Battery Powered Week Whacker

   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #61  
I致e settled on the EGO 56v line of tools and quite happy. I致e had the lawnmower for 2 years, does a pretty good job, does not lift tall grass as well as a gas mower but I can mow anytime of day and not disturb anyone. Then I walked into HD several months ago and they had a clearance on EGO 14 chainsaws for $149. Figured I give it a try, love it love it love it. Now I am giving up the gas tools, I got the trimmer and next sale getting the blower. I just missed blower with battery for $149 regular $199.

P.S putting the string in the trimmer has never gotten easier. Pull line thru, push button and wind it in.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #64  
I'm also looking at some cordless string trimmers, and maybe chainsaw, so ideally would buy the same brand to take advantage of the multiple batteries.

I can't remember if it was the trimmers or chainsaws that gave a great review to DeWalt, and I was thinking about buying it. However then I saw some reviews citing problems with the batteries, and... cue my story.

I bought a DeWalt cordless hand "shop vac" years ago, for those ugly cleanup tasks about the place. It comes with a 1 hour quick charger and one 18V battery. The charger must not be in any way regulated though, so that if you leave the battery in once it's charged you wreck the battery.

So I had only a few uses from my DeWalt battery before it would no longer hold a charge very well. 4-5 minutes of full activity, then down to nothing. (These are NiMH chemistry, not LiON).

Since these batteries cost a fortune to replace, well, I'm pretty put off the DeWalt brand because of it. No way I'm going to spend a lot of money to replace a fundamentally flawed thing.

Anybody else had this bad experience with DeWalt?

I pay a lot of attention to my batteries. It's always best to slow charge them when you can, and to remove them immediately from chargers that aren't smart enough to cut the power when the battery is charged. So ... watch those charges! I'm kind of hoping that all these new fancy high voltage lithium batteries have better chargers than my old DeWalt.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #65  
the Dewalt 20 volts are a whole new generation of tools. Batteries included.
You will be impressed.
Im into my 6th year on some and everything including batteries works as new.

Also there is a battery adapter available that lets you run the new Dewalt 20 volt battery in all (but 2 ) your Dewalt 18 volt tools.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #66  
I'm also looking at some cordless string trimmers, and maybe chainsaw, so ideally would buy the same brand to take advantage of the multiple batteries.

I can't remember if it was the trimmers or chainsaws that gave a great review to DeWalt, and I was thinking about buying it. However then I saw some reviews citing problems with the batteries, and... cue my story.

I bought a DeWalt cordless hand "shop vac" years ago, for those ugly cleanup tasks about the place. It comes with a 1 hour quick charger and one 18V battery. The charger must not be in any way regulated though, so that if you leave the battery in once it's charged you wreck the battery.

So I had only a few uses from my DeWalt battery before it would no longer hold a charge very well. 4-5 minutes of full activity, then down to nothing. (These are NiMH chemistry, not LiON).

Since these batteries cost a fortune to replace, well, I'm pretty put off the DeWalt brand because of it. No way I'm going to spend a lot of money to replace a fundamentally flawed thing.

Anybody else had this bad experience with DeWalt?

I pay a lot of attention to my batteries. It's always best to slow charge them when you can, and to remove them immediately from chargers that aren't smart enough to cut the power when the battery is charged. So ... watch those charges! I'm kind of hoping that all these new fancy high voltage lithium batteries have better chargers than my old DeWalt.

Nope. DeWalt is nothing like that. Once battery is charged, you can leave it there all you want. DeWalt is the best line of power tools I ever owned and being a carpenter, farmer, mechanic, you name it, Ive owned a lot of cordless and corded tools. Most disappointing were my Milwaukee V-28 tools. I still have my Milwaukee 8-1/4 worm drive. Love it.
 

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   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #67  
<snip>
Anybody else had this bad experience with DeWalt?

<snip>
Nope, I'm about addicted to DeWalt. When I made a list a few years ago:

[ ] DCA1820 20v to 18v adapter
[ ] DCB090 USB power source
[ ] DCB112 Charger
[ ] DCB115 battery charger
[ ] DCB201 2AH Battery
[ ] DCB201 2AH Battery
[ ] DCB201 2AH Battery
[ ] DCB201 2AH Charger
[ ] DCB203 Battery
[ ] DCB205 5ah battery
[ ] DCB205 5ah battery
[ ] DCBL720 Blower
[ ] DCD205 Battery
[ ] DCD780 1/2 drill
[ ] DCD790 1/2 drill
[ ] DCF886 1/4 impact driver
[ ] DCG412 4. 5 grinder
[ ] DCL043 Jobsite led light
[ ] DCL043 Jobsite led light
[V] DCR006 Bluetooth Speaker
[ ] DCS355 oscillating multi tool
[ ] DCS361 7 1/4 Miter saw
[ ] DCS387 Reciprocating saw
[ ] DCS391 6 1/2 circular saw
[ ] DWE64421 Ross corded
[ ] SANCC 4AH Battery
[ ] SANCC 4AH Battery
Since then I've added
60V Weedwacker
1/2" hammer drill
Jig saw
Several different flashlights
DEWALT 1800 Watt Portable Power Station
and probably several others I can't remember.
So far, since about 2013 I've only had a couple of the small 20v battery packs die, the 2AH ones w/o a "fuel" gauge.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #68  
I've tried Porter Cable, Dewalt, Panasonic, Milwaukee,Bosch, several No Names and then settled on Makita. The 18volt Compact and Sub-Compact Drill Drivers and Impact Drivers are all I use now. Very Happy. I buy Bare Tools now at considerable savings because I have plenty of batteries.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #69  
Vinegar will do pretty much the same as Roundup, it's cheaper and not toxic. I just used vinegar on some burdock and it's gone.

I have got to try vinegar. Do you buy the vinegar that is sold to burn down vegetation?
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #70  
Nope, I'm about addicted to DeWalt. When I made a list a few years ago:

[ ] DCA1820 20v to 18v adapter
[ ] DCB090 USB power source
[ ] DCB112 Charger
[ ] DCB115 battery charger
[ ] DCB201 2AH Battery
[ ] DCB201 2AH Battery
[ ] DCB201 2AH Battery
[ ] DCB201 2AH Charger
[ ] DCB203 Battery
[ ] DCB205 5ah battery
[ ] DCB205 5ah battery
[ ] DCBL720 Blower
[ ] DCD205 Battery
[ ] DCD780 1/2 drill
[ ] DCD790 1/2 drill
[ ] DCF886 1/4 impact driver
[ ] DCG412 4. 5 grinder
[ ] DCL043 Jobsite led light
[ ] DCL043 Jobsite led light
[V] DCR006 Bluetooth Speaker
[ ] DCS355 oscillating multi tool
[ ] DCS361 7 1/4 Miter saw
[ ] DCS387 Reciprocating saw
[ ] DCS391 6 1/2 circular saw
[ ] DWE64421 Ross corded
[ ] SANCC 4AH Battery
[ ] SANCC 4AH Battery
Since then I've added
60V Weedwacker
1/2" hammer drill
Jig saw
Several different flashlights
DEWALT 1800 Watt Portable Power Station
and probably several others I can't remember.
So far, since about 2013 I've only had a couple of the small 20v battery packs die, the 2AH ones w/o a "fuel" gauge.

What’s your latest feedback on the 60V weed wacker? I’m about fed up with my Stihl FS91. Takes too many pulls to start on super hot days.
Anything you dislike? Even small?
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #71  
Vinegar will do pretty much the same as Roundup, it's cheaper and not toxic. I just used vinegar on some burdock and it's gone.

Are there different types of vinegar? or are there stronger versions that kill weeds? I bought a gallon of it from Walmart and poured it directly onto some weeds in a crack in a concrete pad, and along the edge of the pad. From what I could tell, not one plant died, or even suffered from it.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #72  
Are there different types of vinegar? or are there stronger versions that kill weeds? I bought a gallon of it from Walmart and poured it directly onto some weeds in a crack in a concrete pad, and along the edge of the pad. From what I could tell, not one plant died, or even suffered from it.

You have to mix it with glyphosate.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #73  
Vinegar comes in different strengths. That intended for weeds is much stronger than food vinegar. 30% vs 5%


Bruce
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #74  
What痴 your latest feedback on the 60V weed wacker? I知 about fed up with my Stihl FS91. Takes too many pulls to start on super hot days.
Anything you dislike? Even small?
I probably already mentioned it but I just sold my FS-130R after using my new Stihl battery FSA-130R. These are both their heavy duty trimmers. There are several lighter duty options available for far less money but I am extremely happy with the performance of my battery trimmer. I have lots of heavy weed wacking to do including blackberries and other tough overgrown weeds so I need the power. If you are just trimming grass and the like, no need for that much power and that big of hole in your wallet.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #75  
What痴 your latest feedback on the 60V weed wacker? I知 about fed up with my Stihl FS91. Takes too many pulls to start on super hot days.
Anything you dislike? Even small?

Unfortunately it's in Virginia and I've been Covid-sheltered in Mississippi since January so I have not gotten to run it "side-by-side" this summer with my Stihl FS55. I did get to compare it to my Stihl FS 250.
DeWalt far less power. But I did put an Echo 3 plastic blade head head on and it will take down vegetation with large stalks like goldenrod and very small saplings. The FS 250 with a blade will take down 1" saplings.
But I have not spilled 1 drop of gas or oil refilling the DeWalt and it starts every time. If I needed to run it reliably for a major project I'd get a second battery. I also run it with a Hitachi T35 head when I want to use "string".
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #76  
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #77  
The daughter set up our Kobalt 80 volt weed eater today using the 2.5 Ah battery and gave it a thumbs up over the single .060 line Lynxx 40v 2.5 Ah battery but the Kobalt costs like $194 on clearance. It uses the same battery as came with the Kobalt leave blower.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #78  
I bought an EGO battery operated trimmer from Home Depot.

So far, it's been working great. Has a 5 year warranty on the trimmer and 3 years on the battery.

Seems as powerful as my Honda Gasser trimmer and VERY quite!

I bought a spare battery so I ways have a backup.

I was so impressed with the trimmer, I went and bought the mower, chainsaw and blower.
 
   / Battery Powered Week Whacker #79  
I wonder how Honda will respond going forward...

It did come out with a tractor and various gas powered outdoor tools...

I thought for sure there would have been a foray into battery just for market share.

I find having battery at the ready I am much more likely to take care of little clean up and maintenance items on the spir of the moment compared to gas powered.

I'm sure I will always keep my small Echo Top handle saw... it's a keeper for all day brush whacking the Echo handle bar trimmer is a real performer... also keep my MS 250 saw... some trees in WA are really too big for battery.

That said for around the homestead... no regrets on the $1800 I spent on Battery Stihl line...

The only thing that would sour me is if battery longevity didn't pan out or if Stihl abandoned the series.

The gas additive really took a toll on small engines here...

Now if I could find a good battery leaf vac to try...
 

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