power tools for gardening

I am thinking of doing some contracting for other people who want there gardens tending. Does anybody know the most reliable mowers and strimmers etc to buy. I currently have a rotary petrol driven mower i bought on ebay last year, i think it's a Chinese import works well but the throttles not working at present. My budget for a new mower is around 250 - 300 pounds.I have found a petrol rotary made by mcculloch 18 inch self propelled with a rear roller for 274 pounds looks okay on the web. As for hedgetrimmers/ strimmers is ryobi a good make? Cant afford brand new stihl power tools maybe second hand off ebay though.

 

The most reliable mowers are IMO Etesia and trust me Ive used most of the Pro spec machines ie honda, hayter.

Etesia machines will cut very long and even soaking grass, something cheap machines will not. Ive cut and collected 9" of wet uncut lush lawn grass without any blocking b4 using my big etesia.

As For strimmers on a budget go for a stihl FS85.

I use an Etesia PRO 51 K and a Husquvarna 345 RX clearing saw, The 345RX is the rolls royce of clearing saws and even has cruise control!.

The mower was �£1300 and the Husqy �£560 needles to say I didnt have a budget of �£300!!!! :D .

Ryobi or mculoch are not pro tools and will not last, Fine spend your �£300 but dont count on anything more than a season IF your lucky.

In your position Id either increase the budget and buy basic spec pro machines new or buy second hand pro kit eg ebay.

Second hand you can get a recon Etesia pro 46 mower for �£250ish and a FS 85 brush cutter for around �£200.

Remember, To start budgeting for replacement/ repair and keep a basic set of spares eg starter rope, plugs etc. Dont forget to maintain your machines, regular oil changes etc.

Dont price yourself too low, NO LESS than �£10 per hour.

 

Thakyou for the help. I will probably look for some tools on ebay or try local dealer. nick

 

PG. As always, your advice is appreciated. Thankyou from me, as well.

 

I would go with pro on most of that. I haven't used Etesia machines (they sound very good) but I have used Mountfield 18" 3.5hp for years and have always found them reliable. The thing to remember is that most makes have pro and domestic versions, if you are running a business it is worth going for the pro versions as they tend to be tougher and more reliable. I also don't think that a rear roller adds much unless you are running a cylinder mower.
Stihl strimmers are excellent (as are Tanaka) but if you are going for hedgecutters I would tend towards Westmac as they are lighter. The Stihl I used was too heavy to use for long

 

i have found that the older the machine the better it is . new stuff just isnt up to the job

i say go old and sort out it prbs . like look after it

ive just rotovated my allotment with a realy old bit of kit and it hasnt faltered once.(my allotment hasnt been dug for years and years). infact ive improved the machine from just using it and understanting it, we are at one now. search out some old machines and look after them

its a real old howard . but it works and it plods on like a real trouper

 

Master, to a point I agree with you and certainly with everyday stuff like spades etc.

That said, some of the advances in the top of the range profeshional two stroke equipment are amazing and I wouldnt want to use say an old chainsaw in comparison to the modern ones that are lighter stronger, significantly more powerfull and minimium vibration.

Those howards are excelent, one of the hire firms I use hires one and has had it for years, he rekons it just keeps going.

 

Yes! they were designed and built by engineers, not designed by someone who has never used one on the job and built by kids in an South East Asian country.

Does anyone remember Holtums "Trusty Tractor", I think that was probably the fore runner of the Howard. It was a two wheeled (or walking) tractor which had a single furrow plough mounted on it. It only ploughed the land.

I have seen similar tractors in Germany, made by Henschel and transported by smallholders on a trailer behind a Mercedes 200 Diesel Saloon. I believe they are popular in hilly areas as if they turn over on a slope, you can let go of them.