Another Toy! I see two neighbors trimming 100% and they
are working. One is mowing Cordless. I feel a lot is how much time and patience
you have. “How serious or demanding your
job is”.

I used gas Chainsaws since
the 1970s and still have two. Three corded
chainsaws have spoiled me the last 3 years.
My Remington Pole Saw proved to me electric saws can cut. From there I went to a 14” Electric McCullough + that meet my needs with fewer problems. I average
1.5 - 3 cords of firewood per season pre-cut off the curbs.

I’ll try and see what brand
my neighbors use. Brands and cost is a
key factor. You might consider renting
or borrowing before purchasing. I got
lucky from repairing and testing chainsaws, I saw the advantage related to my arms
and ears. I invited a friend with a serviced
gas saw on one close job, “LOL”!

Good and bad info is just
below your concern at the link below. I
have found cordless tools good for minimal odd jobs due to the battery’s life.
Life and expense but they have improved.
They will not compare with good corded tools as far as lasting for
years. Quality and cost of Batteries
sent me back to my corded drill that was all I experimented with.

The NiCad battery before the lithium-ion
did the one time need and was a waste afterwards. I received a lithium-ion powered drill as a
gift and I asked that it be returned.
After learning it was half price with coupons and discounts, I decided
to give it a try. I needed my corded
drill to finish the JOBS, “just as I was almost impressed”.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1624978/ryobi-40-volt-lithium-ion-string-trimmer?n=12

Cord and Cordless tools have their place, but it is limited to short time use. If you are like me with 3/4 of an acre that takes about an hour to trim, then you are probably looking at gas powered unit. Batteries run out, and the cord (100+') gets in the way and is a hassle to drag around the yard.

In the house we had before this on about the only trimming that I had was around the foundation of the house, and a couple of trees near the house. I could do the whole thing in about 15 to 20 minutes, with my corded trimmer. I used the corded trimmer through three house about 15 years. I suspect that a battery trimmer would have work well for this purpose.

I do agree with you on the chain saw. I have mine for about 25 years, and use it once or twice a year. The rest of the time it sets in the shed. Early on I would borrow my father's gas chain saw, and I spent more time trying to start it than use it. With the Electric, It sits in the shed all winter, I plug it in and it never refuses to start. As for power, I cut down/up about 30 trees ranging from 4" to 30" in diameter with the electric saw after Hurricane Fran

This brings my only problem with the electric. You must have power, when the power is out they do not work. Nor can you take it out in the woods to cut down some firewood or trim a tree.

I use an electric weed whacker. I have had gas powered in the past but there was always the hassle of having to buy gas and then the starting of the beast was just too much for me. I have given away several gas tools. The electric ALWAYS starts, just plug in the extension and get to work. Sure, it is a hassle having to drag around a long cord, but not as much hassle and frustration as trying to pull start a reluctant gas tool. I love my electric weed whacker (Stihl with 2 cords)...I am a 71 y.o. woman and it gets the job done without exhausting me. I live on 2 acres.

Good Sharing, Thanks! Some other experiences:

1. At Habitat we started many homes before power was
   on the sites with generators. We used the needed cords in 50’ sections.
2. The damp or wet weather drove me to gas trimmers
   in the early 70's and I had the arm then.
   LOL!
3. Matching the Equipment with the job is a big
   factor with production, safety and Economics.
4. Can’t wait to tell my Wife it’s OK for her to
   trim the yard. Except “I’m not into
   trading Inside Chores. Some Ladies at Habitat Put Me To Shame handling
   sheets of 3/8” OBS and 2X4s up to 20’.

I have phased out all of my 2 cycle motors and now have only 4 cycle equipment for the riding mower, trimmer and leaf blower. They all start on the first try, even after sitting in the shed all winter. I do nothing to prepare them for the extended storage.

Mr. Krnuttle, and Others,

Do you use Ethanol fuel
without treating your fuel? I treat all my
Ethanol fuel for 1 year (season to season). My 1970 Chrysler 35 HP Boat motor
and 2,1980s Chainsaws are stored Bone Dry (since I d/n know when I will use
them. Plus I
have gone to a 2 cycle synthetic mix that is 50:1 with an additive for all my
old 2-cycles asking for 16:1 – 50:1. My donated Murray Mower has started 1st
pull for years. Most other requires priming and starts 2nd – 3rd
pull.

Repairing and Donating brings
about a lot of my surplus equipment and dream of sharing. This is a Fun Group to share with
and I was “Chewed Out Only Once”. Mr. Krnuttle, do you remember that One
Chewing and Why? I can not remember the
details or find it.

KN I don't remember the event or conversation.

I use standard 10% ethanol gasoline (Standard around here) with no preservatives. As I said all of my equipment starts on the first try, and runs well.

I use stabil in the lawnmower and trufuel 50 in the two stroke tools.

Mr. Krnuttle, I
basically agreed there was a missed communication vs any harm.

Why am I hearing 10% ethanol
fuel is no good for small engines after 30 days due to the moisture it draws
without storing it with an additive? I
caught this when I read equipment should be stored full to prevent air to draw
moisture. Plus, I read this fuel could
still be used in your cars/trucks without any damages.

Hearing and passing
info without good knowledge of the matter is not a concern of the informers. I
try not to speak on matters I have not experienced personally or note w/o
personal experiences. Good Field
Experience Is Critical!!!

In an open system an unlimited amount of water can be absorbed into the gasoline mixture. As long as physical parameters (In Physics it is called the triple point) the Alcohol, water, gasoline mixture will stay homogeneous. When the water increases beyond that point the solution will separated.

In a closed system this can occur, but there is a limited amount of water in the space above the gasoline, This water is insufficient to upset the triple point, so when the water in the air in the confined space is in equilibrium with the water in the gasoline, the solution will be homogeneous and be stable for months.

If you are interested this all can be calculated with some physical chemistry equation and a large handbook of constants.

In some engines alcohol itself can cause problems if the plastic parts can be corroded by the alcohol.

My front yard is one acre and has so many plants, trees and shrubs it cant be seen on google map. Needless to say there is a great deal of trimming. It even has perimeter fencing. Anyway, I bought an Echo 58v trimmer to replace my gasser, which was a Stihl FS85x. The x stands for a hollow shaft, and the rig is pretty light, but a pro grade rig. The echo can handle anything I throw at it, and I keep its speed switch on the low setting which is still pretty dang violent when I open it up. Listen carefully ..... you will not use use up a 4 amp hour battery on an acre even it was allowed to overgrow. In fact, it is too much battery for me and I would prefer a couple of 2ah batteries to make it even lighter, though the machine is pretty normal weight with the 4ah battery