3 ms·

Bat powered ones have gotten so good. On the low end, I have a 40v Ryobi Whisper model I think I bought for 200 or so. It's definitely -not- anything resemblin

Bat powered ones have gotten so good. On the low end, I have a 40v Ryobi Whisper model I think I bought for 200 or so. It's definitely -not- anything resembling a whisper, but they don't hurt your ears much. I always compare it to about as loud as a vacuum. They work surprisingly well. Same with Greenworks 80v. That sucker I have to hold with two hands because of the blowing force. It's about the same price. Generally I suggest just buying whatever 'line' you're interested in, so you can share batteries. Just stay away from the 18 or 20v lawn stuff, it's garbage. I got a free Ryobi 18v blower, and it's basically barely strong enough to blow dust off the garage floor.

29athrowaway 3y ago
Use ear protection. It doesn't take much time to wear ear muffs and it is overall a better experience.
wrongagainlol 3y ago
> Just stay away from the 18 or 20v lawn stuff. Lol ok sure. I mean I might not want to handle multiple acres with them. That’s just because they’re small. But my 18v lawn mower and leaf blower work great, and so do my parents’. We’re not using the same brand. Opinion from the past? Gross generalization? ‘Murica - everything bigger must be better?
- silisili 3y ago
  Experience. I have 18v tools and 40v tools. I have an 18v weedeater and the thing struggles with anything thicker than a blade of grass. I've seen the same with mowers. If you have a tiny, flat, well kept yard they are probably fine. If you're on a typical quarter acre or more, they're an exercise in frustration.
  - conductr 3y ago
    Some of them require 2 batts to operate in series so effectively 36-40v. It's no different then what you have, most likely. They work for me pretty well on 4 acres. Amperage is more of an issue. But, I think the point of your generalized 'avoid 18v' comment is not great advice to take without further consideration. I actually like having everything the same voltage so I don't have to juggle multiple extra batteries on that plane.
    - silisili 3y ago
      That's fair. Milwaukee has some high end 18v polesaws that work extremely well, for example, but of course trade power for battery life, which can be equally frustrating. I was just thinking of someone trying to cut their lawn, looking to buy a mower and weedeater. You definitely want something in a series, or something probably 60/80v. Ego is pretty universally seen as 'the best.' There's a reason they don't make 18v tools.
  - olyjohn 3y ago
    My 18v weed eater kicks ass. I have two acres and it pretty much chews through everything. I shove it down in ditches and chop up all kinds of stuff with it.
    - rascul 3y ago
      My experience is similar. I have a 20v weed eater and it'll go through just about anything less than finger width. I have an acre and can do all the trimming in about one half charge of the battery. The string used can also make a difference. The .095" string with a metal cable inside is what I find to do the best in general. The thin and cheap string without the metal inside doesn't do so well in my experience, it breaks too often and doesn't cut through much more than thin grass.
      - freedomben 3y ago
        Interesting, I might try some different string. My (18v) electric weed eater is ridiculously bad. It struggles with thick grass, and the battery makes it about 1/4 way through. I have ~1.2 acres but more perimeter than normal due to lots of things (like trees, a gazebo, a firepit, flower gardens) so probably more comparable to 1.5 acres, but the electric has been a massive disappointment for me
ReptileMan 3y ago
> I got a free Ryobi 18v blower, and it's basically barely strong enough to blow dust off the garage floor. But is amazing for making a clean burn barrel. one of these can make the barrel red hot - so everything there burns completely.
- aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 3y ago
  This person knows how to deal with incriminating evidence.
olyjohn 3y ago
You just need to get the bigger Ryobi blower. Mine isn't even the biggest one and it's almost as powerful as my backpack gas blower. The battery doesn't last long in it though. Maybe 15 minutes. So I use it for quick work, and on days where I need to go longer like after a big fall storm I use the gas blower just so i dont have to stop and chsnfe batteries.

29athrowaway 3y ago

Use ear protection. It doesn't take much time to wear ear muffs and it is overall a better experience.

wrongagainlol 3y ago

> Just stay away from the 18 or 20v lawn stuff. Lol ok sure. I mean I might not want to handle multiple acres with them. That’s just because they’re small. But my 18v lawn mower and leaf blower work great, and so do my parents’. We’re not using the same brand. Opinion from the past? Gross generalization? ‘Murica - everything bigger must be better?

silisili 3y ago
Experience. I have 18v tools and 40v tools. I have an 18v weedeater and the thing struggles with anything thicker than a blade of grass. I've seen the same with mowers. If you have a tiny, flat, well kept yard they are probably fine. If you're on a typical quarter acre or more, they're an exercise in frustration.
- conductr 3y ago
  Some of them require 2 batts to operate in series so effectively 36-40v. It's no different then what you have, most likely. They work for me pretty well on 4 acres. Amperage is more of an issue. But, I think the point of your generalized 'avoid 18v' comment is not great advice to take without further consideration. I actually like having everything the same voltage so I don't have to juggle multiple extra batteries on that plane.
  - silisili 3y ago
    That's fair. Milwaukee has some high end 18v polesaws that work extremely well, for example, but of course trade power for battery life, which can be equally frustrating. I was just thinking of someone trying to cut their lawn, looking to buy a mower and weedeater. You definitely want something in a series, or something probably 60/80v. Ego is pretty universally seen as 'the best.' There's a reason they don't make 18v tools.
- olyjohn 3y ago
  My 18v weed eater kicks ass. I have two acres and it pretty much chews through everything. I shove it down in ditches and chop up all kinds of stuff with it.
  - rascul 3y ago
    My experience is similar. I have a 20v weed eater and it'll go through just about anything less than finger width. I have an acre and can do all the trimming in about one half charge of the battery. The string used can also make a difference. The .095" string with a metal cable inside is what I find to do the best in general. The thin and cheap string without the metal inside doesn't do so well in my experience, it breaks too often and doesn't cut through much more than thin grass.
    - freedomben 3y ago
      Interesting, I might try some different string. My (18v) electric weed eater is ridiculously bad. It struggles with thick grass, and the battery makes it about 1/4 way through. I have ~1.2 acres but more perimeter than normal due to lots of things (like trees, a gazebo, a firepit, flower gardens) so probably more comparable to 1.5 acres, but the electric has been a massive disappointment for me

ReptileMan 3y ago

> I got a free Ryobi 18v blower, and it's basically barely strong enough to blow dust off the garage floor. But is amazing for making a clean burn barrel. one of these can make the barrel red hot - so everything there burns completely.

aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 3y ago
This person knows how to deal with incriminating evidence.

olyjohn 3y ago

You just need to get the bigger Ryobi blower. Mine isn't even the biggest one and it's almost as powerful as my backpack gas blower. The battery doesn't last long in it though. Maybe 15 minutes. So I use it for quick work, and on days where I need to go longer like after a big fall storm I use the gas blower just so i dont have to stop and chsnfe batteries.