Comments on: Troy-Bilt Lithium Battery String Trimmer: A Review

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:13:55 +0000

I LOVE THIS TRIMMER!
All I need a string trimmer for is around my yard where the mower cannot reach. This thing is light weight and easy to use. I don’t have to use gas! I don’t have to suck up exhaust fumes while trimming! To start the trimmer all I have to do is push a button! This is the perfect string trimmer for most homeowners!
Confession time.
This trimmer is so easy to use that I actually let my 11 year old daughter trim while I mow the lawn with my battery operated mower (I don’t have to use, keep or buy gas for any of my yard work). My daughter has fun trimming!

By: Ted

Ted — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:44:38 +0000

I work as a gardener around Minneapolis and for trimming I use a Worx battery operated line trimmer and I do really like it. For bed edges it can rotate 90 degrees so the cutting head in perpendicular to the ground. It’s easy then to run along the bed edge, though plants can’t really tumble over onto the lawn. It’s pretty adjustable for a good fit and the auto line feed seems is very handy – no bumping! I will say that most of my clients have lawn services that do the bulk of the trimming along walks and shrub beds, I only look after the edges where lawn meets perennial gardens and they get trimmed every week. I like their battery operated blower as well.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:08:06 +0000

Hi, Jennah--There are two "buttons" we are talking about here: the throttle lockout and the throttle trigger. (Figure 12 in the manual.) I put on my glasses and checked the manual again. "Press the throttle lockout button in and squeeze the throttle trigger to start trimming." What they don't tell you, but I did learn from Lachlan, is that once you have gotten the string whirling, you can release the throttle lockout button. But if you ever stop squeezing the throttle trigger, the trimmer stops. As the manual says, "Release the throttle trigger to stop the unit." Even we manual readers understand that sometimes the manual doesn't tell you everything it should. So I just went outside with the trimmer and tried to see if the lock button could somehow keep the trigger in the on position without my holding it there. Nope, no dice. The lock is to keep it from starting unexpectedly. The trimmer will shut off as soon as you stop squeezing the trigger. If your husband figured out a way to run the thing without squeezing the trigger, please have him comment here. The manual isn't telling, and my experimentation was not successful.

By: Jennah

Jennah — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:23:44 +0000

I got one of these trimmers, too, and had the same complaint about having to hold down the trigger buttons. IIRS, my husband later told me there’s a way you can use it without having to hold the button down the whole time. I don’t remember how, though, so you may have to consult the…manual.

My review of it is here: http://jennahsgarden.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/troy-bilt-cordless-trimmer-review/
.-= Jennah´s last blog ..Waning Garden =-.

By: Claire H

Claire H — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:28:26 +0000

Hi,
I want to avoid using gas trimmers, they are heavy, loud and pollute our planet. I used an old school trimmer I found at a garage sale, down on my knees.
But now I have a new and improved one, a stand up hand garden edger I purchased in England.
I was there studying on scholarship with the Royal Horticultural Society, from my school South Seattle Community College, Landscape Horticulture Program.
I found that they used these on all of their edges. It is quite the thing. A long 9 inch sharp blade, two long adjustable handles. They can be purchased for the right hand or lefties.
To start with you need a rake to organize your eyelashes. Then snip away. I loved doing this.
Don’t forget to create neat *Victorian Edges first and foremost. Then it is a cinch to quietly snip in rain or shine.
Happy Gardening!

* Victorian Edge: take a straight edge shovel and create a neat 90 degree angled line between turf and bed, about 3 to 4 inches deep.

By: Deborah at Kilbourne Grove

Deborah at Kilbourne Grove — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:59:36 +0000

I hate trimming the edge as well, but as my garden is so geometric, it doesn't look neat unless I do. My mother in law gave me her old one, which I liked but it had a bit of a problem feeding the line. I went out and bought a new one, but I find it very uncomfortable to use for very long. That is the problem with some garden equipment, you really need to work with them for a while before you buy, so you can tell if it is the best one for you. Great post Kathy, it will help other gardeners looking to make their own purchase. .-= Deborah at Kilbourne Grove´s last blog ..The Kitchen Garden =-.

By: Salix

Salix — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:53:09 +0000

Hi Kathy
Great to read a hands on “report” from another country gardener. I do occationally use our super-duper, heavy-duty, gasoline-powered trimmer (it operates either with a string or a blade, depending on the job) but find it heavy and too uncomfortable to use as it is very powerful. Would be nice if the battery trimmer was an alternative.
Lene
.-= Salix´s last blog ..Pond Life =-.

By: Donalyn

Donalyn — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:34:35 +0000

All string trimmers hurt me one way or another – someone needs to invent a Roomba type trimmer, edger, mower.
.-= Donalyn´s last blog ..Blueberry Sugar Doughnut Muffins =-.

By: Mr. McGregor's Daughter

Mr. McGregor's Daughter — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:27:40 +0000

Great review/performance test. We've given up on string trimmers here & cut the bit of edging we do have by hand, but then, we don't have acres. I'm sure the design of holding the trigger down is a safety feature, but when the user ends up injured because of a safety feature, that is ironically bad design. .-= Mr. McGregor's Daughter´s last blog ..Signs and Portents =-.

By: MA

MA — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:07:18 +0000

oh dear! I hate trimming the edges. HATE IT. Too bad this wasn't the perfect answer to a tough job. Keep up the good work. .-= MA´s last blog ..Bulbs that critters won’t like =-.