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What You Need To Know Before Buying a Battery Powered String Trimmer

A healthy lawn will instantly beautify any property. The key is making sure you practice regular yard maintenance. When it comes to grooming your lawn, you need a couple of garden tools, one of which is a string trimmer.

If you are intrigued and want to buy a battery-powered string trimmer, make sure to go through this article. We will guide you about the things to consider before purchasing one so that you can make the right choice out of the top picks.

What Is a String Trimmer?

A string trimmer is a battery-powered or corded power tool equipped with a wheel and a monofilament string. You may have heard about it as a weed eater, weed whacker, line trimmer, or several other names. This tool allows you to trim your lawn with utmost precision and accuracy.

If you have to choose between battery-powered or corded string trimmers, which would you pick? The former offers more convenience and power to navigate through edges along your walkways, driveway, fences, garden beds, and shrubs. Moreover, it also reduces the time and effort it takes to maintain the lawn.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Cordless String Trimmer

We have carefully reviewed all of the factors to keep in mind when buying a battery string trimmer. Let’s have a look at these elements one by one.

Battery Type

There are two types of batteries you can find in cordless string trimmers: lithium-ion and Ni-Cad batteries. While both are very powerful and offer a reasonable run time, lithium-ion batteries are the standard choice. They are also more lightweight and offer a longer life. Plus, they provide a higher voltage range.

Shaft Type

Along with battery types, string trimmers also have two different types of shafts: straight shafts and curved shafts. Curved shaft string trimmers are suitable for reaching around small corners and trimming grass and weeds.

Straight shaft string trimmers are much more common than the other. They are useful in reaching around tight spaces and corners. They also come with a telescoping shaft that allows you to adjust the length if needed.

Capabilities

Another factor you need to consider is the capabilities a particular string trimmer provides. You can use most battery-powered units for multiple purposes. Use it to reach around areas your mower can’t access, trim grass around precious plants, and also trim the edges of your lawn. This makes it a lawn edger as well.

Trimmer Line

Unlike other garden tools used to cut grass, string trimmers don’t have any blades. Instead, they use a string to trim the grass, which means the string can become weaker and inefficient with extended usage and time.

The string is measured by the diameter of its gauge. Ideally, you should look for battery-powered models with a line gauge between 0.060 and 0.095 inches. This would make it more efficient and smoother in trimming the grass.

Yard Size

When choosing a battery-run string trimmer, you also have to consider the size of your yard. If you have a smaller or mid-sized yard, you will be able to make do with a smaller or low-end unit. However, if you are dealing with more yardage that requires more trimming, you may need a more powerful model.

Weight

Another factor you should keep in mind is the string trimmer’s weight. Basically, it would determine the level of comfort and convenience with which you can use the machine on your lawn.

When it comes to battery-powered string trimmers, the battery’s weight also accounts for a significant portion of their weight. If you choose a heavy unit, it will put a lot of strain on your back and arms.

Cutting Path

As you already know, string trimmers make use of a string to trim the grass. Therefore, each model that you find will have a specific cutting path.

The cutting path refers to the width that the trimmer can clear. The average models come with cutting paths ranging between 10 and 13 inches. Keep in mind that the smaller the cutting path, the more time it will take for you to work on your lawn.

Is a Cordless String Trimmer Any Good?

Do you want your yard to be the envy of the entire neighborhood? If so, you will want to make sure you keep it well-maintained. And for this, you’ll find a wide selection of yard tools you can use.

String trimmers, for instance, come in both corded and cordless variants. Since they run on batteries, can you trust a cordless string trimmer to get the job done?

If you consider all of the essential factors we listed, there’s no reason why a cordless trimmer won’t be able to deliver. In the end, it all comes down to whether you pick the right unit for your lawn or not.

Jeff Campbell