WeedEater

[gunlovingirl]

I managed to get the lawn mowed yesterday, but my Homelite gas weed eater decided to take an early retirement. I'm not too upset about it. It was a pain to get started. So I'm in the market for a new one. Are the battery ones decent? I don't have a huge yard, but do like to keep everything trimmed and neat. I would say the total time spent trimming is maybe 20 minutes. I would really like to get away from the pain in the "gas" models. Any suggestions on a good battery model? I don't have a lot of thick weeds or ditches, just the usual trimming around trees, flower beds, etc.

 

[bricker]

I bought one of the Craftsman models last year. Poor thing didn't have enough power to get out of it's own way. I was a little disappointed too, I was tired of the whole pull start debacle also. Took it back that same afternoon and got a gas model. My yard is too big to string extension cords.

 

[boneman]

my father who is 86 still takes care of an acre of yard. he bought a craftsman battery operated and it lasts the half hour it takes him to trim. he feels that he can handle it better and has no complaints. Larry

 

[snowman]

I'm sorry that I don't remember what kind or size it was, but I used to use an electric when I lived at my previous residence. I had to trim around several trees, a sizable ranch house, a yard swing, a mailbox, and so on. It did all these without any problems. Just had to keep it charged between uses.

Andy

 

[jlrhiner]

I am one of those people that is "two-cycle challenged". I CAN NOT make a 2-cycle run. I hold my mouth different, sacrifice a goat, nothing. I used an electric Craftsman for 10+ years and did fine with it.( I have 3/4 acre, all lawn) When Troybilt came out with their 4-cycle trimmers, I bought one. Great piece of machinery. The wife even uses it periodically. I would highly recommend it.

 

[enfield]

Shindaiwa makes a great 2-cycle trimmer that even the "challenged" can start. That's why I bought one, because I'm tired of the challenge.

Heck, my wife can start it, if she remembers to read the instructions. She never could start my McCulloch, which is why I sold it.

I've used lawn equipment professionally since I retired and I was always impressed with Shindaiwa trimmers (and SCAG mowers).

 

[G.T. Smith]

If you really want an excellent battery powered string trimmer/ edger, get a WORX GT. The last time I saw the advertisement they wer about 100 bucks and you also got a lifetime supply of the spools with line. I would buy one but I bought a Stihl gas powered one a couple years ago. That sucker was about $350, but works great and starts easy.
good luck
gordon

 

[tomf52]

Take a look at the new propane powered trimmers. Craftsman has one and nobody is as easy to get satifaction from as Sears if you handle them right. The propanr trimmers start very easily, won't flood,etc. Uses the disposable propane "tanks" or cannisters.

 

[007BondJamesBond007]

Most people don't know how to start a 2 cycle motor. First Put the correct oil mix in the gas can.

Fill the the weedwacker's gas tank (MOST IMPORTANT)!!!

Push the primer the amount of times it said like x3 or x6.

Set the choke to fully closed.

Pull the cord till you hear it fire (It may only last a second ).

Set the choke the half 1/2 closed.

Pull the cord again it should run.

Let it warm up a minute.

Open the choke.

Now have fun trimming.

This also work with outboards and other 2 cycle engines.

 

[BarbC]

Maybe it would be easier to borrow Zercool's goat.

 

[Raven6]

That 10% ethanol that they're putting in the gasoline now days is causing lots of lawn equipment to fail earlier than anticipated. The ethanol is 'eating up' the gaskets in the carbs, and causing the rubber fuel lines to rot faster.

I'm going to end up replacing a blower and a trimmer soon, and am looking into alternatives other than 2-stroke or gasoline powered units. That propane trimmer may be the way to go...

Mike

 

[gregintenn]

If you don't like a gas powered weed eater, I'd suggest you purchase a hand sprayer and a jug of Round Up. Battery powered power tools are pretty good for a short while, but the batteries are very expensive and only take so many charges before failing to hold a charge. The cord of an electric weedeater would be a huge pain in the keester.

 

[dkizer22]

B & D battery weed eater 18 volt

My wife uses an 18 volt black and Decker that we purchased at Lowes. We have been happy with it. We do have a large set of tools that use the same battery system so extra batteries are easy.

 

[Bullzaye]

I just purchased a weed-eater about 2 weeks ago. I'd had a gas powered Homelite, but it had also quit...so I decided to get an electric. I hadn't even been aware of the battery powered, so I took a look at them.

I decided on the electric trimmer for 2 main reasons: 1) the yard of my Phoenix home is not all that large, therefore I can get away with about 50 ft. of cord, 2) I likewise came to the conclusion that the batteries would likely not last very long, and would be very expensive to replace. I didn't research this, so not stating it as fact, it's just what I'd concluded based on previous experience.

I understand the hesitancy to have to deal with the cord, but when I was a youth back in Ohio (late 60's - mid 70's) we had a nearly 1 acre lot, and for quite a while I was cutting the entire yard with an electric lawn mower, with probably 100 ft. or more of cord attached. While it could be a trifle annoying, it was still easier than dealing with a gas mower (lighter and quieter, and no pull start!) and I never cut the cord. It just takes a modicum of attention to what you're doing...which is likely a good idea anyway when dealing with power tools that can remove fingers/hands/toes/feet.

So far, I'm quite happy with my electric weed eater.

Tim

 

[deralte]

We gave up on gas a long time ago. We have two weedeaters, one corded and a B&D battery - no gas, no oil, no work to get them started and we couldn't be happier. I was surprized at the B&D - it set in an unheated shed all winter, battery never charged and last week we cut the grass for the first time and it was ready to go. Comes with two batteries and a charger. We also use a battery operated blower for the driveway. To top everything off we also have a Neuton Electric (battery) mower. The only gas operated is the riding mower.

 

[n4zov]

I used a corded electric Ryobi trimmer for years and years with absolutely no problems. A 100 foot extension cord let me cut everything in our yard with no problems and it was totally reliable. It would give most gas powered trimmers a run for their money in the power department too!

 

[bobelk99]

Stihl

Stihl makes a easy start 2 cycle that is light enough for most 100 pounder users.

The pull rope is housed in a spring assisted housing. The pull of the cord has to be a slow steady pull, not a jerk like a regular 2 cycle.

I bought one due to bad shoulder. Cost about 180$, and worth every nickel. It started on second pull after being stored all winter.

 

[GKC]

I have a one acre lot with a lot of flower beds, trees, long drive ways, etc...and I've never had much luck with battery powered trimmers. The battery life was not enough to do a full trim, and the trimmer didn't seem to have enough power. I too got frustrated with the 2 cycle starting issues...so, last year I bought a 4 cycle from Sears that has an electric starter on it. You just plug a short cord into an outlet, push a button, and it starts. You can also start it with a pull rope if desired, so if you are in the far corner of the yard you don't have to walk back to the house to plug into an outlet should the trimmer die or if you need to stop it for some reason.

I used to use a corded electric trimmer when I had a small yard, and I like those much better than a gas trimmer. Now that I have such a large yard, though, it is too much trouble to string an extension cord along all around the stuff in my yard: the pool, trees, bushes, etc etc etc. If it weren't for that, though, I would use an electric line trimmer with a cord.

 

[Captain Hornet]

String trimmers are a real sore spot with me. I need one now but don't know what to do. I bought one , a ECHO from a Pawn Shop because it was priced at $75.00. It ran like a champ before I bought it and I was sure I had a good one. That was the last time I ever heard it run. It turned me into a bloody froth pulling on the cable but it never ran again. I put it in the dumpster and cussed everything from Japan. That was about five years ago and now I do all my trimming with Roundup. I don't think a good string trimmer exists. David

 

[M28]

~Misty

I am NOT a big Homelite fan, but I have had a small Homelite gas trimmer for years that was utterly reliable. It died last year and that was all the reason I needed to head down to the Stihl store. I have a heavy Stihl trimmer and was strictly looking for a light duty number. I got sticker shock and headed for Home Depot where I found the reincarnation of the old Homelite trimmer for not a whole lot of money. I starts a little easier than the old one and has an updated head that feeds the line much better than the old one did. For what it's worth.........

Brian~