Edge trimmers

The edge trimmer is a very useful tool as it cuts the lawn where the lawnmower cannot go and adds a finishing touch to your yard.
Plant selector
Project guide service
Soil calculator
Seed calculator
Related Projects
Related Tips
Page 1/1
Types
Maintenance
Accessories
Storage

Types

There are 3 types of edge trimmers: electric, cordless (battery) and gas.

Electric

Electric edge trimmers are the most popular because of their relatively low cost. An important selection criteria at the time of purchase is the weight of the tool and the cutting path width which can be 8, 10 or 12 inches. Please note that the larger the cutting path is, the stronger the motor must be and consequently the higher the price of the tool.

As for power output, the amperage is good indicator but not necessarily a major selection criteria at the time of purchase. One must remember that the larger the cutting path is, the higher the amperage must be. An edge trimmer with 3.5 amps with a 10-inch cutting path offers good value for your money and will offer a better quality/price ratio than an 8-inch/2-amp model.

Certain tools are equipped with a pivot which allows you to transform a horizontal cut into a vertical cut. This is useful if you are cutting flowerbed edges as the flowers will be protected with a vertical cut.

An electric edge trimmer's motor is not as powerful as a gas edge trimmer's motor. This is why the electric model uses a .065 inch diameter string whereas the gas trimmer uses either a .080 inch or .095 inch string. Generally, the larger the string, the easier it is to cut undergrowth.

An electric model is suitable for a city yard. If you don't need to go a long distance to trim edges, an electric model will be sufficient. An advantage of the electric edge trimmer is that it is quieter than one that runs on gas. Consumers appreciate the fact that electric trimmers are light to carry.

The price of an electric edge trimmer starts at about $30. However, for around $10 more, you will have a model which offers a 10- or 12-inch cutting path giving you increased performance. Furthermore, a $40 or $50 model will be equipped with a pivot and a longer shaft making the trimming easier.

For a townhouse with a yard of approximately 1,500 t0 2,000 sq.ft., the Weedeater model will be sufficient. It offers an 8-inch cutting path. For a yard in excess of 2,000 sq.ft., a 10- or 12-inch model will be more appropriate.

Please note that all motors are double insulation. Your chances of getting an electric shock are virtually nil.

Cordless

Why buy a cordless model rather than an electric one? There is no string to pull out thereby saving time. You will also have unrestricted mobility by not having an extension cord to contend with.

A rechargeable battery edge trimmer is the most silent of all types of edge trimmers. They are lighter than gas models but heavier than the electric ones.

There are 3 battery voltages: 6, 9 and 12 volts. Usually, the higher the voltage, the higher the strength and longer is the work time. Generally, people who have a 1,500 to 2,000 sq.ft. yard will purchase a 6-volt model whereas those with land upwards of 2,000 sq.ft. will purchase a 9- or 12-volt model. The average work time of a cordless edge trimmer varies between 30 and 75 minutes depending on the strength of the trimmer. It is important to select your tool's voltage in accordance to the duration of work to be done.

Those who do not like changing the spools of string will be happy to know that there exists a Weedeater model which uses pre-cut strings held together by a tab. This model is very popular, because of proven quality and it is very light.

Gas

  • There are 2 kinds of motors for gas edge trimmers: 2-cycle (gas and oil are mixed together) and 4-cycle (gas and oil are separate). The mechanical aspect of the tool is simple, reliable and starts easily. A 4-cycle tool is quieter and produces less polutions than a 2-cycle one but requires more maintenance.

  • The motor's capacity is measured in cubic centimetres (cc). The higher this number is, the more powerful the motor will be. However, there are motors which are more powerful than others even though they have the same capacity.

    The cutting path in gas trimmers varies from 15 inches to 18 inches in diameter. The larger the cutting path, the stronger the motor must be.

    There are 2 types of gas edge trimmers: those with a direct shaft and those with a clutch system (found in a brush cutter). The models with a direct shaft have either a curved shaft or a straight shaft with a clutch system. These models will use a string with an .080 inch diameter whereas the brush cutter will use a .095 inch string.

    Models with curved shafts do not offer as strong a performance as those with a straight shaft but are sufficient for the requirements of a small yard. The curved shaft does not have a gear at the head and transmits its power directly to the spool.

    Models with a straight shaft are more durable and are equipped with a gear at the end of the shaft. Their durability and resistance is superior to models with a curved shaft. The shaft is longer than the curved model's which will allow you to cover a larger radius. The price of a straight shaft model starts at around $160. If you do not have any undergrowth to cut, a straight shaft model with no clutch system will be appropriate.

    Another straight-shaft model available is the brush cutter which has a clutch system. Brush cutters are the only ones able to use a rigid tri-axial blade to cut brush or a sawing blade used to cut small trees with a diameter of up to 2 inches. How do you know if it is a brush cutter with a clutch system? If the spool turns when you pull on the crank, it is a direct shaft - there is not clutch system. If the spool does not turn when you pull on the crank, there is a clutch system: this is a brush cutter. The clutch system protects the drive shaft between the motor and the blades in case the blades hit an obstacle. An excellent brush cutter is made by Ryobi with 31 cc. It is sold for around $240.

    If you want to avoid getting grass on your legs while using your edge trimmer, tilt the tool 15 to 20 degrees in order to send the clippings forward. Depending on the model, the grass can be projected up to 2 meters away. The stronger the tool, the further away the grass will be projected. We do recommend that you wear boots, gloves and glasses for maximum protection.

    • Maintenance

    No maintenance is necessary for cordless and electric edge trimmers whereas gas edge trimmers need annual maintenance which consists of cleaning the air filter, the gas filter and changing the sparkplug. The drive shafts and clutch systems must be periodically lubricated (every 2 years) and we recommend you visit a service centre for maintenance.

    Accessories

    What to do if you purchased a model with a curved or straight shaft with a direct drive shaft and you want to cut undergrowth? You can purchase an adapter with rigid tabs. They are sharper than the string and do not need a clutch system. It is not recommended to trim around a house or a rock garden with these tabs.

    Available accessories for gas edge trimmers are the strap, diamond-shaped string which is sharper than the standard string and a tri-axial blade for the brush cutter and the sawing blade to cut small trees. Some "Trimmer Plus" models offer different accessories such as: cultivator, edger, add-on metal pruner and a turbo blower.

    Storage

    For winter storage, it is highly recommended to empty the remaining gas out of the engine and to run it until it stops on its own and consumes all remaining gas in the motor. You can also remove the sparkplug, put _ teaspoon of oil in the motor, pull on the crank 2 or 3 times and put the sparkplug back. This will protect the motor's interior from any condensation during the winter.

    It is preferable to buy a small quantity of gas at a time which should be kept in a cool, shaded and well ventilated area. If you plan on keeping a reserve in a can for more than 2 months, we suggest adding a gasoline stabiliser to preserve the quality of the gas.
    To conclude, it is important to properly evaluate your needs when choosing an edge trimmer. What follows is a list of criteria to help you choose the appropriate model:
    • Size of your property
    • Type of grass to cut (regular grass or brush)
    • Price
    • Desired accessibility.
    Page 1/1