Craftsman C3 19.2V Cordless String Trimmer
Make Yardwork Easier with a Cordless String Trimmer
I have a confession. I love a neat and tidy yard, but I'm not a big fan of the work it takes to make it happen. So any tool that makes the it easier or faster is just fine by me. Oh, and did I mention, I have a quarter of an acre with a fenced in dog pen way back in the back? Rolling out extension cords to trim around the fence and trees is certainly not my idea of easy. Cordless is definitely the way to go for this job. Enter the Craftsman C3 Cordless String Trimmer.
I've used cordless trimmers before, in fact, I was a fan of the Worx GT 18V Lithium Ion powered String Trimmer, but unfortunately, I found that the lithium ion batteries didn’t have any better life span than their NiCd predecessor. And I’m not the only one that thinks so. Do a Google search and you’ll find a lot of people angry about the short life of the Worx batteries, both NiCd and Lithium Ion. So although, I loved the way the tool worked, I began the search for a new battery powered string trimmer. I came across the Craftsman C3 19.2V String Trimmer, and decided to give it a try. Both tools have a two year warranty on the tool, but a one year warranty on the battery and charger, so we’ll see.
Other Tools in the Craftsman C3 Line-up:
There are dozens of tools in the Craftsman C3 Line, including your basic drill / drivers, circular saws, vacuums, reciprocating saws, flashlights, etc.. There are also several yard tools: string trimmer, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, and chainsaw. The nice thing about the C3 line is that once you buy into the line and have the batteries and can use the batteries with any tool in the line. So theoretically, you could have a handful of batteries for dozens of tools. Also, every tool in the C3 line will accept either the NiCad 19.2V battery, or the Lithium Ion version.
Ni-Cad or Lithium Ion?
When I received the C3 String Trimmer, I was a bit surprised that it came with the NiCd battery (it does have a one hour charger). You can purchase the lithium ion battery separately if you want to have it also. There were a few parts to put together, but nothing major. I had it together and up in running in just a few minutes.
Craftsman Vs. Worx
When I put the Craftsman next to the Worx without the batteries attached, the tools were similar in size and almost identical in weight. Worx lists their weight at 5.3 pounds and Craftsman at 5.2, without the battery. I'm guessing that the Craftsman Trimmer was about a pound heavier with the battery.
As far as ease of use and performance, it has all the features that Worx has (although they are configured a little differently) and I thought the Craftsman 19.2V battery actually had a more ummph than the Worx 18V Lithium Ion.
Features of the Craftsman C3 19.2V Cordless String Trimmer
The shaft rotates for edging (although neither of these are really heavy duty edgers, but for light edging and edging around driveways and sidewalks they are fine).
I have about a quarter of an acre fenced in and I used it several times to trim around the base of the fence, the trees, stumps, etc. There was plenty of power to get the job done. And since there is no muss and fuss of the gas and oil mixture, and the best part, NO PULL CORD… just hold the safety and push the trigger and you are trimming. No head bumping either, it’s got an auto line function, and changing the spool is quick and easy.
Batteries:
Overall, if the batteries of the Craftsman C3 19.2V String Trimmer last more than one season, then I think it’s a good choice, especially if you can share batteries with other tools from the C3 line. Craftsman is a name you know and the extra pound is not that big of a deal, and hey if you want, you can get the lithium ion version of the battery and use the NiCd as a backup. I’ll keep you posted!
If you already have the C3 Batteries from Craftsman, then you can buy just the trimmer on Amazon.com: CLICK HERE.
If you don't already have the batteries and need the complete kit, or if you want more info: CLICK HERE.