Last Updated on October 23, 2023 by Kyle Whitley
So you went out and got you a new battery powered string trimmer, or you are in the market for one but you aren’t quite sure what to do next? Then you are in the right place. We will take a look at how to use a battery powered string trimmer.
Table of Contents
What are battery powered string trimmers used for?
Battery powered string trimmers are a very versatile and important piece of outdoor power equipment. A string trimmer gives your yard that professionally landscaped look, and it doesn’t take a lot of time.
You can use battery powered string trimmers for many tasks.
- trimming around landscaping
- edging around landscaping
- mowing small areas of a lawn not reachable by a traditional mower
- if attachment capable you can, prune trees, blow leaves, or trim the hedges
Safety first when using a battery powered string trimmer
Before you start any type of lawn care, make sure you are wearing the correct protective clothing. While it might seem like a good idea when it is hot in July to do some trimming in your flip flops, it really isn’t.
Whenever you use a string trimmer, always wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and eye protection. Trust me on the long pants, electric weed trimmers can kick up a lot of debris and on more than one occasion I have kicked up a little rock that has cut my leg.
Also, always follow the safety instructions described in your user manual, specifically attaching the debris guard at the bottom of the trimmer.
Choosing a Battery Powered String Trimmer
When you selecting a battery powered string trimmer there are several things you need to consider if you want to add a string trimmer to your electric lawn equipment.
Line Type – single or dual lined spools. Single line spools are easier to maintain, while dual lined spools cut faster.
Line Thickness – line thicknesses from 0.065mm – .08mm are most common but they can get thicker. The thicker .095 line is for more heavy-duty trimming/cutting, that can be done in and around your lawn.
Battery Power/Life – Most modern battery powered string trimmers run on lithium-ion batteries in the 18v – 60v range in many Ah (amp hour) power combinations. The larger the volts the more power and runtime.
String Trimmer Attachments – Do you need attachments. Some newer trimmers are actually attachment capable. This allows the battery powered trimmer power source or power head to power other tools. The attachments connect to the power head and are easily swappable. They can be used as a leaf blower, hedge trimmer, tiller, or pole saw.
Price – String trimmers are relatively affordable with prices ranging from $50 – $550. The higher end usually come with multiple batteries which makes the price increase rapidly.
Who makes battery powered string trimmers?
Most of the major battery powered outdoor tool manufactures make string trimmers. Below are a few examples:
There are literally dozens of models to choose from, ranging from 18v – 80v. With prices ranging from $50 – $500.
Why choose and battery powered string trimmer?
There are a few reasons why you might want to choose a battery powered string trimmer or cordless string trimmer over a gas string trimmer.
- easy starting
- lighter weight compared to gas trimmers
- no mixing of fuel, just charge the battery or batteries
- no fuel storage or fuel additives
- much quieter than gas trimmers, making trimming an option early or late in the day
There are also electric string trimmers or corded string trimmers. Cordless trimmers allow for greater mobility, with the ability to cut and trim well beyond the reach of an extension cord and power outlet.
Cordless trimmers are generally preferred over corded string trimmers unless you have a small yard or garden. For the average yard a cordless or battery powered string trimmer is a much better choice.
I personally switched to all electric outdoor lawn equipment recently and I am not looking back.
How to use a battery powered string trimmer
Actually, this is the easiest part, of using a cordless string trimmer, but there are few things you need to do before you start trimming away.
Are my batteries charged?
So this is really important but can get overlooked. Make sure you have a fresh set of charged batteries ready to go. After I get done trimming my yard, I always check my batteries and charge the batteries as needed so they are ready to go the next time I need to do some trimming.
Do I have trimmer line?
Now, this might seem obvious, but if you don’t do a lot of trimming, it is easy to put away the trimmer, and not notice that your line is close to running out, has run out. Always keep some extra trimmer line on hand, so that you can re-spool if needed. Also, know how to re-spool your line is a great idea.
Starting the battery powered string trimmer
Really all you have to do is attach the battery pack to the trimmer. The batteries usually attach the end of the cordless string trimmer near the electric motor. Some may slide on the end while others will attach underneath
Start Trimming
After the battery is attached, pull the trigger. The trimmer head should begin to accelerate the harder you pull on the trigger. If the trimmer head doesn’t move, check your battery again to make sure it is attached correctly and is charged. If that doesn’t work you might want to check your owner’s manual for further assistance.
Spinning Direction
Make sure you pay attention to the direction the battery powered string trimmer is moving. If the trimmer spins counter-clockwise it will eject material from the left. If it spins clockwise it will eject material from the right. So basically you want to keep your body closer the side of work, so the trimmer head ejects the material away from the path you are taking.
String Trimmer Cutting Methods
There are many different cutting methods you can use when using a battery powered string trimmer.
- Tapering – This is where you angle the trimmer so you cut the grass at a slight angle. You will do this when you are cutting around the curb, retaining wall, fence, or tree
- Edging – This is when you turn the trimmer so the string is vertical instead of horizontal. With the line vertical you can trim along driveways and sidewalks, which give a nice clean look.
- Scything – This used most often when cutting higher grass. You move the trimmer in a shallow U motion swinging side to side overlapping your path so you make sure to get a consistent cut.
- Screeding – This is an advanced technique, where you are wanting to remove weeds or grass growing in a driveway or sidewalk. Here you want the trimmer string just glancing off the sidewalk or pavement, so you can clip the weed or grass at its base. To much angle and you hit the pavement eating up your line, to shallow and you just take the top of the weed or grass off.
Your Trimming Now
If you followed all of the advice above you should be well on your way to mastering your battery powered string trimmer. Now you know how to use a battery powered string trimmer, and you will be one step closer to a trimmed and nice-looking yard.
