Features and range of Stihl brushcutters

Many of us are associated with the garden, some at the dacha level, and some at the professional level. Nevertheless, we all face the problem of pruning bushes and young trees. Giving them an aesthetic appearance is also an extremely important issue, and their fertility depends on cutting plants. By purchasing a special tool, a brush cutter, you can do this painstaking work without any effort.

The main feature of hedge trimmers is their versatility in terms of use - they will replace your garden shears, a hacksaw, and, if necessary, a scythe. Today we will talk about hedge trimmers from Stihl - one of the world leaders in the production of various garden tools, such as hedge trimmers, motorcycle scissors, brushcutters. Brush cutters, like many tools, are classified into several categories:

• by appointment: professional or semi-professional tool;
• by type of power supply: battery, electric or gasoline.

Such hedge trimmers have many advantages over their counterparts on the market:

• some of the best materials are used in the manufacture;
• ensures the reliability of the tool under any load;
• ease of use and ease of mastering the tool;
• ergonomic design;
• the ability to solve a wide range of tasks.

As with any power tool powered by electricity or gasoline, the main technical characteristics are:

• engine power;
• spindle speed;
• the ability to work with prolonged loads;
• reproducible noise level;
• total tool length;
• vibration level;
• cutting diameter;
• the weight;
• engine displacement and tank volume (for gasoline models);
• protection against overheating, short circuit, jamming.

At the moment, the range of hedge trimmers from the Stihl company includes a variety of products - from low-power and light hedge trimmers for summer residents to professional and semi-professional tools with increased power and different cutting blades.

The smallest model in the line of hedge trimmers from Stihl is the FS 350. It is a gasoline hedge trimmer with a 2.2 liter engine. s, and its main purpose is mowing dense grass cover, hard thickets, bushes. A tried and tested machine, you can often see it in front of utility workers while mowing lawns.

Additional functions:

• ElastoStart soft start system, which softens jerky jerks at start;
• decompression valve;
• compensator for adjusting the oversaturation of the fuel mixture when the air filter is clogged.

Specifications:

• engine displacement - 40.2 cm3;
• fuel tank volume - 0.64 l;
• engine power - 1.6 / 2.2 kW / hp. with;
• the maximum number of revolutions is 9 thousand per minute;
• weight - 7.3 kg;
• cutting diameter - 420 mm.

The FS-400 model is a more powerful modification of the FS-350 model, it has a high power engine - 2.6 liters. with. The tool is already positioned as a professional one, perfect for clearing the area from shrubs and young trees with a trunk up to 7 cm thick, cutting grass and bushes on the side of the road.Often used in forestry and road services.

Specifications:

• engine volume - 40.2 cm3;
• tank volume - 0.66 l;
• engine power - 1.9 / 2.6 kW / hp. with.;
• the maximum number of engine revolutions - 9 thousand per minute;
• weight - 8 kg.

Among the advantages are the sealed electronic ignition system, which provides the ability to work in all weather conditions, and the ElastoStart soft start system, which softens the jerky jerks at start.

Disadvantages of the model: high fuel consumption and high noise level, which makes buying protective hearing accessories for professional use.

The next model, FS-450, is a fully professional tool with a powerful motor. It is designed for mowing forest crops, primary thinning, cutting off knotty bushes. Features an advanced anti-vibration system for worker comfort. The T-bar is paired with an adjustable bar to make working with the hedgecutter comfortable and easy even for a beginner. There is also a shortened modification of this model - FS-450K, characterized by a shorter stem length, which gives the worker more maneuverability during the mowing process.

Specifications:

• engine power - 2.1 / 2.9 kW / hp. with.;
• engine volume - 44.3 cm3;
• fuel tank volume - 0.66 l;
• the number of revolutions - 9 thousand per minute;
• weight - 8 / 8.1

Advantages:

• ergonomic design;
• multifunctional handle with control of all functions of the brush cutter;
• four-point vibration damping system in the handle;
• tightness of the electronic start-up system of the brush cutter, ensuring operation in all weather conditions;
• long-term operation in intensive mode.

The disadvantages include high fuel consumption.

One of Stihl's best hedgecutters is the FS-490 C-EM, renowned for its powerful engine and the new, fully electronic M-Tronic engine management system, which dramatically increases the reliability of the hedgecutter, especially when combined with the new ErgoStar starting system. ... These qualities take the hedge trimmer to a new level of convenience and comfort, while improving the performance of the model compared to the previous "generation".

Specifications:

• engine power - 2.4 / 3.3 kW / hp. with.;
• engine displacement - 52 cm3;
• fuel tank volume - 0.99 l;
• cutting diameter - 480 mm;
• the number of revolutions - 9.5 thousand per minute;
• weight - 9.1 kg.

The advantages of this model include a more powerful engine, the latest engine control systems and a starting device, a convenient ergonomic design, an increased cutting diameter, and a low vibration level. Among the disadvantages are the increased noise level (116 dB), high fuel consumption, expensive saw blades.

The flagship of Stihl's brushcutters is the FS-560 C-EM, the most powerful and newer brushcutter ever, with a reinforced 38mm stem and improved design. This model is perfect for constant use as a tool for cleaning young forest areas, roadside thickets, clearing land for construction.

Specifications:

• engine power - 2.8 / 3.8 kW / hp. with.;
• rotation frequency - 8750 per minute;
• engine displacement - 57.1 cm3;
• fuel tank volume - 0.99 l;
• weight - 10.2 kg.

Also in the line of hedge trimmers you can find a range of cordless garden shears, this is an indispensable assistant for decorative pruning of bushes or leveling grass in hard-to-reach places - for example, in a corner near a house, where you cannot pick up with a brush cutter because of its size. The HSA-25 models are especially popular, they are compact and convenient. Unlike brushcutters, they run on batteries and do not generate this level of noise.

Specifications:

• battery technology - lithium-ion;
• cutting length - 20 cm;
• distance between blades (cutters) - 19 mm;
• total tool length - 50 cm;
• battery life - up to 110 minutes.

Among the disadvantages are short battery life, high cost, and high cost of cutters.

When choosing a suitable hedgecutter model, you need to consider for what purpose you need it. If for rare mowing, then it is better to take models that are less powerful, but also less expensive, the quality in this case will not suffer. You should also take into account the variability of additional accessories for your model: saw blades, glasses, replaceable protection for the hedge cutter, since a stationary one sometimes bursts when fragments, headphones or earplugs hit.

One of the most important rules for the operation of this technique is the observance of safety measures. Be sure to check the blade guard for intactness and never work without the guard. Wear safety goggles to keep small elements out of your eyes and earplugs, otherwise your hearing may be impaired.

In the next video you will find an overview of the professional hedgecutters Stihl FS 400, FS 400K, FS 450L and FS 450K.