Category: Stihl

Running Cost For a Robotic Lawnmower

What’s the Running Cost For a Robotic Lawnmower?

What’s the Running Cost For a Robotic Lawnmower? Once people are convinced that robotic lawnmowers can do an excellent job of maintaining an ample lawn space, the next questions that usually arise are what are the costs and how expensive is it to run. The Stihl iMow range offers robotic lawnmowers for every type of space and situation (these also come with free shipping direct to any home in Ireland). 

Running Cost For a Robotic Lawnmower: BatteryRunning Cost For a Robotic Lawnmower

Probably the most expensive part of any electronic product these days is its battery. The state of the art in battery technology today is Lithium-Ion. A higher-end lithium-ion battery such as the Stihl Lithium-Ion PRO can be fully recharged up to 1200 times. If you were to let the iMow recharge ten times per month (that’s twice per week), it would take up to 10 years before you reach 1200 cycles. Though of course, during that time there would be natural degradation of the battery, and so the amount of charge per cycle would be less. But in general, you can expect at least 2-4 years of dependable usage if using your iMow this frequently. We discussed the best robotic lawnmower depending on garden sizes so you can get an idea of what best suits your needs.

The Blades

Aside from the battery, the part of your robotic lawnmower most prone to wear and tear is the blade. The iMow has a system whereby each time it hits a hard surface, the rotation reverses. This means both sides of the blade wear equally. Stihl recommends replacing the blade after 200 operating hours. You may get more extended periods if you have no substantial obstacles in your path. But of course, when cutting grass, it’s crucial to have a clean cut. Blunt blades tear the grass rather than cut cleanly, which can cause discolouration of the lawn. So if you want a beautiful green garden, it’s best to replace this. Thankfully the blade is relatively inexpensive at about €24. If you’re running your iMow constantly, you might have an average running time of 40 hours per week. At that rate, you can expect to go through one blade every five weeks at high usage. Though of course, with the iMow you can choose when and how long your iMow operates (and with the RMI 632 GPS assisted robotic lawnmower you can do even more!). It doesn’t have to be continually working and can be programmed to run once or twice per week.

If you have any questions about our robot lawnmowers, contact us today on 021 4965 132

electric garden shears

Electric Garden Shears: The STIHL HSA 25

Electric Garden Shears are growing in popularity. We provide a full range of STIHL electric garden tools, which can be used interchangeably with STIHL’s full range of battery packs and chargers. This provides you with a full range of cordless garden tools for around the garden and yard.  When you’re using a regular large two-stroke hedge trimmer, it can be very tricky manoeuvring it around the garden. Especially when cutting thick, woody hedging and you end up cutting pieces you don’t plan to. You have to be careful as you can do a great deal of damage to your hedging.

Electric Garden Shears: The STIHL HSA 25electric garden shears

The STIHL HSA 25 is an electric hand-held hedge trimmer which is very small, compact and far more manoeuvrable than your standard device. It works really well for contouring and sculpting trees and bushes. This allows you to do quality levels of trimming with high precision. 

The Blades

The Shear blades are laser cut and diamond ground. They branch to a diameter of 8milimetres and work at a speed of 2,000 strokes per minute. The blades counter-rotate which reduces vibration and improve handling. There is also a separate blade for trimming grass for those difficult-to-catch pieces that your lawnmower can’t get to. This is also great when you have grass growing in the sides and corners of your beds and growing boxes. It weights .6kg, making it significantly lighter than your typical large hedge trimmers.  It’s quite light giving it an excellent power to weight ratio. 

Its 10.8V motor will give you almost 110 minutes, or nearly hours of continuous runtime on one charge.  While the battery takes 3-5 hours for a full charge, you can purchase one of STIHL’s batteries to swap if you believe you may take longer to complete your work. The battery is straightforward to swap in and out.

In the HSA 25, each blade moves rather than just one. These are perfect for maintaining shrubs and bushes on residential and smaller properties. The trigger is operated using two or three fingers, making the handling easy. Be sure to keep your free hand away from the blades while in use! 

If you have any further questions about electric garden shears or any of our other STIHL battery-powered tools, you can reach us any time on 021 4965132

Electric Lawnmowers

Stihl’s Electric Lawnmowers: The 448 TC

Electric Lawnmowers are growing in popularity as the battery technology improves. Stihl provides a growing range of battery-powered garden tools, and this includes battery-powered lawnmowers. These batteries can be used interchangeably with all of Stihl’s cordless electric range. Today we’d like to go over one of STIHL’s flagship cordless lawnmowers

The RMA 448 TC is suitable for more extensive lawns of up to 500m2. This can be done with one fully charged 36v lithium-ion battery. These mean there’s no need for cables, giving you full freedom.  The 448 TC mower has two battery slots. One slot powers the machine and the other is there to be quickly swapped out if you need it. If you don’t already have a Stihl battery pack, you can purchase the 448 TC with an AP300 battery and AL300 Quick Charging dock. The AP300 battery is STIHL’s most powerful handheld battery. Designed for larger jobs, it has an integrated LED charge indicator, so you know when the battery needs charging. The battery weighs 1.8kg and stores 227 Wh of energy, working optimally in temperatures between 5 and 40c — perfect for our Irish climate. The handlebar is adjustable in height and angle without the use of tools. It’s also retractable for when you want to put it in storage. The height of the deck is also adjustable using the built-in lever. You can change it between 25-75mm. 

Electric Lawnmowers: CuttingElectric Lawnmowers

The cutting blades have a cutting width of 46cm. They are designed to use air pressure to lift the grass upright before cutting to give a more even and complete cut. The air then blows the grass into the box, which can store up to 55l of grass. There’s a built-in grass level indicator, so you know when it’s full. It’s effortless to empty, with the entire box being removable and the top ‘lid’ opening out fully. 

A mulcher is also available as an add-on if you prefer to use the grass clippings to keep your lawn fertilised (while doing away with the need to dump the grass cuttings). The RMA 448 also has a wheel drive to assist with slopes and difficult areas. There is also an ‘eco-mode’ to regulate the cutting speed to preserve battery life and get more from each choice. 

You can view the rest of our STIHL battery garden tool range, and if you have any questions you can contact us on 021 4965 132

RMI 632 Robot Lawnmower

iMow RMI 632 Robot Lawnmower

We’ve had many people asking about the iMow RMI 632 Robot Lawnmower. Robot Lawnmowers attract a lot of attention from gadget fans and those who are looking for ways to decrease maintenance time and costs around their home, yard or open spaces. The one that tends to get the most interest is the higher range RMI 632 which is feature-rich, including GPS, and can cover a range of up to 5,000m2. 

The iMow RMI 632 Robot Lawnmower can navigate around various obstacles including trees, posts and garden fixtures. The iMow is superb for open spaces. It will maintain the short cut of the grass without any hands-on work on your part. It will perform well over one hour of cutting for each charge, covering an area before returning to its charging dock, then coming back to tackle the next area. 

You can run restricted areas if there is a tree or obstacle you don’t want it to go near. This can be done using a restricting wire. This prevents the iMow from getting snagged or stuck by rocks or obstacles. It will keep the grass nice and flush and can be programmed to cut at certain times of the day so that it’s not interrupting your day.

iMow RMI 632 Robot Lawnmower: Capabilities

The iMow can handle hills and navigate up and down slopes of about 20 degrees quite well despite only having two wheels. And while it’s listed as only handling 5,000m2, we have had reports from some customers that it can handle larger areas (though it’s not guaranteed by Stihl to do so).

The iMow requires its docking station, so if anyone tries to steal the iMow, it’s effectively useless to the thief. It also has safety and security settings built-in, such as a 4-digit pin code which is required to be entered before it will re-activate after it has stopped or has been lifted. 

The iMow RMI 632 Robot Lawnmower doesn’t cut in a pattern so you won’t have that striped appearance. But the advantage is that the grass always looks well-maintained. It uses an algorithm to find the most efficient and fastest way to cut the lawn based on a random pattern. Also if it hits a solid obstacle, the blades will reverse in the direction so that the edge remains sharp and prevents the grass from being ‘bent over’ to one side. The iMow has sensors so that you can select it not to cut when it’s raining so that you can prevent traction from causing damage to the grass or turf. 

If you have any questions or would like to know more,  contact us today on 021 4965 132.

robotic lawnmowers

Robotic Lawnmowers on Sale

Looking for Robotic Lawnmowers on Sale? While this is the time of year when cutting the grass is the last thing on anybody’s mind, it’s also a great opportunity to pick up a good quality machine at a discount. Stihl’s iMow Series of Robotic Lawnmowers present a fully-automated solution to an ongoing problem. Though some people find cutting the grass to be a chance to switch off and enjoy the outdoors; it’s not a problem they feel needs to be fixed. But for others, it can feel like more of a chore. And then there are those of us who just like to try out the latest gadgets.

Robotic Lawnmowers on Sale: The Stihl RMI 422 €1,159.00

Reduced from €1,558 to €1,159, the RMI 422 offers a sizeable €399 savings to be made on Stihl’s entry-level iMow. The major difference between all the models is their cutting width and maximum lawn cutting area. In the RMI 422’s case, the maximum lawn area is 800m2. If you have a slightly larger garden space, you can also get the more expensive RMI 422P, which is discounted from €1,766 to €1,579 for a saving of €187. The RMI 422 P can cover an extra 200 square metres of garden space. With this model, you can expect it to start cutting the grass for about ten hours each week. You can choose what hours of the day and what days of the week, your iMow starts cutting. This is really handy. It means you can ensure that kids and animals are out of its way when it’s running. The other advantage of this scheduling system is you can be sure you’re out of earshot while it’s operating. Not that the iMow is particularly loud, at 60 dB(A), it’s about at or lower than a regular mower. 

Robotic Lawnmowers on Sale: The Stihl RMI 632 P iMow €2,699.00

For much larger spaces, you can also jump up through the range to the RMI 632 P. Reduced from €2,806, this offers a saving of €107. This is a beast relative to the entry-level models, able to handle garden sizes of 4,000m2.  As with the other models, when its battery eventually runs low it’ll return to its charging station, recharge, then go back out and resume the work if it’s necessary. Depending on the length of grass you’re after, you can adjust it from 60mm grass height down to 15mm. There’s an on-board control panel which you can use to program everything else.

If you’re looking for robotic lawnmowers on sale, we have a few other options. Feel free to check out of the full listing, or contact us here on 021 4965132

ride on lawnmower sale

Ride On Lawnmower Sale: 3 Great Discounts

We have a Ride On Lawnmower Sale at Douglas Forest and Garden this winter. While we stock various models of Cub Cadet, we have three great deals currently on Stihl’s range of tractor mowers. Stihl (Formerly Viking) mowers are well known for their quality. When it comes to ride on lawnmowers, the best time to buy is after the busy summer season. Many people start looking at what they want around October, but it’s not too late. 

Ride On Lawnmower Sale: The Stihl RT 4082 32″

Currently on sale, the RT 4082 was €3,681 and is currently available for €3,399, for over €280 in savings.  The RT 4082 is Stihl’s base model. It’s perfect for large lawns of up to 4,000m². Naturally, Stihl built the RT 4082 smaller and more compact than the rest of their range. This also gives it a relatively tight turning circle and good manoeuvrability. You can adjust the driver’s seat, though it does not have a suspension system as the other models have. Its cutting width is 0.8 metres, and you can dump grass from its 250-litre grass catch box. You do this using the handle beside your seat. You can also replace the grass box with a mulcher if this better suits your needs.

The Second sale offer: The Stihl RT 5112 Z 43″

This is a higher scale model, which has been reduced from €4,499 to €3,999 for a saving of €500.  The RT 5112 has a powerful two-cylinder engine and 1.1-metre cutting width. It has a large catcher box which makes it suitable if your lawn is anything up to 8000m². Its adjustable, spring-loaded seat provides comfort compared with the lower end models available and overall this is an excellent machine for making a clean, tidy cut.

The Best Ride on Lawnmower Sale: Stihl RT 6112 ZL 43″

While this has a smaller saving than the RT 5112, the RT 6112 ZL has been reduced from €3,681 to €3,399 for a saving of over €280, this is Stihl’s second most powerful ride on lawnmower and is an excellent purchase for when you’re working on larger green spaces over long periods of time. While it has the same 1.1-metre cutting width as the RT 5112 and equipped with the same two-cylinder engine, and the same grass collection box size of 350 litres, what makes this model different is the comfort. It’s been designed to minimise the vibration while driving.  Effectively reducing vibrations to 50% of the RT 5112, from a measurable value of 0.98 ahw Seat m/s² to 0.50 ahw Seat m/s², this is going to be a far more comfortable mower to ride on for hours at a time. It also features a grass metre so you can tell when it’s time to empty before you start to experience chugging. 

If you’d like to see some models available in our ride on lawnmower sale, feel free to contact us today on 021 4965132

leaf blower deals

Leaf Blower Deals

Everyone is seeking cheap leaf blowers this time of year.  It’s understandable. When you leave your yard for just a couple of weeks and the fallen foliage combined with heavy rainfall results in a slipper mulch that’s as dodgy to tread on as ice. While we don’t usually experience as much snowfall or ice as our neighbours (though end-of 2019 is being slated by forecasters to be the coldest on record), we do get leaves and rain in spades. Here are a few great leaf blower deals which will get the job done and make your yard safe again.

Leaf Blower Deals: The Stihl BG 56 C-E

This is Stihl’s least expensive leaf blower, and while it will usually cost you €423, this winter we’re offering it for €299.00. That’s a €123 saving. While typically entry-level hardware is of a poor standard, Stihl have a name to uphold. The BG 56 C-E does a good job of cleaning leaves and debris around your paths, driveway and anywhere else around the home.  This is a handheld petrol engine with a semi-automatic choke lever. This model can automatically reset itself to the run position to help prevent accidental engine flooding, and it comes with an adapter to turn it into a vacuum shredder.

The Stihl BR 200 Backpack Blower

If you’re looking for leaf blower deals that have more ‘oomph’, we recommend the BR 200. Reduced from €635 to €595, you’ll save €40 while bringing professional-grade power to your home. The BR200 is light, with much of the weight stored on the backpack. It also features a simplified starting system and anti-vibration system which can provide extra comfort and help reduce the numbness and fatigue that typically haunts outdoor power tools. 

Leaf Blower Deals for Professionals – The Stihl BR 700leaf blower deals

This is nearing the top-of-the-range for Stihl’s line of leaf blowers. We have reduced the BR 700 from €902 down to €759 so you save €143. This model has a fully adjustable blower tube. It has exceptional blowing force and low weight. This makes is perfect for removing grass and hedge cuttings, leaves and debris from large areas. Its anti-vibration system is excellent making it perfect for longer working periods. If you need to get the job done before the winter really sets in, this is the one for you.

All of our leaf blowers are available with free shipping anywhere in Ireland. Have any questions? Feel free to call us today 021 4965 132

are electric shredders any good

Are Electric Shredders Any Good?

We sometimes have customers ask, “Are electric shredders any good?”.  The answer is that it depends on the make and model, and it depends on what you’re after. Garden shredders aren’t cheap, even ones designed for extremely minimal, domestic shredding. And people are rightly dubious of electric shredders. The lower-end models are built for very minimal work (and some brands don’t seem to be built for any work at all). 

Are Lower-End Electric Garden Shredders Any Good?

Lower-end models are suitable for domestic use where someone has a small garden with primarily hedging where the branches are thin and not very ‘woody’, or few small trees with slender branches. They aren’t good with heavy work. They will break down fast or the blades will wear down if used for extended periods, taking large loads. These lower-end brands and models will break down with one or two heavy uses. Typically, these lower-end models state their “max branch thickness” for intake. But this isn’t necessarily the optimal branch thickness. Many lower-end brands and models can only manage half the stated max branch thickness before grinding to a halt — or wearing the blades down with one or two uses. For this reason, if you have a larger garden or anything beyond minimal growth, you’re almost always better off going for a higher-end model.

The Stihl GHE 355 Electric Shredder

The GHE 355 is Stihl’s higher-end model electric shredder. The GHE 355 is going to be plenty for m

are electric shredders any good

ost domestic use cases. It works well on small to medium-sized gardens, though it’s not suitable for professional use. It’s more suitable for larger quantities of hard tree branches, woody brush and bushes. One of its most significant advantages over a petrol-driven shredder is its cost and its weight, at almost half the price of the lower-end petrol shredder. Weight wise the GHE 355 comes in at 30kgs whereas the 370S weighs 45kg thanks to its petrol engine. Both models are loud. They are over the safe usage limit of 80db, so we recommend you wear ear protection while operating any shredder.  

If you’re still unsure what’s best for your situation, feel free to give us a call today on 021-4965132

stihl kombi for sale

Stihl Kombi For Sale

If you are looking for a Stihl Kombi for sale, we have three recommendations with free shipping. As all Stihl Kombis will power KombiTools, your choice is down to whether you need one for professional or domestic use. The higher-end models are more powerful and have less vibration and are built for long-term or professional use. You can also view our full range of Stihl Kombi engines.

The Stihl KM 131 Kombi for Sale €696.00 €599.00

The Stihl KM 131 is suited for professional use. As Stihls highest range kombi engine, it has significantly reduced vibration while providing excellent power output at 1.4/1.9 kW/bhp. This current sale puts the KM 131 at a lower price than the 111R. The KM 131 uses the updated 4-MIX engine. Naturally, as a kombi engine, it will power many different attachments for property and garden maintenance. The KM 131 is compact and easy to transport. As with all the other Stihl Kombis, it weighs in at just four and a half kilograms before adding extensions or fuel. The KM 131 can take up to .75 litres of petrol at a time while maintaining a comfortable weight and balance during your workday.

Stihl KM 94 RC-E €599.00 €499.00

The KM 94 is a domestic power tool. Its powerful engine outputs 0.9/1.2 kW/bhp. The kombi only weighs four kilograms, this is a great weight-to-power ratio for around the home. The KM 94 does not have the newer engine of the KM 131, and so there is roughly 15% more vibration levels. But since this is more for domestic use, this isn’t going to be much of an issue unless you’re doing extended periods of work day-in and day-out.

KM 56 RC-E Stihl Kombi For Sale €428.00 €299.00stihl kombi for sale

The KM 56 has a power output of 0.8/1.1 kW/bhp. A little less than the KM 94 and roughly 50% less power than the professional level KM 131. It weighs in at 4.3 kilograms, which makes it .3 kilograms heavier than the 94. This model works best in domestic use cases without prolonged intensive use. 

We hope this gives you a sense of some of our Stihl Kombi range. Remember that all Stihl Komibis for sale come with free shipping anywhere in Ireland. Be sure to check out the Stihl Kombi Attachments to see just how versatile these power tools can be. And if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us on 021-4965132 and we will do our best to assist you.

the best robot mower

Best Robot Mower: Which Stihl iMow Is Best For You?

The Best Robot Mower is the best one for the task at hand. At Douglas Forest and Garden, we believe in the right tool for the job. Not everyone needs the newest, fastest, most powerful gadget. Sometimes less is more. So with that in mind, let’s talk about Stihl’s range of robot mowers. 

Stihl is one of our go-to manufacturers for professional and domestic gardening equipment. They have superior quality in everything they do, with robust materials built to last. Their robot mower range is no exception.  Stihl has a range of six different robot mowers ranging from entry-level for small gardens to a more professional level for large lawns.

The Best Robot Mower for Small-Medium Sized Gardens

The Stihl RMI 422 is the entry-level robot mower which can maintain lawns up to 800 square metres in size. Yet it’s still packed with nifty features. Once you install it, it’ll mow, recharge and schedule itself automatically. As with the other models, it mulches the grass rather than collecting it. Its cutting height can be adjusted between 2-6 centimetres. 

The Best Robot Mower for Gardens up to 3000 square meters

The Stihl RMI 632 can cover almost four times more than the entry-level robot thanks to a much larger lithium-ion battery. Aside from that, it shares most of the same features. It has the same cutting height of 2-6 centimetres. Its cutting width is about 33 percent larger than the 422 at 28 centimetres versus the 422’s 20cm. Its larger battery adds an extra five kilos to its weight so that the 632 is fourteen kilos versus the 422’s nine.

The Best Robot Mower for Lawns Up To 5000 square metresthe best robot mower

The Stihl 632 can cover the largest area while also satisfying gadget lovers. The 632 allows you to control the iMow using a smartphone app. This lets you change your mowing plan, check on its status, or tell it to delay a mowing session if it’s not a convenient time (Sunday mornings for example!).

As you know, robotic mowers aren’t toys (at least not toys for children). So during its active times, young children, bystanders and animals need to be kept clear of the working area. Please refer to the operating instructions for further information.

Thank you for reading. We hope this was helpful. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us on 021-4965132

shop vacs

Shop Vacs

Shop Vacs are robust vacuum cleaners that are suitable for cleaning various kinds of debris in various industrial and domestic tasks. Stihl’s range of Shop Vacs can clean various kinds of spillages and debris, including loose chippings and liquids.  At Douglas Forest and Garden, we supply the Stihl SE 122 and SE 62 shop vacs. View both Stihl wet and dry vacuums.

The Stihl SE 122 Shop Vac is robust and comes with several attachments. As a shop vac, it’s excellent for domestic and professional use. Both the 122 and the 62 have high suction power with different settings for different surfaces. The SE 122 has different bags for different types of cleaning or filtration. Like most shop vacs, the Stihl 122 has incredible suction power. It can clean carpets and mats easily. This includes professional use cases such as hotel lobbies and meeting rooms. The various attachments mean this shop vac is also capable of cleaning upholstery and car interiors.  The suction tube on the Stihl SE 122 is 3 metres in length which allows for plenty of room for manoeuvering and reaching those awkward to reach places. 

Using shop vacsStihl Shop Vacs on Debris and Water Spillages

In certain industrial situations, your vacuum filters are going to block often. You can clean the Stihl 122 shop vac air filter without opening the device. Just press the filter cleaning button and the Stihl’s excellent suction will clean its own filter.

Whether there’s a spillage in a kitchen, a dairy farm or industrial area, the Stihl Shop Vac can handle it with ease. Note, however, that to handle spillages, you must first remove the dry filter and replace it with the wet filter. After you clean the spillage, remember to re-install the dry filter. 

If you’re looking for a shop vac or you have questions relating to the Stihl range, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0214965132.

the stihl AR 2000

The Stihl AR 2000 battery pack

The Stihl Cordless Battery range uses lithium-ion technology. This is the better battery technology out there, which offers simplified starting, better operation and reduced maintenance.  While Stihl Battery Powered Tools have excellent power and are extremely appealing for their ease of handling, minimal vibration on the hands, reduced weight, and quieter operation, they are not suitable for heavy-duty use out of the box — this is due to the constraints placed on them by the current state of lithium battery technology which reduces run time significantly. This is where the Stihl AR 2000 battery backpack comes in.the stihl AR 2000

The Stihl AR 2000

Stihl designed their battery-powered products to be interoperable. Whether you use an onboard battery or the AR 2000, they will all work together without a hitch. The AR Battery system supports the more full professional product line and also heavy-duty domestic users.  You wear the AR 2000 on your back. Weighing in at 7.8 kg, this backpack provides a total of 916 Watt-hours of battery energy.  This is almost four times the power you’d get from a Stihl AP300 battery pack.

Reducing Weight and Fatigue

With the backpack, you plug a cable directly into the handheld tool. Since there’s no battery hanging off the tool in your hands, the tool is much lighter.  This makes it ideal for extended use.  The AR 2000 works seamlessly with your electric tool’s built-in power settings. It has an in-built processor to communicate with the tool you’re using. The control unit talks to the motor and battery to make sure the perfect amount of current is supplied to give the best efficiency and performance during use.  There are also diagnostic tools available If you need to have your tool run for more extended periods, simply adjust it to its lower power settings and this will allow you to extend the length of time you’re able to use the tool.

Alternatives to the Stihl AR 2000

If the Stihl AR 2000 is too much power (or weight) for your needs, you can use different Stihl battery pouches to carry the batteries. You strap these onto the battery belt on the waist.  Like the backpack, they reduce fatigue and improve handling when compared with having the battery attached directly to the tool.  Have any other questions about our Stihl Battery Powered range? Please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 021-4965132.