Millwaukee M18 Quik Lok w/Hedge Trimmer attachment

[RoamingGnome]

New tool for yardwork this year - last week I purchased a Milwaukee M18 Quik Lok String Trimmer and also the optional 20" articulating hedge trimmer attachment.

We were up at our property last weekend and tried the combo out on weeds in the driveway and last years waist high blackberry canes that were covering the clearing.

Weather is just starting to get nice up there, spring flowers like Trilliums and Trout Lillies are poking up through the leaf litter everywhere but trees and shrubbery have begun to bud - but no new leaves or shoots yet. That bit is good for clean up work - less mess to rake up.

Hedge trimmer worked great on the berry canes and weeds - it would happily cut through tree branches and new shoots up to about 1/4" in diameter.
was really happy with how quite it was (compared to the gas powered Stihl weedwhacker used up til now - and she also commented on the lack of 2 stroke fumes

Battery life was good too - I worked it pretty much constantly (on the low power setting) for an hour and a half and there was still about half the battery life left from the 12 Ah battery that came with the Milwaukee chainsaw I bought last year. The pole saw attachment and extension pole will probably be the next addition to the tool shed...

[MattA]

Looks like a nice setup

[Toolslinger]

I have an articulating hedge trimmer for my Stihl 2 strokes. That is the weapon of choice for going after the out of control briar I've decided to start cleaning out. Being able to reach in to a thicket of thorns and reduce it to a pile of deadly twigs down on the ground makes the process easier to clean up. It does a decent job down at ground level too, but once I've got an area reduced, I prefer a brush cutter to keep knocking the returning stems down as that survives in the dirt and rocks better than the hedge trimmer. It is amazing how long that stuff will keep regrowing after getting cut flat. If only the things I like were that durable...

If the Stihl sticks go down, I will look very closely at the battery options. I have been amazed at the Dewalt 20v pole chainsaw's capacity, and duration. I could easily see a battery string trimmer in my future, and perhaps keep the 2 strokes for the brush cutting which is a bit more demanding of consistant high power for long periods. (I could always bring a generator, charger, and second battery with me, but that kinda defeats the purpose of going cordless)