Battery Powered Lawn Tools

[Touring_Sedan]

Yeah, I paid $250 for a 20" brushless ryobi a while back and it has been pretty solid. New version is a little more expensive but has supposedly been improved and still goes on sale for close to that price fairly often.

It is a joy to use on my small yard. Easy to push (no need to for propulsion). Fairly quiet. No faffing with a gas motor. Can easily get 2 or 3 mows per charge with the 6ah battery.

That said, I could see upgrading to a nicer mower if I wanted to be super anal about my lawn for 2 (sort of related) reasons:
1. It just doesn't have a lot of suction. Isn't as good at making sure everything gets lifted up for an even cut, can't pick up leaves as well as a big gas mower, etc.
2. It doesn't mulch super well. Clippings stay a bit too big which makes you want to bag more often. Mulching over leaves in the fall gives you pretty huge chunks. Etc.

I think a finned mulching blade would help, but I haven't found anyone who makes one that fits this mower. Would eat up some battery life, but even if I doubled the size of my yard, I think I'd still be well within single-battery range.

Might also help if I could force it to just run the motor on "high" the whole time...but it only does that if it is cutting something thick and starts to bog down.

I've heard the Toro 60v products can be good if you're looking to maximize cut quality.

I have a Toro 60v Super Recycler. Picked it up because it uses the same blades as the gasser model. Wasn't impressed until I stuck a High Lift/Sail blade in it over the weekend. It probably sucked up 4 times as much as the factory mulching blade, as expected, but still surprised. I guess I never really realized how much of an impact the blade shape could make.

[Falcon3]

I guess I never really realized how much of an impact the blade shape could make.

100% agree.

Yeah i have a hard time believing there's any reason to go with anything other than the $299 Ryobi push mower at Home Depot. I'm pretty disappointed with my EGO LM2101. The battery was crap from Day 1 but EGO wouldn't warranty it. And the mower leaves massive windrows and doesn't mulch grass at all, so I'm bagging most of the time when I'd rather leave the clippings on the lawn. But I'm invested in the platform so I just laid out another $200 for a new battery

Updating my post after a summer of mowing- ended up replacing the battery on my EGO and did the $40 conversion from single blade to double high lift blade- this thing is awesome now. Never leaves windrows and mulches clippings way better. I went down to a 4ah battery from a 5ah but it's still got the juice to do front and back yard in one go.

[crashtestdummy]

Electric whacking is the best.
Barely sucks the battery. And no gas mixing.

Blowers suck. Too much battery draw. I like my dewalt but only for light duty. If I need to blow heavy it has to be gas.

I’m very happy with my Ryobi 40 volt leaf blower. It has plenty of power and the battery lasts forever. It is new this year so I haven’t used it on my big maple leaves yet.

[evasive_MT]

100% agree.



Updating my post after a summer of mowing- ended up replacing the battery on my EGO and did the $40 conversion from single blade to double high lift blade- this thing is awesome now. Never leaves windrows and mulches clippings way better. I went down to a 4ah battery from a 5ah but it's still got the juice to do front and back yard in one go.

I have the same mower. I didn’t think they were convertible to a double blade.

[singlesline]

This discussion revealed the secret keyword I haven't been searching.

Looks like Ryobi now makes some sort of double high lift blade for newer models of the 20" 40V mower.
https://ryobitools.ca/products/detai...ent-blade-kit/

According to at least one random reddit post, I should be able to fit this on my existing 20" mower with a small impact on battery life even though it isn't officially listed as compatible.

[Beaver]

I have a 56v worx hedge trimmer. If works great but I lost the charger. It's discontinued and I can't find another charger so I think my trimmer with under 10 hours use might be going in the trash. How fucked is that?

[Touring_Sedan]

I have a 56v worx hedge trimmer. If works great but I lost the charger. It's discontinued and I can't find another charger so I think my trimmer with under 10 hours use might be going in the trash. How fucked is that?

Isn't that close to 10 years old at this point? What kind of expectations did you have for a really cheap tool and battery system?!!

[Falcon3]

I have the same mower. I didn’t think they were convertible to a double blade.

Stock, it’s not. You need to buy some parts but it’s cheap and easy. The results are incredible I can’t believe this is the same mower.

Here’s a good overview with the parts needed:
https://youtu.be/DMMkMG4ub0U

[singlesline]

I have a 56v worx hedge trimmer. If works great but I lost the charger. It's discontinued and I can't find another charger so I think my trimmer with under 10 hours use might be going in the trash. How fucked is that?

I see a few on ebay for ~$50
https://www.ebay.com/itm/38738833972...Bk9SR56Mhsq_ZA

Is it worth $50 to charge a battery on a tool that was probably <$200 and may be of limited remaining lifespan (given battery quality on cheap tool brands)? Maybe?

Or I suppose you could go the other direction and throw yours on ebay instead of the trash. Probably somebody out there with matching 56v gear that wouldn't mind nabbing a string trimmer and extra battery.

Keeps it out of the landfill at least.

[evasive_MT]

Stock, it’s not. You need to buy some parts but it’s cheap and easy. The results are incredible I can’t believe this is the same mower.

Here’s a good overview with the parts needed:
https://youtu.be/DMMkMG4ub0U

Cool, thanks for sharing.

[BC13]

I've had the Ryobi 40 Volt string trimmer/edger for a few years and love them. Bought the Ryobi 21 inch self propelled 40 Volt mower a month ago. My teenage son was skeptical at first but now loves it. The lawn has never looked better. The double blade does a great job. The yard is roughly. 4 acres and uses about 1 and 1/3 6 Amp batteries each mow.

The mower is quiet and smooth. I am likely going to sell my Husqvarna Rancher chain saw and get a 40 Volt Ryobi in it's place. It is great to just pop a battery in and go to it. No more ducking around with gas and oil.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

[Trackhead]

The mower is quiet and smooth. I am likely going to sell my Husqvarna Rancher chain saw and get a 40 Volt Ryobi in it's place. It is great to just pop a battery in and go to it. No more ducking around with gas and oil.

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See wood cutting forum. I just picked up Husqvarna 350i saw, amazingly better experience than two stroke.

I have 1.5 acres of mostly native Montana wheat grass and some lawn. Considering turfing the combustion mower at some point, but I just bought the damn thing, so spending 4k is kinda a tough pill to swallow for an upgrade.

[MultiVerse]

Sort of related, I recently bought new Milwaukee M18 Fuel tools. The tools are crazy good. Way better than the stuff from a decade ago. The battery powered saws, drills and even hacksalls are now easily comparable to corded tools.

[Beaver]

I see a few on ebay for ~$50
https://www.ebay.com/itm/38738833972...Bk9SR56Mhsq_ZA

Is it worth $50 to charge a battery on a tool that was probably <$200 and may be of limited remaining lifespan (given battery quality on cheap tool brands)? Maybe?

Or I suppose you could go the other direction and throw yours on ebay instead of the trash. Probably somebody out there with matching 56v gear that wouldn't mind nabbing a string trimmer and extra battery.

Keeps it out of the landfill at least.

Probably what I'll do. It was "free" (used airmiles). A bit bummed that I can't use it to fight back the bushes on my local mt bike trails.

I also bought a battery powered lawn mower with airmiles, it kicks ass. Or so I've heard from my wife and daughter, I used it just enough to know it works. I don't even remember or care what kind it is.

[Alpinord]

Sort of related, I recently bought new Milwaukee M18 Fuel tools. The tools are crazy good. Way better than the stuff from a decade ago. The battery powered saws, drills and even hacksalls are now easily comparable to corded tools.

I just went down the cordless outdoor power tool rabbit hole. After years of satisfactory use of M12 power tools, I just got an M18 Fuel Hatchet with an eye on the Quik-Lok options. I was on the fence while looking at EGO and other mfgrs, but went the M18 route due to my son's construction tool collection and many reliable M12 tools.

Has anyone used the Reciprocator vs a string trimmer? Or the brush cutter?

In general, there are soooo many packages, some you can pick up another 8ah battery for $40 or so. Lots of special buys show up on HD.

[singlesline]

In general, there are soooo many packages, some you can pick up another 8ah battery for $40 or so. Lots of special buys show up on HD.

Learn about the home depot battery "hack" that works on a lot of Milwaukee (and other brand) tools.
Buy the tool with a "free" battery and then return the battery. Or vice versa if you need a battery.

https://toolguyd.com/home-depot-cord...ack-explained/

For example, the bare tool 18v Fuel Hackzall is $169, but with the hack, you can get it for $87 when you return the battery:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...9-20/302190765


Sometimes you can even save yourself the hassle of a return if you are able to select different stores for pickup. Pickup the tool at your local store and have the battery sent somewhere else...then just never show up or go try to cancel the battery after picking up the tool.

[Core Shot]

Sort of related, I recently bought new Milwaukee M18 Fuel tools. The tools are crazy good. Way better than the stuff from a decade ago. The battery powered saws, drills and even hacksalls are now easily comparable to corded tools.

Yep.
Wait until you get the framing nailer. Holeeee shit. No compressor or hoses.

[Buzzworthy]

I also like my ego trimmer. probably not unique to battery powered tools, but the auto loading wire is nice too

Just finished year 5 on mine. Still works just as good now as it did when I bought it. I have only added line, nothing else. Zero maintenance.

[jackstraw]

I just went down the cordless outdoor power tool rabbit hole. After years of satisfactory use of M12 power tools, I just got an M18 Fuel Hatchet with an eye on the Quik-Lok options. I was on the fence while looking at EGO and other mfgrs, but went the M18 route due to my son's construction tool collection and many reliable M12 tools.

Has anyone used the Reciprocator vs a string trimmer? Or the brush cutter?

In general, there are soooo many packages, some you can pick up another 8ah battery for $40 or so. Lots of special buys show up on HD.

I have a M18 quik-lok. I have 3 attachments. String weed whacker, pole saw, and hedge trimmer. Been happy with all of them so far, but haven't used them much. I used my chainsaw a ton and it did fail after 4 or 5 yrs, I forget. I posted on the chainsaw thread about that. I am going to replace it because that thing is invaluable to me with mtn bike trails.

[Alpinord]

I have a M18 quik-lok. I have 3 attachments. String weed whacker, pole saw, and hedge trimmer. Been happy with all of them so far, but haven't used them much. I used my chainsaw a ton and it did fail after 4 or 5 yrs, I forget. I posted on the chainsaw thread about that. I am going to replace it because that thing is invaluable to me with mtn bike trails.

As I phase out gas tools, the trimmer with power head is likely next . The chainsaw is handy/compact size and does fit in a pack well. Aside from storm damage cleanup, it’ll be useful for skin track & bike trail, ski run snags and camping.


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[BC13]

Sort of related, I recently bought new Milwaukee M18 Fuel tools. The tools are crazy good. Way better than the stuff from a decade ago. The battery powered saws, drills and even hacksalls are now easily comparable to corded tools.

All of the newer lithium 18v, 20v, etc cordless power tools are leaps ahead of where they 15 yrs ago. The new coress tools, regardless of whether Dewalt, Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, Makita, Bosch, etc. Are great. They are absolute game changers.

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[BCMtnHound]

Just bought two 6Ah batteries for the ego set (two older batteries are on their last cycles), and a milwakee 5a m18 battery. $1000 Canadian pesos. Damn things never go on sale, and the ego batteries were $400 +tax apiece. Better be a good snow year for the single stage blower.

[riser4]

The guy who does the outdoor work on the expensive house next door swears by the Echo line of cordless devices, says to buy from a certain local shop which is known to me and I like. I saw him at work and went to investigate. He's got quite a line up, including the string trimmer, which is what I want first. He showed me a bunch of different attachments for it. Anyone?

[anotherVTskibum]

The guy who does the outdoor work on the expensive house next door swears by the Echo line of cordless devices, says to buy from a certain local shop which is known to me and I like. I saw him at work and went to investigate. He's got quite a line up, including the string trimmer, which is what I want first. He showed me a bunch of different attachments for it. Anyone?

I haven't used them, but I have checked them out at the local shop. They look pretty sweet, and I'm a little jealous of the range of attachments.

[Buzzworthy]

Get the trimmer. You will not be disappointed.