Cordless grass trimmer, electric string trimmer, whipper snipper: what’s the difference?

There are so many names that get thrown around, which can be a bit confusing for people who are not familiar with them. The truth is that there are not many differences between these tools. A word you want to keep an eye on when looking at electric models is “cordless”. If this is not written in the name of the trimmer, it is CORDED. This is especially important when buying online, and people don’t get to see very many pictures of the tool, not to mention seeing it in person. The most common type of grass trimmer is still gas powered due to its superior power and continuous usability compared to cordless or corded electric models.

You may be wondering why these garden tools are sometimes referred to as “string trimmers”. Don’t they all have strings?, you may ask. The answer is no. You can get trimmers that have different attachments to do the cutting. The traditional string is by far the most common, but some people require more cutting power and need to have plastic or metal blades installed instead of string. They are needed when you need to cut thicker plant stems or other strong vegetation.

Grass trimmers are usually used to cut the edges of lawns, and a rapidly spinning string is more than enough to be able to cut this delicate grass. However, the main reason why string is used is because you often cut the grass around fences, buildings etc. that could be damaged by a metal blade.

By far the funniest and most commonly used term for grass trimmers is “whipper snipper”. This is an unofficial name that could refer to any type. You will never hear any manufacturers such a Black and Decker call their models by this name. You will, however, hear unique names for specific models, such as the Black and Decker 18v cordless grass hog/edger. These are simply the model names created by the manufacturer, so do not be confused.

Is an Electric Cordless Grass Trimmer right for you?

You may have seen electric cordless grass trimmers at you local home and garden store, but are not sure if you should get one. Your main question may be whether or not this type of string trimmer is sufficient for your needs. Maybe you’re wondering if they are just a cheap toy that won’t really work properly. After all, they definitely are a lot cheaper than a good gas powered whipper snipper. The Black and Decker 18v cordless grass hog trimmer, for example, can be obtained for around 100 dollars.

The reality is that every power tool has its pros and cons, and this is also the case with grass trimmers. If you decide to stick with a gas powered model, you will have to deal with heavy weight, high purchase cost, high maintenance, loud noise, and smelly toxic fumes. The benefits of these tools are: lots of torque and power, continuous run-time, and (usually) heavy duty construction. Many people shy away from these gas trimmers because they are afraid of not knowing how to operate and maintain a gas motor. Misusing such a motor can cause severe damage and therefore extra costs. Additionally, most people’s grass lawn areas are not big enough to justify such an investment.

If you are one of these people with have decided against a gas grass trimmer, you have the option to go electric. You can either choose to go corded or cordless. Again, both of these choices have their benefits, and they are pretty obvious. A corded trimmer has continuous power with limited range, while the cordless one runs on batteries that need to be recharged.

You need to decide what type of grass trimmer is best for you. These are some of the questions that you must ask yourself:

-Can you live with the constraints of a power cord?
If yes, then read no further and get a corded electric trimmer. If no, you need to decide between a cordless or gas trimmer.

-Can you carry a heavy gas trimmer for extended periods of time?
If no, then a gas model is out of the question for you.

Do you mind inhaling some toxic fumes while working?
Every gas motor emits exhaust fumes, with whipper snippers your face is very close to the exhaust pipe.

Are you knowledgeable about gas motors?
You must know exactly how to maintain and run a small two-stroke gas motor, in order not to risk excessive repair costs.

Do you need a lot of cutting power?
Electric grass trimmers lack in the power department, so if you have very thick grass to cut though on a regular basis, you want to go for gas.

Do you have a large lawn?
You will need a very long extension cord if you want to do your entire lawn with a corded tool. A cordless one might require you to recharge the batteries a few times to get the job done, which will cost you more time. Gas is your best bet with huge properties.

Is your neighborhood strict on noise pollution?
If yes, forget a gas powered trimmer. Electric corded and cordless grass trimmers are much more quite and can be used even during “off-hours”.

Finally, what is your budget for such a tool?
A good gas model will cost several hundred dollars, while the Black & Decker 18v grass hog trimmer costs a fraction. You can get slightly more expensive models from companies such as “American Gardner” or “Worx” that have a few better features than the Black and Decker, but the Grass Hog is still our tool of choice, and highly recommended for most homeowners.

Corded, Gas, or Electric Cordless Grass Trimmer?

Decide if a corded, gas, or electric cordless grass trimmer is right for you

When considering buying a grass trimmer (also known as a whipper snipper, weedwhacker, or string trimmer), you basically have three options to choose from. The first option is a corded electric trimmer that has the benefit of being extremely light, easy to maneuver, and easy to operate. The second option is a gas powered string trimmer, which is usually the most heavy duty and powerful of the three options. The third option is the electric cordless grass trimmer, which has the benefit of the simplicity and lightness of an electric motor without any restrictive cords.

All of these tools have their positives and their negatives. It all comes down to assessing your personal needs in order to choose the appropriate one for you. The obvious weakness of the corded tools is the fact that the user must drag along a cord, which my not be long enough to reach every area of the lawn. Therefore, the lightness, agility and ease-of-use can only be taken advantage of by people with very small properties. For those users, cordless or gas trimmers may be overkill and thus the corded models are the perfect choice.

Gas-motor string trimmers are heavy duty tools that are great for people with vast properties, or for professional gardening companies. Electric cordless grass trimmers are far less powerful and my not be as effective when cutting trough thick grasses. Most gas trimmers use a 2-stroke engine that requires a gasoline-oil mix. The small engines can be quite difficult to operate by casual users and cause a lot more vibration than electric models. One must be familiar with the maintenance of gas motors to ensure that they are not mistreated and risk being damaged beyond repair. You should also be aware that, just like your car engine, gas trimmers emit toxic exhaust fumes and loud noise. In addition to their higher maintenance costs, the initial cost of gas string trimmers is considerably higher than corded or cordless grass trimmers.

I believe that an electric cordless grass trimmer is the best choice for that majority of homeowners. Most properties are small enough for these tools to handle. You basically get the freedom of a gas weedwhacker, but without the complicated gas motor. The majority of people only use their tools to trim grass around their houses, garages, trees, and pathways. Rarely do users need to clear a wild growing area of vegetation that requires the power of a gas motor. Don’t let anyone tell you that you need all that power to cut your lawn. A good cordless grass trimmer is more than capable of handling such work. The best part about these tools is their price. A good model, such as the Black and Decker 18v Cordless Grass Hog Trimmer/Edger can be purchased for around 100 dollars. A gas model for that price is not recommended, because it will be very cheaply built, and probably won’t last very long.

If you have used a gas whipper snipper before, you might recall how heavy it became after a while. Although a lot of these tools come with a harness, they are quite restricting and uncomfortable. This weight is a problem for some users, and can only be solved by an electric cordless grass string trimmer. Most of the weight of a gas tool is held by the motor; by removing it, the tool’s weight will reduce to almost half. Also, electric string trimmers run on the same type of batteries as other power tools. If you own Black and Decker 18v cordless tools, they will also fit your trimmer.

As you may have noticed, I am a bit fan or electric cordless grass trimmers, especially the Black and Decker 18v Trimmer/Edger. I recommend this tool to anyone who has decided to go cordless.

The Black & Decker 18v Cordless Grass Hog Trimmer is a great tool

Learn the benefits of electric string grass trimmers

Most people have gas powered whipper snippers to do trim work around their garden. They are essential tools for cutting grass around trees, the house, and other places that a lawnmower can’t reach. The problem with these whipper snippers is that a large percentage of people do not have very large properties and such a heavy duty tool is not necessary for such a small amount of work. Also, many people are not familiar with gas motors and therefore do not know how to properly use these tools. The solution is a cordless grass trimmer, also known as an electric string trimmer.




These cordless trimmers are perfect for people with small grass surfaces. There are no cords to worry about, and best of all, no gas motor to maintain. This also results in a tool that is much lighter than its gas powered counterpart; so strength is not required to operate it. The electric cordless grass trimmer usually uses a string attached to the end that spins rapidly to cut down anything in its path.

The Black & Decker 18v Cordless Grass Hog Trimmer/Edger is one of the most popular choices. It actually has two different positions that it can be used in. The regular position is for standard trimming around tight areas such as plants. It can easily be flipped over to be used as an edger around flower beds and pathways. The cordless grass trimmer features a nice large 12 inch string cutting path, which allows a lot of grass to be cut with a single pass.

Just like your cordless power tools, this grass string trimmer from Black & Decker runs on an 18v battery. Conveniently, the kit includes two batteries so you can charge one (with the included charger) while using the other. Another benefit of running on batteries it the reduced noise level. We all know how annoying and loud those little gas engines be. In my personal opinion, the fact that I (and the environment) do not have to deal with those terrible toxic exhaust fumes is the greatest thing about electric trimmers.

Overall, the Black & Decker Cordless Grass Hog Trimmer/Edger is a great choice. It can be bought for around 100 dollars, which is very cheap compared to gas powered grass trimmers. Obviously the construction of the tool is not as good as some professional gas models but it is definitely sufficient. The instant response of the throttle is by far better than any gas trimmer I have used. When the grass gets a bit too long the tools has some trouble on the first pass, and it will take a few more passes the complete. This is where the gas models cannot be beaten.

If you use this cordless grass trimmer for what it is intended for, you will be very satisfied. It gets the job done with ease. If you have a huge park of a lawn with really think grass, you are looking at the wrong tool. I have heard a few people say that the spool can fall off when trying to feed more string, but I haven not personally witnessed it.

People that own other Black & Decker 18v power tools will benefit from the fact that their existing 18v batteries will fit this cordless grass trimmer as well. I highly recommend this tool.