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.