Cordless string trimmer

[az_max]

Once I have a decent sized yard again, I'd like to get the Lehr propane powered trimmer. Every gas trimmer I've owned have had similar gas eating the rubber seals and lines like Kennith. I blame the MTBE/Ethanol in the gas.
Electric would make sense if the battery was interchangable with my drills/saws/vibrators.

 

[DiscoJen]

That looks like the one, yes.

Finally! My woman folk is tired of dealing with our current electric weedwacker because the spool feed sucks ass. She yelled to the whole neighborhood that she was heading to Lowes to buy a new one. I graciously pulled up this thread and pointed her to this unit with a pretty please sad look on my face. Let's hope mama comes home with the Troy-Bilt cordless!!! Cross your fingers everyone!

 

[DiscoJen]

No such luck.

 

[kennith]

No such luck.

Sorry to hear that. I just used mine again today, and I really had to get through some tough stuff. It complained a bit, but it made it.

I was gone for around two weeks, and all it did was rain apparently. My yard was a jungle. When I say jungle, I mean that the grass is still two feet tall in some of the places I didn't get to today.

I worried a bit at first that I might have to grab the gas trimmer, but the cordless bugger worked fine. The owner of the nearby metal shop stopped over to examine it, after which he noted that he would be buying one of his own.

I really pushed it today, but it came through for me. I'm still quite happy with it, and now I step out several times a week to tidy up the trim job, because it is so easy to do. I don't dread using the trimmer anymore.

That was worth the money. I fucking hated trimming before I had this thing.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[DiscoJen]

Thanks for rubbing it in Kennith!

Our Lowe's didn't have the cordless one in stock and she was on a mission. She ended up getting a nice little inexpensive electric with a 15" cut that doesn't have a bump n feed spool. At least the yard looks great and I'll have to dream of a cordless replacement when this one takes a dump.

 

[kennith]

The corded models are great, so long as you have a small enough yard to use them effectively. I really liked the Craftsman corded trimmers that sears had. They were built so well, in fact, that I really wanted to buy one. My yard is just too big for them, though. The buggers are cheap, too. I think 40 bucks will get you one of the Craftsman models, and they are solid as a rock, for what they are.

I'm sure whatever Lowes had is made in the same factory. They are all pretty good once you get a cord. I got an old corded Weedeater model from a yard sale for ten dollars once. It cut very well, especially considering how tiny it was. I don't have it anymore, but it is still in use today, and I picked it up at the yard sale over ten years ago.

Nothing wrong with a cord, my yard is just too big to use one. I've always liked the corded models. So, your significant other was too focused on the task at hand to wait for the cordless to come back in stock. At least you have a significant other.

Of course, I've got a super-cool cordless trimmer, but it doesn't exactly keep the other side of the bed warm.:rofl:

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[crown14]

my ryobi has been flawless and for 30cc is mighty mean. plus it works wet or dry.

does that little battery unit have enough balls to run a brush cutter attachment?

 

[kennith]

my ryobi has been flawless and for 30cc is mighty mean. plus it works wet or dry.

does that little battery unit have enough balls to run a brush cutter attachment?

You mean the blade? I'm not sure. That's not really the point of it though. This is for whipping out every week to maintain a lawn, and in that capacity, I have come to believe it is without peer.

A maintained lawn shouldn't need a brush cutter, that's for clearing. And for clearing, I have a much bigger trimmer, a chainsaw, machetes, bush axes, hatchets, axes, bow saws, and everything else.

That said, cordless circular saws seem to work pretty well. I'm not sure if this one could do it or not. I know it would certainly spin it up. As for wet or dry, I've had this thing in soggy grass several times already, to the point of leaving a puddle wherever I put it down in the shop. It never batted an eye.

As for heavy work, it will cut a few months of heavy growth with patience. Most people own a trimmer for cutting around the foundation, flower beds, and edging the driveway and curb. Now, I require a little more out of a trimmer, and I find this perfectly acceptable. That tells me that most people would find it more than capable of doing what they require.

If you need a big bad gas trimmer, then you just need a big bad gas trimmer. I've got one of those as well, even if it never wants to start. I don't mind getting it going to go do real land clearing, that's not a problem. But running that thing to trim my yard is just a waste of time, money, and oxygen.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Ballah06]

I ve been using my Troy Built gas powered for a couple of years and that thing eats through just about anything. It is the model that can take different attachments, so that is very convenient. For thicker brush i use a metal plate type looking blade and then switch to the string one for trimming grass. I do have to admit that its a workout toting that thing around and you do feel it in the traps after an hour of grass wars. But as far as convenience of not having an electric one and having to wait for it to charge, that works great for me. Plus it runs off regular gas. I think the sticker price was about 150 or so.
Its just convenient for the size of the yard and the amount of trimming. Especially when it comes to those thorny vines that snag the crap out of you.

 

[DiscoJen]

Holy post revival batman!

Anyone know of a cordless trimmer that doesn't use line? Something that you can put one of those tri-blade cutter thingies on it instead? I'm not only sick of the electric cord dragging around behind me everywhere, but I'm also tired of having to constantly put new line in. I've searched around online and not finding anything other than the Worx, which as Kennith said, didn't get very good reviews.

Cordless & stringless please!

 

[jrose609]

Holy post revival batman!
Cordless & stringless please!

Cordless and stringless? Are you sure you're talking about trimmers?

 

[kennith]

I'll have to check to see if mine can use the tri-blade. If it's a plastic head, it will have the power, but I don't know if the hub is standardized.

Still, the line lasts a long time on mine, and the auto feed system works perfectly.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[DiscoJen]

Thanks Kennith. I couldn't find the one that you were recommending so I ended up getting a set of Ryobi cordless yard tools yesterday. Which is cool because I already have several chargers and battery packs so I was able to save a ton by buying only the bare tools.

I got the P2002 trimmer. Used it last night and the autofeed spool actually worked really well. I guess the trick is to buy the replacement spool cartridges instead of rewinding them by hand. I can never get the line on even enough on my other trimmer so it always tightens up on itself and stops feeding.

I also got the telescopic pruner (aka reciprocating saw on a stick) which works great! It's faster, quicker and cleaner than using a chainsaw. That little booger can cut!

And got the blower to finish the deal. Haven't used it yet as the rain forced me back inside last night. But I'm sure it will be more than sufficient for my needs based on how the other tools are performing thus far.

No more frustrating cords so I can focus more energy on having the best trimmed yard on the block!

 

[DiscoJen]

The blower sucks.

It's good enough to get freshly cut light clippings, but anything more than that and it's not so hot.

Two out of 3 ain't bad and that trimmer is kicking tail!

 

[SGaynor]

Thread revival....


Kennith, how has this trimmer held up?

I've got a Homelight gas trimmer that is messed up (due to me leaving EtOH gas in it), and I can't easily get parts.

I'm considering a Stihl, but then remembered this thread. This Li-ion trimmer is at Lowes now for $150.

 

[Ballah06]

Thread revival....


Kennith, how has this trimmer held up?

I've got a Homelight gas trimmer that is messed up (due to me leaving EtOH gas in it), and I can't easily get parts.

I'm considering a Stihl, but then remembered this thread. This Li-ion trimmer is at Lowes now for $150.

Not sure if you want the battery operated one specifically, but my original gas-operated Troy Bilt is still kicking butt; bought it in 2007. Use it every 2 weeks during the summer months to trim grass, vine, brush, etc. I dig the gas type, since there is no downtime for the battery. Very minimal maintenance; just replace oil and spark plugs, etc. I would check what models take the tri blade, if that's a critical requirement (gas and battery), prior to purchase, so that you can compare each one within the group.

 

[kennith]

The trimmer worked like new the last time I used it. I haven't had any issues at all.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[DiscoJen]

My Ryobi is holding up great, too. Use it each week. I keep 3 batteries on the charger and I can usually weedwack my whole yard, and blow my driveway and sidewalks on 2 1/2 batteries. And that is with the old style batteries, not the fancy new li-on's that they are using now. For Christmas I will probably ask for a couple of the new li-on battery packs as a nice little upgrade.

 

[adriatic04]

gas powered equipment is more fun and sounds/looks a lot cooler

 

[SGaynor]

I ended up going with a factory refurbished Husqvarna that I got at Northern Tool for $100 that is normally ~$200.

At least I know I can get parts.