Battery Powered Week Whacker

[aczlan]

We have a Kobalt 80 volt one which seems to work well and will keep up with the Stihl FS 110 that it somewhat replaced until the battery dies.
The battery seems to hold up pretty well, probably somewhere between half tank in a full tank of fuel worth of trimming with the FS 110.

Aaron Z

 

[Alan W.]

I have the Kobalt 80 volt trimmer also. Works great. Now have the chainsaw and blower to go with it.

 

[dragoneggs]

I think the plunge into battery op tools requires some thought. I think it is best to standardize on one brand/platform if you can to keep your battery count/cost. down.

I have been using Stihl gassers for some time and recently been making the move to Stihl battery tools. Decided to go with AP battery line vs. AK for more power since I am used to gas. Couldn't be happier. Sold all of my gassers except my string trimmer until now. Didn't want to give up my Stihl FS130R but I am now convinced I can depart with it if someone will pay what it is worth.

That said, Stihl is expensive, but I like to buy tools and expect them to last a long time. Never been disappointed with Stihl. I even use my battery chainsaw 95% of the time vs my gasser.

If you are not using your battery tools often, then don't spend the money for top of the line. Sorry I don't have any direct brand comparisons though. Good luck with your purchase, but think long term and what your 'fleet' might look like. For instance, I settled on Dewalt 20V cordless hand tools for my shop quite awhile back. Nice to not have different brands, different batteries and a wall of chargers.

Bottom line, it really depends on how much you will use them and how heavy duty do you need.

 

[Bill Groom]

Another satisfied Echo owner here, it is a fantastic tool

 

[Oldpath05]

I'm getting sick of these small gas trimmers my self, if it's not starting it's stalling and then the noise tied of earphones to.........

 

[WM75Guy]

I have the Oregon 40V chain saw, trimmer, and 2 blowers, 1 for the stables and 1 for the garage. They work great. Easy to load string, cut a 10' length, slide each end through the 2 holes on the cutting head, and twist the knob to wind in the string. Uses 0.095 string, which cuts everything I need.

 

[Oldpath05]

I didn't know battery trimmers used .095 line, thought they used smaller line. I did some trimming today with .080 string it didn't cut everything I needed, the darn stuff kept breaking it's only good for grass, .095 would be better or plastic blades. I did find good video on reloading these small trimmers. How To Tips for Easy Restring of Weed Eater with 2 strings - YouTube

 

[dragoneggs]

I have switched to all battery Stihl's as I think I mentioned earlier. After using my electric Stihl trimmer for about a year, yesterday I finally sold last Stihl gasser, my trusty FS130R trimmer on Craigslist. Hard to part with it as it has been a great workhorse but my wife could not start it. I proved my equivalent battery trimmer does a great job even in demanding whacking ops. I now have a hedger, trimmer, blower, chain saw, and pole hedger sharing two AP batteries.

The plus with the Stihl AP line is you wear a battery belt so the weight of the trimmer is far less than the gasser equivalent! So easier on the back, the noise is less and it starts with the flip of a switch. :thumbsup:

The con... yes they are expensive. :thumbdown:

The plusses outweigh the negatives IMHO. :2cents:

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I have EGO string trimmer and 18" chainsaw and love them both. I replaced the string trimmer head with a circular saw blade and clear trails of up to 2" saplings. It's a workhorse and never skips a beat, even when overworked like that.

How heavy is the chainsaw? I've been thinking of a cordless chainsaw for arborist work, but need one I can run one handed at arms length. 18" is pretty big for that. 10" would be adequate. Anything larger and I'll fire up the Husquvarna.

I happen to have a B&D cordless weed whacker, courtesy of my wife, who had fantasies of using it herself. It's OK for little jobs, but worthless for wading into thick weeds. Other than that, I don't own any cordless tools, but there are times when a lower power tool would be easier to control.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm getting sick of these small gas trimmers my self, if it's not starting it's stalling and then the noise tied of earphones to.........

I've been picking up gas landscape tools free on bulky pick up days... never seen pickins so good.

The trickle to battery might become an river at this rate...

The Honda powered self propelled mower was the best so far but also picked up half dozen string trimmers.

For battery power I am very pleased with Stihl AP and find reaching for them even if it takes only minute or two ..

But for acres of hillside Brush my big ECHO gas can't be beat.