Bloody customs...!!
Ahwell I'll see how I go in my search.
I wonder why it's taken them so long to bring it to Australia? Since they've been available in other markets since 2013??
I'd be curious to know whether they have tweaked anything for the Aussie market/work conditions...
Thanks for the update on the Stihl gear
steveo. I guess that pretty much agrees with what the magazine review was saying about "prosumer" build quality? Although I still have no doubt that they'd get the job done.
edbeek, if you really want a surprise - check on the price of the largest Pellenc backpack battery...
The residential grade Husky line trimmer, yeah I wouldn't be keen on that either. It uses older tech, brushed motor so it won't last as long and will use more power for the same output.
Can't remember where I saw it - but pretty darn sure the pro line trimmer (536LiL) can take up to 2.4mm line. The accessories listed on the product webpage shows the Husky XP Force line which is 2.6mm. The product page also lists different trimmer heads and even blades as accessories so I've gotta find out if that's right, or whether they just haven't properly updated the web page yet.
Have you checked out the YouTube videos showing the 536LiR in action? It looks like it can get through some pretty tough stuff! And I guess I found an answer to the question about different heads - this one uses a blade on thick grass/weeds and some other kind of disc on weeds growing in a gutter?!?
The more I see... the more I'm convinced!
Also a note on the Husky batteries - they all have built in cooling, both the individual batteries and the backpacks. This is important because lithium batteries are greatly affected by heat, and not in a good way. Having said that, all of the batteries I use now are just in sealed cases, no built in fans or anything. I can't say that I've noticed reduced battery life, but this will only be the 2nd summer using them, so not a very long test. Dropping so much coin on a big backpack battery you'd want it to last something like 4+ years. Knowing what I know about lithium batteries I'd bet on the Husky battery to have longer life than the Stihl battery. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been using the Stihl backpack battery for a few years or more...
3 of the Husky machines and the backpack battery, $3-4k outlay would be about the sum of it. But do you actually need petrol backups for the tougher jobs? I used to think so, but I'm starting to doubt...