If you’ve spent any time on a commercial lawn care crew, you know that a solid, commercial string trimmer is a necessity.
In fact, string trimming a lawn usually takes just as much time as mowing it, which is why it’s imperitive for landscapers to have a heavy duty commercial trimmer.
Of course, even homeowners can benefit from a weed eater designed for commercial use. I’m long retired from the landscaping business, but I find that owning commercial grade power equipment pays off over time when it comes to durability, longevity, and ease of use, and a commercial grade weed wacker is no exception.
A solid commercial weed eater can help with taming overgrowth, edging, and reaching where the lawn mower can’t. In this article, I’ll go into what key features to look for in a commercial string trimmer, and my personal recommendations on what the best trimmers on the market are.
Quick Glance – My Top Picks
The Best Commercial Weed Eaters according to a real lawn care pro
1) Husqvarna 324l Straight Shaft 4 Stroke Weed Eater
As I mentioned in my post on 4 stroke weed eaters, the Husqvarna 324l is my pick for all-time best weed eater. It’s the one that I use around my house, it’s got a 4-stroke engine, and it’s really just a great all around commercial grade weed eater.
The Husqvarna has a 17 cutting swath, a bump feed, and an ergonomic grip. The weight is extremely balanced, making it easy to wield, and the X-Torq engine is both quiet and powerful. The X-Torq technology not only reduces emissions but cuts down on that awful smell. So not only do you not have to deal with the blue smoke of a 2-stroke engine, the only smell you get is that of freshly cut grass (one of my favorite smells, second only to brisket on the smoker).
This thing cuts through weeds and debris like a knife through hot butter; it’s almost a replacement for a brush cutter. It’s got a smart start, making it always start on the first pull. Plus it’s lightweight, especially compared to other straight shaft string trimmer models. The trimmer line spool is easy to replace, and in a pinch you can always use it as an edger. I’ve also never had issues with the carburetor, which is more than I can say for most weed eaters.
All in all, the Husqvarna 324L brings enough power for all commercial uses, and is incredibly easy to use making it my pick for the best commercial weed trimmer on the market.
2) Tanaka TCG24EBSP 2-Cycle Gas String Commercial Grade Trimmer
The Tanaka TCG24EPSP is a 2 stroke gas trimmer with a 23.9cc engine, a 4″ trimmer head, and a 7mm splined, solid steel straight shaft. It’s designed for commercial use, and carries a 2 year warranty for commercial use, a 7 year warranty for consumer use, and a lifetime drive shaft warranty.
There’s no doubt that the Takana is a commercial weed eater. Features include a rugged fuel tank protector to prevent wear and tear, an insulated drive shaft to minimize vibrations, and a aluminum clutch housing to prevent the clutch from overheating. It is a s-start recoil start up system, which makes the hassle of pull start much easier. This gas string trimmer has plenty of power to cut through weeds, brush and sod edges and will stand the test of time even while used on a daily basis. It has a 17″ cutting swatch. You won’t go wrong with the Tanaka tcg24ebsp.
3) Hitachi CG23ECPSL Straight Shaft Commercial Weed Eater
The Hitachi CG23ECPSL is another great commercial weed trimmer. It’s got a 60 inch shaft, a solid steel drive shaft, a 17″ and a 22.5cc two-stroke engine.
The loop handle makes it incredibly easy to wield. In fact, this Hitachi is one of the easiest to maneuver weed whackers out of all the ones we evaluated. It’s a bit longer than most other models, so if you’re taller that’s great. It also makes it easier to cut under bushes or reach into tight areas. Cutting width and engine size are pretty standard.
The anti-vibration system that the Hitachi comes with only adds to the usability. The only downside to this one is the tap and go feed head, which isn’t my personal favorite. You can always replace the cutting head if need be, or just live with the tap and go cutting head.
How To Choose A Commercial Weed Eater
Before we dive into the best weed eaters, here are a few things to keep in mind when going for a commercial grade weed eater.
1. Get a specialty string trimmer…not a 4-in-1
Many weed eaters out on the market come with detachable heads to turn them into saws, blowers, edgers, and other tools. That’s not what you want in a commercial trimmer.
As a professional landscaper, you’re trimming at least a dozen lawns a day and you make your money on how efficiently you get in and out. You can’t afford to use some crappy Black & Decker tool that has a dozen different attachments. No, you need a weed eater that best in class. You can go years without needed a powered hedge trimmer or tiller, but you can’t go a day without a string trimmer so make sure you get the best one possible.
2. Get a gas-powered weed eater. 2 stroke or 2 stroke.
A cordless battery powered weed eater simply ain’t going to cut it. You don’t have the time to put it on the charger, and the power simply isn’t up to snuff, so forget about any dreams of using a battery-powered weed eater. Any commercial weed eater is going to have a gas engine.
As far as 4 cycle vs 2 cycle goes, that’s up to you.
4 cycle weed eaters don’t require fuel mixing, are generally quieter, and don’t blow that awful blue smoke. Just keeping one gas can in the truck (and not risking confusion) is reason enough for me to go with a 4 stroke. However, because 4 stroke engines by default are higher torque / lower speed, you generally have to pay a premium to get a powerful enough motor, which means more fuel usage.
On the other hand, 2-stroke weed eaters are going to be less expensive, more fuel efficient, and more options available. At the end of the day, it’s up to you.
3. Have a realistic budget.
A commercial weed eater that can endure heavy workloads and long hours of use is doing to cost you a premium. If landscaping is your business, a $99 Greenworks from Walmart simply isn’t going to cut it. The very best commercial weed eaters for lawn care professionals are usually priced somewhere in between $250 to $400, but investing in the right tool will save you money in the long run.
4. Go with a straight shaft.
Curved shafts do have some advantages, but generally speaking all lawn and landscape professionals use straight shaft weed eaters. They are simply easier and faster to use, and are more versatile. You can better reach under bushes, clear brush, and even cut edges better with a straight shaft. In all my years as a landscaper, I never once saw a professional use a curved shaft trimmer.
How to Use a Commercial String Trimmer
If you’re a professional using a weed eater, you need to balance both speed and precision. Speed because that’s how you make a profit, and precision because the look of the lawn is what keeps customers coming back.
See the video below by Lawn Care Life for more on using a commercial weed whacker.
Table of Contents
