This is a review and demonstration of DeWalt's 20 volt max
brushless cordless foldable string trimmer, which some may also refer to as
a weedwacker. This dual line string trimmer is model
DCST922b. It can also be purchased as part of a
kit, which is model DCST922P1, which includes the string trimmer, a 5
amp hour xr battery model DCB205, and a charger model DCB115.
I've been using the tool every week for about three months, so I thought I'd
share the pros and cons with you as well as show you the tool in action.
As always please see the information section below
if you'd like to jump to a specific point in the video. Let's start with the
pros.
One thing that differentiates this model from many battery powered string
trimmers on the market is the foldable shaft.
The folding design reduces the length of the string trimmer from five feet three
inches to three feet one inches making it
easier to stow and transport than other full-sized string trimmers like my
longer CORE trimmer. Unfortunately the shaft of the CORE
trimmer doesn't come apart. However, I have to wonder if DeWalt got
the measurements quite right because I have to apply a little
pressure here on the guard in order to bring things together.
Perhaps it was intentional to create a locking mechanism, but my concern would
be that over time and as the plastic ages I could possibly break the guard.
I'm probably overthinking it. Out of the box the trimmer's easy to
assemble and while the battery was charging I simply attached the handle
and guard using the included screws and then I was
ready to get to work. One feature I really like is the quick
load spool, which makes reloading the eight hundredths of an inch spiral
line super easy. I can respool this thing in under three
minutes. Allow me to briefly demonstrate. Cut 20 feet off line. Line up the arrows
on the head.
Feed the line through the holes.
Pull until the ends are even...
and then wind the base counterclockwise until five inches of line remains
on both sides.
It's that simple! The tool has a variable speed trigger,
as well as a locking mechanism, and can be run at two speeds selected here.
Low, which provides the longest run time, and high for thick, tall grass.
Run time is surprisingly good and I'm sure having a brushless motor helps.
With the included 5 amp hour battery the tool runs for over an hour on low
and close to 50 minutes on high. Regarding charge time versus run time
it isn't bad. The 5 amp hour battery takes about
1 hour and 20 minutes to charge and that's from
no bars on the fuel gauge using the included
charger. And of course if you're heavily invested in the 20 volt max platform
like me, you'll probably have lots of battery
packs to keep the tool running as long as necessary.
The tool has a 14 inch cutting swath, which is one inch larger than the
previous version of this trimmer, and pretty common for battery powered
trimmers currently on the market. Just for reference though, my gas powered
trimmer has a 17 inch cutting swath, but I honestly don't notice a big
difference when doing weekly yard maintenance.
If I was doing a big job? Yeah I'd feel it. Similar to other trimmers, the tool has
the common bump head so you bump it on a hard surface to release
more line. The trimmer's head stops relatively
quickly once the trigger's released so no more scalping the lawn when i
place the trimmer down too quickly. I can't tell you how many times I've
done that! The tool is reasonably balanced and weighs roughly 10 pounds
with a 5 amp hour battery. It's roughly 8 pounds without a battery.
10 pounds doesn't seem like much and I work out, but i do experience some arm
and wrist fatigue after about 15 minutes even though the tool has
fairly low vibration. To avoid fatigue I use a Rhino-Tuff universal flex strap.
It's model 17090. I got it at the Home Depot.
It was 15 bucks. The Rhino-Tuff strap comes with a spongy
set of orange earplugs that get stored in the hook and since it's a universal
strap it can be used with most battery and gas
powered trimmers. My only issue with it is that the rubber
shoulder pad, which unsnaps too easily, never seems to be in
the right spot, but it works fine. The maintenance for this
trimmer is very simple. All that's required is to occasionally
blow out the vents on both sides with compressed air. Yep! That's it!
And lastly, there are the benefits you get over any gas powered trimmer.
For example, there's no mixing gas and oil, no exhaust fumes,
it's easy to start, and it's quieter than any gas powered trimmer.
Now let's talk about the cons. Earlier I said how I appreciate the
folding shaft design. Yes it's definitely helpful for stowing
and transporting. Unfortunately it comes at a cost. The locking mechanism
creates a small amount of play in the shaft.
iI's nothing that feels unsafe, but when I'm moving the tool back and forth
and it wiggles a little it's kind of annoying.
It reminds me of when you're fishing and you feel little tugs on the line
because either bluegills or crabs are nibbling
away the bait. Anyway, perhaps not my best analogy. What
I'm trying to say is the tool doesn't feel as solid as my
other DeWalt tools. If I'm wearing the shoulder strap I
really don't notice it, but if I'm using the tool without,
I definitely feel it. Regarding the eight hundredths of an inch trimmer line,
DeWalt recommends using only their brand of line and the model number is a
mouthful so I'll just put it on the screen. It's spiral shaped
with smooth round edges and can be purchased in a
225 foot spool. Home Depot carries it for I think $13,
which isn't expensive, although I'd prefer to use line that I
already have.
The grass guard is pretty large so while it's better for safety,
visibility isn't great. With regard to noise level
the trimmer is definitely quieter than a gas powered trimmer, but it's still
recommended you wear hearing protection. Unlike other battery power trimmers I've
used, this trimmer in particular sounds like a 20 volt max drill or
circular saw. Do you think they took the motor and...?
Ah! Doesn't matter! Now, the biggest rub I have with this
trimmer is that it is "not intended to be used for edging."
Yeah! You heard that right! The manual says
the head should never be tilted more than 30 degrees.
Seriously? Now if i didn't think that was a disclaimer to avoid liability
should you shoot your eye out kid, movie reference,
the fact that the trimmer shouldn't be flipped over, which I do to maintain the
edges of flower beds or to cut back the lawn from creeping onto the sidewalk,
that'd be a deal breaker. Since this trimmer isn't attachment compatible,
sorry attachments, or modifiable in any way,
that would mean dragging out my gas power drummer just to edge.
That just isn't gonna happen. So if you use the tool to edge like I do,
you're gonna do so at your own risk. One last thing that's negligible
but i still want to point it out is that it would have been nice if the battery
was oriented so the battery's fuel gauge could be
checked without having to remove the battery.
I wonder if DeWalt's entertaining the possibility of eventually using
larger batteries in this tool, which is why they have some excess real estate
around the battery slot. Let's see the tool in action. My usual
process is to first blow the mulch back from the
edges of the flower beds. That way the trimmer doesn't kick it
into the lawn. Then I'll weed whack, edge, and mow.
If the grass is super tall as it is here because I had to over seed where the
moss had choked out the grass, I'll mow twice. I start high and then go
lower to avoid violating the one-third rule.
I use the trimmer's low setting for weekly maintenance. So
good old-fashioned weed whacking around the flower beds, fences,
foundation, sidewalks, etc. All of which can be done without tilting the tool
more than 30 degrees. Just be aware that even on low you can
damage fences or window frames as I've done here,
and even skim concrete. The high setting can be used for
sweeping, also called fanning, although a handheld blower would be a
better tool for that job in my opinion. The tool's power is nice and consistent
and on low the tool does well in shin high grass. I'd use high if I was
cutting say a knee-high field or crab grass, but for
maintenance low is fine. To show you how the tool does with the
tough stuff I chose these dead sunflower stalks.
The tool did pretty well trimming stalks less than a half inch, but
it couldn't get through anything thicker. Between the really thick stalks
and striking the pavers, the eight hundredths of an inch trimming line
wore down pretty quickly. On high the tool edges nicely
although again, do this at your own risk since the tool shouldn't be tilted more
than 30 degrees. To create new edges around flower beds I
use a spade or manual edger. Then each spring I'll use a
string trimmer to re-cut saggy or sloppy edges.
This year I used the DeWalt and it did well although I have to admit
this isn't my best work.
Here are some before and after shots from around the yard. Overall
I'm pleased with the results even if the edges aren't perfect.
Two more things I want to talk about before we wrap up. Regarding price, when
it comes to the bare tool only, there's definitely a little markup for the
DeWalt name and warranty. And the kit that comes... not the kitten,
but the kit that comes with the battery and charger
also seems a little higher than I expected given the tool's not attachment
compatible. Regarding the warranty, the tool comes
with DeWalt's standard 90 day no questions asked money back guarantee.
So you can try it and return it if you don't like it. It also comes with the one
year free service and the three-year limited warranty. The
five amp hour battery that comes in the kit,
again not with the kitten, also comes with three years of free service.
That's cool. To wrap up, this is a decent battery powered string trimmer.
Of the many trimmers I've owned over the years, is it my favorite?
Honestly? No, but it's nice to have another tool that runs on the 20 volt
max platform. For weekly lawn maintenance the tool has
good run time, performs well, and of course
no fumes, less noise, and it folds... kinda.
As always you'll need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself, and hopefully this
video will make your decision easier. If the video has been helpful, please do
me a favor and like it. More importantly please subscribe as that
always helps me out. Thanks so much for watching and I
hope to see you again next time.