time.. Since we've been looking at some interesting engines lately that take the road less traveled, a comment by rafe03 on this story about this hybrid engine that needs no oil in the crankcase and no oil pump either, but it operates as a 4 stroke. The fuel mix lubricates the engine like a 2 stroke. The fuel mix is drawn in through the crankcase and, by a very roundabout way, makes its way to the intake port, lubricating everything along the way. There's an animation on the Stihl site. "Cue Link" (http://www.stihl.ca/4mix/english/stihl4mix/mixprinzip.htm) And now you have whats called a 4-mix engine. Which is just basically a hybrid 2-stroke engine posing as a 4-stroke and with the power 2 back it up. Life used to be so simple, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, diesel. Now we have 2 and 4 stroke hybrids, 6 strokes, external combustion engines ..., and turbines and electrics and hybrids.

Their all good in the $300-$400 price range. Stihl, Echo, Redmax, Tanaka, Maruyama, Kawasaki, on & on.