Stihl FCB-KM - Bent Shaft Edge Trimmer

Didn't buy one yet – I tested one out in the store and I agree. I'm too tall to hold it comfortably. The motor was pressing into my rib cage. It's also expensive - it's $800 for the motor & edger. I think another brand would suit me better. I didn't buy it but I'll look around and for now, I'll use my electric edger.  Show details

I'm just an average height guy! – Agree about the bending over problem. Purchased mine and found I was getting a saw back from using the snippet attachment. Consulted Stihl Aust about any recommendations for ergonomics setup to which they had no information... I expected much better than this from Stihl, a reputable company. Stihl replied to me via email.  Show details

Great stihl quality, but design could be better – FCB-KM Edger KombiTool Been meaning to get this for a while, as I'm very happy with the rest of the tools and motor. Tossing up between the straight and bent shaft models, decided to go with the bent shaft. Aside from the shaft and gearbox, they are almost identical, but one has an offset bent shaft and the blade spins at twice the revs. And is… Read more

$150 cheaper, which is why I chose it. Reluctantly as the same tool sells in the US and UK for 56% of the Aussie price. This makes me feel ripped off by Stihl. Could have had it delivered to the door from the UK for the same price within a week. The tool plugged right in and worked well when I was edging along a brick path, with the machine on the right side as per operating instructions, with the wheel on the paving. However, this orientation proved to only work for less than half of my edges. Where I've got walls and hedges along the edge, I would have had to stand on the wall or hedge which of course is not practical. So I ended up holding the machine on my left, which is a bit cumbersome as the bent shaft sticks out away from me and I'm working left handed. Pity it can't be made left or right handed to suit. The other alternative is to run the wheel on the grass side rather than the brick edge, but at the expense of a more bumpy uneven ride and cut. The straight shaft may have been a better choice, but at $400, including the Australia premium of 44% rip off, I couldn't stomach it.

Good for average height people – Brought this last year and found that its really hard to use with out bending over a lot, the construction of it is good and price is good for what you get but other than that I could never use it.