Well, I guess I feel more like a man today... or more Mexican according to some! :P

ryantt

@JohnnyTarheel do you have a kit to enhance your stripes or just the deck set with a quarter inch pitch.  I find my new mower does ok but not as nice as I expected.  Looking to add a rubber flap to the back of the deck to darken them up.  

JohnnyTarheel

@ryantt it is just slightly pitched.  exmark though is just great at striping.  They make a striping bar that can be added behind the rear wheels. I may consider adding that as my yard is very level.

tarheelmatt

ryantt said:

@JohnnyTarheel do you have a kit to enhance your stripes or just the deck set with a quarter inch pitch.  I find my new mower does ok but not as nice as I expected.  Looking to add a rubber flap to the back of the deck to darken them up.  

Best way is a roller instead of a flap.  

tarheelmatt

Cannot go wrong with that combo @cazzy !  As other stated, run non-ethanol in all your small engines.  

For the trimmer, a straight shaft has it's advantages: 

Can get under trees well. 

Can edge well

Shaft is solid


Some advantages of curved: 

Easier to use

Lighter

cazzy

Okay...I probably should have got the straight shaft.  I have a corner lot and have a lot to edge because of the side walk.  Maybe I'm not doing right cause that **** took forever.  

However...I think I should get this:

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/edgers/homeowner-edger/fc56ce/

Thoughts?

Jeremiah

Nice. I've got the same mower but the commercial version. Imo skip the stabil and ethanol treatments and use 0% ethanol gas. Your mower actually has a gas cut off that allows you to completely run the gas out of the bowl. But I don't even use it since I discovered winter rye. Give me a call. I kind of geek out on this stuff as you do with the A/V.

Eggcelsior

Cazzy, great choice on the Stihl. If I ever get a real house, that's all I'll use. I love that stuff.

ksmyrl

I have the same blower. Had it for 10 years. Starts on the 2nd pull every time. I love that dang toy. You'll enjoy it.

tarheelmatt

@cazzy the Stihl Kombi system allows you to have multiple heads that includes a trimmer and edger (there are many more for it).  

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/multi-task-tools/homeowner-kombisystem/km56rce/

tarheelmatt

ryantt said:

@JohnnyTarheel do you have a kit to enhance your stripes or just the deck set with a quarter inch pitch.  I find my new mower does ok but not as nice as I expected.  Looking to add a rubber flap to the back of the deck to darken them up.  

The quarter inch pitch isn't for striping purposes.  Having that allows your engine to work less and essentially cutting on the front edge instead of the entire blade (and un-sharpened places).  The blade will cut better if it slants forward.  The sharpened edge cuts a forward arc through the grass.  The rear will even pick up the stragglers that maybe the front didn't catch.  

For your stripes, it is all about how your mower does with vacuum and laying the grass over.  Some mowers have lots of vacuum (Exmark/Toro have lots) where some do not.  The vacuum depends a lot on the depth of the decks too.  Deeper the deck the more vacuum.  

Also, grass type and height of cut depends on your stripes.  Fescue lays sweet stripes where as bermuda and zoyisa are more difficult.  And obviously, the higher the better as more surface is laying over and more surface light hits the blade of grass.  

cazzy

tarheelmatt said:

@cazzy the Stihl Kombi system allows you to have multiple heads that includes a trimmer and edger (there are many more for it).  

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/multi-task-tools/homeowner-kombisystem/km56rce/

Well ****...that would have been great info when we talked about this.  I don't think I can return what I bought today.

Legume

The blower is great to get your eggs nuclear in no time, oh, nevermind, I forgot you bought a briquette burner and got rid of the eggs.

ryantt

tarheelmatt said:

ryantt said:

@JohnnyTarheel do you have a kit to enhance your stripes or just the deck set with a quarter inch pitch.  I find my new mower does ok but not as nice as I expected.  Looking to add a rubber flap to the back of the deck to darken them up.  

Best way is a roller instead of a flap.  

Thanks for the feed back, I didn't see a roller kit for mine, maybe a can modify the scagg rollers or get the big league lawn kit.  

ryantt

cazzy said:

Okay...I probably should have got the straight shaft.  I have a corner lot and have a lot to edge because of the side walk.  Maybe I'm not doing right cause that **** took forever.  

However...I think I should get this:

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/edgers/homeowner-edger/fc56ce/

Thoughts?

It's nice but you can lay a nice edge with curved shaft.  Flip it over so the string runs at 90 to the lawn and run a line.  Takes a little time and practice but once it's in a quick once over every cut keeps it looking good.  

tarheelmatt

cazzy said:

tarheelmatt said:

@cazzy the Stihl Kombi system allows you to have multiple heads that includes a trimmer and edger (there are many more for it).  

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/multi-task-tools/homeowner-kombisystem/km56rce/

Well ****...that would have been great info when we talked about this.  I don't think I can return what I bought today.

Well, you're probably right, but I didn't know you wanted an edger too!  If you went to a dealer, I bet they would do something for you.  

tarheelmatt

ryantt said:

tarheelmatt said:

ryantt said:

@JohnnyTarheel do you have a kit to enhance your stripes or just the deck set with a quarter inch pitch.  I find my new mower does ok but not as nice as I expected.  Looking to add a rubber flap to the back of the deck to darken them up.  

Best way is a roller instead of a flap.  

Thanks for the feed back, I didn't see a roller kit for mine, maybe a can modify the scagg rollers or get the big league lawn kit.  

Scag's have their own roller stripe kit I am pretty sure.  Scags aren't known for their striping capabilites, but are solid units and cut very good too.  

Doc_Eggerton

My yard, my grass grows so strong I should resort to sheep, or maybe horses to keep things in check.  When we moved in I tried my trusty Lawnboy, which choked and died after  three feet.  I got a Troybilt 33" Widebody and it does the job well.  My other yard tools are all Stihl.  You chose well. 

cazzy

Legume said:

The blower is great to get your eggs nuclear in no time, oh, nevermind, I forgot you bought a briquette burner and got rid of the eggs.

Or lump and wood!  The eggs are still mine....I should use them a lot this summer.

cazzy

ryantt said:

cazzy said:

Okay...I probably should have got the straight shaft.  I have a corner lot and have a lot to edge because of the side walk.  Maybe I'm not doing right cause that **** took forever.  

However...I think I should get this:

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/edgers/homeowner-edger/fc56ce/

Thoughts?

It's nice but you can lay a nice edge with curved shaft.  Flip it over so the string runs at 90 to the lawn and run a line.  Takes a little time and practice but once it's in a quick once over every cut keeps it looking good.  

I did that but I think my big hiccup is I wasn't walking backwards.  Saw some YouTube videos and the technique was much different than what I was doing. Lol

Skiddymarker

Nice toys Cazzy. Look around and if you can buy real gas, beyond me why “Mericans burn good corn alcohol instead of taking it to the next step..... Here we use Chevron high test, no ethanol. look here:
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=TX
And in my neighbourhood, Mexicans don’t do yard work, that’s for the Taiwanese and Japanese..... 

tarheelmatt

cazzy said:

ryantt said:

cazzy said:

Okay...I probably should have got the straight shaft.  I have a corner lot and have a lot to edge because of the side walk.  Maybe I'm not doing right cause that **** took forever.  

However...I think I should get this:

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/edgers/homeowner-edger/fc56ce/

Thoughts?

It's nice but you can lay a nice edge with curved shaft.  Flip it over so the string runs at 90 to the lawn and run a line.  Takes a little time and practice but once it's in a quick once over every cut keeps it looking good.  

I did that but I think my big hiccup is I wasn't walking backwards.  Saw some YouTube videos and the technique was much different than what I was doing. Lol

It can be done with a curved.  Personally, I wouldn't spend the coin on a dedicated unit.  I have a walk behind model that I never use anymore.  I just use my trimmer.  

Check this out... All you need is some socks and shoes like that guy. 

http://edgit.com/

https://youtu.be/algK_LyI3-A

cazzy

Jeremiah said:

Nice. I've got the same mower but the commercial version. Imo skip the stabil and ethanol treatments and use 0% ethanol gas. Your mower actually has a gas cut off that allows you to completely run the gas out of the bowl. But I don't even use it since I discovered winter rye. Give me a call. I kind of geek out on this stuff as you do with the A/V.

No doubt...I will give you a ring and will try to find 0% gas.

cazzy

tarheelmatt said:

cazzy said:

ryantt said:

cazzy said:

Okay...I probably should have got the straight shaft.  I have a corner lot and have a lot to edge because of the side walk.  Maybe I'm not doing right cause that **** took forever.  

However...I think I should get this:

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/edgers/homeowner-edger/fc56ce/

Thoughts?

It's nice but you can lay a nice edge with curved shaft.  Flip it over so the string runs at 90 to the lawn and run a line.  Takes a little time and practice but once it's in a quick once over every cut keeps it looking good.  

I did that but I think my big hiccup is I wasn't walking backwards.  Saw some YouTube videos and the technique was much different than what I was doing. Lol

It can be done with a curved.  Personally, I wouldn't spend the coin on a dedicated unit.  I have a walk behind model that I never use anymore.  I just use my trimmer.  

Check this out... All you need is some socks and shoes like that guy. 

http://edgit.com/

https://youtu.be/algK_LyI3-A

I will pick that up and will wear my cool socks when I use it.  Thanks!

Ozzie_Isaac

I love my Simplicity Walk-Behind.  It leaves beautiful stripes.

theyolksonyou

You guys need closer, retired FILS.  Haven't mowed my lawn in more than two years.   of course, I help him with stuff too. 

Ozzie_Isaac

theyolksonyou said:

You guys need closer, retired FILS.  Haven't mowed my lawn in more than two years.   of course, I help him with stuff too. 

My father is retired and I mow his lawn.  WTH!?  I'm getting the raw end of this deal.

NPHuskerFL

Aaah ****! Take em all back for a refund and find your local Mexican to do it for you while you light your Kingsford. 

Legume

Tons of experts here it sounds like, not me, but my understanding is most 2-cycle oil contains stabilizer.  Doesn't solve your ethanol issue or help with the mower, but check your oil.

Lit

Very nice. My leaf blower is the only thing I own that requires mixed so I decided to use the premixed bottles like SGH posted. I bought my leaf blower like 4-6 months ago and just finished the first bottle. Think it was like $6 and can sit for 2 years in the blower before it breaks down. For the mower make sure you run it out of gas before it ever gonna sit and it will last forever. My parents still have the same Honda I used to mow the grass with 20 years ago.

Skiddymarker

Forgot - Grass Gator twisted line is great, both 095 and 080 size - not sure what your gas trimmer uses.