Buying Guide: Consider These When Buying a Line Trimmer or Weed Eater

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When you’re a lawn care business owner with clients relying on you to provide high-quality services, you come to learn the importance of dependable equipment. You want something reliable and robust, but you also want it to be comfortable and affordable. Striking a balance between all of these factors can be challenging.  

The same can be true when you require a new line trimmer or weed eater. This equipment is vital for your daily operations, but it’s not always easy to find the perfect tool for the job. The following information may be worth considering when you’re ready to hit the buy now button. 

Power Source

When you walk into a hardware store, you probably aren’t expecting to see so many different line trimmers for sale to suit your business needs. Rather than spend hours mulling over the various options, narrow them down by selecting your preferred power type.

You have three options – petrol, electric, and battery. Each has pros and cons in different situations.

  • Electric Line Trimmers

For example, electric line trimmers are ideal for homeowners with a small amount of maintenance. They require minimal maintenance and just need a mains power supply. However, they are less likely to suit a lawn care service provider like yourself, especially when you’re not always sure if you’ll have mains power supply access.

  • Petrol Weed Eaters

Some people prefer petrol weed eaters due to their power, performance, and endurance. When you’re combatting long grass, they are an operator’s best friend. In saying that, petrol line trimmers are also heavy, cumbersome, and sometimes challenging to start. They also require a significant amount of care and maintenance.

  • Battery Line Trimmers

You won’t find too many lawn care business operators that don’t rely on battery line trimmers with brushless DC motors and lithium-ion batteries. They are lightweight, easy to care for, and reasonably powerful. Most of them also have push-button starts for convenience. As long as you’ve got enough charged batteries with you for a day’s work, they could be an ideal option to consider.

Brand

Just as you would put time and effort into choosing a lawn mowing brand, it pays to do the same with your weed eater. Choose a brand you know and trust and one that has a servicing centre near you for convenience. Each time you take your lawnmower for repairs or maintenance, you could also be taking your line trimmer of the same brand.

Plenty of standout line trimmer brands for sale are worth your consideration, such as Stihl, Husqvarna, Bosch, Greenworks, Makita, and Black+Decker.

If you’re not sure which brand is likely to suit your needs the best, read reviews online and compare features. We’ve also included some helpful feature considerations below to make the purchasing process a little bit easier.

Straight vs. Curved Shaft

One of the many things to consider when purchasing a line trimmer is whether you prefer a curved or straight shaft. Everyone has a preference. If you use your line trimmer to trim grass, a curved shaft will allow you to enjoy a comfortable angle. However, if you’ll be cutting long grass, a straight shaft may be more to your liking.

Front Handles

The more comfort and convenience you can enjoy while line trimming, the better your experience will likely be. The best types of weed eaters have adjustable front handles. They should rotate around the shaft when you turn the cutting head over for lawn edging.

Start Type

How you turn your line trimmer on can depend on which power type you decide to buy. Pull start is the most common option for petrol weed eaters, which can require a lot of muscle. With most electric and battery-powered trimmers, you get to benefit from touch-button convenience.

Safety Guards

When you look at all the different makes and models of weed eaters, you will see that they all come with safety guards. However, they’re not all the same. Most lawn care business operators prefer safety guards that protect you from debris but don’t limit your view of the task at hand.

Cost

While you’re busy comparing different makes and models of line trimmers based on their features, it’s worth having an idea of your budget. How much should you spend on a weed eater?

Several things factor in for costs, such as the brand’s reputation, any accessories and attachments that come with it, and even warranties or guarantees. It’s also worth keeping in mind that you’ll also need to consider ongoing maintenance costs. Check out the prices of replacement parts before deciding on your preferred line trimmer.

 

Are You Ready to Buy?

Now that you know what’s available, it might be time to go shopping. Compare brands, look at power types, and don’t underestimate the value of features that emphasise convenience.  

Klaris Chua-Pineda