Dewalt 40v pro yard tools

[TOOL FANATIK]

are there any takes on dewalts new line of 40v yard tools slated to hit be available janurary 2015...they are promising the power of gas, and are supposedly aimed at the pros.....i love dewalt but somehow i doubt they would be practical enough for a pro to switch from gas to battery....

 

[devoncoolman]

Id bite if they are what they are supposed to be. But my weed wacker works just fine so maybe if my stuff starts crapping out.

 

[justme-]

I have serious doubts about battery yard tools - the current generation are mediocre compared to traditional plug in or gas and you can bet those batteries are not going to be cheap to replace when they die.
They may have the power of gas (in one specific tool under certain testing conditions which will never be encountered in the real world) but what about battery life?
A homeowner is going to use a trimmer at most once a week, a chainsaw occasionally and a leaf blower once or twice a season. That's a lot of down time for the batteries.
A pro is going to use a trimmer for several hours every day, 7 days a week. Same with blowers when it's leaf season. How long are the batteries going to work on a charge and how fast do they recharge? How many landscapers are going to bite on a bank of batteries and multiple mobile chargers in their fleet of trucks to power these things on the road... and how long do you think the battery will last being recharged several times every day? Life cycle would probably be less than a full year in that case. The blower style they are introducing is not widely used by pros either - backpacks are the style of choice because of the power and ease of use. Those hand held ones are much weaker.

That's still the biggest drawback to electric cars - limited range from limited battery size and recharge speed/capability.

I personally can't see any real need for battery yard tools outside of a hedge trimmer (that shares batteries with another tool you already use regularly) or a lawnmower. Simple precautions alleviate 95% of the mechanical issues in power equipment, and it'll start and run fine almost every time. Just started my generator last night after a power failure after 5 pulls. Longer than I would have liked, but it was sitting ready to go untouched for 2 years with treated low ethanol gas.

 

[Keystone79]

I bought the kobalt 40v pole saw and string trimmer and those blew my mind. I really had my doubts about cordless yard tools but decided to pull the trigger after reading some reviews. Glad I did. I want to try the mower too. I imagine the dewalt line will be good stuff. How's the pricing against the kobalt line?

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

I have serious doubts about battery yard tools - the current generation are mediocre compared to traditional plug in or gas and you can bet those batteries are not going to be cheap to replace when they die.
They may have the power of gas (in one specific tool under certain testing conditions which will never be encountered in the real world) but what about battery life?
A homeowner is going to use a trimmer at most once a week, a chainsaw occasionally and a leaf blower once or twice a season. That's a lot of down time for the batteries.
A pro is going to use a trimmer for several hours every day, 7 days a week. Same with blowers when it's leaf season. How long are the batteries going to work on a charge and how fast do they recharge? How many landscapers are going to bite on a bank of batteries and multiple mobile chargers in their fleet of trucks to power these things on the road... and how long do you think the battery will last being recharged several times every day? Life cycle would probably be less than a full year in that case. The blower style they are introducing is not widely used by pros either - backpacks are the style of choice because of the power and ease of use. Those hand held ones are much weaker.

That's still the biggest drawback to electric cars - limited range from limited battery size and recharge speed/capability.

I personally can't see any real need for battery yard tools outside of a hedge trimmer (that shares batteries with another tool you already use regularly) or a lawnmower. Simple precautions alleviate 95% of the mechanical issues in power equipment, and it'll start and run fine almost every time. Just started my generator last night after a power failure after 5 pulls. Longer than I would have liked, but it was sitting ready to go untouched for 2 years with treated low ethanol gas.

I agree but will add that I think homeowners should dive in 100% (little/no maintenance) IMHO Dewalt is foolish to say these are for the pros, as you pointed out the pros don't use the handheld blowers, and the 120 mph rating is much lower than the bottom of the line backpack models. My overall feeling: great for suburban homeowners, definately not for pros.

 

[Tronyadorable]

IMO DeFault never made ANY tool for pros.of any profession.
They need to focus on their construction equip with R & D and quit screwing around in the other guys bed.
Just like Milwaukee. Those dorks are in the heated hoodie and pliers biz now ? What a joke.
Maybe Knipex should start making circular saws or toaster ovens ?

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

IMO DeFault never made ANY tool for pros.of any profession.
They need to focus on their construction equip with R & D and quit screwing around in the other guys bed.
Just like Milwaukee. Those dorks are in the heated hoodie and pliers biz now ? What a joke.
Maybe Knipex should start making circular saws or toaster ovens ?

Ha I wouldnt go that far..

 

[itguy08]

I'd put more trust in the Stihl cordless stuff for pro use over DeWalt/Black & Decker.

 

[G_P]

I doubt these batteries are going to last long when homeowners leave them sitting in unheated garages/sheds all winter long until they are needed again in the spring.

Probably 75% of the cordless tools I see for sale at garage sales are being sold because the battery packs are junk from being left sitting unused for months at a time or have had the batteries cooked because they were left on the charger for months.