Please recommend yard tools.
April 4, 2019 10:59 AM Subscribe
I moved and now I have a much embiggened yard. I need a hedge trimmer, chainsaw, weed-whacker, and edger to take care of it. Please recommend a solid brand, assume I'm okay with paying a premium if it is worth it.
I already have a riding mower (John Deere).
I need recommendations on which family of devices to purchase. I like things that match.
I would like for these four things to be electric and cordless, if possible. I would also like for them to be able to share batteries interchangeably. Lithium-ion if possible. High reliability. Thanks!
I already have a riding mower (John Deere).
I need recommendations on which family of devices to purchase. I like things that match.
I would like for these four things to be electric and cordless, if possible. I would also like for them to be able to share batteries interchangeably. Lithium-ion if possible. High reliability. Thanks!
This is my string trimmer/weed wacker It uses the Dewalt 40v rechargable lithium battery and it works very well. There are other Dewalt batteries now so you might want the 20v or 60v depending on your needs but the 40v system works well. We also have a power drill that works on the system. It's a good weed wacker, works well at wacking and edging.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 11:06 AM on April 4, 2019
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 11:06 AM on April 4, 2019
I have the 40V Greenworks stuff (hedge trimmer, 12" baby chainsaw, leaf blower, tiller) and the Earthwise string trimmer. I also have a Stihl gas chainsaw.
The Greenworks stuff is good. Battery is decent - perfectly good for taking limbs off of a tree or bucking trees in the 6" - 10" diameter range. I usually take both the chainsaws out and switch between them depending on the job. The greenworks hedge trimmer is a beast; especially when you use the higher capacity chainsaw battery - but even with the regular battery it's fine. The leafblower is meh, I just don't use it that much
The Earthwise string trimmer is really powerful. I only have one battery for it, but it lasts for at least an hour, and I'm basically cutting foot-high weeds. It had almost immediate problems with the bump load, so I can't recommend it 100% - I would give the brand another chance though.
The Greenworks 40V stuff has been rock solid so far and I don't take especially good care of it. If I were starting from scratch I'd probably go with the Greenworks 60V series with the 16" chainsaw, assuming they have everything you want in the 60V range.
posted by true at 11:18 AM on April 4, 2019
The Greenworks stuff is good. Battery is decent - perfectly good for taking limbs off of a tree or bucking trees in the 6" - 10" diameter range. I usually take both the chainsaws out and switch between them depending on the job. The greenworks hedge trimmer is a beast; especially when you use the higher capacity chainsaw battery - but even with the regular battery it's fine. The leafblower is meh, I just don't use it that much
The Earthwise string trimmer is really powerful. I only have one battery for it, but it lasts for at least an hour, and I'm basically cutting foot-high weeds. It had almost immediate problems with the bump load, so I can't recommend it 100% - I would give the brand another chance though.
The Greenworks 40V stuff has been rock solid so far and I don't take especially good care of it. If I were starting from scratch I'd probably go with the Greenworks 60V series with the 16" chainsaw, assuming they have everything you want in the 60V range.
posted by true at 11:18 AM on April 4, 2019
2nding Stihl. many stihl straight shaft trimmers can have edger and hedge attachments put on them that reduce the outlay to get all three tools. curved shaft trimmers from any manufacturer will be disappointing.
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:20 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:20 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Stihl makes an excellent series of 36V battery tools aimed at professionals. I have the hedge trimmer, handheld blower and string trimmer, all of which perform very well. Battery life on the blower is only about 20 minutes, but it moves a lot of air.
All of these tools use the same battery form factor, which is good because the batteries are sold separately (various amp-hour ratings) and are pricey.
There's a small chainsaw in the series which I don't own, but which I've heard good things about. It uses a tiny, 1/4"-pitch chain. I imagine it would be fine for wood up to 4-5" at least, but it's not for felling big trees or bucking them into firewood rounds. For that sort of work, gas is still the right way to go.
Edited to add link.
posted by jon1270 at 11:24 AM on April 4, 2019
All of these tools use the same battery form factor, which is good because the batteries are sold separately (various amp-hour ratings) and are pricey.
There's a small chainsaw in the series which I don't own, but which I've heard good things about. It uses a tiny, 1/4"-pitch chain. I imagine it would be fine for wood up to 4-5" at least, but it's not for felling big trees or bucking them into firewood rounds. For that sort of work, gas is still the right way to go.
Edited to add link.
posted by jon1270 at 11:24 AM on April 4, 2019
Unless you have big jobs coming, the Greenworks and associated kinds like Stihl and Dewalt are going to get you by. even with some medium - big jobs, you should be set.
Go Husqvarna on gas-powered items. If you have to deal with lots of leaves, the Husky blower/vac is a good option. You won't find a comparable in a cordless, but there are some corded blower/vacs that are decent enough.
If you have a riding mower, consider getting the 42" sweeper.. comes in handy for leaves and clippings when the grass grows quickly and you don't get to mow for a few days.
posted by rich at 12:30 PM on April 4, 2019
Go Husqvarna on gas-powered items. If you have to deal with lots of leaves, the Husky blower/vac is a good option. You won't find a comparable in a cordless, but there are some corded blower/vacs that are decent enough.
If you have a riding mower, consider getting the 42" sweeper.. comes in handy for leaves and clippings when the grass grows quickly and you don't get to mow for a few days.
posted by rich at 12:30 PM on April 4, 2019
I really like my Makita blower, string trimmer, and 14" chainsaw. Have makita 18v construction tools of many types and feel as if the battery life and builds are better than others that I won't name. Specifically for the chainsaw, it IS a good saw, and it's quieter, safer (since it doesn't remain running unless you ask it to), and cleaner than my Stihl gas-powered saw, and almost certainly will do all the chainsawing you should be doing. Buying yard tools from a manufacturer with a wide range of battery-powered tools, for the yard and elsewhere, makes sense unless you are pretty certain that you won't be wishing that you could use those amazing batteries in other contexts.
posted by bullatony at 3:22 PM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bullatony at 3:22 PM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Not powered, but I highly recommend this weed puller
Cast iron construction, last forever, pulls the weeds out by the roots. Looks like Ace Hardware and some other places are carrying them. Don't settle for some flimsy steel imitation like I had before I bought the real deal.
posted by rudd135 at 3:57 PM on April 4, 2019
Cast iron construction, last forever, pulls the weeds out by the roots. Looks like Ace Hardware and some other places are carrying them. Don't settle for some flimsy steel imitation like I had before I bought the real deal.
posted by rudd135 at 3:57 PM on April 4, 2019
i have the ego battery powered electric trimmer and an ego electric mower. i think the trimmer is excellent and the mower is pretty good. home depot carries the trimmer and maybe the mower as well.
there's a version of the trimmer which is basically a "put the tool you want on the end of this stick+battery+motor unit" which may be useful to you as well.
posted by zippy at 3:58 PM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
there's a version of the trimmer which is basically a "put the tool you want on the end of this stick+battery+motor unit" which may be useful to you as well.
posted by zippy at 3:58 PM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
We have an EGO mower, leaf blower, trimmer, and chainsaw. They have hedge trimmers too but we don’t need one. We’ve been happy with the brand overall. The batteries last a good amount of time and everything is easy to use. We only use the trimmer and chainsaw occasionally, but the mower and leaf blower get frequent use and have been reliable.
posted by impishoptimist at 7:15 PM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by impishoptimist at 7:15 PM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
I second the weed puller rudd135 recommends.
I bought one at a yard sale because it seemed silly and I had an on going joke about pulling weeds. I was going to shake it and say "well the weeds are going to be in trouble now..." For the yard sale price it was worth it just for the joke. But then, I used it, it worked, and my smallish lawn is weed free.
OTOH, if you have a riding mower you probably have a lawn that is too big to pull weeds from.
posted by bdc34 at 6:04 AM on April 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
I bought one at a yard sale because it seemed silly and I had an on going joke about pulling weeds. I was going to shake it and say "well the weeds are going to be in trouble now..." For the yard sale price it was worth it just for the joke. But then, I used it, it worked, and my smallish lawn is weed free.
OTOH, if you have a riding mower you probably have a lawn that is too big to pull weeds from.
posted by bdc34 at 6:04 AM on April 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
After using various underpowered electric chainsaws, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Makita 36V 12” top handle saw. It has enough power for minor tree trimming and brush removal, and the batteries last at least as long as I do (2 x 4ah). I bought it because I was already invested in the Makita battery system, so it may not make as much sense for someone who doesn’t have extra batteries and chargers.
Their blower lasts about 5 minutes on high (the only useful setting). Buy gas instead.
posted by bradf at 6:31 AM on April 5, 2019
Their blower lasts about 5 minutes on high (the only useful setting). Buy gas instead.
posted by bradf at 6:31 AM on April 5, 2019
It's worth pointing out that the makita blower is sold with 5ah batteries; smaller batteries will last noticeably less long. $329 for the blower, 4 5ah batteries, and charger. Then get the bare tool chainsaw of the size you like, and a trimmer (I don't think makita makes an edger). Not having to mess with 2-cycle mixing, mess, noise, and pollution is worth it!
posted by bullatony at 9:59 AM on April 5, 2019
posted by bullatony at 9:59 AM on April 5, 2019
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posted by SaltySalticid at 11:03 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]