Cordless Lithium Trimmers
18 and 21.6 Volt trimmers are a new breed of high powered lithium battery operated trimmers. While higher voltage NiCAD trimmers have been around for quite some time, newer lithium batteries are much lighter and and have much higher maH ratings which allow for longer running times. In most cases, running time is more than doubled while still maintaining light weight. Another advantage of Lithium is that they can be recharged much faster than the older NiCAD batteries and will have much longer life spans.
Lithium Power over Traditional 2 Stroke Gas Powered Trimmers
One of the most dreaded aspects of your run of the mill grass trimmer are the countless pull starts it takes to start one up. It’s no wonder it is one of the most frequently replaced pieces of lawn and garden equipment. Difficult starts are by in large a by product of the 2 stroke design since too much oil in the mix will make for extremely difficult if not impossible starts. This also makes these engines very inefficient and high on emissions. Not only are they emitting emissions by burning gas, they are also burning oil. Now, if you are not concerned with the environmental factors, then concider the fact that all that pollution is going straight in your face! Yet another disadvantage with gas trimmers, is that they are twice as heavy as their battery operated counterparts! Then there is the heat that’s generated by these 2 stroke engines. Touch the engine heat sink and you got an instant burn. Below is a side by side comparison.
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| Power |
Typically overpowered
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20,000 rpm, plenty of power for gas and weed trimming
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| Ease of starting |
Easy when new, very difficult as it ages. Also, must get gas/oil ratio perfect. Impossible to start with old gas/oil mix
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Push button easy start
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| Weight |
15- 20 pounds on average
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10 pounds or less
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| Eco Friendlyness |
Not at all. High on emissions and very inefficient
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0 emmissions
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| Run Time per tank/per charge |
Varies with tank capacity/throttle control but indefinite with plenty of fuel on hand
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60-90 minutes / 1hr charge time
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| Range |
Indefinite
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Indefinite
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| Engine Safety |
Noxious fumes, very harmful noise levels, gas volatility, hot engine , overpowered engine sending high speed projectiles
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powerful motor may send high speed projectiles
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| Maintenance |
broken shafts, spark plugs, must be completely drained for long storage time
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None
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| Price |
$100-$300
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$100-$150
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| Overall Benefits |
Indefinite run time with plenty of gas, very powerful
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Plenty of power for most home owners, long run time, silent operation, very light and easy on the body, a breeze to start, no ongoing maintenace costs
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A word on 4 Stroke Engine Grass Trimmers
4 Stroke Engine trimmers are cleaner burning than their 2 stroke counterparts, as they eliminate the need for oil/gas mix. This also makes them easier to start than their 2 stroke counter parts. That being said, they are also much heavier and much more expensive. These types of trimmers are usually only used by landscaping professionals. In general, there is little advantage to be had other than the easier starts, but this is probably canceled out by the heavier weight. There are very few circumstances where a home owner would really need a trimmer of this caliber.
Lithium Grass Trimmer Voltages
While cordless battery operated trimmers have been around for a while, do not confuse the older NiCad battery driven types with the new Lithiums. The older generation NiCad driven trimmers have much shorter run times and much higher charge times. Of course they are much cheaper as well, so if you have a small area to weed eat these may be perfect for you, you can read more about NiCad Battery Operated Trimmers here.. Lithium Battery grass trimmers are relatively new so they are really only offered in two voltage varieties, 18 volt and 21.6 volts. They are generally around the same price, so if price is your main concern either trimmer would make an excellent choice. Below is a brief break down of each voltage types.
18 volt Grass Trimmers
- 18 volt Power output
- Slightly longer run time than 21.6 volt trimmers due to less powerful motor. Great for large weed eating areas.
- Typically around 9,000 RPM operation, half the power of 21.6 volt trimmers yet plenty of power for the majority of home owners.
Compare 21.6 Volt Grass Trimmers
21.6 volt Grass Trimmers
- -21.6 volt Power output
- Slightly lower running time than 18 volt trimmers due to less powerful motor. Great for large weed eating areas.
- Typically around 20,000 RPM operation. Twice as powerful as 18 volt volt varieties.
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