Line trimmer recommendation please

Nickim1

Hi
I've always found line trimmers a bit tricky and frustrating (line breaking etc). My garden is about 400m2 with a few areas bounded by rocks (see pic).
What would be a good value cordless (battery) trimmer that is reliable, not too heavy, and easy to feed the line? Looking at Ryobi range for battery compatibility but open to other suggestions.
Thanks

Thg.

MitchellMc

Hi @Nickim1,

What Ryobi batteries are you running, 18V or 36V? 18V line trimmers typically run lines that are smaller than 2.0mm, and the 36V runs a more robust 2.0mm and above. Given the size of the yard, I'd suggest that considering the 36V range would be a wise decision, though you could make do with the 18V.  Something like the Ryobi 36V 4.0Ah 40cm Straight Shaft Brushless Cordless Line Trimmer Kit would be an excellent choice, and it comes with the easy-winder head that makes reloading an easy and simple process.

Apart from selecting the right machine for the job, it's important to understand why line breaks, as that shouldn't be the case under normal use. There's also a big difference between a line break, where a line section breaks off, and when the line has been used back to the head. Both scenarios require you to stop and manually feed out the line, but both are also preventable.  Line breaks are typically attributed to working too closely to stonework. It's the last 10mm of line at the tip that should be doing the cutting, but when you bring the head of the line trimmer too close to a solid object, there's a tendency for the whole extended piece of line to break off. The solution to this is keeping the head further away and allowing the tip of the line to do the cutting. 

The second grievance can be when the line is used up back to the head and won't automatically extend. The fix to this is to get into the habit of every few metres extending the line to keep it at full length. Don't wait for it to be used up, or it will cause you to manually extend, wasting time. The above unit uses a bump feed system. So, every few metres, just tap the head on the ground to extend the line.

Although the 36V trimmers are larger and heavier, they are well-balanced with the motor at the rear. I actually find this more manageable as you're not holding the motor weight out in front of you. They're also more powerful, allowing you to do the job quicker. The other advantage of this 36V machine is that it's compatible with the Expand-It attachments.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell