Battery powered weed eater review

1. The durability ratings.

Trimmers will have to go through a lot of wear-and-tear, so you should make sure to get a model that is durable enough to hold up to heavy-duty use. Manual feed line feeders are more durable than auto-feed lines.

Most 4-cycle engine trimmers are also more durable than 2-cycle engine models. And a cordless model is even more durable, without vibration, and engine wear and tear. With a brushless motor, it won’t require any maintenance.

2. The brand.

The best string trimmers are made by Makita, Milwaukee, Husqvarna, and DeWalt. Line trimmers from these manufacturers are generally more powerful and vibrate less than cheaper models.

According to many string trimmer reviews, they also last longer and are less likely to break down, giving you better value for your money despite their higher cost.

3. Its max power output.

Gas-driven trimmers are generally more powerful than battery-powered models. They are better suited for large jobs and can cover a lot of ground quickly. On the other hand, battery-powered trimmers are lighter and easier to handle, with much less vibration.

They can easily handle quick trimming work around the house, and can even cover large areas if you have an extra battery.

4. The shape and length of the shaft.

The shaft is among the most important components of your trimmer. You can pretty much rely on shafts labeled as ‘reinforced’, which will give you dependable and consistent performance.

Flex shafts are generally preferable due to their low vibration and shock-absorbing characteristics. They can also be used safely even if the drive housing gets bent.

5. The RMP (Rounds per minute).

Most string trimmers have idling speeds ranging from 2700 to 3000 RPM, with high speeds reaching up to 10,000 RPM. Higher RPMs allow you to clear away grass and weeds faster, so you can work more efficiently.

Ideally, you will want the trimmer head to remain still while the trimmer is idling. If it spins, your idling speed is probably too high.

Line trimmers may be powered by gas or Lithium-ion batteries. Gas-driven trimmers are generally more powerful and are better suited for big jobs or when you need to cover large areas.

A good gas-powered model will keep running for as long as you need it to as long as there is gas in the tank.

Most gas-powered models have a starter cord that you pull to start the engine manually. They are generally pretty low maintenance, although periodic servicing will help extend the tool’s operating life and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable performance. 

Most battery-powered weed eaters are equipped with a start switch rather than a starter cord. They require even less maintenance than gas-powered trimmers and are pretty much ready to go as soon as you pick them up.

Of course, cordless weed eaters are usually less powerful than their gas-driven counterparts and are better suited for trimming small areas around the house. 

On the plus side, they are lighter and easier to use than gas trimmers and vibrate less as well, so you can use them for longer periods without fatigue. 

If you do opt for a battery-powered weed eater, it’s a good idea to pick up a second battery, so you could charge one while using the other. This will allow you to use your trimmer for longer periods without having to cut your work short due to a dead battery.

Trimmers come with bent or curved shafts and straight shafts. From the inside, both types look pretty much alike, with the main difference being the shaft itself.

Curved trimmers have a slight curve toward the end, while straight trimmers have longer strings that are totally straight. 

Curved shafts are more commonly seen in home-gardening models.

They are easy to maneuver and you have a bit more control over the cutting action due to the smaller shaft and engine and better balance.

They can reach deep into the shrubbery and even under decks, porches, or lawn furniture, and can handle a wider variety of jobs.

They are also generally more durable, although the trade-off is added weight and less maneuverability.

If you are a tall person and have to reach under bushes, the added weight of a straight shaft trimmer might pose a bit of a challenge.

The company’s batteries are also known for their long life. Milwaukee tools also have the Red-link Plus Intelligence system, which protects against overloading and optimizes the performance of the motor, battery, and charger.

The Makita XRU09PT1 is a cordless line trimmer made for modern environmentally-conscious users.

It boasts of low-noise performance and zero emissions and requires much less maintenance than other line trimmers intended for home gardening use.

The XRU09PT1 is powered by a pair of 18V LXT Lithium-ion batteries, giving you enough juice to clear out grass and weeds from even large areas.

Its brushless motor results in more efficient performance and longer run times per charge, so you could get a lot more work done.

The XRU09PT1 also utilizes Makita’s ingenious electronic control system that optimizes power and speed according to the demands of the job. 

Milwaukee’s 2725-21HD line trimmer is part of the QUIK-LOOK Attachment System. It features the Easy Load Trimmer Head, which makes the trimmer easy to use right out of the box.

Even with its relatively simple design, the 2725-21HD is more than capable of professional-looking results, with the power to cut through the densest shrubs within seconds.

In fact, the motor gets up to full speed in less than one second, so you can begin clearing out stubborn grass and weeds immediately after starting it up.

You also get several attachments including the Edger, the Articulating Hedge Trimmer, and the Pole Saw attachment, all of which greatly can add to the versatility of this tool. 

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Husqvarna’s 967055801 Gas Weed Wacker boasts of the power and performance that is only available from a gas-powered weed wacker.

Driven by a 25cc 4-cycle engine, this trimmer can cut through the densest bush like butter and clears out weeds and grass quickly and efficiently.

The 967055801 is a lot easier to use than most other gas-powered trimmers, with an engine that runs on unleaded fuel.

This means that you don’t have to worry about getting the gas and oil mix just right before you can begin using it. 

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Most people use their line trimmers to cut grass and weeds at ground level. But you can use them to trim tree branches and tall shrubs as well by adding a pole saw attachment.

These are basically mini chainsaws with extended booms that you can attach to the end of your trimmer to increase its reach.

Some pole saw attachments can reach as high up as 11 feet and cut branches from 4” to 6” thick. For branches, you can’t reach with your cordless hand-help electric chainsaw.

If you are looking to get more use out of your line trimmer, buying a pole saw attachment is a cost-effective way to increase its capabilities.

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Most gas line trimmers come with 2-stroke or 4-stroke motors. “Strokes” or “cycles” refer to the piston’s back and forth movement inside the cylinder of the engine.

The number refers to the number of times the cylinder has to move from one end of the cylinder to the other before the engine produces power.

How do they produce power?

The pistons in 2-stroke trimmers go through the cycle twice before the engine produces power. In 4-stroke trimmers, the pistons cycle four times before the engine produces power.

This means that 2-stroke trimmers generally reach speed faster than 4-stroke trimmers, which almost always results in faster performance, but the 4 stroke engine has more torque behind the weed wacker.

This can help with mowing through thicker weeds that can slow a 2 stroke trimmer down. 

On the other hand, 4-stroke trimmers burn fuel more efficiently than 2-stroke models. They are also quieter during use.

Which is pricier and heavier?

However, they tend to be heavier than 2-stroke engine trimmers, and are usually more expensive. For home gardening use, 2-stroke models are generally cheaper and give you better value for your money. 

“Line size” refers to the thickness of the string or mono-filament cord used to cut grass.

Where and how to use thicker line strings?

In general, the thicker the line is, the more effective it will be at cutting dense grass and shrubbery.

Thicker lines also last longer and are less likely to break. 

Lines used in line trimmers range from 4 mm to 0.8 mm.

Manufacturers usually color code their strings so you can easily tell them apart.

For light trimming work like cutting grass strings with diameters ranging from 2.5 mm to 0.8 mm should work just fine but the thinner line will cut much faster.

If you have to cut through thick grass where you might hit thicker weeds and stones on occasion go for the, go for 2.5 mm line and even thicker if you have to cut through dense underbrush and hit the ground and rocks regularly.

Head attachments usually come in two types: auto-feed and manual. With the short line head attachments, you will have to replace the string manually.

With automatic heads, the line is fed through the head attachment as it wears out, so you always have a fresh length of string to work with.

The problem with many auto-feed systems is that the line tends to get tangled frequently, so you have to stop and clear out the snag.

Even if you have to cover a large area with your trimmer, it is better to go with manual attachments that let you replace shorter lengths of string at a time and save the frustration of a tangle. 

• Like lawnmowers, line trimmers cause a lot of material to fly around, which can cause injury to the eyes or other parts of the body so make sure to wear your pants and eye protection. 
• Apart from making sure that other people keep at least 50 feet away while you are using your line trimmer, you should protect yourself with safety goggles, gloves, and sturdy work boots as well. It is advisable to wear heavy denim or work pants and to wear earplugs or protective earmuffs. 
• Before you turn on the motor, make sure your stance is firm so that you don’t go off-balance.
• Don’t try to reach for grass or weeds that are too far away and always keep the head attachment below the waist level. 
• Line trimmers are fairly simple, but they do need a bit of care and maintenance.
• Before you use your trimmer, check to see that the fasteners are secure and that the string heads aren’t cracked or chipped.
• If it is a gas-powered trimmer, make sure there are no leaks along the fuel line, and that you have remembered to mix 2 stroke oil if it is a 2 stroke motor. A trimmer line that has a bright color like orange stands out this means at the end of the job, you can quickly see and pick up the broken bits of the line to put in the bin.

A trimmer line that has a bright color like orange stands out  this means at the end of the job, you can quickly see and pick up the broken bits of the line to put in the bin

The Milwaukee 2725-21HD Cordless Weed Wacker is the only real choice if versatility is what you are looking for in a weed wacker. It comes with a host of attachments that let you handle jobs that most other line trimmers couldn’t touch. 

Finally, the Husqvarna 967055801 Gas Weed Wacker is what you are looking for in a powerful and efficient gas-driven line trimmer.

With its 25cc 4-cycle engine, it can cut through even the densest overgrowth without a hiccup, making it one of the best gas string trimmers you can get for the money.

And If you have some serious cutting back work to in your yard first have a read of my gas chain saw review by clicking here.

Makita XRU09PT1 review