Cordless trimmer: how to choose and is it worth choosing at all Let’s find out how to choose the right cordless trimmer and what to look for when buying it.
Specifications
I understand that putting this parameter as the last among the selection criteria is a big oddity and a huge mistake from the point of view of those who are confidently oriented in these very technical characteristics. But I am not one of them. I am generally a humanitarian. And to argue from hearsay about what I do not understand, I see no point.
Of course, life made me learn to distinguish between watts and volts, but to figure out, for example, the difference between a brushless motor and a carbon brush motor is already difficult for me. In other words, I still cannot objectively assess most of the technical parameters of a particular model. And many cannot, in fact. Is it really necessary? For example, the author of the following is sure that you need to choose a trimmer for your suburban area, paying attention to just a few characteristics. I don’t presume to judge whether he is right or not, but I think it’s worth watching his review:
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Trimmer power
Measured in watts; the larger this value, the more productive the model you hold in your hands. Just let’s understand right away: if your physical capabilities are small, you need to forget about powerful battery trimmers, they are heavy. Everything that we can handle from such equipment, it will not differ in special power, it is worth understanding, accepting and not bothering. Or immediately abandon the battery model in favor of the electric one.
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Capacity battery
Unit of measurement Ampere-hour (Ah). The larger the battery capacity, the longer the trimmer will work on one battery. It is believed that 2 Ah is enough for 20-30 minutes of work; less is simply not serious. And yes, it must be borne in mind that over time, the capacity of the battery decreases, the operating time, respectively, will begin to decrease.
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Battery charging time
It can go up to 24 hours, and therefore it makes sense to ask about this parameter and compare it with the battery capacity. The arithmetic here is pretty simple and straightforward.
A number of other useful technical nuances can be learned from the following story. He talks about the choice of electric trimmers (talking about battery trimmers starts at 7 minutes), but all that has been said can be attributed to other types of this equipment:
Weight
In general, cordless trimmers are good because they are light (2.5-3.5kg). But even among them there are quite weighty models, for example, the battery trimmer Makita DUR181RF weighs 5.4 kg. Perceptibly. And for someone (for example, for me) it is already critical. It’s a pity, on the whole, the model is not bad, it seems
Manufacturer
Nevertheless, the above does not negate the fact that a well-known manufacturer is likely to have better and more reliable equipment. In addition, it is easier to pick up consumables and spare parts for it (if required), it is easier to repair it in case of malfunctions (products of unknown Chinese craftsmen are sometimes not taken for repair at all).
Finally, since we are talking about battery equipment, it is reasonable to think about the future: the majority of major manufacturers have batteries of different devices interchangeable, so in the future, if you want to expand your arsenal, you can save money.
Cordless trimmer: how to choose and should you choose it at all
Grass in a suburban area is an eternal and immense theme. And this very grass needs to be mowed every summer, and not once and not from time to time, but preferably regularly. What everyone decides to mow for themselves, the choice is quite large. But most of the options are still designed for physically strong, healthy people; those whose capabilities are limited by age or ailment have much less choice.
Where can you find a lightweight, reliable and comfortable trimmer?
Leaving aside trolley mowers and robots for now, not every site is suitable for their use. Let’s take a closer look at the universal trimmer tool. At first glance, battery models are what you need: light weight, easy operation, no wires that need to be dragged around the site. But the discussion (Grass, grass near the house How are you fighting?) Showed that everything is not so simple: objections to this choice, perhaps, no less than arguments in its favor.
Well, since I still need a trimmer, I decided to approach the matter in detail and figure out how to choose a successful, convenient, reliable, practical battery model. And yes, is it worth making a choice in favor of such a technique at all.
Pros and cons of the cordless trimmer
In fact, everything is simple here: there is no and there can be no consensus and the right decision for all. There are pros and cons; and this technique is not suitable for everyone, not for any conditions and tasks; and the models are far from the same in their parameters. By the word, as in any other business, you need to listen to everyone, and choose yourself.
By the way, I came across an interesting test of a low-power cordless trimmer in various conditions, on different types of our real vegetation. Interesting, I recommend:
Well, we will return to the problem of choice. I have tried to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of cordless trimmers in the hope that this will help find an answer to the question of whether to purchase a similar technique.
2. Manufacturer
Nevertheless, the above does not negate the fact that a well-known manufacturer is likely to have better and more reliable equipment. In addition, it is easier to pick up consumables and spare parts for it (if required), it is easier to repair it in case of malfunctions (products of unknown Chinese craftsmen are sometimes not taken for repair at all).
Finally, since we are talking about battery equipment, it is reasonable to think about the future: the majority of major manufacturers have batteries of different devices interchangeable, so in the future, if you want to expand your arsenal, you can save money.
Trimmer selection
It is better to prepare sleighs from summer, and a trimmer for summer cottages from winter. How to choose a trimmer so that it will serve faithfully for many years, I want to tell you in this article!
Trimmers differ in many parameters, but highlighting the main ones, we have the following division: by power source, by power, by engine location, by type of drive, by type of handle and, importantly, by weight. Let’s take a closer look at these main differences:
Cordless Trimmers. Quite interesting, but ineffective type of manual lawn mowers, due to their low power. Suitable exclusively for rare use in a small area with not neglected vegetation, or perfectly complements a more powerful four-wheeled brother. The batteries are designed for 20-40 minutes of continuous operation, and the charging process can take quite a long period of time, up to a day. Of the advantages, of course, one cannot fail to note the low weight and independence from the electrical network, which makes this already compact type of trimmer even more mobile! Masterly and fast mowing of soft grass in hard-to-reach places, this is definitely his strong point!
Electric trimmers the most popular type of mowers, more often found on the balance sheet of the household inventory of an ordinary man in the street. Professional models of this type are very rare. The power of the trimmers with an electric motor reaches 1.4 kW, which is quite enough for comfortable use in a summer cottage, even with thick grass. The dependence on electricity sets a certain framework for the use of the trimmer. Limited by the length of the cable and the length of the extension cords, it will bring much less benefit in large areas than battery or gasoline. Mowing after rain will also be problematic. But still do not forget the fact that electric trimmers are quiet enough and for the most part are lightweight, allowing even the elderly to cope with the scythe!
Petrol trimmers for the most part, they are used for professional purposes or in fairly large areas. The power of gasoline braids reaches 3 kW, which on some models allows you to use, in addition to fishing line and a knife, a disc or attachments. Petrol trimmers are heavy, which greatly limits continuous operation. Engines on gasoline trimmers are either two-stroke, running on a mixture of gasoline and oil, and four-stroke, in the latter case, gasoline and oil are poured separately. Four-stroke engines consume less fuel than two-stroke engines and have less emissions. However, it is worth considering that the two-stroke version of the engine is lighter than the four-stroke version and in most cases is cheaper. The scythe’s gasoline engine makes quite a lot of noise, which can lead to some confusion, especially in the evening! This type of trimmer is limited only by the capacity of the fuel tank, which allows mowing over large areas, in any weather conditions!
Summing up the types of mowers engine, we note that battery and electric trimmers are lightweight and less noise than gasoline ones. The gasoline engine, in turn, is more powerful and versatile.
Power is the main parameter that determines the application and efficiency of the trimmer. When touching on the power of the engines, it is worth considering the fact that a trimmer with a power of up to 500 watts is enough for mowing grass on flat areas that are not overgrown with hard bushes. If on the site there is vegetation of varying rigidity and height, overgrown and covered with small shrubs, then for a more confident and effective putting the site in order, you will need a trimmer with a power of 500 to 1000 watts. In the most neglected areas, you cannot do without a trimmer with a knife and a power significantly greater than 1 kW.
The trimmer motor can be either top or bottom motor:
- The lower engine location, in the overwhelming majority of cases, is characteristic of battery trimmers, but it is also found on electric models. Of the obvious advantages of this engine arrangement, it is worth noting a more balanced design and less vibration, which allows you to use the trimmer continuously, for a longer time. However, do not cut wet grass with the engine-mounted trimmer.
- The engine overhead is much more common and is used by manufacturers on electric and gasoline trimmers. This arrangement allows for a thicker line or knife, in the case of gasoline trimmers. Mows even wet grass.
By the type of drive, there are trimmers both with a flexible shaft, inherent in household models, and with a rigid shaft, which is more often found on more powerful and professional mowers. A rigid geared shaft is considered more reliable than a flexible gearless shaft. The transmission of rotation from the engine to the head in the latter case occurs through a steel cable, and in the rigid version through a full-fledged shaft with a gearbox located inside the scythe bar. Trimmers with a curved bar can only use fishing line and plastic knives as accessories, with a straight one, in turn, also with metal knives or discs.
By the type of pen, there are two most common types:
- The D-handle is prevalent in cordless and electric types of trimmers, does not reduce mobility and at the same time allows you to hold the tool with both hands.
- T-shaped or J-shaped, it is also a bicycle handle, more often found on powerful electric and gasoline trim models, allows you to simulate the movements of a conventional oblique.
Trimmer weight. This is an important factor that you should pay attention to when choosing. It is influenced by all other parameters, be it the type of handle, the type of transmission shaft or the capacity of the gas tank. When choosing trimmers weighing more than 5 kilograms, do not forget to pay attention to the presence of a belt, preferably a backpack type, this will make it easier to handle the scythe and distribute its weight over the whole body.
To summarize, let’s try to gather the information together. The first thing that should be noted for yourself before choosing a trimmer is the mowing area and the condition of the grass cover of the site, as well as the presence of stones on the terrain. If the mowing area is small and the grass on the site is soft enough, it is quite possible to do with low-power battery and electric trimmers, but if you already have a very large area, it will be much more effective to purchase and use a powerful gasoline scythe. The presence of stones on the site will limit your choice towards a trimmer capable of using only fishing line, because in this case the use of knives will be ineffective and costly, since sharpening the knife without disturbing the balance is quite problematic and you will have to buy new ones. In the case of a territory catastrophically overgrown and saturated with shrubs, a more powerful gasoline trimmer with a knife, or even a disc, will become an indispensable assistant.
As you can imagine, choosing a trimmer requires an individual approach. Much depends on the specific tasks that need to be solved using this wonderful tool. I hope this information will make your searches a little easier and will allow you to highlight key points before how to choose a trimmer for yourself!
How did you choose the trimmer? What parameters were you guided by? Was he able to complete the tasks assigned to him?