Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello all, can anyone reccommend (sp?) a cordless strimmer? Have no experience of using them at all. I've seen one advertised (Argos or similar) which looked ok except it takes 3 -5 hrs to charge and has a running time of 17 minutes! No good to me, i'd have to gallop round the lottie like a loon. Do they all need charging for so long? For such a short running time? Any advise gratefuuly received. xx

Yes, we have the Bosch one, but wouldn't be without it. The thing is to use it until it's flat then recharge it and do a bit more on your next visit. There's nothing in the rules that says you have to do it all at once and actually you find that you don't need to do it that often once it's had its initial cut. The alternative is a petrol driven one, we borrowed one once, but found it heavy and difficult to use, it also became very hot to the point where inadvertently catching it with your upper arm (quite easy) could lead to a burn. Now we go up, strim for a few minutes then get on with something else.

I have to say though that if you're wanting to use it to clear your allotment then a cordless probably wouldn't be up to the job, we just use ours to keep the grass paths neat. If you do want it for clearance then think about hiring a petrol driven brush-cutter for the weekend, then use a cordless to keep it in shape.

I've just bought (yesterday) the Argos one - £5 off so £19.99.
I did some research and decided that if I bought an expensive one, in 3 years time I would need new batteries... which would cost £25-£40 depending on which model I bought.
So I bought the Argos one: if it lasts 3 years I will be delighted, junk it and buy another. (Mind you my B&D cordless hedgetrimmer is 17 years old with batteries replaced by me...)


I have tried it this am and it seems ok. Will post more later

EDIT:
I have now used it about 15 minutes and the battery is still charged enough to run at full speed. Cuts nettles OK. Cuts grass OK. Cuts soft hawthorn OK. Line feed works well.

PS Do NOT buy spare reels of line at Argos - nearly £9. They are about £2.50 -£3.00 on ebay.
Seems fine.

Thanks for your comments. As I'm only doing the grass paths around the allotment, I'll go for the cheap and cheerful one and do a wee bit at a time. When that's worn out, I'll get another (or new batteries)