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Looking for input - I'm considering a change from a gas Stihl trimmer to a cordless battery powered unit (20v probably). My questions are:

1) With the evolution of battery powered tools, how much power will I be giving up between a gas unit and a cordless.
2) Which ones should I be considering (if any)? I've checked out the Milwaukee and it seems reasonably well built, but I'd like to hear good/bad from those that have used these.

I have a Dewalt 80v cordless 17” trimmer that has been fine for my needs. We have about an acre and a half which equals roughly 2 maybe 3 battery swaps. I have 4 batteries that are in rotation with 1 or 2 on the chargers 1 in use and 1 charged and ready. I chose Dewalt because my other cordless tools are Dewalt so portability of batteries is a must for me.

My buddy was using his new Stihl gas trimmer while I was using my Dewalt cordless and while he was a little faster than I was I don’t think it was enough to worry about…maybe he did roughly the same as me in 10-20% less time than it took me to do the same. I like not worrying about gas and it makes a small job easy and quick. I use an “Ugly Head” replacement head that takes precut heavy duty line instead of winding and bumping…..much easier!

I have the Milwaukee m18 fuel weedwacker/pole saw combo. Both work extremely well so far. Less than a year though so not a ton of usage. Weedwacker is not short on power and out works my 20 or 24v worx.

I have the 2x 18v chainsaw version of this setup... I also have the 2x 18v leaf blower.

I am impressed. Batteries also run drills etc.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-...Four-5-0-Ah-Batteries-XRU15PT1/311337257

*Bought for Laura (she can't pull a gas Stihl), but as a quick go-to for me... they work great.

I was about to try (another) cordless line trimmer and blower, then looked at all the different batteries and chargers already on my bench and said fugg it.

Just picked up an Echo 2 smoke trimmer and blower.

I need to streamline my cordless schit.

The Oregon aftermarket speed head is such a great addition.
Money very well spent!!!!

I have the Milwaukee and cannot say enough good about it. Lots of power and excellent battery life. The combo goes on sale fairly regularly and is worth the price of admission if you need the other attachments.

To be clear I am only edging about 200yds a week but that is 12 months a year. I have used it on some overgrown schit in yards that the Everglades wanted to reclaim and it showed zero issues.

The line change and feed is perfect. Possibly the best I have ever used and that includes Echo and Stihl.

Batteries have never been a concern. I don’t know how often I swap the batteries but if you’re going through more than two of the 8.0 or 6.0 batteries in any one use, I would say you need to ask yourself why the fugk you opted out of commercial grade two-strokes to begin with.

I will also add that the weedeater/hedge trimmer/polesaw/edger combo was my first Milwaukee cordless purchase and I bought it based on full time mechanics telling me their 1/2” and 3/8” impacts were without peer. I wanted to see how far electrics have come and I have been pleasantly shocked.

I have been replacing everything with Milwaukee ever since.

Interesting.

Electric weed eaters are for 70 year old women that can't pull start a good Stihl.

I bought a Milwaukee over a year ago and I'll never go back. After my almost 30 YO Husky pro-model 225R finally wore out, I tried a Stihl Kombi 110 that sucked donkey nuts. Never stayed in tune, multiple carb replacements, hard to start, didn't hold much string etc. etc. On a whim, I bought an open box Milwaukee weed whacker at Northern Tool. Quiet, plenty of power, holds a ton of string, lightweight, the list goes on and on. I have a 9aH battery and it gets me thru my full 1 acre. Even a regular 6aH battery will usually make it. If it doesn't, I have plenty more of them and I need a break anyway. Buy a Milwaukee with full confidence that you'll be impressed.

I bought the 1/2 impact several years ago and have now replace everything with Milwaukee fuel. The number of batteries and Milwaukee tools I own is fuqking ridiculous, but WTF I use them, no regerts.

Same here.

All my other hand tools are Milwaukee, so the batteries are all interchangeable, so buying a Milwaukee trimmer was a no-brainer.

I got the edger with mine & it also works well.

It comes with a 8 amp hr, battery which is a little heavy for long use, so I usually just use a 5; works fine & has plenty of power.

MM

I ordered the weedeater, brush cutter, pole saw combo from Home Depot last week. I'm still waiting on it to come in. I stayed with Milwaukee, it's my only battery platform right now.

I've swapped the sprockets on a bulldozer with my old 1/2 inch Milwaukee impact. The grease gun is a godsend when you're pumping grease a tube at a time.

I use a 20V DeWalt @ home and a 60V Dewalt @ the lake. IIRC they’re 13” and 15” swaths. I wanted the wider swath @ the lake as I mow w/a rider. I push mow @ home.

I use a 4AmpHr in the 20V and can do around my house, shop, trees, and fence. I help out an older neighbor @ the lake and can do 2 lots w/1 6Amphr FlexVolt battery.

I have a 20V leaf blower too and it blows dry leaves and grass clipping just fine. It will not move a pile of wet leaves.

I went DeWalt as I already had D tools and batteries.

My wife loves her new Milwaukee weed wacker 8 Amp Hour battery and she lov3s it over here Stil because it weighs less and it's quiet she'll eat up a regular M18 bat in about 15 minutes we're getting about 30 some out of an 8 ah

Another vote for Milwaukee. I bought the Quik-Lok hedger, pole saw, weed whacker, and brush cutter combo, after having experience with their M18 7 1/4 circ saw and sawzall. I can't say enough good things about them. Circ saw works as well as any corded version.

Good luck!

Do you have the 12 or the 18?

I have done the same.

I even use the 2.0 if I have a small bit of sawing to do. Makes that thing a lot lighter and still goes through anything a pole saw should be going through.

I bought the stihl combi system when it first came out maybe 5 years ago just after I bought my house, I wanted a kit that would trim weeds cut branches and sweep my driveway so I bought the additional attachments, the following year Milwaukee came out with their trimmer kit with the pole saw, lawn edger, and hedge trimmer and it blew the stihl out of the water. Last year they came out with the power broom attachment and it puts the stihl to shame. I don't know what deal they made with the devil to get the power they get out of their batteries but their 12 volt is just as impressive as their 18 volt. I bought my first Milwaukee tool when they first came out with the 28 volt lithium ion back in 2000ish and they are still going strong.

I have the Dewalt, love it.

Pole saw, chain saw, leaf blower, hedge trimmer too.

One of my favorites is the Dewalt tire inflator. Screw it on to the valve stem, turn it on. It displays the psi, set the dial to the desired psi and push the start button. It shuts off when it’s finished.