New mower

[Grant Lamontagne]

Maybe this is a power tool, maybe not, but I'm going to post about it anyway! 

Last month my mower decided it was going to retire, and didn't bother to inform me, so I had to go out and buy a new one.  Fortunately, one I'd had my eye on was on sale, a battery powered one from Worx.

It was regularly $500, marked down to $360, and I had enough store points to knock it down quite a bit more.  In the end, with taxes it ended up costing me $280, which seemed like a reasonable amount to gamble on a new doodad I've been curious about.

I don't have a picture handy, but it is the Worx 40V 5 Amp 3 in 1 mower, which I believe has been discontinued- hence the sale price.

I brought it home, and a minimal amount of assembly later it was ready to go.  We charged up the batteries and Megan decided she wanted to try it, so, being the generous sort I am, I graciously let her mow the lawn.

With the old Briggs and Stratton behemoth we used to have, Megan would do one or two sections of lawn before the beast tired her out and I'd have to take over, but she was able to chase this nimble little battery mower all over the yard, and, at the end of it, the batteries were still showing two out of five little LED's worth of power! 

Not too shabby!

I haven't been allowed to mow since, as she enjoys it so much, and we ended up also picking up a trimmer from the same line with- get this- the same battery in it!

Granted the battery is a slightly smaller capacity, but they are all interchangeable, which is awesome!

And, it weighs less than half what my old Troy-Bilt 4 stroke weed whacker does.  It is so light and easy to use that Megan has taken over whipper snapper duties as well!

I know Worx isn't a huge name like Ryobi, Marita, DeWalt etc, but I have to say, I am over the moon with the Power Share series, and not just because Megan is doing all the work! 

The batteries are easy to handle- they are pretty well the same as a cordless drill battery- and in fact, they use the same batteries as their cordless drills, saws, hedge trimmers and so on.

https://www.worx.com/20v-drill-driver-impact-combo-wx944l.html

If you are looking for a decent, versatile cordless tool set, I have to say, I'd be hard pressed to buy something else right now.

Def

[Yadda]

I have Worx trimmer, power washer, drill driver,  and the cordless nailer.  All good items.

[gregozedobe]

I've been converted to battery operated tools.  No electrical leads to worry about, no carbies clogging up with stale, gummed up 2 stroke mix (a common problem with my chainsaws if I didn't drain the carbie at the end of the season ie every year).

Just put a charged battery in the tool and away you go, no fumes and much quieter as well.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I love cordless tools.

Except that I hate cordless tools.

The batteries always crap the bed and are 3 times more expensive than buying a whole new tool.  I have a garage full of great drills and saws that are worthless because the batteries are smurf on them.

At least with this kind of thing there is the possibility of batteries not being too hard to source, or maybe not being too expensive to replace.  With the interchangeability across the whole line they should be easier to source than a 20 year old Craftsman cordless drill battery.

I hate throwing out perfectly good tools just because there's no way to power them anymore.

Def

[gregozedobe]

I love cordless tools.

Except that I hate cordless tools.

The batteries always crap the bed and are 3 times more expensive than buying a whole new tool.  I have a garage full of great drills and saws that are worthless because the batteries are smurf on them.

At least with this kind of thing there is the possibility of batteries not being too hard to source, or maybe not being too expensive to replace.  With the interchangeability across the whole line they should be easier to source than a 20 year old Craftsman cordless drill battery.

I hate throwing out perfectly good tools just because there's no way to power them anymore.

Def

Don't you have people/companies that will pull apart your failed battery pack and replace the old internal cells with some new (and usually better, higher capacity) cells ?  I have had that done to some old Ryobi 12V packs with good results. It isn't cheap because good cells aren't cheap, but still worth doing if you like the tool/s.  I also had the cell type changed from Ni-Cads to NiMh because I was sick of how quick the Ni-Cads self-discharged.
.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Not that I know of, but maybe I will look around for that.

Years ago, when my big Craftsman drill ($300 drill when new) died I bought a set that included a drill, circular saw and reciprocating saw, two batteries and a charger for $300.  Then, I found the same model drill with two batteries and a charger for $100 or so, and I bought that too, meaning I had four tools, four batteries and two chargers.  It was ideal because I couldn't discharge the batteries as fast as they charged, so I always had power.

Then the batteries all died and I swore off battery tools, replacing the drills with a corded DeWalt drill, the reciprocating saw with a corded DeWalt reciprocating saw and the circular saw with a corded no name circular saw from Amazon.

I ended up getting a smaller cordless Black and Decker drill because I quickly developed a hatred for jobs that needed doing that were too far from an outlet, and the remarkably short cord of the DeWalt drill.  The theory was that if i needed the power of the DeWalt then it was worth dragging out the extension cord.

So far the B&D is still going strong, so I'm happy about that, but I am prepared for the day when it craps out too.

Def

[SteveC]

My brother got a Toro battery powered lawn mower this year and loves it. He just added a string trimmer as well that uses a compatible battery. He also added solar power to his house last year and is now saying that the next car they get will be an electric.   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, my next will be electric too... I hope.

No solar panels yet though!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I just wanted to update this a bit- I touched on this in the We Bought a Camp thread but I wanted to get a bit more in depth.

My neighbors saw my mower and whipper snapper a few years ago and, seeing how happy I was with mine. went out and bought their own set.  They got a slightly smaller mower than mine, but a PowerShare one nonetheless.

Then last year, they sold their house (retired couple) and moved into a condo where they no longer needed them, so I bought them from them.  They sold them to me for less than what a second set of batteries would cost, so naturally I jumped on them, as my batteries are stressed pretty hard mowing my entire lawn before dying.  A second set has been on my radar for years, and now I'd have a second set and a charger.

This brought my total to:

2x mowers
2x whippersnappers
4x big Worx batteries
1x big aftermarket compatible battery
1x small battery
2x double chargers
1x single charger

Then Megan decided that she needed a small drill to do some signage for work, and naturally she bought the small Worx PowerShare drill knowing she had oodles of batteries for it.

Then I bought a Worx PowerShare leaf blower.

Then we got a Worx PowerShare pole saw/chain saw to take down large limbs on trees around the camp.

And now I am looking at the Worx PowerShare angle grinder.

I can honestly say that I am a big fan of this brand now.  I really hope they don't suddenly discontinue the line, because that will be a VERY expensive day for me.   

Def

[MadPlumbarian]

Just getting the gas for our mower was hard enough, so we invested, got a few diff tools since also dragging a power cord around is also hard, especially when there’s no outside outlet, yeah the garage but to reach the front of the house forget it, so here’s a pic of my setup and what I have, what I really need is the snowblower to complete the collection and I’d totally be battery but there so freaking expensive!
JR

[IMR4198]

   Electric makes so much sense for small to medium size yard maintenance.  I wanted a heavy-duty Stihl electric brush cutter, but those babies are high.  Plus, you don't get a battery or charger.  Probably better with two batteries as well. 
   But I have a huge yard, and a walk behind won't do.  So, I use an 18 horse Cub.  Plus, I just got a Stihl 2 cycle weed wacker.  Bought more gas for it this morning, and after the no-ethanol gas and pre-mix oil have over $6 in a gallon of fuel.  Plus storing fuel is a pain in the caboose. 
   I really like the looks of your camp.  Have you tried the fishing yet?  Best wishes.  G
 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nice set there JR!

I tried the DeWalt battery snowblower a couple of years ago and I was really, really disappointed in it.  I got halfway through doing my driveway and found it very underpowered, and then it broke the belt.

It went right back to the store and I bought a gas powered Craftsman instead, which, if I'm honest, is also underpowered, but not nearly as much as the DeWalt one.

As much as I'd  also prefer to have a battery snowblower, I think if DeWalt can't do it then Kobalt probably can't either.  Stick with the gas powered one, at least few a few more years.

   Electric makes so much sense for small to medium size yard maintenance.  I wanted a heavy-duty Stihl electric brush cutter, but those babies are high.  Plus, you don't get a battery or charger.  Probably better with two batteries as well. 
   But I have a huge yard, and a walk behind won't do.  So, I use an 18 horse Cub.  Plus, I just got a Stihl 2 cycle weed wacker.  Bought more gas for it this morning, and after the no-ethanol gas and pre-mix oil have over $6 in a gallon of fuel.  Plus storing fuel is a pain in the caboose. 
   I really like the looks of your camp.  Have you tried the fishing yet?  Best wishes.  G
 

I have a big yard....for being in the city.   

As it is, if the grass is a little on the longer side then one set of batteries won't do the whole lawn.

Megan really wants a larger lawn for a ride on mower but I really don't want to deal with a larger lawn.  As it is I want to pave over one section of my lawn for more parking, build a patio over another section and turn a third section into a tiered garden.   

I'm not a big fan of mowing, if you couldn't tell.  Lawn maintenance takes up a lot of time and energy that I'd rather spend paddling or fishing or... Well pretty much anything else.

I haven't gotten a line in the water yet at the camp.  There's too much work to do at the moment.  But, while we were down on the beach the other day we saw a catfish, probably around ten inches long swimming around.

If there's a small one, there's definitely some bigger ones.  A few weeks ago we saw a leech swimming around too- probably the second biggest leech I've seen in this province, and again, if there are leeches that big, there's got to be a good sized something in there for it to be feeding on, or feeding on it.

Def

[MadPlumbarian]

Prob, the mower is the same way, if wet or too tall of a grass it will just stop cutting, so you have to feel what the mowers doing, if norm, it will spin freely and have no prob, but then if the motor starts to raise in speed trying to cut harder you have to back it down and either cut slower or a thinner cut, you just have to get a feel for it, unlike that other gas setup I had where the main part was a gas setup and then you detached and attached whatever you wanted, I had the mower/snow blower/ and pressure washer, it also had a very touchy wheel control, ever so lightly and it would take off, I did have it on video where all I did was stand behind it and just touched the trigger, the next thing I knew was that I was on my stomach being pulled by it across the driveway! I wasn’t the only one cause the kid did the same like the next storm!
JR

[PitCarver]

We've got too much green stuff growing on our place for a battery powered machine.  Itd be nice to have a smaller plot of land to take care of.

Love to have a smaller house too, as it's just the Boss Lady and I these days.  Trouble with that idea is that I've got too much stuff as it is.


That's another story altogether...

[MadPlumbarian]

We've got too much green stuff growing on our place for a battery powered machine.  Itd be nice to have a smaller plot of land to take care of.

Love to have a smaller house too, as it's just the Boss Lady and I these days.  Trouble with that idea is that I've got too much stuff as it is.


That's another story altogether...

Oh me and the Mrs would love a smaller home, our first place was a crappy studio but the size was perfect, one of these 300sqft tiny homes would be perfect,
JR

[cody6268]

I've been in the process of switching most of the smaller tools over.   So far, only the trimmers have been really replaced. We've went from having to buy gas every week, to I think only once or twice this summer. I hate mixing premix and starting stuff--not to mention the problems leaving gas in stuff accidentally can cause--especially if ethanol.

For cutting around 25-30% of a three-acre yard in places inaccessible or dangerous to mow with a riding mower (2001 Deere LX277 All Wheel Steer), I have to use a walk-behind. However, I've not found a cordless that would suit my needs without 2-3 batteries. May try the Hart ones if Walmart puts them on clearance. Same with Toro at Lowe's.

Been waiting for Honda to release theirs, as they seem decent, lighter, and more powerful than what's currently on the market.

https://powerequipment.honda.com/lawn-mowers/battery-powered-lawn-mowers

For the other 10-15% I use a trimmer.

Heavy stuff so far has only met its match with my gas Stihl FS70-R, but I rarely use it these days,.


Started with a 20V Craftsman trimmer--too light duty for 3+ acres. It's just a backup now, with the 6 amp hour battery I bought for it now dedicated to the Sawzall.

I then bought a Husqvarna 36V 220iL. I've had a few different problems, and really should NOT have bought a discounted as-is return. Our nearest dedicated Husqvarna dealer is an hour away. Shoulda gone with Stihl...

Got a Toro 40V--and the head has already worn out--not replaceable like any other weed eater. It's my grandmother's trimmer due to the weight.

My current one is a Hart 40V--even though it's brushed like its marginally more expensive Ryobi cousin, it still provides decent power. I wanted a power head that took different attachments--and between WM/Hart and Ryobi (all TTi products) there's a huge ecosystem of attachments. I have the brush cutter alongside the trimmer that came with the power head. I may swap the trimmer head from a head that takes .080 to a head that takes .095--.080 performs terribly in heavy grass. You can change the head in this model, luckily.

My grandmother and I are looking at replacements for her Toro, and I'm thinking Ryobi--even if I have to order it. Else, Ace and my Deere dealer do sell the cordless Stihl stuff--my dealer only carries the small 10V AS System stuff.


Speaking of the Stihl stuff--I have the little chainsaw and vacuum--both perform really well.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Mixing gas and oil was becoming very tedious and frustrating. 

That's when I decided, no more 2 strokes, and everything I bought from then on were 4 stroke motors so I didn't have to worry about mixing gas and oil.

I have one 2 stroke left, and it's an old outboard motor from the 70's, and the only 4 stroke I have now is my snowblower.  The outboard doesn't see much use (unfortunately) so I don't worry about the odd time I have to deal with that, and the snowblower is an absolute necessity living in Canada, especially when you have multiple driveways.

Otherwise I have gone electric for pretty well everything.  If I had a bigger property (like yours) then I wouldn't have that luxury.  My lot (again, big for a city lot) is just under 7500 sq ft, and my lawn is divided up into four separate sections.  I generally do a section (or two) a day during the week in hopes of having weekends free. 

Before getting the Worx mower I was spending a lot of extra time making sure I had gas and oil, mixing stuff up (when necessary) and then pushing a heavy mower around- not idea when you live on a hill.

The Worx is much lighter than my old gas mowers, and there is no farting around with fuel and yanking that cord repeatedly to see if the monstrosity will even start.

Def

[Yadda]

So glad to see someone else that likes Worx tools. I have the following Worx tools now:

2x weedwacker - 20V
1× large blower vac - 20V
2× small blower vac - 20V
1× drill with rotating dual chucks - 20 V
1× extended pole trimmer - 20V
1× worksite fan - 20V
1 × Jaw Shark chain saw - 20V
1 x chain saw - 20V
1× nail gun - 20V
1× pressure washer - 40V
2× large 20V batteries
7× small 20V batteries
3 x40V batteries
And worx gutter extension tubing for the blower.

I love all of them. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nice!

I've got my eye on the angle grinder next.  I have a few trees at the new place that have steel cable and chain on them that the previous owners used as a gate.  It's not doing the trees any favors so I have to cut them off.

Def