Recommendations on an electric weed wacker?

[evintho]

Yes, I said electric. No, I don't want gas and no, I don't want cordless either. Electric with a cord more than handles my needs! Problem is, it seems I'm buying a $60 HD unit every year. They seem to last just past the warranty then the motor burns out or it just falls apart! I call them 'disposable' weed wackers. It doesn't get overused or abused. My lot is less than 1/4 acre, mostly landscaped. No tall grasses, just areas of 3"-4" tall weeds. I wouldn't mind paying a little more if I could just find one that lasts for a couple of years! Any recommendations out there?

 

[gtixpress]

I have a battery powered 18V Ryobi unit and it has lasted several years. No complaints about it.

 

[Jon_E]

I'm pretty sure the electric corded models just aren't reliable. Labeling them as "disposable" is spot on. Why not a cordless model?

 

[snickers muncher]

I'm going into my fourth year on this one and am quite happy with it. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Homelite-13-in-4-Amp-Straight-Electric-String-Trimmer-UT41112B/203737870

Just 30 bucks and I re-wrap the spool with cheap line when out.

 

[jshillin]

I know you said you don't want cordless, but that's where many of these companies are spending the time and money to make them better. I have an EGO weedeater and it's been great. I have about 1/2 acre, trim the fence line, side walks, around shrubs, driveway, etc and do it twice on 1 charge.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

mo' power!

Fancy AND powerful!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Good luck! I had a Ryobi I bought from HD close to 20 years ago. The thing was still running like a champ when I let my son borrow it two years ago. I haven't seen it since. About 5 years ago I looked to see if I could buy another one because the cord had started to have some issues with cracking where it goes into the motor housing. No shorting out or anything like that. Regardless, there were hardly any good options if you wanted a weed wacker similar in style to the gas models but corded electric. Personally, the electric ones (ALL) look like total **** to me these days. I can try to find out the model # on that Ryobi if my son still has it and maybe you could find one used. It was a friggin' workhorse I tell ya!

Again, good luck!

 

[Mustang1167]

Doesn’t sound like your corded weed trimmer is really handling your needs if your buying one every year?

I don’t see a lot of manufacturers investing money into corded trimmers when the majority of customers are going battery powered.

Change isn’t always a bad thing.

 

[454ragtop]

I'd look on CL, those things are going the way of the dinosaur, see them at yard sales, can't give them away.

 

[WWheeler]

Looking for recommendations for a corded electric weedeater might not get too many here. I hesitate to recommend one myself. That said, my brother and I gave our now >80yr old mother a Stihl corded weedeater and corded blower ~20 yrs ago if not longer. Don't know if Stihl still makes them but if not perhaps you can get a used one on ebay or whatnot.

We both lived too far away to take care of the yard for her. She's always been super-super-super nitpicky about her yard and she needed something she could handle after our pops passed on. She still uses them at least once a week all summer long. She also still mows her own yard on an even older Snapper riding mower. She loves working in the yard. I don't doubt she'll still be doing the same with the same gear 10yrs from now. If either of the handhelds go out I'll be replacing them for her with some newer cordless though, that's for sure.

 

[WWheeler]

mo' power!

Fancy AND powerful!

Those are insane!
I definitely enjoyed watching them though.

 

[Barnabas]

I got the Kobalt 80V string trimmer and have used it for years on heavy weeds. Love it.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-80-volt-16-in-Straight-Brushless-Attachment-Compatible-Cordless-String-Trimmer-Battery-Included/50394980


Then I bought this attachment, and the string trimmer will now cut through 1" trees. Sharpen the edge on a grinder and watch out!
https://www.lowes.com/pd/TrimmerPlus-Brush-Cutter-Attachment/50129056

 

[stonesfan68]

What's wrong with a cordless unit? As the saying goes, "Buy once, cry once." I have an 18V Ryobi that is 6-years old and I can't kill it. I live in Houston and the yard gets mowed a lot.

 

[MayerMR]

I'll echo everyone else here; get yourself a cordless Ryobi unit. Damn thing is great and I've never been able to fully discharge a battery even after an full hour of use. They are surprisingly good these days.

 

[engineer2]

The big players (Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi, Ridgid) all make them, so buy whatever works with your current battery system. I have a 36V Makita, but an 18V would have been fine for my suburban lot. Makita is expensive, but it's the last string trimmer I'll ever need.

A joy to use compared to dragging an extension cord around.

The latest trend though is to buy a power head and then any attachments you might need like a string trimmer, edger, pole saw, soil tiller, etc.

 

[evintho]

I'm going into my fourth year on this one and am quite happy with it. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Homelite-13-in-4-Amp-Straight-Electric-String-Trimmer-UT41112B/203737870

Just 30 bucks and I re-wrap the spool with cheap line when out.

I went with this one. $37 and a full replacement warranty for 4 years! That'll work! My wife uses it more than me and she's happy with it. Happy wife, happy life!

 

[WWheeler]

Yes, I said electric. No, I don't want gas and no, I don't want cordless either. Electric with a cord more than handles my needs! Problem is, it seems I'm buying a $60 HD unit every year. They seem to last just past the warranty then the motor burns out or it just falls apart! I call them 'disposable' weed wackers. It doesn't get overused or abused. My lot is less than 1/4 acre, mostly landscaped. No tall grasses, just areas of 3"-4" tall weeds. I wouldn't mind paying a little more if I could just find one that lasts for a couple of years! Any recommendations out there?

Took a look and yes, Stihl still makes a corded electric trimmer, model FSE 60.



https://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/electric-trimmers/fse60/

^ Comes with a 2yr warranty but if my mom's ~20yr old model is any indication it will outlast that many times over.

Edit: OK I see you had already settled on another. Hope that one lasts you longer! 4 year warranty for $37 sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

 

[snickers muncher]

I went with this one. $37 and a full replacement warranty for 4 years! That'll work! My wife uses it more than me and she's happy with it. Happy wife, happy life!

Most of the complaints are about it running out of string too early. That is user error. When it stops spinning and then you pull the trigger it advances the line--go steady and it'll be fine.

 

[406Rich]

Took a look and yes, Stihl still makes a corded electric trimmer, model FSE 60.



https://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/electric-trimmers/fse60/

^ Comes with a 2yr warranty but if my mom's ~20yr old model is any indication it will outlast that many times over.

Edit: OK I see you had already settled on another. Hope that one lasts you longer! 4 year warranty for $37 sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I have a Stihl, have had it now for twenty years (FSE 60) I bought a new one because I was having trouble with it, turned out the wires were pulled on the inside, reconnected them, back to trouble free, now I have a spare hanging up if the old one ever dies...

 

[6PTsocket]

Doesn’t sound like your corded weed trimmer is really handling your needs if your buying one every year?

I don’t see a lot of manufacturers investing money into corded trimmers when the majority of customers are going battery powered.

Change isn’t always a bad thing.

Dyson just announced in a new ad, that they will be no longer be developing corded vacuum cleaners. That is the way we are going with the exception of very high current consumption devices.

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[The Cobbler]

another vote for Stihl

 

[2manytools]

I went with this one. $37 and a full replacement warranty for 4 years! That'll work! My wife uses it more than me and she's happy with it. Happy wife, happy life!

They actually just give you the cost of the item on a gift card, not a replacement. More often than not, they can't replace it with the same item as they are usually discontinued so quickly

I was going to say go cordless, as I caouldn't see any reason why, until you commented that your wife uses it more. From the perspective, someone smaller, or maybe an older person, would want something light weight. Though I'd still recommend cordless.

I have plenty of good extension cords, but see them more as a safety hazard, especially when dealing with anything involving cutting & having to drag it around.

good luck with the trimmer

 

[2manytools]

Dyson just announced in a new ad, that they will be no longer be developing corded vacuum cleaners. That is the way we are going with the exception of very high current consumption devices.

I have always considered vacuums to be high current devices. You never want to run a vacuum on the same circuit as another high demand device or running motor if you can avoid it.

A universal high output battery should be designed to power more household devices. Hopefully like the cell phone charger standard (aside from one bad-apple) that was created, a new battery form factor could be developed to help alleviate so many batteries from hitting out landfills.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have always considered vacuums to be high current devices. You never want to run a vacuum on the same circuit as another high demand device or running motor if you can avoid it.

A universal high output battery should be designed to power more household devices. Hopefully like the cell phone charger standard (aside from one bad-apple) that was created, a new battery form factor could be developed to help alleviate so many batteries from hitting out landfills.

Don't hold your breath. Why do you think all the power tool companies work so hard to lock you into their batteries. In many cases they are not even backwardly compatible. They want to sell batteries. Also batteries for powerfull stuff would be far too big and heavy for smaller devices. As for landfills, there are places that accept expended batteries, for recycling, all over the place. A common design would not change disposal isdues. You are right about vacuums and the run time on the battery ones is low. Again, an excuse to sell you more batteries. The vacuums don't offer the fast charge packs and chargers common in other power tools yet, as far as I know. Of course the vacuums made by the power tool companies are the exception but Dyson, Shark, Bissel, etc., make home vacuums. That is what I was talking about.

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[pilotmotor]

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tls/d/stihl-electric-weed-trimmer/6592168861.html