Anyone go from gas to electric, then back to gas?

[mo1]

There are huge differences between electric (corded) and battery-powered tools and pieces of equipment, they should not be grouped together.

I have had good experiences in using electric tools and equipment as long as they are used within their limitations of needing to be close to electrical service and that anything considered actually portable is limited in power to about 1 HP by the 120 volt 15 amp circuit it connects to. If those limitations are fine for what I am doing, then I will get an electric tool as they require far less maintenance, always start immediately, and nearly always have a far longer service life than an engine-powered piece of equipment.

I have had the same poor experience with all of the battery-powered tools and pieces of equipment I have had, and as a result I avoid them. Battery-powered tools and equipment are noticeably more expensive than comparable alternatives, the batteries all have a limited run time that degrades over a pretty short period of time to nothing, the batteries all take a significant amount of time to charge, and replacing an end of life battery with a fresh one is either impossible or costs more than a new tool does.

It is a very rare occasion where a battery-powered tool or piece of equipment would actually be useful for me. Almost all of the "light job" stuff is nearly always within range of a receptacle so an electric tool will work. The things too far away from a receptacle are usually too much of a job for anything without an engine anyway. An unpowered hand tool like a screwdriver, lopper, pruning saw, or brace and bit are sufficient for the "light jobs" that are too far from a receptacle.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I ride horses on trails alot and a few buddies have the Milwaukee M12 little chainsaws they carries to clear stuff in the way and I am impressed with them. I am hoping my kids and wife get me one for my birthday next week, in my situation it isn't so much what I can carry on my saddle or in saddle bags it is what I can carry in addition to the other stuff I carry. I have a 21" handsaw that'll flat cut a tree apart but in big hardwoods it is slow going and I may come back a different day packing a larger gas saw. But what I've seen these guys cut with their M12 Milwaukee's I think I need one.
As for the rest, I have a big stihl weedeater with the bike handles and it is a beast when knocking stuff down, but I used it for the second time this year last week. I'm actually trying to sell it to buy an electric one because I just don't use it much.
I could get by with a battery operated blower.

Can't get away from a gas chainsaw just yet, but an electric one sure would be handy.

 

[Jstpssng]

The worst thing you can do is to run them down and wait a day or longer to put it back on a charger.

I believe that the manufacturers are saying the same.

Leaving them on the charger after they are charged is also not good as we are hearing now for our cell phones.

I used to do that with my Dewalt batteries, so that there was always one fully charged battery. Then I started reading, and along with the reasons you give not to, it apparently also causes them to explode and burn on occasion.

Like everything, following manufacturers instructions can lead to better results.

 

[AndyMA]

I have a full set of Stihl gas and Milwaukee M12 & M18 garden tools. Haven't used the Stihl tools in several years .

Andy

 

[boatmoter]

I jumped in on the electric blower, chainsaw and weed wacker eagerly, thinking they would replace the Stihl gas pieces I previously run.
Fast forward to today and I am once again back to my Stihl gas blower, Stihl gas weed walkers and never really left my Stihl & makita gas chainsaws.
The electric tools are all 60V DeWalt. Nothing wrong with them. They all work fine, but after running both in a commercial business for 2+ years, I really only use the electric weed wacker periodically for light jobs I know will be done in under 15 minutes.

Not disappointed, just have found gas revs higher & keeps running when far away from the truck for hours on a full tank. Gas chainsaws are screamers and will cut circles around the electric. Electric only really good for quick 10 minute pruning jobs. Gas blower just keeps on running & running.

Anyone else try electric, go back to gas?

I went from gas to electric then back to gas. I still have my ryobi electric weedwacker which takes the same extend it's as my gas wacker, it is just as strong,but it's a pain to drag a extension cord around. and my electric blower is 150mph and strong,but again the cord,yep,Im back to gas, including a chain saw, pole saw. but I am still spoiled on my cordless 1/2 impact wrench & impact driver & drill,I haven't used my air tools in over 6 yrs

 

[Doz]

I always use gas for the big job the best battery tools is my Milwaukee grease gun and Sawzaw keep it in the tractor for cut limbs out of the way and keeping things greased!

 

[RPW]

I've switched to electric on two tools. Snapper for mower and trimmer. They're both 60V and do a great job. More pricey than many others but after researching tools have found them great. Plenty of power and good battery longevity. I also don't run the battery down all the way and take them off charge as soon as possible after they are fully charged. Also use a Makita drill. 18V and found that it will twist your wrist off it you don't pay attention. Also have a series of Ryobi power tools and they are fare compared to the Makita. Only reason I don't use the drill is I dropped it and the chuck broke. It's replaceable but haven't been able to remove the old one yet.

 

[sixdogs]

Good thread. I almost went battery powered and started with a Makita top-end leaf blower. It takes two 18V and has six levels of power. It's OK, I guess but only lasts 12 ? minutes on highest power and is only about half power compared with my gas leaf blower.

As a result, I use the gas blower if it's any more than blowing off the lawn mower or porches. Elec does this "OK" but the gas blower has way more oomph.

Then, too are exploding batteries. People make mistakes charging and discharging batteries. It's no problem if you run out of gas but mess up the battery thing and it's Russian roulette.


So, no electric for me unless someone figures out these problems. That, and the incredible environmental destruction to get the lithium is too much. I'm not alone and battery tools and cars might not be the future. Maybe propane or ultra lightweight and powerful gas tools? We already worked out those bugs. Electric kind-of didn't work 100 years ago and kind-of doesn't work now.

 

[marhar]

I jumped in on the electric blower, chainsaw and weed wacker eagerly, thinking they would replace the Stihl gas pieces I previously run.
Fast forward to today and I am once again back to my Stihl gas blower, Stihl gas weed walkers and never really left my Stihl & makita gas chainsaws.
The electric tools are all 60V DeWalt. Nothing wrong with them. They all work fine, but after running both in a commercial business for 2+ years, I really only use the electric weed wacker periodically for light jobs I know will be done in under 15 minutes.

Not disappointed, just have found gas revs higher & keeps running when far away from the truck for hours on a full tank. Gas chainsaws are screamers and will cut circles around the electric. Electric only really good for quick 10 minute pruning jobs. Gas blower just keeps on running & running.

Anyone else try electric, go back to gas?

I have not made the jump to electric. The technology is not where it needs to be.

If the technology can get to where it already is with cordless drills I look forward to running a quieter and lighter chainsaw.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I continue to use both and never completely switched from gas to electric.

Although my battery powered tool "arsenal" continues to expand, I still use my gas chainsaws & generators. I don't think cordless tools were ever intended to completely replace corded or gas powered equipment. It's interesting that California lawmakers seem to think so however.

I find it's to the point where I can maintain my 25 acres mostly with battery tools now but keep the gas handy for the big jobs.