Good 
* including battery and charger
The Earthwise CST00012 is an inexpensive cordless weed eater – lightweight, easy to use and with several useful adjustments. Designed for lighter duties and cleanup as it doesn’t have enough power for heavier trimming.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Lightweight, easy to use
- Useful adjustments
Cons:
- Only for light trimming
- Not as comfortable for taller people
Key specifications:
- Edger:
- Weight: 8.1 lbs
Cordless
The CST00012 shares all the advantages of cordless weed whackers – complete freedom of movement, no worries about dragging the cord (and winding it up after trimming) or mixing fuel. And also no vibrations or noise typical for gas trimmers.
It is very quiet, light and the balance is also nice. Plus really easy to assemble and use.
Power and line feeding
It is designed for light trimming and cleanup jobs – so don’t expect the power of modern cordless trimmers (which cost two or three times more) or even gas machines. It’s perfect for smaller or medium yards when you just need to clear areas not accessible by a mower – around trees, fences or walls. It doesn’t have enough power to cut through thick grass or tough weeds.
The trimmer uses autofeed to advance the line, so no bumping is required – and users report it works fine, just needs a little help from time to time.
Battery
The CST00012 uses 18V NiCd battery system which presents several disadvantages if you compare it to the newer 36 or 40V lithium-ions. The running time is slightly lower (20-30 minutes per battery) and it recharges overnight – so you may need a spare battery even if your is not extra large. On the other hand, they are also a lot cheaper than the 36 or 40V – plus you get the possibility to use other Earthwise 18V tools (blower, pole saw, chain saw or hedge trimmer) with the same batteries.
Using it as edger
Some customers complained the battery lost most of its run time after one year for example. The question is to what extent it’s a manufacturing defect or if it’s just an improper care to the NiCd battery (there’s the memory effect which reduces the running time as the battery gets older, if not recharged properly – read more in the FAQ section below).
Edger and adjustments
For a tool this cheap, it offers a great number of adjustments. The edger conversion with a metal guard is rather a standard, but you can also tilt the head into 3 positions and set the angle of the upper handle just as you like.
Also the shaft is extendable so you can set it to the right length for your height. Only it’s a little short for people above 6 feet.
Conclusion: If you need an inexpensive string trimmer just for lighter jobs, cleanup and edging, the Earthwise CST00012 is an ideal candidate for you – lightweight, quiet and easy to use.
However, if you need a bit more power, we would recommend you the Black & Decker LST136W.
>> Read more or buy the Earthwise CST00012 here
Specifications:
- Brand: Earthwise
- Type: Cordless
- Edger:
- Tilting head:
- Battery time (according to users): 20-30 minutes
- Battery power indicator:
- Weight: 8.1 lbs
- Cutting swath: 12″
- Line: 0.065 single string
- Feeding: autofeed
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- Includes: 1 battery, charger, 1 spool
Frequently asked questions:
How should I treat the battery to ensure maximum lifetime?
Always store the batteries inside your house in reasonable temperatures – never leave them on direct sun or outdoors during winter!
To prevent the memory effect of NiCd batteries (you can also learn more here):
- perform “full recharge cycles” – use the battery until it runs out of power and then fully recharge it (yes, the problem is you shouldn’t recharge it, if there’s still some juice left)
- don’t let the battery fully discharge – for example not using or recharging it for several months
What is included in the package?
The weed eater itself, 1 battery, charger and 1 spool.
Are there any accessories I should buy?
If you have a larger yard, we recommend getting a spare battery.
Also, a spare string will be necessary – you can get a pre-wound spool; however, that’s not cost effective at all – you’ll get only 12″ of line. But you can also wind the spool yourself with a line of your choice, for example this one – see the video below for general info.
Show Video
Is there any maintenance needed?
No, the motor is an enclosed unit so no maintenance is required. Just ensure a proper care to the battery (see above) and clean the machine from dead grass occasionally.
