Should I get an electric or gas weedeater?

[blurredvision]

I'm in need of a new weedeater for the new home I purchased last September, and I've been looking at the different models available at my local Lowe's. I'm torn, though, between an electric and gas weedeater. I remember reading a thread here a year or two ago, and if I remember correctly, the general consensus leaned towards the gas-powered variety for whatever reasons unbeknownst to me.

The four models I'm looking at:

$40 Troy-Bilt Electric
$70 Bolens Gas
$80 Bolens Gas
$100 Troy-Bilt Gas

Troy-Bilt also makes a straight-shaft for $125, although that's getting a bit out of the range of what I want to pay, although I remember some of the previous conversation discussing curved versus straight shaft.

The main thing is that my yard is fairly small, and there simply isn't that much to weedeat in the front and back yard. I already have a long, heavy-duty electrical extension cord, which would reach anywhere I needed to go. I just don't know if I need the power of a gas-powered machine, when I can save $60. Although, I don't want to cheap out now and be sorry I didn't get the gas-powered one in the long-run.

EDIT: I should add that this will be strictly used to cut trim. There is nothing that I would need more power for.

 

[FoBoT]

if you need to use it longer than 10 minutes a week, get a gas powered model

 

[Wapp]

I have an electric and it does okay. Of course I have a small townhouse so I haven't used it on any big jobs.

 

[pontifex]

gas, so you don't accidentally cut the power cord

 

[dullard]

I got a $20 electric one, and it does its job ok. But then I realized, it is more work and trouble to get the thing out than it is worth (whether I struggle with an extension cord, or have to fill it with gas if I had a gas one, or fight with the constantly broken line). Instead, I take the 5 minutes and cut it by hand and finish the job in half the time.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: pontifex
gas, so you don't accidentally cut the power cord

Most weedeaters will not cut an extension cord....even gas-powered.

 

[Kelemvor]

Electric ones are lighter, less expensive, and I don't like paying extra for gas so I go for that. Unless you have a huge yard that you don't have a big enough extension cord for.

 

[Specop 007]

Considering your budget, electric.

I spent $200 on my gas weedeater. There was a reason I spent that much......

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need to use it longer than 10 minutes a week, get a gas powered model

Maybe 20 minutes, max.

Originally posted by: dullard
I got a $20 electric one, and it does its job ok. But then I realized, it is more work and trouble to get the thing out than it is worth (whether I struggle with an extension cord, or have to fill it with gas if I had a gas one, or fight with the constantly broken line). Instead, I take the 5 minutes and cut it by hand and finish the job in half the time.

It would definitely be quicker to have a weedeater than to cut it by hand.

I'm leaning towards the cheap, $40 electric, then purchasing a gas-powered one later in the summer if it doesn't meet my needs. I'd really like to put the extra money I'd save towards gardening supplies.

EDIT: I should add that this will be strictly used to cut trim. There is nothing that I would need more power for.

 

[49erinnc]

I've owned both and I enjoy my gas one FAR more than I did the electric one. I just hate dealing with power cords so that's primarily why I enjoy the gas powered one more. I also get more power out of the gas one and I'm able to rip through a lot of stuff my electric one wouldn't handle. Don't let the issue of gas/oil deter you. I keep a gallon of gas (premixed with oil) in the garage solely for the weedeater. I can normally make it through a season without filling it up more than twice since gas weedeaters use very little gas.

However, if you have a really small yard and nothing really harsh (I use mine for clearing out some really thick brush sometimes), then I think you'd be fine with electric. My yard is just too big for that to be practical.

 

[meltdown75]

I scored one 3 years ago at a yardsale for $5 - electric WeedEater (tm).

It has worked for that long and does the trick. I have a 50x150 lot and I only have to switch plugs once - once for the back and once for the front.

So from an ecomonical standpoint I'm kicking ass, and I don't have to worry about gas either. The string at the bottom won't break as much if you don't go kamikaze with it and try taking down weeds with 2" diameter stalks.

edit: oh yeah, a gas powered one IS on my want list though... FWIW

 

[j00fek]

gas if you have alot and its thick.

if not just get the electric

 

[blurredvision]

Thanks for the commentary guys, it's being helpful in my decision.

 

[Linflas]

Only time I've had an electric one was when I lived in a townhouse. My current one is 2 cycle gas but when I finally buy a new one it will definitely be 4 cycle.

 

[waggy]

if you have a small yard and just trimming grass a electric is fine. IF you have a large yard get gas.

i have 3+ acres. my gas one died so stuck with a crappy electric one. heh i should buy a new one but hopeing i find a good gas one on sale/

 

[Zenmervolt]

There are two kinds of people who buy electric lawn/garden equipment:

1) Women
2) Men who are too cheap to buy something that works right

Shaft-drive, gas-powered Echo or Stihl trimmer. You'll never need to replace it.

ZV

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: Linflas
My current one is 2 cycle gas but when I finally buy a new one it will definitely be 4 cycle.

Exactly what I was going to say. I have an electric one too that I had first bought, but it stays in the attic. I'd rather deal with mixing the gas & oil once or twice a year and the smoke of my 2 cycle than the electric one.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Electric ones are lighter, less expensive, and I don't like paying extra for gas so I go for that. Unless you have a huge yard that you don't have a big enough extension cord for.

So your trimmer is solar powered?

 

[Crucial]

I bought a $50 weed eater brand gas trimmer at walmart 6 years ago and I have no problems with it at all. It was the same as the craftsman models with different color plastics.

 

[bignateyk]

electric weedeaters BLOW. End of story. Corded electrics are just a pain in the ass to deal with, and battery powered weadeaters are useless. Ive hit myself in the leg with an electric and it didnt even break the skin. Good luck cutting anything more than 2 blades of grass with it.

If you are just getting it to edge around a sidewalk or something, electric will work, but if you actually need to cut some weeds of substantial size or in a dense group, then get a gas powered trimmer.