Electric Weed Eaters?

[edro]

It's almost Spring!

I need a "weed eater" and I am thinking about getting an electric one.

My initial thought is that the electric ones are cheap, that they would break easily, and that you need a long extension cord to use (they make wireless ones though).

On the other hand, a regular gas powered one that is sub $200 is a cheap brand like Ryobi, Homelite, WeedEater, Poulon, etc. and I think these would be junk as well and are probably very sensitive to gas/oil ratios and I have heard horror stories about them not starting.

Anyone have any landscaping experience with this?

My father always had Stihl brand lawn tools, and they always worked great... I just don't have $300 to spend on a weed eater.

My lawn is very small, so I don't need anything that great.

If the wireless electric ones are still decent, I might be interested in them as well.
It would be awesome if it doubled as an edger.

Thank you for your opinions!

 

[herrjimbo]

Black & Decker GrassHog. 18 volt cordless at Home Depot $89.97. i could go around my 1/3 acre probably 4 times b4 recharging. fyi and head swivels for edging.

 

[waggy]

i have a bleck and decker electric one. IT SUCKS. but i should also mention i have 3+ acres of yard heh

 

[Agentbolt]

The electric ones will bind up more easily in thick weeds, just be aware.

Also I've never heard "weed-eater" before. I always called them a weed-whacker.

 

[GoPackGo]

I have a cordless Craftsman and its great.

 

[bignateyk]

electric weedeaters suck. If you need to cut anything besides 4 inch grass, get yourself a gas powered trimmer. Ive used many different electric trimmers, and every single one of them gets stopped by dense grass and weeds. In fact, ive hit myself in the leg with one by accident, and it didnt even break the skin. If that were a gas powered trimmer, id probably nearly have hacked my leg off.

 

[Staples]

I used to have one. I am not sure if it was because it was electric (plug in) but it sucked. I think it was due to the crappy wire it had because it would break all the damn time.

 

[imported_weadjust]

Electric sucks. You can have mine if I can find it. Don't buy a weed eater brand anything (electric or gas).

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: weadjust
Electric sucks. You can have mine if I can find it. Don't buy a weed eater brand anything (electric or gas).

i have a weed eater rideing mower that is 20 years old (the deck broke b ut the tractor is still working) and a weed eater leaf blower and it works great.

 

[KK]

lawn is small, as in how small?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt
The electric ones will bind up more easily in thick weeds, just be aware.

Also I've never heard "weed-eater" before. I always called them a weed-whacker.

I believe "Weed-Eater" is a brand name.

 

[CorCentral]

I bought an electric/corded model and it died on me in about 3mths. So I went to Lowe's and bought a nice 4cycle Troy Bilt 4cycle string trimmer

This is a HUGE plus with 4 clycles, you don't have to mix the oil with the gas. They're both seperate so you don't have to worry about having seperate gas containers or mixing oil with gas.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
I bought an electric/corded model and it died on me in about 3mths. So I went to Lowe's and bought a nice 4cycle Troy Bilt 4cycle string trimmer

This is a HUGE plus with 4 clycles, you don't have to mix the oil with the gas. They're both seperate so you don't have to worry about having seprate gas containers or mixing oil with gas.

I need something like that. if i don't keep up on it my yard can get out of control. I electrick ones now. its a pain takeing wire around a few acres.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: KK
lawn is small, as in how small?

.2 acre lot

 

[Gillbot]

i have a toro, love it!

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: KK
lawn is small, as in how small?

.2 acre lot

how about a nice pair of fiskars?

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: KK
lawn is small, as in how small?

.2 acre lot

how about a nice pair of fiskars?

:tear;

 

[BUTCH1]

I've used both but if your gonna be tackling heavy weeds don't bother w/electric. They are
ok for light duty but like others have said, will bog down in the thick stuff..

 

[Rubycon]

How do they eat weeds?

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Agentbolt
The electric ones will bind up more easily in thick weeds, just be aware.

Also I've never heard "weed-eater" before. I always called them a weed-whacker.

I believe "Weed-Eater" is a brand name.

So is Kleenex

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Agentbolt
The electric ones will bind up more easily in thick weeds, just be aware.

Also I've never heard "weed-eater" before. I always called them a weed-whacker.

I believe "Weed-Eater" is a brand name.

So is Kleenex

and band-aid

 

[Rubycon]

You clean them with Q-tips?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
I bought an electric/corded model and it died on me in about 3mths. So I went to Lowe's and bought a nice 4cycle Troy Bilt 4cycle string trimmer

This is a HUGE plus with 4 clycles, you don't have to mix the oil with the gas. They're both seperate so you don't have to worry about having seperate gas containers or mixing oil with gas.

Think I have the same one only its the straight shaft version. Too lazy to go out to the garage and look. Being 4 cycle was a big selling point for me.

 

[theGlove]

the elec weed eater that i used, the string/wire keeps breaking and its a pain to reset it

 

[grohl]

Do what I did: Ebayed a like-new Echo (as good as Stihl) for about $100, this was 3 yrs ago and it is a freakin champ. Electric lawn equipment is for losers.