Maintaining a yard is hard work. Whether removing undergrowth, prune shrubs, clear sloped area, or tidy up garden edges, a conventional lawnmower is not enough; this is where a strimmer comes handy.
A Strimmer is a power tool that uses a high-speed rotating nylon line to cut and trim the grass. Shortened name of ‘string trimmer,’ a strimmer is designed to cut back tall grass, shrubs, and undergrowth and helps reach tricky areas, dense vegetation, or sloping ground. These machines feature a basic design and are easy to use and require minimal maintenance.
How Does a Strimmer Work?
A strimmer uses a nylon line as it spins and cuts through the grass, weeds, and brush. The faster it spins, the more effective it is; the end of the line spin the fastest hence are the most effective cutting points. The line is held taught by the spinning motion of the spool, and centrifugal force. Therefore, the quicker the reel turns, the more taught the line would be, and the more effective it will be at cutting.
Types of Strimmers
There are three main types of strimmers, electric mains powered, battery-powered, and petrol powered.
Electric Strimmers
Electric Strimmers are powered by electric mains and are ideal for small gardens with the option of electrical sockets outside. They can also be used with an extension lead. Electric strimmers do not require charging; hence they are more convenient than the battery-powered models.
The cutting width of electric strimmers varies from 25–40 cm. They have the apparent constraint that they need to operate near a power socket and slightly inconvenient to work with cables. These machines are lighter and cheaper, but comparatively not as powerful.
Battery Strimmers
Battery-powered strimmers are convenient to use and maneuver, and can easily reach tricky locations. Battery-powered strimmers are lightweight, making them suited for the elderly or people who don’t like to operate bulky tools. Since they are battery powered, they can be used without a power source, making them more convenient. The primary disadvantage of battery-powered strimmers is that they need recharging. Most battery strimmers machines can operate for approximately 20 minutes on a standard charge. However, expensive models with larger batteries are available, and you can also buy interchangeable batteries to extend the operating time.
Petrol Strimmers
Petrol-powered strimmers encompass the most powerful engines and thus provide the highest performance in trimming, excelling all the alternative opponents.
They generally have a two-stroke engine to power the head, which can have a nylon grass trimming spool. These machines are meant for heavy-duty clearing work and can easily handle any task, from long thick grass and tough weeds. Petrol strimmers are portable, convenient to use, and don’t require long charging time like battery-powered strimmers, especially handy for using away from home and in extensive garden areas. Petrol strimmers are also lightweight, and many have separate attachments that are interchangeable, enabling you to complete a variety of different garden tasks. For a large garden, petrol strimmer is the best option.
Petrol strimmer also has drawbacks; they tend to be rather heavy, making them difficult to operate; furthermore, fumes, noise, and vibrations may be off-putting to others. While these machines are inexpensive to buy, they require fuel, which adds to the running cost.
Features to look in Petrol Strimmers
Weight: Petrol strimmers are comparatively heavier than their electric counterparts. Ensure how much machine weight you can handle, and the duration of operation as a heavy strimmer may be challenging to use. Many heavier models come equipped with ergonomic handles and a carry strap, making it comfortable to use.
Shaft: This is the “pole” connecting the motor at one end to the head as the other. They can be straight or bent and are mostly separated into 2 (or possibly more) parts to make storage easier. The shaft of a petrol strimmer is typically straight, curved, or split. Each design has its benefit and maintenance requirements. For example, bent shafts make strimming large areas more comfortable, while straight shafts tend to be less convenient but offer more cutting power. Split shafts are great for multi-purpose maintenance, as they are designed to work with various attachments.
Cutting Width: The cutting width of a strimmer impacts its suitability for specific tasks. Many strimmers are available with an adjustable cutting width ranging from 25cm up to around 50cm. The larger the cutting width, the higher the amount of grass it can cut at once, which is excellent if you have a large area of grass that needs work.
However, if you have a garden with lots of flower beds and obstacles, a narrower cutting width will be better to prevent you from accidentally destroying them!
Line Feed: Three types of line feed are available on petrol strimmers – bump feed, fixed head feed, and automatic feed. With bump feed, you simply bump the base of the strimmer to release the line, while automatic feeds do so without prompting. However, automatics can be unreliable unless featured in high-end models that utilize better technology. These two feeds require spooling before use, but fixed heads mean you need to introduce a new line any time the previous one breaks, which is quite a nuisance as you need to stop mid-strimming. For this reason, it’s best to look for automatic or bump feed lines in a petrol strimmer.
Handle: Strimmer handle should be ergonomically designed and easy to grip for comfort and safety. Many strimmers feature bicycle handlebar style handles, which distribute the load evenly.
Nylon line: Double-line nylon head is ideal for grass, soft plants, and finishing off a lawn, while a quadruple-line nylon head is better equipped for dense grass and small shrubs.
Cutting Guard: The cutting guard is designed to protect the user from flying debris thrown by the machine when used.
Spool: The spool is attached to the head of the grass trimmer to store that trimming line. If more range is required, it can be taken from the spool. Most of the strimmers employ a “bump system,” where the spool is pressed gently on the ground while the strimmer is used to release a little more line.
Line Cutter: Line cutter is a small blade attached to the guard, that cuts the trimming line. It is designed to stop too much line being released when the spool is bumped; else, the motor will not be able to turn the head efficiently, or worse, the line may get entangled or cuts something it shouldn’t.
Best Petrol Strimmers You can Buy (With Reviews)
1. McCulloch TRIMMAC Trimmer
With a power output of 0.6 kW and a displacement of 25 cm³, the McCulloch TRIMMAC is well suited for average size garden. The powerful strimmer easily cuts through dense, overgrown grass, and features a split shaft for easy transportation and storage.
The McCulloch TRIMMAC’s Tap ‘n’ Go double thread tracking feature automatically extends as soon as the trimmer head is pressed to the ground. The air filter cap is easily removable without requiring any tools.
The McCulloch TRIMMAC requires an unleaded petrol and oil mix of 40:1. The strimmer is equipped with a purge, that pumps fuel into the carburetor for an easy start without requiring pulling the cord multiple times.
The adjustable handle is highly ergonomic and ensures work can be carried out comfortably and effortlessly. Furthermore, the carry strap ensures that the weight is distributed evenly across your shoulders. Weighing just 3.9 kg, the machine is easily maneuverable and comes with a 24-month warranty.
Pros
- 41 cm cutting width
- Powerful engine
- Easy to set-up
- Comfortable to carry
- Loop handle for better control
Cons
- The strimmer cannot be combined with multi-tool attachments
- Noisy
Why Buy: The Mcculloch TRIMMAC Petrol Grass Trimmer is ideal for average-sized gardens. The strimmer is well designed and efficient. Being petrol-powered, it is louder than the alternatives but weighs less and runs for longer per tank. If you are looking for a hard-wearing petrol strimmer that’s powerful and easy to operate, the Mcculloch TRIMMAC Petrol Grass Trimmer is well worth considering.
2. Hyundai HYMT5200X 5 in 1 52CC Petrol Multi-Functional Garden Tool
The Hyundai HYMT5200X is a heavy-duty 5-in-1 multi-tool machine, that combines a hedge trimmer, pole chainsaw, brush cutter, grass trimmer, and 800mm extension shaft. The compact device is a one-stop gardening system. It helps you save money and space instead of buying and maintaining dedicated gardening tools while enjoying the same impressive power and functionality.
The HYMT5200X is powered by the Hyundai IC52-J EURO 5 52cc 2-stroke engine. The engine releases and comes with powerful mid-range torque, ensuring smooth operation without exerting it for best performance. The Hyundai multi-tool is equipped with a soft start recoil system and a digital rev limiter to protect the engine from Overspeed damage. It is well-suited for both novice and experienced gardeners.
The HYMT5200X is easy to assemble and requires 2-stroke fuel and oil mixture (40:1 unleaded petrol and semi-synthetic 2-stroke oil). The multi-tool is comfortable to use thanks to its ergonomic design, and also comes with a double shoulder harness that provides additional support and weight distribution.
The HYMT5200X is supplied with a two-string nylon cutting head and a 3-tooth metal blade that can easily cut through tough weeds, brambles, dense scrub, and overgrown grass. The nylon cord is simple to replace, and the bump feed system allows you to dispense more cord without interrupting your gardening effortlessly. The quick-release extension shaft provides approximately 800mm of reach, making it a convenient addition for gardens with tall trees or hedgerows. The HYMT5200X is covered by Hyundai 3 Year warranty. The machine comes with safety equipment, including a full-Face shield, ear defenders, and gloves.
Pros
- Versatile and complete landscaping tool
- Extended Warranty
- Easy to assemble and switch between attachments
Cons
- The instructions manual is not clear
- High Noise levels
Why Buy: This is an amazingly powerful, heavy-duty machine that will allow you to maintain your garden requirements with one multifunctional tool.
3. Ryobi RLT254CDSO Petrol (Expand-It) 25.4cc Full Crank Grass Trimmer:
The RLT254CDSO comes with a 2-stroke full crank engine that is powerful, efficient, and durable. The strimmer comes with a displacement of 25.4 CC, and a 43 cm cutting path that makes it suitable for wide areas in the garden, lawn, or yard.
The RLT254CDSO comes with a Reel Easy head that makes the line reload an easy process. The strimmer is equipped with a split shaft that facilitates secure storage and easy transport. Its split shaft is compatible with all the other Ryobi Expand-it attachments, allowing you to tackle hedging, blowing, and edging.
Assisted by its adjustable loop handle, The RLT254CDSO helps in reaching overgrown grasses in tight spaces. The handle is ergonomically designed to handle further improves usability, reducing the fatigue felt from constant engine vibrations.
The RLT254CDSO’s curved shaft gives targeted control and is very useful while maintaining the grasses around a flower bed. The Ryobi strimmer can effectively handle long and wet growth on the lawn and efficiently handle all kinds of tasks, including edging and cutting back weeds. The machine weighs 5.3k and is easy to operate for an extended duration.
The RLT254CDSO comes with a bump and feed system, hence you can easily replace the dual-line by tapping it on the ground, and the new line is fed through. The Ryobi grass strimmer features a Reel-Easy™ grass trimming head with an innovative ‘Thread and Load’ system for rapid line refills.
The Ryobi RLT254CDSO comes with Clean engine technology which exceeds carbon emission limits by 73%, and CE HC+Nox emission limits by 28%.
Pros
- Powerful full crank engine
- Extensive bump line feed for fast and effective cutting
- Rapid line refill mechanism
- Split shaft for secure storage and transport
Cons
- Fixed-line feed
Why Buy: The Ryobi RLT254CDSO grass strimmer is easy to assemble, starts on time, and is compatible with other Ryobi attachments making it an excellent choice for your garden or lawn.
4. Webb WELT26 Curved-Shaft Petrol Grass-Trimmer
The Webb WELT26 grass trimmer comes with a 26cc air-cooled full crank two-stroke engine. The grass strimmer is capable of producing a max of 2800rpm no-load speed and combined with a Champion spark-plug and a Walbro carburetor, the grass strimmer provides seamless high-rev operation, improved fuel-efficiency, and smooth starting.
The Webb WELT26 is equipped with a curved-shaft design and ergonomic ‘loop-and-bar’ handle arrangement that delivers superior comfort and precise, controlled maneuverability. The grass strimmer is integrated with an anti-vibration system that restricts fatigue-inducing shock-transfer to the operator during long periods. The Webb WELT26 features a large-diameter cutting-line of 2.4mm that can easily cut through thicker growth. The cutter-head on the Webb WELT26 has a generous 25cm cutting width that quickly and efficiently covers lots of space.
The Webb WELT26 weighs just 5.4kg and is supplied with a shoulder-harness enabling comfortable use over extended periods. The strimmer comes with a 0.45-liter fuel tank capacity and carries an extended two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Curved shaft line trimmer for optimum maneuverability and control
- Integrated anti-vibration system
- Manufactured from high-quality components for reliability and durability
- Extremely light to use without the harness
- Easy to assemble and start
Cons
- Comes without the two-stroke mixing bottle
- Gets hot quickly
Why Buy: Equipped with a 26cc full crank two-stroke engine, Walbro carburetor, and a Champion spark plug, the Webb WELT26 curved-shaft loop handled grass trimmer ensures optimum weight balance and high maneuverability. The grass-strimmer from Webb is worth serious consideration if you’re looking to start maintaining your garden or upgrade your garden equipment.
Bonus Tips – While Using Strimmers
Safety Equipment
Watch out for flying debris when using a blade head. Use safety equipment such as gloves, safety goggles, a visor, or even a helmet while operating the machine. Strimmers are relatively noisy tools, hence noise-canceling headphones or earplugs are essential. Make sure you wear safety shoes to ensure your feet are adequately protected.
General Maintenance
The cutting surface of strimmers must be cleaned thoroughly after use. Debris such as leaves, et grass left on the machine can damage the metal parts. It is also essential to periodically check the tightness of the cutting head.
Check the oil level, air filter condition, and fuel level of the strimmer before use. Ensure that the air filter is not clogged by debris. It is ideal for cleaning the air filter every time you refill the petrol tank. Regularly check the spark plug of the strimmer. Once a year, change the spark plug, bleed the engine, and check the drive belts’ condition.
Before starting the motor after a long time, check the spark plug, they should have a biscuit brown colors. If it shows blackish color on the tip, then it should be cleaned or replaced. Strimmer nylon lines should be removed and stored separately in a cup or small bowl of water.