Comparison STIHL FSA 57 vs STIHL FSA 45

The capture width provided by the unit, in other words, the width of the strip of land cultivated in one pass. In fact, this size corresponds to the width of the working nozzle.

The large working width is useful when processing large open spaces, as it allows you to finish the job in a small number of passes. On the other hand, for hard-to-reach places, relatively narrow tools are better suited, able to go where a wider unit will not fit. In addition, the width of the tool directly affects the weight and price.

In general, it makes sense to compare in terms of working width only units of the same type (see above). However, it is worth noting here that trimmers do not differ so much from each other — most models capture from 25 to 45 cm (and a wide processing band is provided by moving the nozzle from side to side). As for the other types, in the most modest models the capture width does not exceed 40 cm, in the heaviest and most powerful it can be 56 – 60 cm or even more(in mini tractors — up to 1.5 m).

The width (diameter) of the trimmer knife characterizes the size of the paddle knife (or saw blade). Such a nozzle has a smaller capture width than a fishing line, however, it allows you to mow more dense thickets, including shrubs.

— Adjustment of the tilt of the rod. Possibility to tilt the rod or the working head relative to the rod. The setting will come in handy for mowing grass in hard-to-reach places. Trimmers with this function are much more convenient to work under swings, benches and garden furniture. Also, by adjusting the tilt of the rod, you can adjust the grip of the trimmer to the height of the user.

— Telescopic rod. Possibility of increasing the length of the trimmer by extending the rod. Due to design features, this solution is available only for models with a lower engine and helps to maximally adjust the device for a person of any height.

— Collapsible rod. Possibility to disassemble the trimmer rod into several parts. This feature greatly simplifies storage and transportation: packing, carrying and transporting side-by-side components is easier than a solid long rod. In theory, this design is less reliable than a non-removable design, but trimmers are usually not subjected to such high loads that this would be noticeable.

- Belt. The strap for carrying the trimmer is a shoulder or backpack strap. This design significantly simplifies the operator’s task and reduces operator fatigue: carrying it with a belt is not as tiring as holding the tool in your hands. The shoulder strap is supposed to be worn over one shoulder....It helps you control the trimmer better and reduces fatigue, especially during long periods of use. A more complex backpack strap system allows you to distribute the weight of the tool on both shoulders and back. In this implementation, the belt will not slip off the shoulder when wearing the trimmer. Please note that in models without a belt, it may be possible to purchase it separately. However, it is easier (and often cheaper) to immediately buy a tool with this accessory.

— Limit bracket. The bracket acts as a limiter and is designed to protect tall (necessary) vegetation from mowing. Those. you can extend a small structural element at the base of the rod, which, when approaching the bushes, will move them away, thereby not cutting them off. The bracket will also be appropriate when mowing an area with a fence, decorative landscape with many elements that can be damaged during mowing, or can once again “shorten” the fishing line by breaking its ends.

— Rotating head. Possibility of rotating the trimmer working attachment on the rod. Typically this function is used to move the cutting system from a horizontal to a vertical position. Vertical cutting can be useful, for example, for leveling edges and creating borders in lawns.

— Edging roller. The roller is necessary for a neat “haircut” between the lawn and the sidewalk. It is found in models with a rotating head and is designed for more comfortable work. Since the device does not need to be suspended, leaning on the roller makes it much easier to edge flower beds, decorative elements on the lawn, borders, etc.

— Support rollers. Special rollers mounted on the cutting head of the trimmer. Thanks to such rollers, you can rest the head on the ground and roll the tool in front of you - this is more convenient than carrying it “on yourself”. Another advantage is that the rollers support the working attachment at the same height, which means that mowing is as accurate as possible, almost like using a regular lawn mower (with all the advantages of a trimmer). The main disadvantages of models with rollers are the high cost, as well as increased weight, which makes it difficult to work “off the ground.”

- Bladed knife. A knife in the form of a pair of blades, rotating around a vertical axis in the manner of a propeller blade. Two blades are the most popular, almost standard option for rotary lawn mowers (see "Cutting System"). Note that in the case of trimmers, the use of a knife allows you to achieve higher productivity and better cope with thick grass than using a line reel. On the other hand, blades do not tolerate contact with stones and other hard objects very well; in case of such troubles, various tricks can be provided (for example, an automatic engine brake).

- Spindle knife. Nozzles used in spindle-type lawn mowers. For more information about such units, see "Cutting system", here we recall that spindle knives are inferior to bladed ones in terms of performance and efficiency in thick grass, however, they provide a "cleaner" cut, which allows you to give the lawn the most accurate appearance. So this option is well suited for regular cutting of relatively sparse, well-groomed vegetation.

- Reel with fishing line. Most often used in trimmers (see "Type"). According to the general principle of operation, it is similar to a bladed knife (see above), however, in this case, the working tool is not blades, but pieces of thick fishing line rotating at high speed. The main advantage of the fishing line over a bladed knife is its almost complete insens...itivity to collisions with stones and other solid objects: such a “blade” will only bend from impact and literally immediately straighten due to centrifugal force. True, such nozzles cope with thick stems somewhat worse, but in practice it all depends on the thickness of the fishing line (see above) and the speed of its rotation.

- Cultivator. Nozzle designed to loosen the soil. Outwardly, it is a set of gears mounted on a horizontal axis with teeth of a specific bent shape. Due to the rotation of these wheels, loosening is carried out. Combisystems are mainly equipped with such nozzles (see "Type"). At the same time, the width of the cultivator is usually small, it is poorly suited for full-fledged garden work, but it can be useful when processing a small flower bed or several beds.

- Saw blade. Attachment for cutting relatively thick, stiff stems (e.g. bushes or small tree branches). Mounted mainly on trimmers (see "Type"). Outwardly, such a nozzle is very similar to the working element of a circular saw: it uses a rotating rim with characteristic teeth along the edges. The rim may have holes - to reduce weight.

- Scissor mower. In this case, it means a special attachment, most often used in mowers (see "Type"). Such a nozzle has the form of a characteristic horizontal "comb" with two rows of teeth moving relative to each other. Its design is described in more detail in the “Cutting system - Scissor” section, here we note that hay trimmers are indispensable when working with dense vegetation and thick stems, they easily cope with thickets that are “too tough” for other attachments.

- Without nozzles. The absence of any nozzles in the regular configuration of the lawn mower. It is assumed that the customer will purchase them separately for specific needs.

Features of the battery-powered lawn mower (see "Engine type"). Most modern models of this type are initially equipped with one battery, but there are exceptions. They are indicated in this case, the options can be as follows:

- Without battery. This option is intended primarily for tech who do not want to rely on the choice of the manufacturer and would like to choose a lawn mower battery of their own choice. Theoretically, this may be associated with additional troubles, however, in practice, batteries are often sold literally "next to" the tools - on the nearest rack or in the next section of the online store. In addition, many brands make batteries universal - for example, a battery from a drill can be put in an electric trimmer. So such equipment will also come in handy for tech who already have a cordless tool on the farm - the main thing is to clarify compatibility before buying.

— 2 pieces in a set. Includes two replaceable batteries. The most obvious advantage of this configuration is the increased battery life: when the charge is exhausted, it is enough to change the dead battery for a fresh one. However, in addition to this, this option provides other advantages. So, it allows you to reduce interruptions for charging: one of the batteries can be charged at a time when the second is used for work. In addition, even if one battery fails, the s...econd will remain operational; and the probability of simultaneous failure of both batteries is extremely low (and definitely lower than that of a single battery). On the other hand, you will have to pay extra for a second power source - although often its cost is less than if a spare battery was purchased separately.

The name of the battery platform supported by the device. A single battery platform is used to combine various power tools of the same brand (drill, grinder, saw, etc.) into one line. Devices on the same platform use interchangeable batteries and chargers. Thanks to this, for example, there is no need to select a battery for each individual model of a power tool, because one purchased as a spare battery can be used in various power tools, depending on the situation or as needed. Batteries of the same platform basically differ from each other except perhaps in capacity.

Nominal voltage of the battery used in the unit with the corresponding engine type (see above). Theoretically, a higher voltage allows you to achieve more power, but in fact there is no direct relationship between these points. In addition, manufacturers choose batteries to deliver the intended power, rotational speed, and other performance. Therefore, in the selection and normal use of the unit, this parameter has a secondary, reference value; it may be needed mainly for some specific tasks, for example, searching for a spare battery or a “non-native” charger, or comparing different batteries by capacity (see below).

The name of the battery that is compatible with the device. It helps to buy a spare or find a suitable one in case of a breakdown of the main one.

The operating time of a battery-powered device (see "Motor type") on a single battery charge.

This indicator allows, to a certain extent, to assess the battery life of the unit. However note that the characteristics usually indicate the operating time under certain conditions, usually very favorable: low load on the nozzle, low and constant engine speed, etc. Therefore, in fact, battery life may differ from the claimed one — usually in a smaller direction, but vice versa is also possible. Nevertheless, according to the claimed operating time, it is quite possible to compare different models of cordless tools: the difference in official characteristics usually corresponds to the difference in actual battery life.