I don't "weedeat" much any more like I used to. Once I owned an Echo, Stihl, and Green Machine string trimmer. It has been years but this year with all the high weeds around gates and deer blinds I decided to try something that may as well have been on Tim Allens "Tool Time".

Two days ago I bought an 80 Volt Kobalt (Lowes) battery operated string trimmer. I am pretty happy about it as I have weedeated almost everything that needed it and I am looking for more.

$249.00 (with one battery)
Plenty power
It charges in about 20 minutes.
It lasts about 40 minutes continuous..... and that's enough because I should take a break anyway.

So far..... very happy...... I hope it lasts.

Electric motors are much more reliable than internal combustion engines. Take good care of the battery and you shouldn't have any issues.

BTW - the battery is expensive... about 90 dollars.... If I really wanted to do a bunch of continuous work, I would buy an extra battery.

Nothing really to add other than I was beginning to think I was the only person on earth that owned a Green Machine brand trimmer.


Though I might now be the last still using one...

Also have an electric trimmer.

Much lighter & I have 3 batteries for it but I can do the whole house & property fence line in 2.

I also own a green machine trimmer. Mine is corded because I only have a 50' drainage ditch to do. Works great for over 5 years and was less than $100

I have one too, and it's great...until the plastic cap on the trimmer head breaks. Then you find out that Lowes doesn't carry them and you have to get it directly from Kobalt...where it is on a 6 month back order. Do yourself a favor and order another one or two now. They will break.

I bought a battery operated pole saw a couple of months ago. I went for the 40v with the 2 amp battery, the 4 amp battery doubled the price of the rig.

I was worried that I'd be forced to stop and recharge the battery too often and that's what happened, I ran outta gas by the time the battery hit 50%.

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I ran outta gas by the time the battery hit 50%.

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I know what you mean. This is why I like the idea of knowing that the battery charge doesn't last too long.... Break Time comin up!

Wait till you're 62. Sometimes you will wonder if you even have any gas in the tank.

I predict that in 10 years, lithium ion technology will have almost completely replaced gas powered, home owner grade equipment such as weed eaters, mowers, blowers, hedgers, chain saws, etc.
Commercial may always be gas, but the battery powered stuff is legit

I have a corded black and decker and I use the heck out of it

I've got a straight shaft Shindiawa that is 21 years old and still works like a champ. It has been to the shop once--2 years ago--thanks to "contains up to 10 percent ethanol."

Give me combustion over electric/battery any day.

Thank God my Stihl chainsaw runs in gas.

holy chit - I bought a used gas Husky for $80 on craigslist and its worked great

I've been tempted to get one for my own use but I hate to spend the money when we have a gas one that the husband uses. I typically do the mowing and other yard work but the gas trimmer is just too cumbersome for me to want to even deal with. I'll have to take another look next time I'm in big blue/orange.

When I had a small yard, I had a corded trimmer. Bought a bigger yard and moved to a cordless. You couldn't pay me to deal with the gas trimmers.

Thanks for the good news. Our gas mower died after 9 years, and I went out on a limb and got the 80 volt lawn mower. It came with two batteries and so far it has been great. I was leaning towards the trimmer as well to stop dealing with ethanol and carbs.

Best thing is I can mow my yard at 0700 and the neighbors never know it.

Bought a Worx cordless trimmer about 3 years ago. I'll never buy another gas trimmer.

I use a battery powered mower, trimmer, blower, and limb cutter. It's all good. Charge and store the batteries in the house and they will last for years.

Not sure what Rigid makes but if go through the hassle of registering their product you get lifetime warranty INCLUDING the batteries. I have a drill set.

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Best thing is I can mow my yard at 0700 and the neighbors never know it.

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This.... my wife can still be sleeping and I don't have to find my hearing protectors.

Love my EGO mower and weedeater.

Is 40 min for one battery on the high side or is that the average? In the back yard alone I have 600' of fence that gets trimmed

Not sure... based upon the reviews, I think it is average. I am talking about non-stop. If you have to stop a couple of times it is going to be about an hour. If I was still weedeating a lot I would either buy a second battery or get the old gasoline sipper working.

I just realized one more advantage to battery..... some of those gasoline trimmers vibrate the heck out of your hands. Not so with the battery, it is smooth.

Having been closely involved with HSE as a foreman in the oilfield, I would recommend vibration dampening gloves if you are getting much vibration. The vibration can cause arthitis type problems way into the future that you do not see happening to your hands at the moment. Personally I just use leather gloves for trimming. But I had guys working for me that were using large impact wrenches (almost as bad as a jackhammer) and they had the special vibration dampening gloves. The hard part is convincing them that it is important to wear those gloves for their own protection because the arthritis may not appear until they are older.

My lot is pretty small, so I can usually mow and weedeat with one battery (5 Ah). I usually spend about 30 mins mowing and 45 mins weedeating. I have a backup 2.5 aH though that I've had to use if the grass is taller than normal, I spend more time weedeating, or I use the headlights on the mower because I'm mowing in the dark. I've never needed more than that though.

These are what i've got:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-15-in-56-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Electric-Cordless-Brushless-String-Trimmer-w-Split-shaft-ST1502-S/206585077?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-206626003-_-206585077-_-N

http://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-21-in-56-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Lawn-Mower-LM2101/206515766?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-206585077-_-206515766-_-N

I've got a POS Ryobi that's been chugging away for 5 years now. Pretty sure with Ryobi, you buy a battery and you get to choose what tool comes with it. If you look at the replacement cost of the battery, the tool comes out to be about 20 bucks.

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I use a battery powered mower, trimmer, blower, and limb cutter. It's all good. Charge and store the batteries in the house and they will last for years.

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I have this set up and love it. No gas, no fumes, the dogs walk with me when I mow because they are not scared of the mower any more. The mower has lights so I could mow after dark if needed. Lots of positives with this generation of power.

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I've got a POS Ryobi that's been chugging away for 5 years now. Pretty sure with Ryobi, you buy a battery and you get to choose what tool comes with it. If you look at the replacement cost of the battery, the tool comes out to be about 20 bucks.

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I went to go buy a new battery and ended up buying a second drill (with charger and batter7) cause it only cost 9 dollars more on sale

No problem with buying electric, but do those who hate ethanol gas know what Sta-bil is?

I stabilize every drop of gas that isn't going into my truck and have had zero problems due to ethanol. That is on Boats, jet skis, mowers, trimmers, 4 wheelers, etc. I put it in everything because you never know when something may end up not getting use and its just easier to not ever worry about what kind of gas you have.

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I've got a POS Ryobi that's been chugging away for 5 years now. Pretty sure with Ryobi, you buy a battery and you get to choose what tool comes with it. If you look at the replacement cost of the battery, the tool comes out to be about 20 bucks.

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I went to go buy a new battery and ended up buying a second drill (with charger and batter7) cause it only cost 9 dollars more on sale

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I know Dewalt is supposed to be some of the best, but I'd put my cheap pos ryobi drill against the same level Dewalt at half the price any day.

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No problem with buying electric, but do those who hate ethanol gas know what Sta-bil is?

I stabilize every drop of gas that isn't going into my truck and have had zero problems due to ethanol. That is on Boats, jet skis, mowers, trimmers, 4 wheelers, etc. I put it in everything because you never know when something may end up not getting use and its just easier to not ever worry about what kind of gas you have.

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My old man got on a kick about 25 years ago of only putting premium gas in every small engine and tractor that doesn't use diesel he owns because a car enthusiast friend of his swore it was the only way to go. He more recently heard from a mechanic that it has less ethanol in it and doesn't break down the rubber tubing and gum up after sitting.

I'm pretty sure that's all bull**** and he's throwing money away. I've been using the same 5 gallon tank of regular with sta bil for 3 years in my lawnmower and the mower still works great. I'm trying to kill it so I can get a better one

Your dad got good advice 25 years ago. Now? Probably not needed. Technology changed. The Staybil should hold up 3-6 months. 3 years? You got lucky, or unlucky as it was.

Yeah. Finally ran out gas last week. So either the crap in the bottom of the tank will get me there or I'll have to figure out how to get the piece of garbage to cut level.

i use the gas they sell at tractor supply/home depot, lowes for my gas trimmer. comes in a red or green can, depending on which brand of trimmer/chain saw you have. Supposedly it doesnt have ethanol in it and is made for those small engines. my trimmer starts right up after a couple of pulls.

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i use the gas they sell at tractor supply/home depot, lowes for my gas trimmer. comes in a red or green can, depending on which brand of trimmer/chain saw you have. Supposedly it doesnt have ethanol in it and is made for those small engines. my trimmer starts right up after a couple of pulls.

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yeah the premix is great but it's ridiculously expensive and there was a rash of people buying them from stores, emptying the fuel out and replacing it with water and returning it.

I would rather have gas powered and on the trimmer just take it apart and hit it with carb cleaner every 2 years and it'll run fine, maybe replace the fuel lines or if the gaskets get dried out and cracked

Really impressed by the Kobalt lithium Ion line so far. I'm still using a B&d 20v lithium because I got it on clearance for about 30 bucks and have a tiny yRd, but will definitely upgrade to the Kobalt line when I have the need.