Time to convert from small engine to battery tools?

[jjp8182]

That's a lot of batteries. How many battery operated tools do you have?

Good question --- and one I'm having to think through, so since it may just be easier to list them off rather than go count.....

There's a leaf blower, a string trimmer/power head (probably going to expand the number of attachments for that), a hedge trimmer, a couple different variations of chainsaws, a reciprocating saw, a 4.5"/5" angle grinder, a die grinder, an impact driver, a couple different drills, a flashlight (the Makita 12 LED one works well as a worklight), a USB outlet attachment, a plunge cut circular saw, a handheld vacuum, and a jigsaw ..... and I think that's most of my current cordless tools (all are Makita)

A fair number of those tools use two 18V batteries at once (to effectively make it a 36V motor/tool), but even considering that I probably have more batteries than I need at any given moment. however, it's handy having a few spares on hand (especially since I keep at least a couple on a charger at all times). Of course having the spares on hand also means I can generally just buy bare tools when there isn't a battery special occurring (and a carry case isn't needed/wanted).

To add a bit of perspective: Given how my house was built and the property was laid out using anything corded means I either needed to start a generator or run an extension cord into the house (or possibly the one shed) when I'm working outside (which is what I'm usually doing), neither of which tends to be convenient for simple tasks. At times just dealing with the extension cords took as just as long (or longer) than doing the actual task/project. That was happening frequently enough that at one point just as an attempt to make things easier/faster I bought one of the Makita 18V drills and from there I've pretty much switched over to buying cordless hand held tools.

So while I haven't sold (or otherwise discarded) the corded and gas tools I have, it has to be a fairly major task (like felling large or multiple trees, or trimming fence-lines) before I reach for a tool that's not cordless. It's just really that convenient to go get the tool I need, slide a battery (or two) on it, do what I needed to do, take the battery back off, put the tool away and just be done.

 

[dragoneggs]

Well, I have sold off my Stihl gas blower and gas hedger and am battery powered for those and think they might be better not just as good... only the string trimmer to go. Haven't had enough reps with my new weedwacker to convince myself I won't regret departing with my gasser.

 

[Wagtail]

Well, I have sold off my Stihl gas blower and gas hedger and am battery powered for those and think they might be better not just as good... only the string trimmer to go. Haven't had enough reps with my new weedwacker to convince myself I won't regret departing with my gasser.

Well, '**** your eyes' dragoneggs... thanks to you (yes, YOU) ((and the fact that I've got a second MAKITA 6Ah 18V battery)) I went ahead and bought a MAKITA leaf blower 'skin' (A$99).

The two-stroke blower that I have vibrates too much, even having insulated the handle with 1/2" foam neoprene and wearing 1/8" neoprene 'divers' gloves.

Mind you, I'm pretty much back to my previous comment that, what with the expense of the batteries themselves, you really are limiting yourself to the BRAND/Manufacturer that those batteries fit.

 

[buickanddeere]

My 20V Dewalt batteries and charger keep disappearing. The boys and the wife keep borrowing them. I have a pair of 20V 5AH bluetooth batteries on order. They will only work when linked to my cellphone. Going to install the bluetooth ID kit onto the tools as well.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm still doing acreage clearing with the gas straight shaft Echo... Yesterday cleared out waist high and higher thistles.

Went through a gallon of mix so it got a good work out... about 7 hours cutting stopping to reload string and refuel for machine and me.

But... for residential maintaining... don't really see the need for gas unless large scale... I do love my Honda mowers... not a lick of problem and the aluminum deck and not having to restart each time I empty the catcher works well...

 

[Alan W.]

My son got me a 80 volt Kobalt chainsaw for fathers day. Love it. Sure Im not gonna cut up a large oak but for about 50 percent of what I will do it will be great.
Dont miss the smell or noise at all.

 

[rangerfredbob]

For the record, my 42cc Craftsman(Poulan) chainsaw cut circles around the Lynxx saw... in a tank of fuel I cut up a 65' fir tree and a few rounds off of the big end of the next tree, would have taken 3-4 batteries and longer with the battery saw. That said, it's not what it's for . For limbing and general trimming the battery saw is nice, but for cordwood I'd stick to gas or corded...

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay figured I would update my plunge into the Stihl line up of battery powered tools. I settled on the 'AP' line of battery tools. Most powerful of the handheld. Loving my hedger and especially my string trimmer and blower because of the very light weight due to the battery being on a belly belt instead of on board.

Yesterday had another weak moment after crushing my HF electric pole saw by dropping a log on it. Just ordered a Stihl MSA200 C-BQ chainsaw. Time for another gasser to go on Craigslist!

 

[EddieWalker]

I bought the Makita duel battery weed eater from Amazon and I've been impressed. I don't do a lot of weed eating, which is why I was considering going with battery instead of gas. I did my back yard, around the front of the house and my outbuildings two times now on the same set of batteries. I haven't used the second set of batteries that it came with yet. It has a lot of power, it's super quiet and the weight isn't an issue. Now I wish that I had bought it sooner as dealing with mixing gas and filling up my old weed eater was always such a pain, plus how loud it was!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XRU09...&s=gateway&sprefix=makita+weed,aps,318&sr=8-3

 

[shooterdon]

A few weeks ago I purchased the cheap HF 40V chainsaw. Used it once for about 20 minutes of cutting. Love it. Quite and no fuel to mix. No need to drain or run the fuel out after a small job. It will never replace my gas saws for cutting firewood but it is a handy tool to have.