String trimmers

[hks003]

I have a straight shaft echo with removable attachments, and I love it. I have the string trimmer head and the brush cutter head that I use the blade at the link below on. For clearing lanes at the dear lease, it's amazing. I'll take it over a pole saw because it's running at such a high rpm that it just slices right through anything 3" and less and I wasn't scared to take on anything 6" or less (except an iron wood tree limb, that won the battle and needed a chainsaw). It does well on grass that would get in the chain housing of a pole saw and eats blackberry briars for lunch. One downside is if you are cutting with the right side of the blade, it throws things. Woodchips, chunks of briars, a snake once, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Forester-Cha...ocphy=9025626&hvtargid=pla-379017052964&psc=1

 

[Atchuuu]

DeWalt makes a wicked battery string trimmer.

Which one? You can't be thinking of the 20v Dewalt.

 

[DieselBound]

I don't know about others, but when I set out to do trimming I want to get it all done in as few shots as I can. Multiple restarts (waiting for a battery to recharge) means it'll take longer to get the job done, perhaps stretching out over several outings. I want to reduce the number of times I have to get totally filthy (and all the clean up). Packing out a gallon of fuel allows me to work until I tire (not the machine). I recently trimmed about 2,200' of fencing (about half, both side of half my total) and that took me a couple days (not full days, but many hours); I'd have had to have multiple batteries and multiple trips back to the shop to do this.

One thing I noticed recently between our battery and gas trimmers was that the battery trimmer take longer to bring up to full RPMs, and I am on and off the throttle quite a bit. I need to see who the manufacturer of the battery one is (my wife got it -it was reviewed highly, which I'd concur it seems to work really well- and what the voltage is). Without a doubt, not mixing and pouring fuel or smelling exhaust fumes is a big plus.

It wasn't until about three years ago that I bought cordless drills (20v) and one of the batteries crapped out after about two years (and I was alternating between them). Didn't seem to give me any sign of impending death, just all of sudden refused to charge. Keep meaning to buy another battery. Don't think they're too expensive. The newer, higher voltage batteries, on the other hand, can't be very cheap.

 

[chim]

I have a Stihl string trimmer, Stihl Power Scythe and a DeWalt 20V string trimmer. Each has tasks it's better at than the others. The key to happiness with DeWalt 20V tools is using the 5AH batteries.

 

[sawtooth]

Yes get a commercial model for sure. I have 4 trimmers that we use on our farms and our house. One small Shindawa (called Home-pro) thats 20 years + old and still runs great, one Echo commercial can't remember the model either though, and two Stihl FS 94R units. All but the Shindawa get used about a hour at a time once we start. The 8 year old Echo has been pretty good but did need a new carb last year. Personally I like the Stihl's the best as they have great power and are very light in weight. Only had them for a little over 2 years now but so far not a single issue and crank on a dime. They are extremely balanced too so combined that with the light weight and great power they are hard to beat. Unless you need a super powerful trimmer for cutting really tall thick stuff I would look seriously at the FS 94R. By the way its one of their few 2 stroke models as well. Many of their units are now moving over to newer 4 stroke hybrid design. They have been making the 4 stroke design for many years now but seem to keep moving more and more products over to that design. I believe this is for emission purposes but the valves do need to be adjusted at so many hours of use. Echo's are also nice though and make great equipment so if it were me I would buy one of those two brands. One more note Echo has like a 4 year consumer warranty where Stihl only has a 3 year warranty plus you have to use their synthetic oil mix. I think either unit though will last a very very long time.

 

[Rebeldad1]

I have a Dewalt 20 volt with a 5ah battery. Gave up on my Stihl gasser 5 years ago.
The Dewalt has done everything I have asked of it and more. Never looked back.
Im sure the new 60 volt will do more.
Saved enough on gas and oil and heartache to gladly buy another (bare tool) if ever needed and stay happy!!

 

[Doofy]

I have a Dewalt 20 volt with a 5ah battery. Gave up on my Stihl gasser 5 years ago.
The Dewalt has done everything I have asked of it and more. Never looked back.
Im sure the new 60 volt will do more.
Saved enough on gas and oil and heartache to gladly buy another (bare tool) if ever needed and stay happy!!

There is an enormous savings by buying "Bare Tool". My favorite tools are 18volt Makita and 20-40volt Worx. The tool is almost free without the batteries and charger.

 

[ArlyA]

Some of us, use trimmers and pole saws hard and for hours on end. Battery technologies have not yet come along enough for users like us, at least at this time.

 

[Rebeldad1]

There is an enormous savings by buying "Bare Tool". My favorite tools are 18volt Makita and 20-40volt Worx. The tool is almost free without the batteries and charger.

Last month CPO tools had the 20 volt bare tool string trimmer on sale for $99.00 with free shipping, no sales tax! Put a 60 volt Flexvolt battery on it it should easily run 1 hour and more on a charge. I have 5 Dewalt 20 volt batteries that are 4-5 years old and still going strong. The 20 volt chainsaw is amazing!!

 

[Doofy]

The Wife received her new Worx 40 volt cordless lawn mower today and absolutely loves it. Quiet and lightweight. No more gas and oil and stink and noise!