Battery powered garden tools, how good are they?

[Ceiling Cat]

I have had battery powered drills for years, but I do not trust the battery powered garden tools. The batteries may do the job when they are new, but what happens when they get old and you do not charge them enough. The later expense is in the price of the batteries. I am experienced in electronics. so I do know what to expect out of the nickel cadmium batteries and the new lithium batteries. It is the battery replacement that makes a battery operated device expensive to operate. I do not trust you will get a long service life from these devices. especially the battery operated snow throwers and lawn mowers.

Below is a discounted price at Best Buy for a trimmer. Discounted 87% from $400 to $50.54. I think they are discounting and discontinuing the product.

 

[whitewaterguy]

I just switched a bunch of things to battery. chainsaws, hedge trimmer, and weed eater. They outperform the gas versions. Battery lasts longer than my stamina to complete the jobs. They are awesome and troble free. I can chainsaw down a huge tree , cut it up , and still have power on reserve. I will never go back to gas and corded tools. I’m using EGO brand tools. i was sceptical, but am totally convinced by the ease and convenience of thus stuff Highly recommended.

 

[LTO_3]

I have to admit that I've got a battery powered hedge trimmer and edge trimmer and surprised how good they are and how long the battery charge lasts for both of them. Besides when I bought them, I got them on sale and saved a lot of money too.

LTO_3

 

[tml]

About 4 to 5 years ago I purchased a Toro lawn mower, snow blower, and weed trimmer all of which operate with rechargeable batteries. I also purchased an extra battery. Expensive, but absolutely no regrets. Easy to use and no more gas fumes in our garage. The only downside is that I found the lawn mower is not quite as powerful as the gas powered lawn mower(also Toro). Not a big problem, though. If you have a small to medium sized property I highly recommend it.

 

[philonius]

I cosign all of the above. Switched to batteries for everything years ago and the only weak point is my mower but as long as I don't let the grass grow wild it works just fine.

 

[wigglee]

Cordless lawnmower kicks ass. No tripping over extension cords or breathing gas fumes.

 

[Ponderling]

I have a way old school Black and Decker battery electric mower from the late 80's.
It uses gelled lead acid batteries, and has a battery charger that treats them well.

Open the 'hood' as it were, and swap in standard sized batteries. 2x 12V 20Ah. Or 4 6V x16 0r 20Ah.
I actually have a spare set of batteries for when the grass should have been mowed weekly and I skipped that week.
Then when batteries fade and the lawn is 2/3 mowed, new pack in and you are raring to go.

The modern lithium ion packs would be a lot lighter, but a bit of mass in a push along mower is ok by me.

 

[bazokajoe]

I'll never buy a battery operated lawn mower or snow blower. I want constant power the entire time.
I do have battery operated weed trimmer and drill. I also have a corded leaf blower/vac and battery operated leaf blower(no vac). I prefer the corded leaf blower because it can vac and mulch up the leafs and saves on paper yard waste bags. I use the battery leaf blower mostly for blowing off grass clippings off my driveway and patio.
The leaf blower and weed trimmer use the same batteries as it was bought as a set.
I am happy with them. Had for about 6 years. Keep the batteries inside during the winter so the cold doesn't kill them.

 

[thumper18474]

I'm a Dewalt guy
Drills
Impact guns
Hedge trimmers
Weed whacker
Skill saw
Jigsaw
Chainsaw
Flashlights
Work lights
Leafblower
Got about a dozen batteries all charged and at the ready...
If a new gadget comes out?...I'm on it
I got Dewalts that I don't even know what to use them on...LOL

 

[drstrangelove]

I have an older Black and Decker weed eater and it's almost useless. The battery, which hasn't been used all that much, dies after about 15 minutes of use and take literally hours to recharge.

 

[bazokajoe]

I'm a Dewalt guy
Drills
Impact guns
Hedge trimmers
Weed whacker
Skill saw
Jigsaw
Chainsaw
Flashlights
Work lights
Leafblower
Got about a dozen batteries all charged and at the ready...
If a new gadget comes out?...I'm on it
I got Dewalts that I don't even know what to use them on...LOL

Can you use the same battery for all the tools?

 

[bazokajoe]

I have an older Black and Decker weed eater and it's almost useless. The battery, which hasn't been used all that much, dies after about 15 minutes of use and take literally hours to recharge.

Time to chuck it.

 

[xmontrealer]

I have an older Black and Decker weed eater and it's almost useless. The battery, which hasn't been used all that much, dies after about 15 minutes of use and take literally hours to recharge.

I had a Black & Decker string trimmer with an internal battery in the handle.

Worker just fine between 2010 and 2022, when I moved into an apartment.

Mind you I had a small yard...

 

[Ceiling Cat]

I have an older Black and Decker weed eater and it's almost useless. The battery, which hasn't been used all that much, dies after about 15 minutes of use and take literally hours to recharge.

The battery operated tools are expensive, the next big expense is battery replacement. To keep it in good shape you have to keep the batteries charged up. Sometimes you see old batteries for sale that are new in the store, but the tool is being discontinued and they sell them off for $10-15. I take the, apart and rebuild my old batteries. If you can do it yourself you can do it for 1/3 the price of buying new batteries. I do not trust the big machines like lawn mowers, snow blowers, and chain saws to be powered by battery.

The battery operated tools are expensive, the next big expense

Can you use the same battery for all the tools?

That is how they hook you in, once you buy a brand, the batteries do not fit on any other brand. You can buy battery adapters to use batteries from another brand.

Use ANY Battery With ANY Tool – Cordless Tool Battery Adapters

Initial impression is THIS IS AWESOME! I do have some concerns about the durability though. They make adapters for all sorts of tool combinations, check th...

www.youtube.com

 

[xmontrealer]

The battery operated tools are expensive, the next big expense is battery replacement. To keep it in good shape you have to keep the batteries charged up. Sometimes you see old batteries for sale that are new in the store, but the tool is being discontinued and they sell them off for $10-15. I take the, apart and rebuild my old batteries. If you can do it yourself you can do it for 1/3 the price of buying new batteries. I do not trust the big machines like lawn mowers, snow blowers, and chain saws to be powered by battery.

The battery operated tools are expensive, the next big expense


That is how they hook you in, once you buy a brand, the batteries do not fit on any other brand. You can buy battery adapters to use batteries from another brand.

Use ANY Battery With ANY Tool – Cordless Tool Battery Adapters

Initial impression is THIS IS AWESOME! I do have some concerns about the durability though. They make adapters for all sorts of tool combinations, check th...

www.youtube.com

If they are lithium ion batteries most fires involving them are caused by using the wrong chargers or messing around with the batteries themselves.

Let's be careful out there...

 

[thumper18474]

Can you use the same battery for all the tools?

Yup

 

[ShootNScoot]

@Ceiling Cat be mindful of brands that go on super clearances… if they are going out of business… no customer support, parts/repairs, and might have proprietary batteries… granted… $50 for a tool that could last you a couple years… still a good deal.

 

[Ponderling]

I have a 14" chain saw. Plug in ac powered.
Suits me fine.
Lots of the time it sits idle for 10-11 months or more.
Plug it in, works fine. Cord - be mindful of it.

Beats the hell out of trying to maintian batteries, and trying to keep a small gas engine working unless you take the thing apart to drain and flush it every time ya use it these days. Even premium gas has Ethanol in it now.
Some days I am temped to burn Coleman fuel in the things, except that lacks lube components etc gas has.

 

[xmontrealer]

Years ago I had a plug-in AC powered lawnmower.

Pain in the butt mowing with one hand and keeping the AC cord out of the way with the other.

My neighbour asked me if he could borrow it. I warned him about the cord.

Sure enough when he gave it back to me it was with a new AC cord, cuz he mowed over the original.