Time to convert from small engine to battery tools?

[Industrial Toys]

If you had taken that wet forlorn tool and tried to dry it out with compressed air, you might have destroyed it. It probably didn't take in any water just sitting there.

Dragons Eggs. Some argue that we live thousands of times, Maybe much more that that. Certainly one of your future lives will find you wealthy enough to buy Stihls system. They may also have far nicer systems in other realities. lol

 

[ultrarunner]

May not have an option going forward... California already has cities with outright bans and the State is planning for zero emission 2022 which either means battery or "Armstrong" powered..

Landscape companies already adjusting to the coming realty.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

May not have an option going forward... California already has cities with outright bans and the State is planning for zero emission 2022 which either means battery or "Armstrong" powered..

Landscape companies already adjusting to the coming realty.

I did not know that but I am sure it is a sign of the times.

Yesterday I was talking to my diesel mechanic about the future of diesel being replaced by electric motors and he said it is sure to happen.

The other day at WalMart I noticed they had a HART? brand line trimmer/blower package with two batteries for $148 the best I remember. I know at my age I am not as big of a jerk so I like starting the Lithium Ion tools and that lead to getting the Leaf car.

 

[dragoneggs]

Dragons Eggs. Some argue that we live thousands of times, Maybe much more that that. Certainly one of your future lives will find you wealthy enough to buy Stihls system. They may also have far nicer systems in other realities. lol

As much as I want to argue your point... I can't. But I am lovin' my current life!

 

[dragoneggs]

Just added to my Stihl battery tool collection. The HLA 65 Pole Hedger. I have the HSA 66 hedger but found myself too high on ladders and too much leaning and bending. Thinking I might sell the 66 and use the pole version for all. There is a longer heavier version but to keep it manageable for the wife, thought this to be the right one for us.

HLA 65 Extended Reach Battery Powered Hedge Trimmer | STIHL USA

I'm now fully committed to the Stihl line and think I need to pony up for a second battery although the run time on AP series is pretty good. But... two batteries means two machines going at once. Wife and I could both be going... notice the theme?

 

[ultrarunner]

I have both pole trimmers and use the short one all the time and I like it a lot...

The extended version is heavy and a work out if using for any length of time but it keeps the ladder in the garage.

There are new additions such as an extended run AP 300 S battery with 25% extended run and two new saws... one is compact arborists in the works for awhile and a more conventional with larger chain 16" bar if I heard correctly.

A little lube on the hedge trimmer does wonders on sappy branches to prevent storage lockup.

 

[dragoneggs]

A little lube on the hedge trimmer does wonders on sappy branches to prevent storage lockup.

Thanks for the reminder... sometimes I get lazy at the end of a job and don't do the little things such as this! Easy to have 'rode hard and put away wet'

 

[ultrarunner]

So far with two batteries running out of charge has never been an issue... plus having two tools ready to go for a helper would be nice.

I don't do enough to warrant a backpack battery string trimmer I can see where it would come in handy as I go for hours at a time...

As luck would have it my 38 year old Echo SRM 300 brush cutter time to be put out to pasture has come... nothing wrong with the motor... all original and worked very hard over the years with blade and heavy nylon... bought it for Dad for Fathers Day in 1982.

Looked at Battery but with thistles and waist high grass on steep hillsides I afraid would come up short.

Checked with several dedicated mower shops and not one had a 30cc brush cutter in stock...

Since the Echo did more than I could ever imagine I decided to get the latest version of the same... SRM 3020u with handle bars... should be in Wednesday.

All the shops had small to medium loop handle machines and monster 41cc brush cutters... but the mid size is rare...

Plus the Echo has a 5 year consumer warranty...

The last few years I have been using 50-1 Stihl premium mix in everything... even the 25-1 Echo and noticed no problems... starter clock spring and ignition coil with integral plug wire conspired to force my hand.

Anyone with a battery brush cutter please chime in...

 

[Diggin It]

found myself too high on ladders and too much leaning and bending.

Solved that problem.

My hedges had grown to a little over 6 foot tall and just about as wide. 6 foot step ladder with a 24" cutting bar and 3' extension still couldn't reach all the way across. Over this past winter, I whacked 'em all off down to about 3'. Looked like a bunch of twigs sticking up from the ground. All sprouting well now and I'll be able to neaten them up with nice flattop trims in another few weeks using a single 24" bar trimmer and no ladder at all.
.

 

[dragoneggs]

Solved that problem.

My hedges had grown to a little over 6 foot tall and just about as wide. 6 foot step ladder with a 24" cutting bar and 3' extension still couldn't reach all the way across. Over this past winter, I whacked 'em all off down to about 3'. Looked like a bunch of twigs sticking up from the ground. All sprouting well now and I'll be able to neaten them up with nice flattop trims in another few weeks using a single 24" bar trimmer and no ladder at all.
.

Sometimes a hard pruning while looking ugly initially... is the best remedy especially a couple years later!