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I've blown up my cheap corded strimmer trying to hack through too many nettles. I've got Makita batteries and they have many options, is the cheap one upto nettles (can I fit a blade) - they go upto £600!
I was in a similar position recently and got a the DUR193z, which I think is their cheapest. Handles nettles and even brambles fine if you let it spool up.
Weirdly seems to work better with a 3ah rather than 5ah, which is generally the opposite.
I don't think you can fit a blade.
Got a 36v cowhorn job, very impressive and can fit a blade that is supplied. Brother has 18v also excellent but no blade option
Think I paid 240 for the 36v, bare
I went with a DUR190LZX3 few years ago and it's been very good/reliable. Didn't feel a metal blade was necessary but i did fit the tri plastic blades which worked well on thicker scrub (I'm sure Makita uk said i couldn't fit the tri plastic blades but international makita info said i could and it worked fine)
My 2 x 18v (36v) brushless Makita strimmer has been great and costs £200
You can get Metal Brush Cutter attachment but I’ve always been too concerned of them shattering if misused
I find the brushless 36v strimmer is powerful enough for most situations
I bought the Makita DUR191UZX3 a few years ago - it's the biggest 18v one they did at the time. Nettles would be no problem for it - especially if you fit an Oregon Flexiblade head instead of the bump feed trimmer line.
It works OK, but it feels a little underpowered in long grass - it's not as powerful as the petrol strimmer it replaced, but I suppose that's a pretty big ask. It also chews through batteries pretty quickly - I mainly use it for strimming a grass verge which is probably 50ft x 5ft - if the grass is long because I've let it grow for a bit it'll go through a 5Ah, a 4Ah and most of a 3Ah before I'm done.
I'm not sure if the 36v (2x18v) is more powerful or has longer runtime (or both).
I recently replaced my £25 argos strimmer with a Mac Alister, as I burned out the motor on the cheap one.
I think it's about 400w from what was about 250w... It's obviously a little heavier but it also has a larger trimming circle and cuts through an over grown lawn like Wesley Snipes cuts through vampires. It's a big step up in quality, and a lot faster to use.
It's mains powered though.
I'd suggest only buying battery powered one of you really have to.
Also.. Strimmers are not designed to cut through thick stalks.. That's what secetures are for.
I’ve got the smallest 18v cordless one, (DUR181Z) I think) which is line only - I wish I’d bought the next model up which you can get a brush cutter attachment for. That said, I do use it to clear the 25m path from my rear gate which gets overgrown with bracken, marsh grass and shrubs - it might take a few passes, but it will cut through non-woody stems. Mains isn’t an option as it’s 30m at the furthest point from the nearest power socket. Got a mains one that doesn’t get used- too heavy
I’d suggest only buying battery powered one of you really have to.
Used a brushless battery trimmer before?
Was majorly surprised by the Makita duc 190 bull horn thing I bought. It's just an 18v unit but it's as useful as my old Stihl 2stk.
Would buy again.
Worth noting it has a standard thread fitting so you can. Put on a metal blade a flail chain or anything you damnwell want. It doesn't have to be Makita branded.
I will however never have another mains powered one as long as I live.
I was using my Makita DUR189 this evening.
Single 18v battery.
Using it on grass, weeds, nettles, smaller brambles.
It's Bob on. 👍