I have been using a Makita RBC251 trimmer for more than 20 years. That model has a gas engine (2 stroke) which has worked well all those years, powerful, well balanced and a good deal lighter than the 4 stroke trimmers of that time. But it was time for a change, I decided to get the Makita 36 volt model. OK then, here is how this electric version compares to my old 2 stroke Makita tool. First off, the weight and balance are very close (Makita engineers probably used that old tool as a reference point) and they look pretty much alike as well. The electric version is quiet and doesn't require mixing gas and oil or any arm straining starting exercises --- but it does have a significant lag in spin-up time. Gas version spin-up to full speed was less than a second vs the electric at three times that. I should mention that I was using FULL POWER. My weed cutting action is typically tall weeds and some with thick stems. I tried the two lower power settings and quickly decided full power was what I needed. In that mode, it had equal power to my old gas trimmer (impressive!). Battery life was fair at that setting and for my use. I got 40 minutes of use before I was down to half charge (two bars). I estimate a reasonable run time to be 1 hour so that I would leave some charge in the Li-ion battery pair. Recharge on the new (discharged) batteries was about 2 1/2 hours. From the half charge state, about an hour. Getting an extra set of batteries with the tool ensures I will be able to do any weeding needed in one continuous session. I am very satisfied with this new tool and I do recommend it.
Update: The trimmer cord (green) that comes with it was used up at about 1 1/2 hours. It required many "taps" and broke off a couple of times. After the second break, I took out the remaining cord and tossed it. The cord used on my Makita gas trimmer was .095 dia (Orange) vs the .080 (Green) trimmer cord. I put that Orange cord on the electric Makita. It was much better! It lasts a lot longer (fewer taps needed) and it cuts better at medium power. So much better that I ran it at med power for all of my lesser weed cutting needs. Makita says use .08-.09 dia. cord and the .095 is the closest larger size, though the trimmer head is rated for several larger size cords. Bottom line: The Orange cord works better on this 36V trimmer IMHO.
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Videos for this product
2:14
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WATCH BEFORE BUYING this Makita cordless string trimmer.
Myron Miller
Videos for this product
2:30
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Great set for edging and weed eating!
✅ Mister and Miss Ginger Jones
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3:18
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How to replenish the string in your Makita string trimmer.
Myron Miller
Reviews with images
New weed eater
I had been using the same model of B&D corded trimmer for 11 years, I was on my 4th one, when the string kept jamming and misfeeding trying to knock down a heavily overgrown corner of my yard. The weed eater itself has plenty of power but the required .065 string just couldn't cut it. I was already in the Makita power tool platform so I started looking at them for a new weed eater, and after researching several different ones finally settled on this one. I put it through its paces clearing out this overgrown area of my yard. It took about 40 minutes on the level 2 power setting and I still had half the battery life by the time I was done. It definitely handles differently than my old corded model and it doesn't have the rotatable shaft and edging wheel, but I am very happy with the results so far and the battery life seems to be excellent. Not to mention it was a great deal for the price. The cost seems to bounce around from $389 to $429 and the tool only listing is $329, so for just $60 to $100 more you get a dual charger and four 5.0 ah batteries. I also replaced the microscopic guard that came with the trimmer with the Makita brush cutter guard and switched out the stock head with the Echo branded Speed Feed head. The head was a perfect fit using only the black spacer that came with the kit. I will update this later if I have any problems or my opinion of the trimmer changes.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2021
I have been using a Makita RBC251 trimmer for more than 20 years. That model has a gas engine (2 stroke) which has worked well all those years, powerful, well balanced and a good deal lighter than the 4 stroke trimmers of that time. But it was time for a change, I decided to get the Makita 36 volt model. OK then, here is how this electric version compares to my old 2 stroke Makita tool. First off, the weight and balance are very close (Makita engineers probably used that old tool as a reference point) and they look pretty much alike as well. The electric version is quiet and doesn't require mixing gas and oil or any arm straining starting exercises --- but it does have a significant lag in spin-up time. Gas version spin-up to full speed was less than a second vs the electric at three times that. I should mention that I was using FULL POWER. My weed cutting action is typically tall weeds and some with thick stems. I tried the two lower power settings and quickly decided full power was what I needed. In that mode, it had equal power to my old gas trimmer (impressive!). Battery life was fair at that setting and for my use. I got 40 minutes of use before I was down to half charge (two bars). I estimate a reasonable run time to be 1 hour so that I would leave some charge in the Li-ion battery pair. Recharge on the new (discharged) batteries was about 2 1/2 hours. From the half charge state, about an hour. Getting an extra set of batteries with the tool ensures I will be able to do any weeding needed in one continuous session. I am very satisfied with this new tool and I do recommend it.
Update: The trimmer cord (green) that comes with it was used up at about 1 1/2 hours. It required many "taps" and broke off a couple of times. After the second break, I took out the remaining cord and tossed it. The cord used on my Makita gas trimmer was .095 dia (Orange) vs the .080 (Green) trimmer cord. I put that Orange cord on the electric Makita. It was much better! It lasts a lot longer (fewer taps needed) and it cuts better at medium power. So much better that I ran it at med power for all of my lesser weed cutting needs. Makita says use .08-.09 dia. cord and the .095 is the closest larger size, though the trimmer head is rated for several larger size cords. Bottom line: The Orange cord works better on this 36V trimmer IMHO.
Update: The trimmer cord (green) that comes with it was used up at about 1 1/2 hours. It required many "taps" and broke off a couple of times. After the second break, I took out the remaining cord and tossed it. The cord used on my Makita gas trimmer was .095 dia (Orange) vs the .080 (Green) trimmer cord. I put that Orange cord on the electric Makita. It was much better! It lasts a lot longer (fewer taps needed) and it cuts better at medium power. So much better that I ran it at med power for all of my lesser weed cutting needs. Makita says use .08-.09 dia. cord and the .095 is the closest larger size, though the trimmer head is rated for several larger size cords. Bottom line: The Orange cord works better on this 36V trimmer IMHO.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021
