A good weed wacker/eater or string trimmer is a very useful piece of equipment that every homeowner and landscaper should own. They are very convenient, easy-to-use, and can get to those hard-to-reach places. There are, however, different variations of weed wackers.
These have slightly different features to one another, so it’s important to know exactly what you need before you go out and spend your money. Let’s quickly go through the different types of weed wackers.
Gas-Powered Weed Wackers
The first type of weed wacker that we are going to talk about is the gas-powered weed wacker. This is the most common and preferred type of weed wacker, used by landscaping professionals and large property owners alike. They are powered by a combustion engine that takes either straight gas, or a mixture of gas and oil.
The best part about gas-powered weed wackers is that they last for a very long time. As they are gas-powered, they are also much more powerful than electric or battery-powered weed wackers – able to cut through materials that other machines simply cannot get through. This makes them a prime choice for homeowners.
They are also great because they are very convenient to use on both big and small lawns. Better yet, as long as you have gas, you needn’t worry about running out of power: gas-powered weed wackers do not require extension cords or battery packs.
On a side note, there are different kinds of gas-powered weed eaters; 2 cycle/stroke or 4 cycle/stroke engines. The difference is that the 2 cycle weed eaters run on a mixture of fuel and oil, meaning you have to do some fuel mixing.
Alternatively, the 4-stroke engine runs on straight gas (however, you will need to change oil separately). The other differences are that a 2-stroke engine weed wacker will be lighter in weight; however, a 4-stroke engine produces far less toxic emissions and pollutants.
Electric Weed Wackers (Corded)
The weed eaters that are electric (powered by an electricity cord) tend to be the cheapest on the market. The reason for this is that they are, generally speaking, the worst weed eaters. They are only just powerful enough to cut through grass and they require a power outlet and a never-ending extension cord.
They are only good for small jobs around the house because they are quite lightweight and far quieter than gas-powered wackers. Another positive feature is that they produce no air pollution.
Battery Powered Weed Wackers
These are a great middle-ground between gas-powered and corded models because they have a little bit of everything. They don’t have quite as much power as the gas-powered ones, but they have slightly more power than the corded ones.
Also, they are lighter than gas-powered models but heavier than corded ones. The only downside to having a battery-powered model is that its batteries generally last about 30-60 minutes, meaning that spare batteries are always needed.
If you want to know which are the best weed wackers on the market please read our best weed wacker reviews guide.
