May 2008
Features that count
These conveniences save time and effort
Straight or curved shaft. Each transfers power to the cutting head. Straight shafts tend to have a longer reach; curved shafts tend to be easier to
handle. All have curved shafts but the Echo SRM-210i; John Deere LT105SLE; Stihl FS 110 RZ and FS 55 RC Easy2Start; Husqvarna
125L; Weed Eater FeatherLite SST25; Homelite MightyLite UT21546; Troy-Bilt TB70SS, TB465SS, and TB45e; Ryobi SS30 Trimmer
RY30040; Poulan Pro PPB250E; Craftsman 79187 and 79107; and Black & Decker ST4500.
Rotating head. Lets you turn the trimmer for edging without having to change the handle position. You'll find it on the Cub Cadet 4125; Homelite MightyLite UT21566; Troy-Bilt TB20CS, TB70SS, and TB45e; Craftsman 79614, 79103, 79187, 79107, and 74540; Ryobi Trimmer RY30020 and SS30 Trimmer RY30040; Poulan Pro PPB150E and PPB250E; Weed Eater TE475Y; Black & Decker GH1000, ST4500, and Grass Hog NST2018; and Worx WG103 and WG150.
Easy starting. The gas Stihl FS 45 C Easy2Start, FS 46 C Easy2Start, and FS 55 RC Easy2Start; Echo SRM-210i; John Deere LT105CLE and LT105SLE; Troy-Bilt TB20CS, TB70SS, and TB465SS; and Craftsman 79614 and 79187 have spring-assisted pull-starting. The Troy-Bilt TB20CS and TB70SS offer a simplified three-step starting system.
Clutch. Stops a gas trimmer's cutting head when the engine is idling or being started to prevent kicking up dirt or accidental contact. Electric trimmers stop when you release the trigger. Gas models without a clutch include the Bolens BL100; Homelite MightyLite UT21546 and UT21506; WeedEater SST25, FX26, FS26, an TE475Y; FeatherLite EL20; and Troy-Bilt TB46555.
Tangle protection. Long grass is less likely to wrap around trimmers' cutting heads that have a covered or closed shaft than those whose shaft is exposed. Tested string trimmers with a closed shaft scored well in our tests through tall grass and weeds.
Fixed-line head. These use strips of line instead of a spool, which can tangle and not release line. They're sold as add-ons for about $20. Tested models that have one are the Echo GT-200R and SRM-210i, Cub Cadet 4125, Troy-Bilt TB465SS, Poulan Pro PPB250E, and Craftsman 79187, 79107, and 74540.
Dual-line head. Two lines tend to cut more quickly and can handle heavier growth than single-line heads, since they do twice the work with each pass. All the gas models but the WeedEater FX26, TE475Y, and FeatherLite FL20; and the Homelite MightyLite UT21506 have this feature. Of electrics, only the Black & Decker GH1000, Stihl FSE 60, Troy-Bilt TB45e, Worx WG103, and Craftsman 74540 have it.
Rotating head. Lets you turn the trimmer for edging without having to change the handle position. You'll find it on the Cub Cadet 4125; Homelite MightyLite UT21566; Troy-Bilt TB20CS, TB70SS, and TB45e; Craftsman 79614, 79103, 79187, 79107, and 74540; Ryobi Trimmer RY30020 and SS30 Trimmer RY30040; Poulan Pro PPB150E and PPB250E; Weed Eater TE475Y; Black & Decker GH1000, ST4500, and Grass Hog NST2018; and Worx WG103 and WG150.
Easy starting. The gas Stihl FS 45 C Easy2Start, FS 46 C Easy2Start, and FS 55 RC Easy2Start; Echo SRM-210i; John Deere LT105CLE and LT105SLE; Troy-Bilt TB20CS, TB70SS, and TB465SS; and Craftsman 79614 and 79187 have spring-assisted pull-starting. The Troy-Bilt TB20CS and TB70SS offer a simplified three-step starting system.
Clutch. Stops a gas trimmer's cutting head when the engine is idling or being started to prevent kicking up dirt or accidental contact. Electric trimmers stop when you release the trigger. Gas models without a clutch include the Bolens BL100; Homelite MightyLite UT21546 and UT21506; WeedEater SST25, FX26, FS26, an TE475Y; FeatherLite EL20; and Troy-Bilt TB46555.
Tangle protection. Long grass is less likely to wrap around trimmers' cutting heads that have a covered or closed shaft than those whose shaft is exposed. Tested string trimmers with a closed shaft scored well in our tests through tall grass and weeds.
Fixed-line head. These use strips of line instead of a spool, which can tangle and not release line. They're sold as add-ons for about $20. Tested models that have one are the Echo GT-200R and SRM-210i, Cub Cadet 4125, Troy-Bilt TB465SS, Poulan Pro PPB250E, and Craftsman 79187, 79107, and 74540.
Dual-line head. Two lines tend to cut more quickly and can handle heavier growth than single-line heads, since they do twice the work with each pass. All the gas models but the WeedEater FX26, TE475Y, and FeatherLite FL20; and the Homelite MightyLite UT21506 have this feature. Of electrics, only the Black & Decker GH1000, Stihl FSE 60, Troy-Bilt TB45e, Worx WG103, and Craftsman 74540 have it.
