Battery powered trimmer recommendations?

[cdaigle430]

I am a huge Milwaukee owner having about 30 battery M18s and M12s and 10 corded tools. However I am also a huge Ryobi fan when it comes to the 40v battery operated trimmers and its attachments. They have more options and are as reliable with its trimmers as the Milwaukee line up.

 

[coobie]

Echo or shinadawa trimmers.

 

[Alan W.]

We have the 80 v Kobalt and love it. Have the brush cutter and limb saw attachments also have the 80 v chainsaw.
I got rid of my gas trimmers after purchasing this.

 

[EddieWalker]

I went out to my food plot to check on my game camera this afternoon and it's all pretty overgrown. I've seen quite a few snakes lately so I didn't want to walk through the tall stuff, so I used my cordless weed eater. It's so easy to use that it was a pleasure to clear a path to the camera. I always wear ear plugs when using tools, but it's so quiet that I didn't need to use them!!!

 

[kenmbz]

I haven't purchased any Ryobi or Kobalt in years. Never had any of them last me more than a year.
The Makita and Milwaukie have always held up. Only have plug in Dewalt, but no problems so far with those either.

 

[jjp8182]

Have a Makita as I already had other tools that use the same batteries and haven't had much in the way of complaints. The nice thing is they seem very dedicate to their 18V battery interface, to include using batteries in pairs to effectively have 36V tools. .....and they look to be coming out with a battery backpack that holds 4 batteries and can support either the single or dual battery tools.

Makita aside, the other brands/battery systems are also worth looking at (I also have some Milwaukee tools) but I would recommend looking at the variety of tools that use the same battery, the total run time that can be achieved (either through battery sizes available, ability to operate as a plug-in, or availability of a backpack battery/power source) as the batteries are generally where the cost will start running up.

May also be worth looking at what type of promotions the company runs in the way of reduced prices (personally a big fan of how Makita will run promos that include an extra sets of batteries as I've leveraged that to good advantage).

 

[RSKY]

Thanks to all who have commented on this. My sister is 5' 4", that's what she says, and I told her to go to stores and hold the trimmers and see which fit her better. She and I had never heard of the EGO brand and she will give it a good look.

Once again thanks to all who have taken the time to comment.

RSKY

 

[EddieWalker]

Be sure to hold it with the batteries installed. Huge difference in weight with or without them.

 

[bullbreaker]

Be sure to hold it with the batteries installed. Huge difference in weight with or without them.

Thats and excellent recommendation . I have held them both ways and definently a big difference .

This site here sells EGO , some with even a blower thrown in however like Eddie suggests you wont be able to hold it and get a feel for it . Unless you held it at the big box stores and bought it from here cheaper .

EGO Electric String Trimmers

 

[EddieWalker]

The batteries add a lot of weight to mine, but it still lighter then a gas powered weed eater. The batteries also balance it out.

 

[RSKY]

Thought I would fill everybody in on what she got.

She put on her mask and gloves and went to Lowes. They had two different 40-volt models. One was the regular and the other a brushless. The brushless seemed to her to be lighter, better balanced, and $40 higher. She bought it and used it at our mothers Thursday. She was very pleased with the weight and power. The first battery she put it wasn't fully charged but still lasted more than a half hour.

To say that she was pleased with her purchase would be an understatement. Now to see how dependable it is.

Thanks to all that gave their advice.

RSKY

 

[RBLapham]

RSKY - what make did she buy? Also I previously mentioned the EGO was heavy for this 77 year old. I purchased a strap for it and it is great now took the weight off my arms. Amazon.com : Maxpower 339195 Universal Trimmer Shoulder Strap, black : String Trimmer Accessories : Garden & Outdoor

 

[RSKY]

RSKY - what make did she buy? Also I previously mentioned the EGO was heavy for this 77 year old. I purchased a strap for it and it is great now took the weight off my arms. Amazon.com : Maxpower 339195 Universal Trimmer Shoulder Strap, black : String Trimmer Accessories : Garden & Outdoor

Sorry but I didn't make myself clear. She bought the Kobalt 40-v brushless trimmer. They had another 40-v model that was, in her words, "heavier and not as well balanced". Plus she already had two of the 40-v batteries. I got another phone call yesterday telling me how much she liked it.

RSKY

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m ready for the DeWalt 60v. I only have 3 decent sized customers and they only have 1-2 hours of string trimming each. I already have (3) 60v 9.0 ah batteries.
Still trying to decide if the collapsible trimmer shaft is something that will fit in a 36” toolbox so I can lock it up and keep it out of the rain.

 

[kc5dlo]

Sounds like the same Kobalt model i bought. Mine is attachment capable is much more enjoyable to use than the Homelite unit it replaced.

 

[breadtrk]

I have the monster 4 stroke TroyBuilt, It kills my wrist and arm after 10 minutes. Do the battery ones vibrate less?

 

[Rsking]

I have the monster 4 stroke TroyBuilt, It kills my wrist and arm after 10 minutes. Do the battery ones vibrate less?

I don't think I can think of anything that fires up my tennis elbow quite like the trimmer. I'm trying to relegate it to wife duty (she's shorter to the ground anyways) but she can't start the blasted thing.

Can you put a brush blade on the electric ones?

 

[dragoneggs]

I've soured on Milwaukee since a battery went bad well within the warranty...

I sent it in and was told it had been water damaged... well I do use it outside and was finishing a job when it started to rain...

After warranty denied I asked for the battery back and learned it had been disposed of...

A little late maybe to chime in here. First, Ultra... surprised to see you talking Milwaukee and not Stihl knowing you are on that bandwagon as I am.

I am extremely happy with my growing fleet of Stihl battery line of tools. I went with the Stihl AP battery line of tools but for most with occasional use on small properties would do well with the less expensive/lighter weight AK line.

That said, I think it makes good sense to try to standardize on a brand so your battery or batteries are kept at a minimum. If you are already committed to a particular brand with more than one tool, probably should look hard at what direction you want to go long term. Everything is going to battery.

 

[Hay Dude]

A little late maybe to chime in here. First, Ultra... surprised to see you talking Milwaukee and not Stihl knowing you are on that bandwagon as I am.

I am extremely happy with my growing fleet of Stihl battery line of tools. I went with the Stihl AP battery line of tools but for most with occasional use on small properties would do well with the less expensive/lighter weight AK line.

That said, I think it makes good sense to try to standardize on a brand so your battery or batteries are kept at a minimum. If you are already committed to a particular brand with more than one tool, probably should look hard at what direction you want to go long term. Everything is going to battery.

I have a newer Stihl FS91 and somehow I flooded it before I began weed whacking on Wednesday at 4pm after bouncing around on a zero turn for 8-9 hours. Really aggravating pulling the cord about 30 times before she sputtered over.
After that episode, Im switching this to 60V trimmer. If it will run 1.5-2 hours (not constantly) Itll be great. I will keep the gas for my pole saw and as a back up.
I know the old ladies at the housing complex will appreciate the electric trimmer, the all drive Priuses :laughing:

 

[4get gto]

I know the old ladies at the housing complex will appreciate the electric trimmer, the all drive Priuses :laughing:

Yea it seems people are less likely to complain if they don't hear it..cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, atv's...anything..! :thumbsup: