Grass trimmers: types, ratings and choices

Plants bring joy and pleasure. But not if they grow anywhere, creating a lot of problems. Grass trimmers help solve these problems - so it is important to know how to choose this type of technique.

The grass trimmer is a modern garden tool for cutting soft green plants. It can also be useful for removing dead wood that is not too thick. The cutting part of the tool is suitable for the following tasks:

• mowing the lawn and maintaining a suitable grass height on it;
• mowing between houses and paths, near fences and stone walls;
• restore order along the carriageway;
• improve the appearance of the shores of water bodies covered with plants.

The trimmer can be mowed after the body is secured to the operator's body using special straps. The head part starts working immediately after starting the motor. The transmission of the torque impulse takes place by means of a rigid shaft hidden in the tube. The head includes a cutting unit, the high-speed movements of which are used for mowing vegetation. Since the danger of hitting solid objects and scattering of solid particles is very high, protection of the working part with a casing is always provided.

Over 90% of the trimmers used for cutting grass today have the following main parts:

• power point;
• fuel capacity (when operating from an internal combustion engine);
• barbell;
• one or two handles;
• rigid shaft of the power drive;
• bobbin ending in line or knife;
• insulating casing;
• fastening for belts.

It is customary to divide all trimmers, first of all, into 3 main groups.

The electric device receives energy directly from the household electrical network with a voltage of 220V. The working motor gives an impulse to the shaft, and already from the shaft the cutting parts receive it. A prerequisite for the operation of such a tool is the presence of an outlet and carrying it nearby. Therefore, the device's maneuverability is limited, but it works completely silently.

Besides, electrified trimmers do not emit toxic emissions into the air... They are recommended to be used for summer cottages and small adjoining territories. An electric trimmer is usually lightweight and will not interfere with people. Its handles are easy and convenient to adjust. You can always install different knives.

The petrol cordless trimmers are completely independent of the mains supply. In order for the internal combustion engine to work normally, a fuel tank is mounted. Therefore, for the same power, a petrol trimmer is heavier than an electric one. But it allows you to easily move throughout the cleaned area and even operate away from electrical outlets. And the absence of the risk of cutting the power cord deserves attention.

The increased power of a number of gasoline models allows you to safely use them even in the courtyards of apartment buildings, on the territory of large industrial enterprises. Working knives can be replaced without any problems. Experts also note the excellent performance of trimmers with internal combustion engines. Their design is quite reliable so that even in the most stressful conditions, use does not cause any harm. However, gasoline-powered mowing equipment is bulky and heavy, and makes a lot of noise.It is almost impossible to use it inside greenhouses, in greenhouses, in other enclosed spaces. And even just where toxic exhaust fumes can accumulate.

It is worth taking a closer look at the cordless trimmers. Yes, their power is unlikely to be sufficient for tall, powerful grass. However, this eliminates the characteristic problem of other electrical devices - a rigid dependence on the mains. You just need to remember that battery technology cannot work for a long time. Still, mowing grass entails significant energy consumption. And so you have to put up with the limited duration of work sessions. A variety of cutting mechanisms can be installed on battery technology, and among them there are relatively powerful modifications.

But if there is still an intention to save money, you can create a homemade mechanical trimmer, for example, from angle grinders. Compared to store models, such homemade products are more powerful and spin faster. Another typical nut, on which discs are attached in grinders, initially has holes for inserting a cord.

Trimmers based on vacuum cleaners are made according to a similar principle. The motors are mounted on rods, and then either knives or discs are attached to the motor shafts for inserting the fishing line. An even easier way is to use a drill, but you have to make a knife in advance from a sharpened steel plate. Some farmers prepare their own chainsaw trimmer. In this case, the device turns out to be very heavy, so you will have to make a cart. It is boiled from steel corners measuring 2.5x2.5 cm. The dimensions of the frame itself are 0.5x0.6 m, the wheels are fastened at the corners. Trolley handles are made from water pipes.

The carts must not block the starter. The gasoline engine is mounted in such a way that the gearbox turns 90 degrees, and the shaft is at the bottom. The knives are riveted to the disc. This solution makes it possible to insure the shaft and gearbox against deformations when the cutting part collides with stones or dry branches. Rivets are required to be made of metal.

In the professional segment, trimmers, as it is easy to understand, are equipped only with gasoline engines (with rare exceptions). But recently there has appeared such a kind of technique as a hybrid trimmer. These devices are powered by both mains and battery power. With their help, you can mow a large area or cope with powerful thickets of grass.

There is one more point to be dealt with - the positive and negative sides of trimmers in comparison with alternative mowing devices. Compared to lawn mowers, trimmers have such advantages as:

• ease;
• take up less space during work and storage;
• do not consume much energy;
• excel on uneven terrain.

However, with a trimmer, it is unlikely that large areas can be processed. In theory, this is possible, but holding the mower in your hands for a long time is very uncomfortable. Long-term use of the trimmers can overheat, sometimes the drums even melt slightly. It is necessary to pay attention to one more point - the trimmer is not suitable for smooth mowing and the formation of beautiful lawns.

But we must also compare trimmers with brushcutters. The motokosa is able to cope with the vegetation, in front of which the light technique “fails”. The difference is clearly revealed in power, in the duration of continuous work and in the size of the area being cleaned.But the brushcutter is heavier (at least 7 kg), so only strong, physically developed men can normally use it.

Only those companies that have established the production of worthy models of other tools deservedly fall into the top. If you do not delve into the technical nuances, then the products of the following companies can be considered optimal:

• Bosch;
• Makita;
• Stihl;
• Triton;
• Echo.

A special place in this list is taken by the portable Zip Trim. A nice green device has a complete set weighing no more than 0.465 kg. The cutting part is made in the form of a fishing line. This solution is perfect for mowing small areas of grass. Power is supplied by three AA batteries, which are not included in the basic package.

As for the other models included in the rating of the best, it must be said right away that they were not chosen for one belonging to the leading brands. Even the most advanced brands often supply frankly weak models of equipment. But the happy exception against this background is the Huter GGT-2500T... This apparatus seems to be called upon to confirm by its existence the timeless thesis of solid German quality.

The trimmer power is 3.3 liters. with. It is easy to hold in your hands thanks to the clever T-shaped handle with rubber pads. For convenience, its position can be changed. There are markings directly on the handle describing the basic safety requirements. Fitted in a tank of 1.2 liters of gasoline is enough for intensive mowing for 2 hours.

The trimmer can be equipped with both a line and a knife. The cutting speed is up to 9500 rpm. The width of the cut strip is 0.255 m. To lengthen the line, which is very good, you don't need to disassemble the reel. You just need to accelerate the device to high revs and hit the ground slightly. The motor located on top will not overheat and will not be clogged with mowed vegetation.

Interskol KB-25 / 52V can be considered a good budget alternative. This is a relatively inexpensive ICE trimmer that cuts grass in strips of 0.43 m. The cutting element has a working speed of 7500 rpm. The fuel tank holds 1 liter of gasoline, which is enough for 1 hour of continuous operation. The scope of delivery includes a knife, belt and fishing line. Changing a work item is easy. The device starts up without unnecessary problems and is considered suitable for cutting small branches. However, it weighs a lot, and the build quality of different copies in the series can be very different.

Another decent machine with 0.255 m wide knives is the Fubag FPT 43. The trimmer of this model has a special option that guarantees an accelerated start of the engine. Its capacity is 1.75 liters. with. This is enough for mowing even tall grass in economy mode. A fold-down handle helps to simplify transport. The metal casing provides increased reliability. Since the trimmer is set using the adjusting screw, there is no need to use additional tools.

As for the Hammer MTK25B, this device was originally designed for mowing in particularly difficult places. It will be able to remove grass very close to a wall, stairs, tree, and so on. The fuel pump of this trimmer is designed to start smoothly even after long periods of inactivity. The cover guarantees reliable protection of the motor from flying pieces of grass.

The line is designed to work on rocky, uneven surfaces. If you touch a hard object, it will not fail. Hammer MTK25B weighs only 5.6 kg. Thanks to the bending bar, the device can be positioned in different angles and easily removed from the most difficult-to-reach areas.

The next model in the ranking is the Patriot PT 4555 ES. The device has a capacity of 2.5 liters. with. Users note its good packaging. The force generated is sufficient for swathing even in difficult terrain. The designers have provided protection against vibration, and the assembly is very soundly. The expandable bar makes it easy to transport the trimmer even in a car or motorcycle sidecar. The only weakness is the small capacity of the gas tank.

If you need to choose a mower for working with grass of almost any hardness, you need to pay attention to Champion Т523... In the most intensive mode, the consumption of the combustible mixture per hour will be 0.62 liters. The fishing line is fed in a semi-automatic way, but the trimmer head sometimes fails, and the mass of the device is not the smallest among such devices.

Suppose you decide to finally use the trimmer, and not the brushcutter or lawn mower. But the choice of a suitable solution does not end there. BThe power of a particular device is of great importance. The higher it is, the faster the rotation of the cutting part will occur and the larger the area can be cleaned in the same time. But the consumption of energy or fuel is unlikely to please people, as well as excessive noise.

Low-cost home appliances can have a power rating of 0.25–1.8 kW. This is quite enough to put things in order in the garden or on the lawn near the house, to cope with the vegetation near the fence or stone wall. Sometimes you can even limit yourself to a power of no more than 0.7 kW. But a mower for utilities and large areas should be more powerful, at least 0.9 kW.

The next significant parameter is the width of the cut grass strip. For mowing large lawns over a large area, trimmers that remove grass 0.3–0.42 m wide are useful. For a regular summer cottage and for janitorial work, it is quite enough to be able to cut 0.25–0.7 m in one pass. A light trimmer is better suited ( in principle) for long work. But when clearing a large area of ​​grass, you sometimes have to work away from the mains. Therefore, you have to choose the most heavy gasoline models - there are simply no alternatives. Electric trimmers weigh 3 to 5 kg. Summer residents need to choose devices no heavier than 2.5 kg.

The next important point is the number of revolutions. Low-power trimmers do not even advertise it, because a figure of less than 7000 turns per minute is not solid enough. In more serious versions, this figure varies from 7500 to 12000 rpm. The diameter of the line can be from 0.14 to 0.2 cm (this is enough to keep the lawn in order). The 0.24–0.27 cm thick fishing line will keep the road shoulders in good condition, on which thick grass grows. But in the most neglected areas, it is recommended to use trimmers with a fishing line no thinner than 0.3 cm.Only it allows you to cope with strong stems and low bushes. But on level, open places where strong, dense grass grows, metal knives are better suited. They allow you to make even cuts. As a result, it is possible to achieve a more pleasant appearance.

But, in addition to the type of attachment, it is also necessary to take into account the method of attaching the trimmer to the operator... You can clean up a small area using a device with one belt. For larger areas, knapsack-fastened products are preferred. It is also necessary to pay attention to the handles (their shape, quantity are very important).

Important! Placing the motor at the bottom of the trimmer is impractical. This is only permissible if you plan to work no more than 2-3 hours a day, otherwise the load on your back grows too much.

Autonomous trimmers are chosen primarily by the capacity of the tank or by the charge of the built-in battery. Most gasoline models have a capacity of 0.3–1.5 liters of gasoline in the tank. If the tank capacity is small, you can mow for a maximum of 20 minutes. Next, you will have to take a break so that the engine cools down and the fuel supply is replenished. With the highest capacity, you can expect to work for 1 hour or more, which is very convenient for the commercial sector or large summer cottages.

1 amp hour (in the case of a cordless trimmer) allows for approximately ¼ hour of operation. It will take up to 45 minutes for the battery to be charged. To care for a modest lawn or lawn, use models with a 2 A / h battery. And options 3-4 A / h will already allow you to put things in order around a kindergarten or school, office building, cinema, clinic, supermarket and around the perimeter of an apartment building.

To prepare the mowing machine, it is not enough just to plug it into a power outlet or fill it with fuel. These are the necessary steps, but some other manipulations must be done as well. Before cleaning the lawn or lawn, you must manually remove all metal, stone objects, glass shards, and other solid objects. Ideally, there should be nothing left but grass and short shrubs. Be sure to remove the wire as well, because it can break the mower. When the site is prepared, the cutting parts can be mounted. To replace the cord with knives, unscrew the fastening nuts, put the desired part, return the nut back and tighten it with a wrench.

You need to refuel petrol trimmers only with the fuel that is prescribed in the instructions. Devices with two-stroke engines usually use AI-92 fuel. But it will not work to lubricate them separately (unsuitable design). Therefore, pure gasoline cannot be used; instead, a gasoline-oil mixture is used.

It is also necessary to remember about the basic safety rules during work. For mowing grass, they wear dense clothing that is impervious to dust and dirt. Hands are protected with gloves, and the eyes are protected with glasses. Hold the mowing unit strictly so that the working element runs parallel to the ground. Only then can the engine be started.

The assembly procedure is described in the manual for each model of equipment separately. There is no point in duplicating it. The petrol trimmer must first "run in" to the fuel, that is, let it run for 2–4 minutes at idle speed. During operation, it is necessary to ensure that there is no feeling that the engine is operating under load. The run-in is carried out by systematically increasing the load level.

Bike grip trimmers are gripped with both hands. If the handles are D-shaped, the palm is wrapped around it. The belt is immediately put on so that it is more convenient to work. The lower the mowing element is lowered, the smoother the grass will be mowed. The territory is divided into conditional squares, and in the process of work they move clockwise - then the cut plants will not interfere.

Tall grass is harvested in 2, and in difficult cases, in 3 passes. If suddenly grass is wound on the spool or disc, you need to turn off the device and carefully remove the blockage. Experts advise to mow lawns with the ends of the lines, and not their entire length. Tilting the tool towards the crop to be harvested makes it easier to cut large areas.

For a trimmer to give a good result, it is not enough to use it correctly - you still need to pay attention to the list of the best models.

• Among gasoline devices, stands out Champion Т433... The trimmer line has a thickness of 0.24 cm. Its width reaches 0.4 m. The knife can cut grass strips no wider than 0.25 m.The fold-down handle and the engine located at the top of the trim tab are highly rated.
• Ryobi RBC254SBSO - also a good modern device. The unloading system makes the work as easy as possible. What is important, but this is the finicky trimmer in relation to lubricating oils.
• Stihl FS 55 Considered a versatile device, consumers appreciate its attractive design and lightness. It is noted that heavy disks cannot be installed.

You can learn how to make a powerful electric scythe with your own hands from the video below.