Cordless String Trimmers

walkin jack · Jul 1, 2014

I just bought a new 18 amp Black and Decker cordless trimmer it came with 2 rechargeable batteries and charger + a cordless leaf blower. I had the exact same trimmer batteries and charger for 6 years before the the trimmer went belly up. As cheap as they are and as long as they last and as well as they perform until they do wear out I think they are a good value.

Now I have a new trimmer and leaf blower and 4 batteries. all 18 amp and inner changeable. the old batteries don't hold quite the charge they used to but I'd say about 80% or so. still plenty for power for a while.

I have a typical size front yard with a double wide driveway and sidewalks and one big tree in the front. The back yard is huge with lots of trees and shrubs and fence line. 2 new batteries fully charged will get it done if I don't dawdle so it's nice to have some spares just in case.

Shooting Padre · Jul 1, 2014

I just got a 19.2 v Craftsman string trimmer with the new style batteries, Lithium-ion and they seem to work very well. It used to take three of the Works batteries to do what one of these do. Good luck.

bgrone · Jul 1, 2014

String trimmers

I have (inherited) a Stihl gas trimmer I had purchased for my late FIL. It has the ratcheting start mechanism, he liked it, we can trim most of our yard with wife's battery Worx mower after I do the open areas with the John Deere. After seeing how well her battery mower works I checked on battery trimmers. My local Stihl dealer recommends Core battery trimmer; he just started carrying them. Says battery life seems good; quality good; made in Montana by an established manufacturer of other electric products. Fairly expensive but like everything else you get what you pay for. If I get the the point where I feel the need to use a trimmer I will try it.

Jim in Iowa

Stonecove · Jul 1, 2014

whataboutbob said:
use non ethaonal gas and a stabilizer and your problems will be GREATLY reduced Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Agree once I realized the issue with ethanol and started to use a stabilizer I have has no issues. I also use synthetic 2 cycle oil. Stihl will give a 5 year warranty if you use synthetic oil.
Battery technology is not developed far enough to run a trimmer the way I want to use it.
Stonecove

brucev · Jul 1, 2014

Bought a Craftsman straight shaft trimmer w/ 32cc motor in 1983. It lasted till 1998 which along with some other equipment it was destroyed in a fire. Bought a Echo a few months later. Still running it. Starts easily. Pull the cord one time... pull again and it fires up. Runs extremely well. Very nice piece of equipment. If I were now in the market for another string trimmer, I'd look at Echo, Huskvarna, Stihl. Mix the gas/oil according to the manufacturer's directions or buy mixed gas at the store. Do not use ethanol gas. Some folks use an additive to stabilize the fuel which you have to have with the ethanol. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

Rule3 · Jul 1, 2014

You must not have grass or weeds!. Just wait until it's spaghetti night and go wing some of that around,

Just as good.

It's all year around here, I have the Echo and attachments, hedge, edger, chain saw, Sucker rips! 5 year warranty. I have had all the other cheap arse brands they end up in the canal or under a truck!

Ba Humbug, battery operated trimmers what a waste.!

If you need to go electric, drag a cord around. Some of those have enough power to work and don't get the kind that uses pies of string you put on ever 2 minutes, Bump and feed is better.

Get a gas Stihl or Echo and take care of it and it will last forever. (fuel additive, synthetic oil higher octane gas) drain in the off season,

I had a 4 stroke and it had no torque at all weighed a ton also

rock doc · Jul 1, 2014

I too gave up on the 2 cycle trimmers. After much research on battery life, weight, and customer complaints, I decided on this:

WORX 32-volt Lithium MAX Cordless Grass Trimmer Edger W/ Wheel Set - WG175

It's available on Amazon and on the bay for around $150.

Tom Beavert · Jul 1, 2014

wilkoi said:
I have a Ryobi 40 volt. It will go 50 minutes and not miss a beat. Recharges in 90 minutes. Excellent product.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

^^^^^^^
What he said, ours works fine.
+1 on the wife will use it
tb

CoronaDan · Jul 1, 2014

When my Echo gas trimmer bit the dust a couple of years ago, I went with the 18v Ryobi string trimmer. Not as powerful but it gets the job done.

Best part was getting the Lithium battery which works in my drill, crosscut saw and reciprocal saw. The original NiCad batteries that came with these tools wore out in about a year. The one Li battery has made these tools relevant again!

The way I look at it is that I got the string trimmer for free for the purchase of a first class battery and charger.

Steve in Vermont · Jul 1, 2014

whataboutbob said:
use non ethaonal gas and a stabilizer and your problems will be GREATLY reduced Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

I'll second that. I also use a small funnel with a very fine mesh filter. I use this combo in my small (4 stroke Honda) tiller as well as my lawn mowers. I have a Ariens snow blower I bought in 94 and a Sears push mower dating to 93. Regular servicing, clean fuel and stabilizer makes all the difference.

coltle6920 · Jul 1, 2014

Everything in my garage is gas powered.My problem with the trimmer I have is what they use for string.Might as well put a twizzler licorice stick on it for as long as it lasts.Used the plastic blades once and chewed up the wooden fence and posts.

Like everything else we talk about on this Forum there will be pros and cons to what everyone prefers.

arjay · Jul 1, 2014

Picking up a 40v Cobalt tomorrow,we'll see how it does.My last two were 2 strokes which were a lot better than corded electrics,but this thing has good reviews and the mower has been quite good.

Update: Checked it out and I didn't like it (very heavy and unbalanced).Went home, dug out my 10 yr old 2 stroke,dumped the fuel out of it and the gas can.Made a fresh batch and after 1/4 tank of rough running,it started to sing

.Thanks to everyone who's posted about how fast this ethanol/gas goes bad,I just saved $150

SmokeStack Lightning · Jul 2, 2014

All my homeowner's tools are corded electrical.

I got tired years ago of mixing fuel, changing spark plugs, breaking throttle cables, breaking pull ropes and in general, maintaining small combustion motors. Just another headache.

Even the chainsaw I use for trimming is electric, cuz I know all I gotta do is press the switch and they work.

No trouble shooting, no washing out air filters, no changing oil.

Only small combustion motors I use is my snow blower and lawn tractor. And my Harleys.

Bugkiller99 · Jul 2, 2014

Like others, I have a special hate for ethanol in gas. Won't use it in small engines of any kind. My solution for weed trimmer,

Many feet of extension cords.

And, I use it as an excuse to exercise the portable generator. 10 years old and starts on first pull.

pineappleshooter · Jul 2, 2014

wilkoi said:
I have a Ryobi 40 volt. It will go 50 minutes and not miss a beat. Recharges in 90 minutes. Excellent product.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

+1 I have the the 40 volt hedge trimmer and the batteries are interchangeable with my new weedeater. I have 1/2 acre corner property with lots of trimming and hedge and sidewalk down two sides and either of these go the distance.

Mule Packer · Jul 2, 2014

I had a Stihl that lasted me thirty years. Finally started running rough, so I took it in for repairs. Unfortunately, they no longer make parts for that particular vintage. So I bought another Stihl with the hope that it, too, will last thirty years.

One of my neighbors, on the other hand, uses this to keep his weeds under control:

Old TexMex · Jul 2, 2014

I eliminated the middleman. I just buy the gas (ethanol type works just fine) no oil needed, take the jug and walk along the fence, pouring the gas on the area I used to weed-whack. Presto.

NYlakesider · Jul 2, 2014

Old TexMex said:
I eliminated the middleman. I just buy the gas (ethanol type works just fine) no oil needed, take the jug and walk along the fence, pouring the gas on the area I used to weed-whack. Presto.

Finely, a good use for ethanol.

vigil617 · Jul 2, 2014

old bear said:
I've used a Black and Decker electric trimmer for sometime now. Other than dragging a 100 foot extinction cord out, I've been very pleases with it. But I don't run out of battery before I'm done trimming.

Oldbear, you made my day, though I suspect "extinction cord" was a typo.

vigil617 · Jul 2, 2014

rock doc said:
I too gave up on the 2 cycle trimmers. After much research on battery life, weight, and customer complaints, I decided on this:

WORX 32-volt Lithium MAX Cordless Grass Trimmer Edger W/ Wheel Set - WG175

It's available on Amazon and on the bay for around $150.

Here's another vote for the Worx cordless trimmers. Mine is, I suspect, a previous generation to the one Rock Doc has, and yes, battery life has been a bit of an annoyance at times, but the thing is darn reliable, well made, and can be adjusted in a number of ways to do the job you need to do. String life is pretty good, too, and the trimmer requires no banging on the ground, and of course no mess with oil, gas, cords, etc. I bought it originally off of one of those TV ads, and I think the thing really caught on because you can buy them at most of the home improvement stores now. It "worx" for me!

Cordless String Trimmers

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