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Author Topic: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???  (Read 8901 times)

Offline b23

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Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« on: May 11, 2020, 01:09:23 PM »
Any of you have a battery powered string trimmer and if so are they worth a sh1t or ehh, not so much?

I have Milwaukee 18V and Dewalt 20V tools with multiple batteries for both.  I'm looking at the Milwaukee and Dewalt battery powered string trimmers.  My Milwaukee stuff has been great and since switching my DeWalt tools over to the 20V Lith batteries I no longer want to throw them away.  At this point I'm kind of leaning more toward the Milwaukee trimmer but I've only ever used a gas trimmer and have no experience with the battery powered stuff so I'm open to opinions. 

For what it's worth, those are the only two battery powered trimmers I'm interested in because I can buy just the trimmer, don't want anything with yet another different battery and charger.

Offline Stein

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2020, 01:16:13 PM »
I got a great deal on a Craftsman last year, so cheap it enticed me to by a Craftsman product again.  VS gas, I really like it because my kids can run it without me having to go out there and start it, mix the fuel, gas it up, etc.

The one thing I can't figure out is why they made it spin backwards.  Every trimmer I have ever run spun in the same direction, so maybe check on that because it sucks having to do everything backwards.  I'm not sure if it is just the jokers at Craftsman or something having to do with battery power.

We have tons of battery life, but a small yard so I can't speak much to that.

Offline JimmyHoffa

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2020, 01:20:05 PM »
I have one, not of the two listed, though.  Mine is the 40V Ryobi.  I think it is great.  It can sit all winter, then just throw in the battery and go.  I don't have to troubleshoot for two hours even if gas was drained in fall.  The power is close, but not quite as much as the gas style.  I can get about 40 mins off a full charge and it takes about 3 hrs to charge back up.  I think one of the main sellers on it for me was I can throw it in the back of the car and not have to have a gas can, go to the gas pump, measure out oil, etc.
If I was in landscaping or had a ton of trimming, I'd probably go with the big gas versions; but the places I take the trimmer and the size seems to be about right for the battery capacity.  I wouldn't want a gas one now.  These aren't like the old plug in electric, I was surprised.

Offline Russ McDonald

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2020, 01:23:21 PM »
I have an EGO trimmer and love it.  No more gas and it runs pretty long.  I would think the ones your interested in work pretty well.
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Offline JimmyHoffa

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2020, 01:25:11 PM »
I have an EGO trimmer and love it.  No more gas and it runs pretty long.  I would think the ones your interested in work pretty well.
Is yours the 56 volt?

Offline 2MANY

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2020, 01:28:49 PM »
I have a Stihl that is awesome.

Offline b23

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2020, 01:33:04 PM »
I really like it because my kids can run it without me having to go out there and start it, mix the fuel, gas it up, etc.

Ohhh, I never even thought of that.  I'm liking this idea better all the time.  :tup: 

Hmm, wonder if I'll be able to interest my wife in using it.  Now that's something I'd definitely pay extra for!  :chuckle: :chuckle:

Offline b0bbyg

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2020, 01:35:39 PM »
I have one, not of the two listed, though.  Mine is the 40V Ryobi.  I think it is great.  It can sit all winter, then just throw in the battery and go.  I don't have to troubleshoot for two hours even if gas was drained in fall.  The power is close, but not quite as much as the gas style.  I can get about 40 mins off a full charge and it takes about 3 hrs to charge back up.  I think one of the main sellers on it for me was I can throw it in the back of the car and not have to have a gas can, go to the gas pump, measure out oil, etc.
If I was in landscaping or had a ton of trimming, I'd probably go with the big gas versions; but the places I take the trimmer and the size seems to be about right for the battery capacity.  I wouldn't want a gas one now.  These aren't like the old plug in electric, I was surprised.
I have the same one and have been happy, also have the hedge trimmer that both mount off the same drive shaft.
Last weekend the old gas chainsaw bit it and I bought the battery chainsaw to match with a 2nd 40V battery.  I have yet to use them enough in one day to burn through both batteries.  I don't go out and cut loads of firewood, I just need to be able to trim or drop the occasional trees on 2+ acres.
I will probably carry it in hunting season when on dirt roads for the occasional fall down, won't clear the huge trees but will clear anything reasonable.
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Offline b23

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2020, 01:38:44 PM »
I have a Stihl that is awesome.

I love my Stihl stuff, leaf blower and one of my chainsaws is a Stihl, but I already have Milwaukee and DeWalt batteries and chargers.  I don't want another different battery and charger.

Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2020, 01:42:34 PM »
Get one that loads straight through.  Those that you have to take apart and wrap on spool are a pain

Offline fishngamereaper

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2020, 01:46:43 PM »
I have an EGO trimmer and love it.  No more gas and it runs pretty long.  I would think the ones your interested in work pretty well.
Is yours the 56 volt?

I have a ego hedge trimmer and a blower..both 56 volt .they are both awesome and are comparable to gas for power rating..

That said I wouldn't trade my gas string trimmer for a cordless..gas string trimmer's just plain produce more power for the work I do. If you have a small yard and just trim grass then cordless would work..but I'm constantly trimming heavy grasses, stickers and small trees.

Offline grundy53

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2020, 02:36:08 PM »
I have an EGO trimmer and love it.  No more gas and it runs pretty long.  I would think the ones your interested in work pretty well.
I just bought one of these too. Love it.

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Offline jackelope

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2020, 02:46:43 PM »
I've been thinking about one of these after my el-cheapo gas trimmer won't stay running this year. It's one of the cheap Homelite ones from Lowes. They're like $99 and seem to last 5-7 years and then die. Was thinking one of these battery powered ones might be the way to go.
Is this the Ego one you guys are buying?
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/ego-st1521s
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Offline grundy53

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2020, 02:51:15 PM »
I've been thinking about one of these after my el-cheapo gas trimmer won't stay running this year. It's one of the cheap Homelite ones from Lowes. They're like $99 and seem to last 5-7 years and then die. Was thinking one of these battery powered ones might be the way to go.
Is this the Ego one you guys are buying?
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/ego-st1521s
Yeah. That's the one I got.

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Offline Stein

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Re: Battery powered string trimmers, good, bad or ugly???
« Reply #14 on: May 11, 2020, 02:54:32 PM »
Funny, my Craftsman looks EXACTLY like that one, just different colors.

 


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