Weed Trimmer from Sears... Need help...

[spacescape]

Purchased this weed trimmer about 18 months ago and it just died.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-18v-cordl...0P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Sears sent me a $63 gift card instead of repairing it so I'd like to use that to get a replacement ASAP (before sears goes out of business or something...). So, looking for some advice on what I should get for $100ish. My yard is not very large but I really don't think I want to deal with a corded and not sure I want to "try" the battery route again. But, open to suggestions.

Looking at this one...

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-25cc-2-cy...P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

and this one...

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-31cc-2-cy...0P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

I could just get a long cord and go with this one and save the $$$$.

http://www.sears.com/black-decker-14-in-...0P?prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=G7

I guess I could use the $63 on something else and just get a weed trimmer from wherever I want.

[Black]

You are not going to get a decent gas trimmer in that price range.
The cordless Black and Decker gets poor reviews as well. I'd go for a better cordless model. This one gets very good reviews:
http://www.sears.com/black-decker-12inch...011x000001&kpid=07174445000&kispla=07174445000P

[mattkime]

I knew this thread wasn't going to live up to my expectations from the title.

[graylocks]

i am so tired of B&D junk. i have had 2 corded ones from Sears that did not last very long and not worth the hassle of getting Sears to honor the warranty. the cordless B&D (24V) is great for the 10 minutes it runs and then it takes hours, HOURS, for the battery to recharge. i've had it.

earlier this week i ordered a Ryobi electric from Home Depot. i already have the cords and it's not a big deal. hope it last longer than B&D ever did for me. (tried gas years ago. too much starting hassle as i couldn't afford a good one.)

[Black]

Black and Decker is kind of a crap shoot-- just depends on which particular factory an item comes out of IMO. I have a mower a tenant gave me that just keep on ticking. I think you always get into trouble when you try to offer a cordless product at a low price point.

[spacescape]

So, no $100ish gas trimmer is good? I kind of agree with B&D.... But, still kind of tempting. If I want a corded one which one should I look at? What should I look for?

[graylocks]

this is what i ordered from Home Depot. Reviews were decent. it gets to me mid week. we'll see how it lasts.

Ryobi 7.5 Amp Electric String Trimmer


Amazon had an Earthworks that was well reviewed however no one had replacement spools and it seemed self winding was a pain.

[Black]

spacescape wrote:
So, no $100ish gas trimmer is good? I kind of agree with B&D.... But, still kind of tempting. If I want a corded one which one should I look at? What should I look for?

There's a common thread in the reviews you linked...some of them are problematic from the start, and some of them work OK and die after a year or so.

Corded: In my experience, the smaller the gauge of trim line, the harder they tend to be to wind yourself (successfully). So for anything .65 and under your main criterion should be easy availability of replacement spools. Would help to have a picture of what it is you're using it for. Edging lawns? Zapping "new" weeds? Trimming tough weeds with woody stems mixed in?

[Octave Doctor]

A corded trimmer seems like the best solution. I've had several gas trimmers, and they'd all have trouble starting or re-starting. By the time I'd get them running, the electric would've had the job done.

[srf1957]

Used to work at a sears dealer store. People would buy the $70 dollar weedeater brand and bring them back. The service people didn't want to work on them so threw them into dumpster. Took 4 home used two for extra parts but got all running. I've had them 6 years.
More a case of operator error on mixing gas either to lean and seizing the piston or to much oil and gumming everything up.