Cordless Strimmer?

[svenrufus]

Hi all
I have just taken on an allotment and need to invest in some method of keeping the grass under control. I have been looking at cordless strimmers, and frankly the info available on line is sorely disappointing. The main crucial bit of info I need is how long it will run for after being fully charged. Very few tell you this.
Any experience of such devices would be great. What do I look out for, how long can I expect a good value strimmer to run etc.
Cheers
Sven

[nightshade]

Battery life is very dependent on what is being strimmed
Mower Magic Ltd TORO 18cm 12v Cordless Strimmer
this one claims 45 minutes
Personally I prefer a bladed cutter there is one (at least) on the
market like a small scythe it is used with a steady swing and cuts
on both strokes,it cuts long grass weeds and brambles with ease

[henrya]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Hi all
I have just taken on an allotment and need to invest in some method of keeping the grass under control. I have been looking at cordless strimmers, and frankly the info available on line is sorely disappointing. The main crucial bit of info I need is how long it will run for after being fully charged. Very few tell you this.
Any experience of such devices would be great. What do I look out for, how long can I expect a good value strimmer to run etc.
Cheers
Sven

Buy a scythe - no batteries, no noise and a joy to use!

henrya

[eeyore]

a 2 stroke petrol driven one will be much more efficient and easier to use - these start from under a hundred notes

and although on the face of it it appears less "green" to use one driven by fossil fuels - they are very economical in fuel consumption and probably actually use less fuel per cut than a rechargeable - once you take into account the inefficiency of converting fuel to electricity.

blade wise i would reccomend a three pointed metal one which will last a lot better than cord or plastic blades and can be sharpened with a file when it does get blunt

however petrol engines produce a deal of noise so make sure you also get a strimmer mask which includes impact eye protection and ear defenders

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by eeyore

a 2 stroke petrol driven one will be much more efficient and easier to use - these start from under a hundred notes

and although on the face of it it appears less "green" to use one driven by fossil fuels - they are very economical in fuel consumption and probably actually use less fuel per cut than a rechargeable - once you take into account the inefficiency of converting fuel to electricity.

blade wise i would reccomend a three pointed metal one which will last a lot better than cord or plastic blades and can be sharpened with a file when it does get blunt

however petrol engines produce a deal of noise so make sure you also get a strimmer mask which includes impact eye protection and ear defenders

ah, but i use a renewable electricity tariff - so zero carbon...

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

ah, but i use a renewable electricity tariff - so zero carbon...

fair enuff - although there was a big fuss in some consumer mags recently about some renewable tarrifs being more talk than action - if you really want green - borrow a goat from somewhere

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by eeyore

fair enuff - although there was a big fuss in some consumer mags recently about some renewable tarrifs being more talk than action - if you really want green - borrow a goat from somewhere

Going slightly off topic - might be worth a new thread - Scottish and Southern's RSPB tariff is just about the best. For electric they commit to sourcing all the energy they supply from genuine renewable sources and are about the best for not selling on their Renewable Obligation Certificates. That's a key issue - selling these on allows other companies to not produce as much renewable energy - not selling them on ensures others have to produce more renewable electric. They also provide Gas - obviously not renewably - but are the only company to do something worthwhile with gas. If you are a customer on the RSPB tariff, said charity gets a chunk of cash each year you are with them for each bill. And they aren't more expensive than other providers on the whole.

So in this case, lots of talk, lots of action.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Going slightly off topic - might be worth a new thread - Scottish and Southern's RSPB tariff is just about the best. For electric they commit to sourcing all the energy they supply from genuine renewable sources and are about the best for not selling on their Renewable Obligation Certificates. That's a key issue - selling these on allows other companies to not produce as much renewable energy - not selling them on ensures others have to produce more renewable electric. They also provide Gas - obviously not renewably - but are the only company to do something worthwhile with gas. If you are a customer on the RSPB tariff, said charity gets a chunk of cash each year you are with them for each bill. And they aren't more expensive than other providers on the whole.

So in this case, lots of talk, lots of action.

excellent - but presumably, as renewable energy is currently only capable of providing 10% of the uks energy needs, there must be a maximum limit to the number of people who can sign up ?

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by eeyore

excellent - but presumably, as renewable energy is currently only capable of providing 10% of the uks energy needs, there must be a maximum limit to the number of people who can sign up ?

It depends upon whether or not anywhere near the number of consumers have signed up to use up all that 10% and that 10% is a 10% slice of a very large cake. Statistics and percentages can be very misleading unless there is a proper understanding of what they are in the larger picture of things.

Problem with petrol strimmers is that the noise from them also affects other people in the vicinity of the person using them not just the user, there is also the issue of the fumes affecting people either using them or being unfortunate enough to be close to them whilst they are in used. Used in a situation where there is no other realistic alternative such as in a wildlife park is a very different matter from casual and selfish use in a street full of houses or an allotment where other people's enjoyment might all to easily be spoilt.

In a modestly sized allotment use of a scythe might actually be every bit as easy and quick as fiddling about with a strimmer and broken strimmer lines, and of course it will provide some good excercise.

SW

[svenrufus]

I was actually quite keen on the idea of a scythe, but my girlfriend refuses to consider using it, which means that I would end up doing all the work!

The more serious practical issue is that the allotments have a very bad Rabbit problem and my plot is surrounded by Rabbit proof fence - kindly installed by my predecessor. Scything up to the edge of that seems like it would be a real headache. Also as it is on a bit of a slope, I wonder if I would be able to do a good job of it anyway?

I looked at a couple of scythes a while back and see that there is a long handled version as well as a short version. Is one better than the other? What about sharpening - do they need much maintenance?

Thanks for the tips.
Cheers
Sven

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

I was actually quite keen on the idea of a scythe, but my girlfriend refuses to consider using it, which means that I would end up doing all the work!

The more serious practical issue is that the allotments have a very bad Rabbit problem and my plot is surrounded by Rabbit proof fence - kindly installed by my predecessor. Scything up to the edge of that seems like it would be a real headache. Also as it is on a bit of a slope, I wonder if I would be able to do a good job of it anyway?

I looked at a couple of scythes a while back and see that there is a long handled version as well as a short version. Is one better than the other? What about sharpening - do they need much maintenance?

Thanks for the tips.
Cheers
Sven

if its a matter of a once only big clearance then you could look at hiring a power scythe - these also run on petrol but are considerably quiter in use than a lawn mower - they have a front cutter bar with a reciprocating scissor action.

then once everything is down you can control the growth up against the fence with weed supresent membrane (essentially heavy duty black plastic) - enabling you to scythe or strim carefully up to the edge of it in future years.

as regards sharpening for manual scythes - they are sharpened with a cigar stone - how long it takes depends on the condition of the blade but a quick sharpen up after every use should take about 10-20 minuites (less with practice)

the bladed cutter nightshade mentioned higher up is also a good investment for tidying up corners and other places that the full scythe wont reach

[Monkster]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

I was actually quite keen on the idea of a scythe, but my girlfriend refuses to consider using it, which means that I would end up doing all the work!

Sven

I do hope you are joking about your girlfriend......I seem to remember another thread asking for names for you impending bundle of joy, in what must be 2 weeks!! I think she'll have more on her plate than scything your allotment!

Also, how big is your allotment? I think there's nothing wrong with a good old petrol strimmer, you probably won't be using it for that long........ noisy they might be but other people won't mind you using one to clear your plot, surely. I alway think people on allotments are a friendly and helpful lot and they'll probably have some advice for you and maybe let you borrow something of theirs to get you started .
Anyway, Good luck with all the above

[henrya]

Originally Posted by eeyore

as regards sharpening for manual scythes - they are sharpened with a cigar stone - how long it takes depends on the condition of the blade but a quick sharpen up after every use should take about 10-20 minuites (less with practice)

Sharpening is a bit more complicated than that, but about a minute every fifteen minutes of cutting is a better estimate. Occasionally the blade will need peening.

In regard to cutting up to wire netting, if you get the right shaped blade and use it carefully, there will be no problem (though you might need a little practice).

henrya

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by Monkster

I do hope you are joking about your girlfriend......I seem to remember another thread asking for names for you impending bundle of joy, in what must be 2 weeks!! I think she'll have more on her plate than scything your allotment!

She needs the exercise - she appears to be putting on a bit of weight lately

[Monkster]

You're a harsh man Mr Rufus !

[henrya]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

I was actually quite keen on the idea of a scythe, but my girlfriend refuses to consider using it, which means that I would end up doing all the work!

The more serious practical issue is that the allotments have a very bad Rabbit problem and my plot is surrounded by Rabbit proof fence - kindly installed by my predecessor. Scything up to the edge of that seems like it would be a real headache. Also as it is on a bit of a slope, I wonder if I would be able to do a good job of it anyway?

I looked at a couple of scythes a while back and see that there is a long handled version as well as a short version. Is one better than the other? What about sharpening - do they need much maintenance?

Thanks for the tips.
Cheers
Sven

You mean your girlfriend would rather lug round a noisy, rattling, probably heavy device that requires the use of protective clothing, rather than gently swinging a light, quiet, safe scythe? No accounting for tastes!

As mentioned previously, the right choice of blade and a little practice will avoid any problems with the fence (wouldn't they be worse with the motorised device?), and the same applies to the slope, unless it is truly precipitous!

When I say scythe I mean something trhat you use with two hands. Sharpening is pretty simple, though needs a bit of practice, and I can't do it as smoothly and quickly as the chap who used to do our garden could, but then I don't do it enough. Peening is a little more tricky, but you can get a jig that makes it very much easier.

henrya

[Gill Catton]

Sod the grass, cut it the once, fence it off securely, put a trio of pretty chickens on it for the summer and move them over the veg plots in the winter /early spring to eat up the left-overs, weeds and pests....