Electric strimmer recommendations

fwor

I currently have a B&D strimmer which I hate with a vengeance. The "tap to feed" mechanism has never worked properly and it's a pain to load with new line.

So... Any recommendations for a good reliable easy to use electric (not petrol, as it's used too infrequently) line strimmer? Single-line would be OK, but twin line would probably last longer, as better balanced...

sarah1972

I have had this one for 2 years and its brilliant !

You can make it longer so your back doesnt strain and the plant guard is great.

http://www.kensyard.co.uk/products/worx-garden-tools/cordless-grass-trimmer-wg150e1/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products

fwor

Thanks - I must admit I was assuming I'd get something mains-powered, but rechargeables are so good now, there's no reason to be trailing (and accidentally cutting) a mains lead.

And the telescopic arm is also something that was rare when I bought the B&D.

Leif

I bought a Flymo 500XT. It was awful. The nylon lines broke after a few seconds use, maybe 20 seconds if I was lucky, and the auto line feed did not work. So spend 5 seconds cutting, 1 minute repairing the line, 5 seconds cutting, 1 minutes repairing the line and so on. I too it back to B&Q for a refund as it was not fit for purpose. A neighbour has a Bosch with small plastic blades. It works well, I am told.

fwor

Leif wrote: »

So spend 5 seconds cutting, 1 minute repairing the line, 5 seconds cutting, 1 minutes repairing the line and so on.

That pretty much sums up the current B&D one... If I'd bought it new I'd have gone for money back, but it was given to me (probably because the previous owner hated it/me).

I was wondering whether the bladed ones were any good, but have bad memories of a lawnmower with similar blades that also broke every few minutes on tough grass!

DCFC79

Leif wrote: »

I bought a Flymo 500XT. It was awful. The nylon lines broke after a few seconds use, maybe 20 seconds if I was lucky, and the auto line feed did not work. So spend 5 seconds cutting, 1 minute repairing the line, 5 seconds cutting, 1 minutes repairing the line and so on. I too it back to B&Q for a refund as it was not fit for purpose. A neighbour has a Bosch with small plastic blades. It works well, I am told.

We recently bought the contour XT for about £32 from B&Q and it seems ok so far but if it turns out to be a pain with regards to the auto line feed then it will go back.

We had a bosch 1 years ago that was perfect, the line didnt need re threading every minute or so but the dam thing broke so ended up going for 1 from aldi which was terrible as the auto feed didnt work.

fwor

DCFC79 wrote: »

We had a bosch 1 years ago that was perfect, the line didnt need re threading every minute or so but the dam thing broke.

Can you remember what broke? Was it a fluke or a design flaw?

I did take a look at the ones that Aldi have in at the moment, but they look more like a kid's toy than a proper piece of garden machinery!

Leif

DCFC79 wrote: »

We recently bought the contour XT for about £32 from B&Q and it seems ok so far but if it turns out to be a pain with regards to the auto line feed then it will go back.

Some online reviews are favourable, some are as per my experience. There must be some issue with the design or quality control, which means that some work, some don't.

Leif

Incidentally, tomorrow I hope to buy a Bosch cordless grass trimmer, which uses the same batteries as my other Bosch tools. It is worth thinking about the battery. I have two Bosch 18V Lithium batteries, which I can swap around, and this grass trimmer will add a third battery.

fwor

Leif wrote: »

Incidentally, tomorrow I hope to buy a Bosch cordless grass trimmer, which uses the same batteries as my other Bosch tools. It is worth thinking about the battery. I have two Bosch 18V Lithium batteries, which I can swap around, and this grass trimmer will add a third battery.

No doubt you're aware, but in case not, Bosch have at least three incompatible 18V battery pack types.

The first isn't relevant as it's for NiMh batteries, but the other two are LiIon. I have 4 or 5 LiIon battery packs for my power tools, but AFAIK none of the garden tools take the same type, or I would have done what you're planning to do.

Niowrtt

Leif wrote: »

Some online reviews are favourable, some are as per my experience. There must be some issue with the design or quality control, which means that some work, some don't.

I got the Contour XT on the £32 offer. Although I've only used it twice, absolutely no problems so far, in fact until reading this thread I'd forgotten that line issues could happen.