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You just finished mowing your lawn, and for the most part, everything looks clean, neat, and tidy. The only problem is that the spots of your lawn bordering garden bed, patios, and your house are still overrun with tall grass and weeds. Unfortunately, your lawn mower just could not reach those areas with adequate precision. Fortunately, there is a piece of lawn care equipment available to help you do this. This piece of lawn care equipment is an electric string trimmer.
An electric string trimmer is a long, motor-powered lawn tool capable of touching up all the small spots you couldn’t reach with a riding lawn mower or push mower. If you want your lawn to look flawless, it’s a near necessity.
What is an Electric String Trimmer?
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An electric string trimmer is a power lawn tool designed to touch up areas of your lawn which can not be reached with a standard lawn mower. Long, nimble tools, they possess rapidly-moving strings which whip back and forth in order to slice through grass and weeds.
While, these days, most electric string trimmers are powered by batteries, there are still some on the market which possess cords. If you’re looking to even up the parts of your lawn that get missed by your lawn mower, such as by your driveway, or by your house, an electric string trimmer is just what you need.
What are the Benefits of an Electric String Trimmer?
The primary benefit offered by electric string trimmers is the ability to tidy up the uneven parts of your mowed lawn. These are the parts of your lawn that typically border driveways, garden beds, your house, and other hard-to-mow areas.
While you can try to use a lawn mower to reach these areas, you run the risk of either missing spots, or of doing damage to your property. Electric string trimmers are the ideal tools to use if you’re trying to even up your lawn.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Electric String Trimmer
For the most part, all electric string trimmers appear to be about the same. They’re long, skinny tools which are capable of being started without having to pull ropes over and over again. However, just because all electric string trimmers look just about the same, doesn’t mean that they all perform the same. There are a number of different aspects to consider when attempting to purchase an electric string trimmer. These aspects range from whether it’s corded or cordless, to its size, to its overall construction, to how easy it is to use in general.
Corded vs. Cordless
While there are some corded models of electric string trimmers still available on the market, they’re slowly being phased out by cordless models. Cordless electric string trimmers are powered by batteries which allow for ultimate freedom of use. Ideally, you should purchase a cordless string trimmer.
Size
For some people, electric string trimmers might be a little hard to handle. They come in a range of different lengths and weights, some of which can only be handled by users of a certain strength. It’s important to make sure that you can handle your desired electric string trimmer before making a final purchase.
Construction
As with any product you buy, you must consider an electric string trimmer’s overall construction. Most string trimmers are made out of a combination of steel, aluminum, and plastic. At the very least, you should make sure that your desired trimmer can withstand rain and other forms of liquid.
Ease of Use
While some electric string trimmers are completely user intuitive, others can be a bit of a challenge when attempting to understand how to operate them. Make sure to purchase a trimmer that’s as simple to use as possible.
Corded vs. Cordless
EGO Power+ 15-Inch 56-Volt
Like most high-end electric string trimmers currently on the market today, this EGO Power+ electric string trimmer is run by a battery. Its 2.0 Ah 56v battery runs as powerfully as any trimmer battery you’re going to find, allowing you to cut through weeds and other plants with general ease.
DEWALT DCST990H1 40V MAX 6.0 Ah
Like the EGO Power+ electric string trimmer in our top 3, this DeWalt string trimmer is powered by a battery. Containing a 6.0 Ah 40v rechargeable battery, it lasts for the working duration of about an hour.
BLACK&DECKER LST136W 40V MAX
Like the DeWalt and EGO Power+ electric string trimmers in our top 3, this Black & Decker electric string trimmer is powered by a battery. When it comes to its battery power, it’s similar to the DeWalt, as it possesses a 40V lithium-ion battery.
Size
BLACK&DECKER LST136W 40V MAX
When it comes to overall size, this Black & Decker is easily the easiest to handle of all the string trimmers in our top 3. Measuring in at 43.9 inches x 4.4 inches x 9.6 inches and weighing in at just 9.6 pounds, it’s fairly easy to operate regardless of your size and strength.
DEWALT DCST990H1 40V MAX 6.0 Ah
Measuring in at 77.8 inches x 8.9 inches x 11.1 inches and weighing in at 12 pounds, this DeWalt electric string trimmer is fairly easy for people of all strengths and sizes to use. However, it’s still important to test it out before making a purchase.
EGO Power+ 15-Inch 56-Volt
Measuring in at 49 inches x 12.8 inches x 5.2 inches and weighing in at 15.7 pounds, this EGO Power+ electric string trimmer is a little on the big size. This might make it a little difficult to operate for users who are low on strength.
Construction
EGO Power+ 15-Inch 56-Volt
With a 15-inch cutting swath, and a 49-inch aluminum shaft, this EGO Power+ electric string trimmer has no trouble reaching anything in your general area. Waterproof and equipped with a high-efficiency motor, it can be used for long periods of time regardless of the weather conditions.
DEWALT DCST990H1 40V MAX 6.0 Ah
With a gear drive encased in a metal housing, this DeWalt electric string trimmer is capable of withstanding a great deal of wear and tear. With a 15-inch cutting swath, it’s capable of trimming a rather large portion of area in one fell swoop. We should also note that it’s waterproof.
BLACK&DECKER LST136W 40V MAX
With an ergonomic plastic handle, and a 43 inch aluminum shaft, this Black & Decker electric string trimmer is both supremely durable and easy to handle. Equipped with a trimmer safety guard, it ensures that you’re protected at all points of its use.
Ease of Use
EGO Power+ 15-Inch 56-Volt
Possessing little to no vibration in its handle, this EGO Power+ electric string trimmer is beyond easy to handle, provided you are of adequate strength. You simply turn it on, press down on the power handle, and get to trimming.
DEWALT DCST990H1 40V MAX 6.0 Ah
Like the EGO Power+ electric string trimmer in our top 3, this DeWalt electric string trimmer is ridiculously easy to handle as long as you’re of adequate strength. A pressure-sensitive power trigger allows you to run it at different speeds dependent on your specific needs.
BLACK&DECKER LST136W 40V MAX
As far as ease of use goes, this Black & Decker electric string trimmer is right on par with the Ego Power+ and DeWalt string trimmers in our top 3. Producing little vibration, operate it by simply flipping a switch on the outside of its gear casing.
Conclusion: Our Electric String Trimmer Reviews
Best Cheap: Factory-Reconditioned Black & Decker GH3000R
Perhaps you’re looking for a quality electric string trimmer, but don’t have the budget to spend on a high-end one. If so, you might consider this electric string trimmer by Black & Decker. A corded electric string trimmer, it possesses 120 volts of power, making it as powerful as any electric string trimmer you’re going to find. Possessing a safety cover and an easy-to-grip handle, it gives you full control at all times. If you’re looking for a great electric string trimmer at a fair price, you should definitely take a look at this.
Pros:
- As powerful as they come
- Possesses protective safety cover
- Lightweight and easy to hold
Cons:
- Possesses a cord
Best for the Money: BLACK&DECKER LST136W 40V MAX
Though it’s not the best electric string trimmer currently on the market, this Black & Decker string trimmer is a great buy at a reasonable price. Powered by a 40-volt, rechargeable, lithium-ion battery, it provides powerful, cord-free use at all times. Made out of durable plastic and aluminum, it’s equipped with a safety cover to protect you from flying debris. If you’re looking for the best electric string trimmer for the money, this is the one you’re looking for.
Pros:
- Powered by rechargeable, 40-volt, lithium-ion battery
- Tough, durable construction
- Lightweight and easy to handle
Cons:
- Limited runtime
Best Overall: EGO Power+ 15-Inch 56-Volt
While there are plenty of high-quality electric string trimmers on the market today, in our opinion, this Ego Power+ string trimmer is the best electric string trimmer around. Powered by a 56-volt, rechargeable, lithium-ion battery, it provides exceptional, cord-free use regardless of where it needs to be used. Sporting a 15-inch cutting swath, it covers a great deal of area in a very short amount of time. If you’re looking for the best electric string trimmer on the market, look no further.
Pros:
- Powerful 56-volt battery
- Huge 15-inch cutting swath
- As safe and as durable as they come
Cons:
- A little heavy for some
In Summary
While a lawn mower can take care of most of your yard, there are areas that it can not reach. When it comes to these areas, there’s one tool that does the job better than any other tool around. This tool is an electric string trimmer.
Powerful and cord-free trimmers like the EGO Power+ String Trimmer allow you to cover a great deal of area in a very short amount of time. Want to keep your yard looking neat and tidy? Invest in a high-quality electric string trimmer.