How to choose a trimmer

Mowing grass with a hand scythe is no longer an actual job. In these tasks, it is customary to use special trimmers, which can be battery, gasoline, electric in design. Differences between tools when choosing to buy are especially important. It is also important to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of trimmer. Knowing the information on which trimmer to choose, you will not make a mistake and will be satisfied.

List of trimmer manufacturers, which brand to choose when buying

High-quality devices on the market are represented by leading brands that have been able to establish themselves as reliable manufacturers for a long time. The lines include petrol and electric trimmers. If you have no particular desire or time to delve into the question of how to choose a trimmer, it is recommended to pay attention to their suggestions.

After analyzing the market, we came to the conclusion that the most reliable brands are: Bosch, Echo, Triton, Stihl and Makita. We took into account consumer reviews and the opinion of experts who shared them on the Web.

The difference between a lawn mower and a trimmer: which option is better to choose for a summer residence

Before you start choosing a device, you should figure out for what purposes you intend to use it. If this is a mowing of grass in the area, then both a trimmer and a lawn mower can be used. The principle of operation will be based on the process of rotating the knives.

Sharp knives will move at a high frequency, and therefore will successfully remove small grass. As for lawn mowers, they are intended for mowing small grass on lawns where ornamental vegetation is grown. Due to the devices under consideration, it is possible to cut the grass on the lawn, i.e. tidy up the territory near the site.

An analogue of a lawn mower is a trimmer. It has several other design features. It uses cutting wheels made of steel, as well as drums equipped with a fishing line. Such tools are needed for cutting grass, but they cannot remove vegetation that will be high or medium in height.

The main difference between the trimmer is that it has different application features than a lawn mower. And the cost also varies. Which trimmer is better to choose - the decision is yours, but keep in mind that this is the best option for mowing grass near your home, in your summer cottage or in the field. A lawn mower will be useful if there is a lawn in the yard where ornamental grass grows. In other cases, it is customary to use trimmers for vegetation, they are also petrol cutters, brushcutters, grass cutters, as well as electric mowers.

The main purpose of the trimmer

A grass trimmer is a tool that allows you to cut soft-stemmed green grass or dry dead wood. If the lawnmower moves on the ground, then in this case the trimmer is fixed to the operator due to the presence of special belts.

It should be noted that the device is versatile. Many even believe that electric braids are trimmers, but this is not so.

Trimmers are used to keep the grass level in an area or lawn; the bevel of vegetation near fences, fences, along paths, etc. It will allow you to remove thickets and dead wood, to cultivate the green banks of reservoirs. Unlike a lawn mower, a trimmer will be much cheaper in price. But this is not the only plus, since electric and petrol cutters have a high degree of maneuverability, which will make it possible to cut the grass on the site, no matter how difficult it is to access.

The trimmer performs the following actions sequentially:

• due to his actions, the operator will attach the tool with special belts and start the motor. The starting method will depend on which drive the device has. It can be electric or petrol. The first option starts when the button is pressed, but the petrol one is turned on when using a manual starter;
• the torque from the motor will be transmitted to the spindle or shaft area. These are the same working bodies to which the head with a fishing line and a cutting steel circle are attached;
• the transmission of torque from the motor to the working body will be carried out due to a flexible or rigid shaft;
• rotation of a drum with a line or a disc equipped with knives will allow you to cut the grass or cut it off.

The main structural elements in the device are:

• drive mechanism, i.e. an engine, which can be either gasoline or electric;
• a rigid base in the form of a rod that connects the engine and the working body;
• handle, it is customary to use 2 handles in the trimmer design, one part of which is a place for the accelerator;
• a rigid shaft, which gives the possibility of transmitting torque from the engine to the executive body;
• the protection cover is not only necessary for the treatment of the operator's leg protection, but also for the neat bevel of vegetation;
• fastening belts, which make it possible to ensure reliable fixation of the device on the operator's shoulders.

Understanding the question of how to choose a grass trimmer, it is worth noting that the gasoline-type devices are equipped with an additional fuel tank, when the electric type works exclusively with the support of the network. Therefore, instead of a tank, a power cord is presented in the second case.

How you can choose a grass trimmer and what parameters to consider

There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to choose the right grass trimmer. Each resource repeats in its own way about the criteria that must be taken into account so that the purchased instrument meets the needs of the buyer. Buying a trimmer will not be difficult if you have finances, but with the choice of a suitable model, everything is much more difficult. What you need to know in order to choose the best trimmer option for home, summer cottages or grass mowing in the field, we'll figure it out further.

Choosing a good trimmer

In fact, a good device will not be one that has a high power reserve, but one that can easily cope with the task at hand, while being efficient and productive. To achieve these results, it is worth deciding what kind of grass you will mow with the tool.

If it is decorative greenery on the lawn, which is no more than 15 cm in length, then an electric trimmer with low power will do. Please note that it will not consume high resources, but it can handle the bevel quite well.

In the event that you have to mow thick-stemmed grass, you will need not only a powerful, but also a productive tool that runs on fuel. The gasoline option, which is able to mow the grass behind the plot of a private house, will be relevant for the purchase.

Keep in mind that the types of trimmers are also usually divided into groups: professional and household. They may even have the same power ratings, but run times vary.If this is a household option, then it cannot be used for more than an hour with stops after 20 minutes a day. But the professional version will allow you to use the device for 15 hours a day. Be sure to read the instructions before using the device.

Power indicators

Power properties are usually indicated in the technical characteristics in kW. This parameter indicates the performance properties of the trimmer. The higher the indicator, the greater the torque. In accordance with the capacity, these units are usually divided into 3 types.

If this is a device for home use, then the power parameters will be enough for up to 1 kW. This is often the case with electric options that cleverly clean up vegetation in the area around the house. As for the garden appliance, then the power indicator will be up to 1.5 kW. They can be used not only for the home territory, but also for the maintenance of the site in the country. They are able to cope with vegetation, the length and thickness of which is greater. Power parameters up to 1.5 kW are sufficient, but both gasoline and electric options are available with them.

But from 1.5-3 kW are presented by units that are suitable for use in the fields. They are able to remove grass of any thickness, density and length. As a rule, such indicators are not inherent in electric trimmers.

You need a trimmer for a summer cottage or at home, then choose an indicator up to 1000 W, but for more serious work, the power should be 1.5-2 kW.

Cutting width when choosing a trimmer

This indicator is the area of ​​grass cut for 1 knife revolution. The higher the cutting width, the faster the bevel speed of the grass area. This parameter will also depend on the performance indicators of the tool. Modern manufacturers produce units with a cut width of 200 to 255 mm. They are also found in devices that are more than 300 mm in diameter. This parameter is indicated in the technical data for the device.

You can determine the cut width by measuring the diameter from the center of the shaft to the beginning of the protective cover. Due to the nature of the lawn that needs to be cut, trimmers are chosen according to the cut width, relying on the following data:

• a large lawn with grass of varying density can be mowed with a cutting width of 230-255 mm. It is important that this indicator corresponds to the properties of the power of the tool;
• in order to take care of the local area, it is worth choosing devices whose width indicators will be 200-230 mm.

Interestingly, the line from the trimmer head must be extended to the appropriate length. If an extra part of the fishing line comes out of it, then it will be shortened by attaching the protection to the casing. Steel discs or circles on a lawn mower should be selected in accordance with the cutting width, which is indicated in the technical description for the device.

Tool weight

Tool weight is not an unambiguous parameter. If the bevel is performed by a man operator, then he does not play a role. But if a woman is taking care of the adjacent territory, then the weight should be permissible for lifting. It is worth noting here that the electric type is less in weight. The weight usually varies from 1.5 to 9 kg. The largest figure of 9 kg is inherent in petrol cutters, which are equipped with 4-stroke internal combustion engines. It will not be easy to use this unit with such a weight, even for males, and therefore the weight of the tool should be such that the operator can work with it for hours without feeling tired.

Electric trimmers weigh no more than 3-4 kg. Their choice should be made if it is decided to work on the territory of a private house or a summer cottage.

The gasoline unit will weigh 5-6 kg or more. This is due to the presence of a heavy internal combustion engine, as well as a fuel tank. It is difficult for a woman to cope with such a tool, and therefore it is suitable exclusively for men.

There is also a lighter type up to 3 kg. The trimmer can be battery or electric. It is convenient for elderly people and women to work with them.

Trimmer turns

The technical parameters always contain information about the number of revolutions and the spindle speed. The higher the rotation speed, the better. Indeed, at high speed, the cutting parts can grind vegetation, no matter what density or thickness it has. But keep in mind that for these purposes the tool must have an appropriate power reserve. Otherwise, the cutting knives will be buried in the grass. This will cause the engine to jam. The frequency indicator is usually measured in revolutions per minute.

On low-power units, the indicator can reach 7,000 revolutions per minute. This spindle speed is inherent in the electric type of household trimmers.

If we talk about professional units, then here the speed can reach 12,000 rpm in 1 minute. These are gasoline options that have a power reserve of at least 2 kW.

Based on these values, it can be concluded that a trimmer up to 7000 rpm in 1 minute will be sufficient for use at home. But for the field, you need to take devices with 9000-12000 revolutions per minute.

An interesting fact is that steel blades must be selected based on the speed of the trimmer spindle.

Line (line) size on trimmer

This parameter affects the ability of the device to cut grass, which varies in terms of thickness. Aggregates are produced on the market that are designed to work with 1.4-3.3 mm fishing line. The higher the cross-section of the fishing line, the thicker the grass it will be able to cut. It is not possible to thread a low-power, large line trimmer into the reel. Otherwise, this will lead to the fact that the rig will simply get tangled in the grass and the motor will fail.

If you need a trimmer for home use, then take a line that is 1.4-2 mm thick. For mowing grass outside a private house or at a summer cottage, it is worth using a line of 2-2.7 mm. If the grass needs to be mowed in a neglected area, then use a strong cord, the size of which is 3-3.3 mm. If the line fails to clear the grass, then steel discs will need to be used.

The diameter of the line is chosen not only by the power of the trimmer, but also in accordance with the type of head. It will contain information on the acceptable limits for line thickness.

Type of cutting tool on trimmer

The work of the device is to move the cutting elements. They can be presented in the form of flexible fishing line and steel knives. Please note that the types of cutting equipment are not devoid of advantages and disadvantages. They also have their own purposes for use.

Cord or fishing line should be used if you need to cut grass on a terrain with bumps. Also, if you come across fences, benches, trees and other obstacles. If the line hits an obstacle, it will break off, but note that the gearbox and the engine of the device will suffer. The disadvantage is that the cord cannot cope with thick grass, and therefore you need to choose a steel cutting knife.

The steel cutting disc is usually used for cutting grass on smooth surfaces when there are no obstacles. It is able to provide an even cut. Devices with this type of element are used for cutting grass in the field.

If the tool comes with a disc, this does not mean that it cannot be used for working with a cord. For these purposes, it is worth buying a head with a fishing line separately. If necessary, you can use it by replacing the cutting elements.

Types of trimmers

And now it is proposed to discuss what types of grass trimmers are known, what are their pros and cons.

The trimmer can be in the area of ​​the cutting unit with a removable and non-removable structure. In view of this indicator, the functionality of the models available on the market varies. But keep in mind that all trimmers are usually divided into 3 types.

Gasoline

The basic operating principle of the device is similar to the electrical one. But keep in mind that this type of tool provides rotation due to the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a fuel tank must be attached to the boom area.This increases the weight of the device.

This tool allows you to freely move around the territory, high maneuverability. Those. work is possible even in areas where there is no electricity and building connection. There is no need to remember about the connection cord, as well as the fear of cutting it. A device is used for mowing grass in the area on the side of the road, maintaining clean yards, etc.

pros

• powerful models available;
• there is a possibility of changing knives;
• there are no restrictions on the territory of work;
• high performance indicators;
• the design is reliable;
• the field of application is very wide in the commercial direction.

Minuses

• heavy weight;
• fuel costs;
• noise;
• air emissions.

Electrical

This type of device works with a 220 V network. The motor is electric. It starts the rotation of the shaft and the cutting mechanism. To use the appliance, you need to have an outlet near you, and often requires carrying. As a result, the maneuverability is somewhat constrained, as is the scale of application of the device. But the device works without noise.

Please note that the electric trimmer does not emit harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Such models will be appropriate for a summer cottage or private firms that have a large area. Those. then, when one coil with a carrier for connection will be enough.

pros

• a light weight;
• noiselessness, you will not disturb your neighbors;
• affordability;
• powerful models in the lines of manufacturers;
• no harmful emissions into the atmosphere;
• adjustable handle height;
• the possibility of setting various knives.

Minuses

• inconvenience from a wire that can accidentally be cut;
• limited carrying area.

Rechargeable

This is a popular battery-powered trimmer, even if it has an electric motor type. It cleans the grass successfully without noise. It is very convenient, because the operator will not depend on carrying and connecting to the 220V network.

Limited use in time is one of the features of the species. They purchase it to take care of the summer cottage when there is no connection to the electricity network or if you need to improve the public area.

pros

• work is carried out silently;
• different cutting systems can be installed;
• there are no restrictions on carrying out work on territories of different sizes;
• lightweight structures;
• the energy reserve is calculated up to 45 minutes;
• charging is fast;
• models with powerful properties available on the market.

Minuses

• time work is limited by battery capacity indicators;
• an expensive option.

Price question: how much does a trimmer cost?

To work along fences and hilly terrain, a trimmer can be purchased for 3200-7000 rubles. Utilities can buy trimmers for 10-14 thousand rubles. But for territories, companies need to shell out 15-20,000 rubles.

If you want to buy an option for caring for a summer cottage, then prices for trimmers start at 1200 rubles. A device for improving the recreation center and kindergartens will cost 3000-25000 rubles. This is a battery powered option.