TexasCTD

I bought an Echo Straight Shaft Gas Weedeater and a Gas Edger from Home Depot 4.5 years ago. So far so good. I have done nothing to either one except add fuel and replace trimmer line/edger blade.

I'd buy them again if I needed too.

I remember that they were $200.00 each at the time.

I could have bought an Echo unit (weedeater) that had a detacheable head unit for $260 and then paid another $100 for the edger head. So I figured instead of worrying about swapping head units etc.......for $40 more I'd just buy two separate machines for the two jobs.

I think Echo makes pretty good stuff.

SuperDiesel

Most of the equipment mentioned here is commercial grade. I personally like Stihl and Red Max, but Echo and Shindawa are great also. Huskys are wonderful, but there are not that many dealers here in the south. According to the landscapers and tree arborist here in Texas, these are the best in their fields.

Trimmer: Stihl Fs250
Blower: RedMax EBz8000
Chainsaw: Stihl and Husqvarna
Engine Drill/Auger: Stihl bs45
Hedge Trimmer: Echo
Telescoping Pole Saw: Stihl

gatf4

I've got 8 years on my trimmer and no problems at all. I've never done anything but add line and fuel. It cuts through just about anything and I also use to to edge along my sidewalks. It'll dig down a few inches if your not careful From my experience I'd definetaley buy another one.

IA_James

Ok, got the first "real" use out of it today. Cleaned all the leaves around the yard up, using the blower tubes. Wound up with a pile of leaves and small sticks about 1'x10'x15'. Variety of maple and hackberry. 1/4 acre lot took me about 40 minutes to get it all blown together, and then another 15 to shred them all. Would have been probably right at a truckload pre-shredding, would have been about 2 1/2 garbage bags full after I was done with 'em. Echo claims 12:1 reduction in mass, I didn't see any reason to not believe them. Appeared to do a very effective job shredding anything but a cigarette pack I tried it out on.

Edit: I did have to refuel it with about 10 minutes worth of work to yet, it appears to hold approximately 1 hrs worth of fuel at full throttle.

phloop

How about some stick matches for them leave's? Lot's cheaper than a shredder.

IA_James

Not by the time I get a ticket for burning outside the specified time frame and outside of a burn barrel.

zfort001

I have used many of the echo products at my fathers house over the years. He has always bought commercial grade lawn equiptment every since he was in the landscaping biz starting almost 20 years ago. I can tell you that the gerenral upkeep is what keeps most machines in good order for years. he still has a backpack blower (echo) thats over 15 years old got dailey 3-4 hr use and still runs like a champ. and the chainsaws he has by echo all run after 10 years. overall good equiptment but he has told me that he has reciently noticed past 5 years or so even the comercial grade equiptment is going down hill and its almost like the high end homeowner equiptment from 10 years ago.