[Paulj]

I need to buy some tools that we have never required before.  Because of the size of the garden I think our simplest solution is to go with petrol equipment, but am not sure what I need to look out for in terms of ensuring I am buying something that will last a decent amount of time.  We need the following items:

- hedge trimmer
- Strimmer
- garden vac

Any advice much appreciated!

[carlrmj]

 Hi if you go to the ideal world website ryobi do a multitool
   
Ryobi RBC430SES Multitool with Reel Easy Line Trimmer and Tri Arc Brush Cutter Blade
£249.99


Ryobi Petrol Line Trimmer with Hedgecutter, Pruner and Brushcutter Attachments
£249.99

 I don't know if this is what you where thinking of ,or if the price is to much .

 On the ideal channel(22 I think) they sometimes do offers, a while back they did the above
 but also gave a garden vac in as well for 199.99 pounds.
  It might be worth checking if you could still get this at the cheaper price

 Hope it helps
 Cheers Carl 

[Paulj]

Are these all in one tools good?  I'd seen a couple on gumtree but Wasn't sure they would be worth it compared to dedicated tools.

[Gwiz]

They are good, but it depends on what make and how much you spend, how often you'll use it, and whether you can get it fixed for less than the price of a new one if it does pack up.
A lot of people like the Ryobi machine. I can't say too much about them, to be honest, as I don't see many.
I quite like the Mitox Multi tools in the bargain price range, but If I was wanting to keep the machine for any length of time, I'd buy the Stihl range as it's just built better than anything else on the market, but you do have to PAY for that quality.

[smud6ie]

Your title says buying second hand garden tools,  something to take into consideration,how often do you see members asking for help with stihl equipment?
My Son uses them and Kawasaki professionally and as yet has failed to kill one.

smud6ie

[Flatcat]

After owning Stihl equipment I would never settle for anything less

[allot2learn]

I've just got a qualcast electric hedge trimmer off flea bay for £10.50 and it's a good-un.  

[arugula]

We got a pre-loved Ryobi strimmer (Expand-It) from eBay a few years ago and its a great little machine.  I am guessing the same as the one already mentioned, but we've never obtained any of the alternative attachments. OH got it for a very good price as he won't pay over the odds.  It replaced a big, noisy old Stihl which was bigger than necessary at this property.

We recently sold a petrol hedge trimmer on eBay, for a good price.

[fatcat1955]

I have the Ryobi 30cc electric start trimmer. It is part of the expand it range, i have also purchased the rotovator, chaisaw and hedgetrimmer attachments. All were bought secondhand on ebay . They do exactly what they say on the box but don't compare them to professional make's. They are intended for amateur use around the garden/allotment.

[bainsk8]

I placed an add in the local news agents window asking for broken garden tools, "wanted for my own use".

I was given a petrol lawn mower, (Briggs and Stratton) that needed a bit of welding to the deck, and a new pull cord. Both of which I repaired myself, so far I have had two good years use from that and its still running good. I have just bought a new carburettor diaphragm, petrol bulb and air filter for it, which I will replace as part of an end of season maintenance.

I was also given a petrol strimmer, (JCB used once before being dropped) that also needed a small repair, which I fixed.

The rest I paid for, hoe, fork, axe, 2 x rakes, spade and shovel = £16.00 + 6 miles petrol to collect them and a couple of new wooden handles.

I prefer to reuse and fix things than buy new, not only because of the savings and the new lease of life they will get but also in most of the cases the quality of older items surpasses the cheap Chinese stuff that's churned out by today standards. Obviously there are a couple of exceptions to this but then to buy these quality items new is big bucks!

All in all I would say its something worth considering to do.