![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Milwaukee Electric Tool Co. makes the best tools. Or at least that's their reputation. Because of that, and also because they're a local company, I've always desired them. I have a router, and it's the best power tool I own. The company has gotten very big in the last few years, largely because they're moving to cordless tools. They're remaking every tool they already made in a plug-in variety, and along the way are inventing new tools. I've kinda wanted to go work for them. Anyway...
I recently decided I need a pole saw, to help trim the trees, especially the birch tree. And then the locust tree decided to be dramatic, so I went out and got one. I could have gotten away with a cheap one, considering how seldom I'll use it, but I wanted a Milwaukee. And also, the tool attachments are interchangeable on the cordless power head, so I could also get a string trimmer and go cordless with that. And then a leaf blower. So once I've invested in the basic package, I can get more tools.
I get tired of dragging a 75 foot extension cord around the yard when I'm doing the edging. I thought a cordless trimmer would be great. Unfortunately, there are some issues. I'm going to have to use it for a while to see which ones are just a matter of getting used to the new thing, and which are really a problem. First, the thing is very heavy. It has a lot of momentum, and I'm worried about hitting my trees. It has a long reach, and it's hard to maneuver because of the angle, so that's kind of a double-whammy. The string is a much heavier gauge than my old trimmer, and they're a couple inches longer. It doesn't actually cut the grass as well - sometimes it just lays the grass over, rather than cutting. Plus, the string head is bigger than on my old trimmer. So it doesn't cut as close to the ground, and often leaves marks on the ground, tearing up the grass. In short, it's a lot bigger trimmer than I need. It seems to be made for some heavy duty cutting on large areas.
And then the pole saw... It's a small chainsaw on the end of a pole. It works great. The only problem is that there's no way to close the valve that feeds oil to the chain. So it all leaks out. I'll have to refill it and then drain it with every use. I can't figure that one out.
So I've got expensive tools that, while they seem very well-built, they are sub-optimal for me.
I recently decided I need a pole saw, to help trim the trees, especially the birch tree. And then the locust tree decided to be dramatic, so I went out and got one. I could have gotten away with a cheap one, considering how seldom I'll use it, but I wanted a Milwaukee. And also, the tool attachments are interchangeable on the cordless power head, so I could also get a string trimmer and go cordless with that. And then a leaf blower. So once I've invested in the basic package, I can get more tools.
I get tired of dragging a 75 foot extension cord around the yard when I'm doing the edging. I thought a cordless trimmer would be great. Unfortunately, there are some issues. I'm going to have to use it for a while to see which ones are just a matter of getting used to the new thing, and which are really a problem. First, the thing is very heavy. It has a lot of momentum, and I'm worried about hitting my trees. It has a long reach, and it's hard to maneuver because of the angle, so that's kind of a double-whammy. The string is a much heavier gauge than my old trimmer, and they're a couple inches longer. It doesn't actually cut the grass as well - sometimes it just lays the grass over, rather than cutting. Plus, the string head is bigger than on my old trimmer. So it doesn't cut as close to the ground, and often leaves marks on the ground, tearing up the grass. In short, it's a lot bigger trimmer than I need. It seems to be made for some heavy duty cutting on large areas.
And then the pole saw... It's a small chainsaw on the end of a pole. It works great. The only problem is that there's no way to close the valve that feeds oil to the chain. So it all leaks out. I'll have to refill it and then drain it with every use. I can't figure that one out.
So I've got expensive tools that, while they seem very well-built, they are sub-optimal for me.
