Dewalt String Trimmers

[jmauld]

I'm in need of a new string trimmer and wanted to give the new brushless trimmers a try.

I've narrowed it down to two options, mainly because I'm already invested in dewalt batteries. I have a small yard that should take me about 15-20 minutes to trim.

First option is the DEWALT DCST920B 20V that I can pick up for around $120 without a battery. I already have the 5.0Ah battery and charger, so there's no current need to get the combo kit.

The other option is the DEWALT DCST970X1 FLEXVOLT 60V that I can get for $269 with the battery.

Do any of you have experience with one of these two trimmers? Everything seems to point to the 20V being able to do what I need to do and it's obviously the better bargain. It's also a little lighter, but I don't think that is an issue since I won't be using this for extended periods.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have the 20v dewalt. I have a ton of batteries... mostly 3amp with a few 4amp.

The trimmer works great. I normally run it on low speed. When I do the sidewalk edge I flick it to high.

It's kind of new... I'm still using the original string it came with...

I would get it again...

 

[b-dog]

Subscribing!

I have a couple 60v batteries, just need someone to sell me on the 60v trimmer.

 

[canuckian]

I've had one for a couple of seasons and it's a nice unit. It doesn't have the oomph that a gas unit has in tall, thick weeds but it trims grass very well. Hardly ever fire up my gas one now. The 20v blower is nice as well if you're in the market for one.

 

[wess23]

I bought the 60V Max trimmer a couple of weeks ago. I decided on the 60 over the 20 to get another 9ah battery as I have other 60v tools. I trim a little over an acre with one battery easily. Not real fond of the way the string gets loaded but will admit in my limited use it hasn't been a problem. Seems to have as much power as the gas powered Echo it replaced.

Be aware the kit ships with the standard charger and not the fast charger.

 

[SuperXero]

I have the 20v trimmer. It works fine but be prepared to have your legs/pants completely covered in grass as the guard is completely useless.

 

[gotzero]

I stayed away from the 18v/20v outdoor tools because I did not believe they would keep up with gas.

Being heavily invested in the Dewalt 20v/60v system for my cordless tools, I purchased the 60v trimmer and blower earlier this year as I had previously gotten a couple Flexvolt tools and I wanted the 9ah batteries (in 20v mode). The blower is fine, does what I want as a homeowner, if they make a backpack one I might get it too.

The trimmer is another story. The only time I have used my gas trimmer since is just to let it run a little bit to keep fuel from gumming up, and I was frustrated using it within five minutes. In comparison, with the Flexvolt, I can take care of foot tall grass and weeds in low mode, rarely switching to high if there is huge grass or grass and thick weeds. I have only run a big battery down completely one time. I can turn it on or off as much as I want. I grin like an idiot every time I use it, my wife is tired of hearing about how much I like it. I probably trim four times as much as I used to just because it is so much faster because there is no adjusting the choke, low idle, or stalls. The trimmer is easily my best tool purchase in 2017.

FWIW, if I was not already in the Dewalt system, I would have taken a hard look at EGO. Sticking with one battery family, I am completely happy. The 9ah batteries do great in the rotary hammer and recip saw in 20v and give the grinder more time in 60v.

 

[rockinacummins]

I got the 20v as a wedding present a year and a half ago, and it is by far the best wedding present I got. Very light weight, excellent battery life (I only have the 5ah that came with it). I can do my entire yard (1.5 acres with lots of obstacles) on that one battery.

If it breaks, I will go buy another one.

 

[madison069]

I'm just waiting for my echo to die. Kind of hard to justify a new tool if the current trimmer is doing a great job.

 

[jimreed2160]

Well I have an EGO lawnmower and blower. Both work great and I was very tempted to buy the matching string trimmer. But then DeWalt had a drill on sale with two batteries and I wanted a new shop radio so I went 20v DeWalt. It replaces an old B&D that had about four minutes of battery and now I am in heaven. The DeWalt battery has more energy than I do. Nice trimmer with great balance and excellent battery life.

 

[lbhsbz]

I run a trimmer for about 1 minute each time I cut my grass...a tank of gas in my Echo trimmer would go bad before it all burned, and it was becoming a real pain in the ***. I bought the $199 deal 20V MAX blower/trimmer combo at home depot a few months back and I love it. The trimmer works fine on grass and light stuff, but isn't gonna take down small bushes like a good gas trimmer. For my uses, it's perfect.

 

[jmauld]

Just ordered the 60v version. Thanks for the comments!

 

[kctyphoon]

Cordless outdoor stuff has come a long way.. Milwaukee had a deal where if you bought the string trimmer kit, they gave you either the blower or hedge trimmer for free.. I almost regret not pulling the trigger on that, but my gas echo hasn't had a problem since I bought it years ago. The small "shop" m18 blower I have does a good enough job cleaning up the sidewalk and street after mowing, the bigger blowers would just be a new toy for me..

Dewalt does make a backpack blower. Uses 2 40v batteries. Dewalts choice to make 12 different battery and tool platforms was a poor choice imo, but at least they seem to work well enough.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Count me as another satisfied owner. I went with the 20V blower, trimmer combo for $200. 2 chargers, 2 5ah batteries, a trimmer, and a blower? How can you pass that up? I wasn't very interested in the blower, but find myself using it all the time. blowing dirt and dust out of the garage, drying my bike, blowing light snow off the drive and porch... this thing is great!

 

[Itsjustdirt]

I am very impressed with my 20v dewalt blower/trimmer combo. FAR surpassed my expectations and work great with 5mah and flexvolt batteries.

 

[CSRPenFab]

I'm quite happy with my DeWalt 20v string trimmer and blower. The 5ah batteries I have last me a few weeks of weekly mowing/blowing. The one issue I did have on my trimmer was that the supplied bump-feed head sucked. I'd have stop about every 10' and unjam the damn thing! I replaced it with a quick change head that takes two pieces of 14" line folded in half to give 4 cutting strings. Works well now. I've heard others say their bump feed works fine, so I must've gotten a bad one.

 

[tldavis]

I've subscribed to the DeWalt cordless tools family, but I can't get myself to pull the trigger on the string trimmer. The 90 day warranty vs. the EGO 5 year warranty really tilts it towards EGO. I bought the DeWalt 20V blower and 5.0Ah battery combo and had the battery barely work out of the box. Its charge dropped to 3.1V and wouldn't read, had to jump it off with another DeWalt 20V battery to get it going again.

I want to like the DeWalt, but I'm just not sold on it. Consumer Reports has the EGO ranked #1 cordless.

 

[like2wheel]

Beware of the Dewalt 20 volt, I had one go bad after 1 month. Looked on Amazon & saw many reviews with the same problem. Slows down like it only has low speed, eventually stops.
Dropped off at the loca Dewalt repair center, took 7 months (!) For the warranty replacement to show up on my doorstep.

Been using it gingerly this summer...