Harbor Freight and the search for battery powered string trimmers

[oldbike54]

 I don't normally shop much in HF , although some of their stuff is really pretty good for the money . Anyway , in an effort to simplify life, I have decided to transition from gasoline powered lawn tools to battery tools . Have a Green Worx mower on the way sourced from Amazon at a good price with a decent warranty , but not knowing much about battery string trimmers , it seemed a good idea to do the "hands on" thing . After visiting the higher end stores and seeing the somewhat shocking prices , well , HF is on the route home , so ...

 They had a Bauer branded battery trimmer on sale , even after buying a battery , the charger , and a 2 year replacement warranty it was less than 110 bucks . Now , will it actually do the job , well , yes . Not saying it will work for someone who has an acre of yard , but for the average city lot it is adequate . Just thought some of you , er , frugal types might want to know 

 Dusty

[Gliderjohn]

Besides a Green Works mower I got the model 21302 trimmer. About 150 bucks. Not quite as ergonomic as my gas powered Stihl but it starts first time every time, has plenty of power and the batteries interchange with the mower.
GliderJohn

[Shorty]

Last time I tried that, it took 3 batteries to do my little corner lot, with an 8 hour charge time per battery. I'm assuming things have got somewhat better?   

[Chuck in Indiana]

^^^^ Yep. Batteries are getting better by the day.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'll be buying the $50 Bauer string trimmer for my mom (and Bauer inflator for myself) soon. I already have the charger and two batteries (1.5 and 3.0 amp). The 1.5 and charger came with the Bauer 1/4" compact impact, I bought the 3 amp for the Bauer workshop blower.

[Testarossa]

It's important to have interchangeable batteries. I settled on DeWalt 20v stuff. Since I already had 3 batteries that came with my other stuff, including a bigger 5ah pack, I bought a trimmer without battery for cheap. Works well and it's light enough that Gail uses it a lot.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Works well and it's light enough that Gail uses it a lot.

I *like* that about an electric trimmer.  I hate weed whacking.

[oldbike54]

Last time I tried that, it took 3 batteries to do my little corner lot, with an 8 hour charge time per battery. I'm assuming things have got somewhat better?   

 Larry , brother , welcome to 2020 when one battery with a full charge lasts for about 30 minutes and only takes about the same to charge 

 Dusty

[Dilliw]

I had a thread on here about the subject.

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=105104.0

I was all set to buy the Ego until Steve (Vagrant) shamed me into fixing the Stihl one more time.  So a new $10 head, a $30 new generic gas tank, and a $13 aftermarket carb later..   Kim is happy once again with her old Stihl.   

The cheap carbs on Amazon are the way to go for small engines  They make them for most any application and the key thing you don't have to diagnose (always my problem!)

[ChrisG]

I sort of inadvertently fell into Black and Decker 20V for a drill and little impact driver.  Abused plenty and work fine.  So by default I got a B&D weed wacker to use the same batteries.  Works fine - usually enough charge in one battery to do the whole job, but no problem to throw on a freshly charged battery if needed.  Generic/aftermarket batteries are cheap.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I sort of inadvertently fell into Black and Decker 20V for a drill and little impact driver.  Abused plenty and work fine.  So by default I got a B&D weed wacker to use the same batteries.  Works fine - usually enough charge in one battery to do the whole job, but no problem to throw on a freshly charged battery if needed.  Generic/aftermarket batteries are cheap.

My mom likes to do as much as possible herself, even though she's 88 years young. I bought her a Black & Decker 20 volt cordless hedge trimmer and chainsaw. Both are light and easy for her to handle, both surprisingly capable and so far, durable. The oiling system on the chainsaw sucks, but otherwise I feel they've been a good value. 

[PeteS]

All my trimming is around poles and tree trunks. No large areas like drainage ditches. My wife wanted a trimmer to replace the hand shears she was using. I thought about a string trimmer but was concerned it may be too heavy and unwieldy for her. Then came across this. I was surprised how well made it was. Battery lasts over 30 minutes. Can be used as a hand trimmer or a walk behind and trims around poles as fast as a string trimmer without damaging wood or paint. The hedge trimmer attachment works well also.

https://www.toolsid.com/sun-joe/7-2-v-green-0-3-electric-cordless-telescoping-grass-trimmer-mpn-hj605cc.html

Pete

[oldbike54]

All my trimming is around poles and tree trunks. No large areas like drainage ditches. My wife wanted a trimmer to replace the hand shears she was using. I thought about a string trimmer but was concerned it may be too heavy and unwieldy for her. Then came across this. I was surprised how well made it was. Battery lasts over 30 minutes. Can be used as a hand trimmer or a walk behind and trims around poles as fast as a string trimmer without damaging wood or paint. The hedge trimmer attachment works well also.

https://www.toolsid.com/sun-joe/7-2-v-green-0-3-electric-cordless-telescoping-grass-trimmer-mpn-hj605cc.html

Pete

 That's pretty cool .

 Dusty

[Testarossa]

BTW there are generic batteries on Amazon etc that will fit DeWalt tools for about half the price, but I've seen online reviews reporting that the no-brand batteries may not take or hold a charge.

[Ncdan]

My father in law passed in March so I took over the task of keeping up Ma’s yard. He used a popular modern brand. I always figured a battery powered weed eater was a waste of time and energy. Wow was I behind the ball on this one. He has a large yard and a lot of obstacles to clean up and I used his battery weed eater. Wow was I wrong, I did the.complete job with one charge!! I’d have never thought it. However Round Up did away with need a weed eater period👍👍👍👍

[bigbikerrick]

My mom likes to do as much as possible herself, even though she's 88 years young. I bought her a Black & Decker 20 volt cordless hedge trimmer and chainsaw. Both are light and easy for her to handle, both surprisingly capable and so far, durable. The oiling system on the chainsaw sucks, but otherwise I feel they've been a good value.

88 years old and still using a chain saw!  I love to hear stories like that. Thats amazing Charlie, you , and your brother are truly blessed ! God bless your Momma!
Rick.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

88 years old and still using a chain saw!  I love to hear stories like that. Thats amazing Charlie, you , and your brother are truly blessed ! God bless your Momma!
Rick.

She's really amazing. On the go all day, up early and to bed late. Her cats (all nine of them!) keep her busy. She was weeding the flower beds, spreading mulch and trimming shrubs until this hot spell rolled in. We put in a garden for the first time in about five years and she works in that until it gets too hot. I load the mulch, cultivate the garden, haul the weeds down to the compost pile and anything else she needs me to do as time allows. Since my brother moved to Oregon five years ago, I'm left to try and keep up, it isn't easy. My other siblings (one adopted brother and four sisters) help when they can, but most of them live pretty far away.

She still gets around good, but pushing/pulling her Garden Way cart around is getting hard for her. So, I'm working on (electric) motorizing a small four-wheeled wagon for her so she can haul whatever she wants without effort and will still get her exercise.   

[oldbike54]

 Onya Charlie 

 Dusty

[inditx]

Great story!
I bought an ego brand along with their leaf blower and am happy with it.
The only down side is one of the chargers quit so....
inditx

[bobrebos]

I have 7 acres at the house and a old rustic cabin in the Cherokee national forest/Cohutta wildlife management area in the north Georgia area so I need gas trimmers and use the Echo brand.  They take a beating and I hate weedeating.  A condo in a downtown somewhere is looking better and better the older I get!  Someplace where someone else can do the weedeating when it’s 98 degrees outside!  I know....I should quit whining!   

[Luap McKeever]

I picked up the Hart 40V trimmer from WM a month or so go. Very impressed with it as well. 45 minute run time, light and dang powerful. Pretty awesome for under $100.

[guzziart]

My wife bought herself a stringer trimmer off of the home shopping channel about 5 years ago, it's small, light weight and easy for her to handle as opposed to the old Stihl gas job. I was skeptical about the longevity & quality of the HSC unit but it has lasted well.  It came with 2 batteries & lifetime supply of string.  I've got the battery chargers on an inexpensive plug in timer so all of our rechargeables get a shot once a week for an hour whether they need it or not.  The battery powered trimmer won't do the 150' ditch out front but that's what the gas Stihl is for. 

On another note, Charlie mentioned a HF battery powered inflator.  I think I'll look into that versus firing up the compressor and waiting for the tank to build up pressure every time I want to add air to tires.