Are cheap gas weed whackers worth the headache, or should I go electric?

[Sadret Eidar]

I have a fairly large backyard with a chain-link fence that is always getting swallowed by tall grass. My old extension cord trimmer just doesn’t reach the back corner. I see these $90 gas trimmers at the hardware store, but I’m worried they are junk. Is it worth dealing with mixing oil and gas for a budget machine, or should I just bite the bullet and buy a pricey battery ecosystem?

[Dideed]

Honestly, once you switch to battery, you never go back. No pulling the cord forty times, no smelling like exhaust, and no carburetor gumming up over winter. Unless you are clearing a literal forest, a 40V electric trimmer has plenty of power for fence lines and edging.

[Combeand]

I didn’t want to spend $300 on a pro tool for a once-a-year job. I stood in the aisle at the store for twenty minutes comparing the budget gas models. I spent some time scrolling through homelite to see what actual owners said about the starting mechanisms and spool durability. The consensus seemed to be that they work if you treat them right, but the vibration is high. I ultimately grabbed a cheap gas unit, and it handled the thick brush surprisingly well, though my hands were tingling for an hour afterward.

[Author]

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