Choosing a String Trimmer

Choosing a string trimmer is slightly complicated. There are a few basic types, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. String trimmers have evolved significantly since their invention in the 1970's by George Ballas after watching the rotating brushes in an automatic car wash. His first version consists of strong fishing line attached to a popcorn can bolted onto an edger! The invention is named weed eater because it chews up the weeds and grass surrounding trees. Keep the following information in mind when choosing a string trimmer to meet your needs.

Gas-powered string trimmers

Gas and gas/oil-powered string trimmers offer greater mobility than electric trimmers and are powerful enough for commercial use. However, they are rather heavy and cause a great deal of vibration.

Battery- operated string trimmers

Battery-operated string trimmers offer the advantage of unrestricted range since they do not require an electrical cord. However, these types have the extra weight of the battery pack, and the amount of time between battery recharges is another factor to consider. On the plus side, there are now available lithium-ion batteries that last longer than traditional rechargeable batteries.

Electric string trimmers

Electric string trimmers are lightweight and easy to use. However, the useful range of electric trimmers is limited by the need for an electrical cord to supply power. Typically, these are not as powerful as the gas-powered varieties, although there are now some models that do offer performance equal to gas-powered trimmers.

Choosing a string trimmer depends upon what works best for your lawn. They all have good points and not-so-good points, so evaluate carefully and weigh your options.