Going Battery Powered, Garden

[frugal.rock]

So my desire leads me to having an option for other family members to use for lawn and garden maintenance.

Enter the battery powered world.
Can anyone share their experiences with "the transition".
Hoping for a "frugal" transition and sometimes the cheapie stuff IS worth buying.
Any help on brands or models would be great.

I'm happy enough to keep using 2 stroke/ 4 stroke gear, but sometimes I just want to do a little bit regularly so a battery job would be quicker off the start.

Also for family members that want to chip in. I need ease of use for them otherwise I have to be there anyway to start, stop, restart, pickup up fingers etc ?

Cheers in advance.

 

[Knobby22]

So my desire leads me to having an option for other family members to use for lawn and garden maintenance.

Enter the battery powered world.
Can anyone share their experiences with "the transition".
Hoping for a "frugal" transition and sometimes the cheapie stuff IS worth buying.
Any help on brands or models would be great.

I'm happy enough to keep using 2 stroke/ 4 stroke gear, but sometimes I just want to do a little bit regularly so a battery job would be quicker off the start.

Also for family members that want to chip in. I need ease of use for them otherwise I have to be there anyway to start, stop, restart, pickup up fingers etc ?

Cheers in advance.

Hi Fg
I bought a cheap electric lawnmower but it was a pain. Slow, battery life not that good.
Now I have a Stihl lawnmower. German manufacturer, excellent results about 20% more expensive but 100% better unit. Choice recommend them also.

 

[SirRumpole]

I have a mains powered electric mower for grass close to the house. It's quite good, running costs cheaper obviously, less noise. Trying to ensure you don't run over the cord is a bit of a pain but you get used to it.

I want to buy a battery powered line trimmer too. Any comments on those would be good.

 

[frugal.rock]

Hi Fg
I bought a cheap electric lawnmower but it was a pain. Slow, battery life not that good.
Now I have a Stihl lawnmower. German manufacturer, excellent results about 20% more expensive but 100% better unit. Choice recommend them also.

Thanks mate.
You triggered a thought by saying German.
I have Stihl snippers and saws (2 stroke) and am a Stihl head, instead of a Husky but. (Stihl versus Huskvarna, like Holden versus Ford)
However, the German bit reminded me I have a AEG battery power tool kit.
The 18 volt batteries with that might still be current. Will have to check that out. Might get lucky but probably not...
AEG seems to have a decent range though.
Still keen on others thought's.

Have been happy with Stihl and AEG quality over the years though, so probably sold on either of those, thus far.

I have a mains powered electric mower for grass close to the house.

I don't think I would want to get used to that. Around half the grass is over an extension cord away from house or power. Will keep you posted on snipper and mower choice and review after use.

 

[frugal.rock]

It seems that the AEG 18v doesn't stack up to my needs. Complaints re mulch plug, crappy catcher and other issues. Sounds alright for a small to medium flat lawn. Not buffalo grass or anything tough or deep.

 

[sptrawler]

It seems that the AEG 18v doesn't stack up to my needs. Complaints re mulch plug, crappy catcher and other issues. Sounds alright for a small to medium flat lawn. Not buffalo grass or anything tough or deep.

A good place to start is product review, then narrow down the competition and as always research, price and availability of spares eg batteries and blades.
I picked up an Aldi battery operated mower, so the grandson could mow the lawn when we are away, when I put it together I thought it was too flimsy and returned it.

ALDI Electric / Battery Lawn Mower

ALDI Electric / Battery Lawn Mower (Push Mower): 2.9 out of 5 stars from 56 genuine reviews on Australia's largest opinion site ProductReview.com.au.

www.productreview.com.au

Best Battery Lawn Mowers in 2024 as reviewed by Australian consumers

The 20 best Battery Lawn Mowers in 2024 ranked based on 1,218 reviews - Find consumer reviews on ProductReview.com.au, Australia's No.1 Opinion Site.

www.productreview.com.au

 

[frugal.rock]

A good place to start is product review

Thanks trawler, was on there for the AEG reviews. Will probably go the Stihl path.
I prefer to try to findaa particular item
I like, then go review it.

Any more info on the model you got @Knobby22 ?

I will need something for medium to heavy duty use or lower end commercial.

 

[Knobby22]

Thanks trawler, was on there for the AEG reviews. Will probably go the Stihl path.
I prefer to try to findaa particular item
I like, then go review it.

Any more info on the model you got @Knobby22 ?

I will need something for medium to heavy duty use or lower end commercial.

I got a small model, it does what I need but they have a number of bigger ones. Visit Stihl and take a look. It isn't a kit either, they give it to you ready to go with battery charged.

 

[Smurf1976]

Now I have a Stihl lawnmower. German manufacturer, excellent results about 20% more expensive but 100% better unit.

For those not aware, you'll find plenty of Stihl equipment in professional use - construction, roadworks, forestry, farms, emergency services, utilities etc.

I've never come across any major problems with their products, everything seems to be solidly designed and built. Only downside = definitely not the cheapest.

Not that I'm an expert on battery powered mowers etc. Much as I like all things electric, I'm still mowing with a two stoke. That said, me being me, I've replaced a few parts to overcome materials compatibility issues and add alcohol to the fuel. Just need to swap out the rubber bits for alternatives and also use a mix of mineral and synthetic oil. All good so far.....

 

[Smurf1976]

Also for family members that want to chip in. I need ease of use for them otherwise I have to be there anyway to start, stop, restart, pickup up fingers etc ?

If you mean kids then I'd be worried about safety no matter how it's powered.

 

[Skate]

My Ryobi Tools
All my Ryobi Battery powered Garden tools purchased at Bunnings are coming up to their 5-year anniversary on the 2nd of December. In that time I've never had an issue.

My Ryobi Tool Box
Ryobi allows you to register your tools & as an incentive, they increase your warranty. It also saves you from the hassle of keeping your receipts in a safe place.

Once you go battery (36V)
You'll never go back

Skate.

 

[sptrawler]

Mens shed @Skate, what a great set up.

 

[Skate]

Mens shed @Skate, what a great set up.

Living the dream
Just completed the lawns.
Electric garden tools make yard work a breeze.

Skate.

 

[wayneL]

I was going to stay out of this one as living on 6 acres, I am definitely an ICE aficionado as far as garden tools are concerned.

But just wanted to respond to the Ryobi factor, as put forth by @Skate.

Used to use a lot of battery powered hand tools before I got my Bluetti 2kw/2kwh Lithium Iron Phosphate unit, now all 240v.

Bed for that I've managed to burn the f*** out of plenty of expensive DeWalt, Milwaukee, tools etcetera. Sick of paying top dollar for tools that blow up, decided to go downmarket to Ryobi and guess what?

That cheapie Bunnings brand lasted just as long if not longer than the expensive ones. They're all made in China anyway.

Just a bit of a sidebar for what it's worth.

 

[sptrawler]

That cheapie Bunnings brand lasted just as long if not longer than the expensive ones. They're all made in China anyway.

Just a bit of a sidebar for what it's worth.

I've got a shed full of the Ryobi one $hit, great gear I'm still running a lot of the old blue skin stuff and now picking up the green skin ones.
Plus there are tons of cheap after market batteries on ebay for next to nothing, ah the internet the men's shed encyclopedia britannica for blokes

 

[Smurf1976]

But just wanted to respond to the Ryobi factor

My 23 year old Ryobi whipper snipper (ICE) is still running fine.

Only thing replaced in that time is the cutting head. Couldn't get an original replacement but with some tinkering managed to make a new one fit. Other than that just minor maintenance - clean air filter every now and then, adjust carb, that's it really.

It's done plenty of work. 10 years of its life it was being used to maintain two properties, now back to one, so it's "real" age is 33 if we count usage.

Unlike some other garden tools, I haven't modified this in any way, the engine's running on petrol as specified.

Best thing about Ryobi is it's absolutely fixable if need be. There's so many of them, and they're sold in the US and other countries, that parts are dead easy to get. Same goes for the professional brands such as Stihl and Husqvarna obviously but not so for many others that are basically unrepairable in practice.

 

[frugal.rock]

About a week into December, the wife's car broke down. Rego was due at Dec EOM, not worth repairing, so off it went and another in its place. $6.5k gone on a 2nd hand beater, so no new toys for me for a while.
Thanks for replies and hopefully someone else finds this helpful at some stage.