Scott B

Dwain, have you guys had a chance to check out any OPE using the CORE motor technology? The developer of the technology is based in Montana USA. They have been acquired by MTD who is using the CORE motors in their line of outdoor power equipment for their Troy-Bilt and Cub Cadet brands. The Troy Bilt mower looks pretty cool (similar to Bosch)

Interesting. Why would they do that? Brushless motors are typically more efficient than brushed motors. The current gap they have in their lineup is they don't offer a brush cutter. Either a dedicated tool, or a replacement head for their string trimmer (similar to the way Bosch does it with their cordless trimmers) The .095 string has a limit to what it can effectively cut. That's where the "brush cutter" comes in. It uses a metal blade to chop down everything in its path short of small trees. I like the handlebar trimmer, but I believe it needs to have the option to use a metal brush cutter blade to make sense in their lineup.

Thanks Dwain, more about the "brushed line trimmer". By that do you mean "blade"? So they are going to offer a dedicated brush cutter trimmer with a blade as opposed to string then? If you can find out, it would be interesting to know if the brushcutter trimmer will be able to accept standard line spools as well as the brush cutter blade. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

Note: about the included 3 hour charger. You can pick up a "1 hour rapid" charger on Amazon for $90 We'll see how the runtime is but I may be picking one of those up too.

A few other details. Its an 18volt unit. Has two speeds 5000rpm and 7000rpm The current Amazon.com price for the Core Unit is $199 The current Amazon.com price for the trimmer head is $127 The Woot deal saves you almost 50% off the Amazon price. The Power Lok professional landscaping system couples the GasLess Power Drive Unit, which houses the electronic controller, with quick-swapping interchangeable attachments. The electronic controller instantaneously recognizes which attachment has been connected to the Drive Unit and runs the appropriate program. This means there is no difference in power between our dedicated units and the Power Lok system. Each attachment is powered by its own innovative, state-of -the-art CORE motor. CORE motors produce the highest energy factor per pound of any existing motor at a fraction of the size and weight. Power Lok – Engineered for Professionals, Offered to Everyone. Order just what you need or order the Core Power Kit and get all the items listed below: CORE GasLess Power CDU400 Power Lok Drive Unit Includes drive unit a standard 3 hour charger and one power cell Includes an Intelligent electronic controller that recognizes which attachment has been connected; All attachments are sold separately Reduces operating costs and is virtually maintenance 4 pounds without power cell, 7 pounds with power cell This drive unit connects with the CORE Power Lok trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower attachments; Attachments sold separately User Manual/5 Year Warranty CPL410 Power Lok Hedge Trimmer Attachment Easily connects with CORE Power Lok Drive Unit to create a powerful and convenient trimming system The drive unit, CDU400, is sold separately Features a blade length of 22", 3200 strokes per minute, a protective brush guard, soft-grip handle and an instant trigger start Reduces operating costs and is virtually maintenance 13 pounds - fully assembled including power cell and drive unit Use with the CORE Quad Power Pak for run time up to 4X of a single power cell User Manual/5 Year Warranty CPL420 Power Lok Blower Attachment Easily connects with CORE Power Lok Drive Unit to create a powerful and convenient trimming system The drive unit, CDU400, is sold separately Run time is up to 30 minutes. Features air flow up to 400 cubic feet per minute, blows up to 110 miles per hour, has dual power control for high and low performance, and instant trigger start Reduces operating costs and is virtually maintenance 12 pounds - fully assembled including power cell and drive unit Use with the CORE Quad Power Pak for run time up to 4X of a single power cell User Manual/5 Year Warranty CPL400 Power Lok Trimmer Attachment Easily connects with CORE Power Lok Drive Unit to create a powerful and convenient trimming system The drive unit, CDU400, is sold separately Run time is equal to a tank of gas. Features a bump feed head, .095" diameter trimmer line, instant start trigger, dual power control for high and low performance, a flexible soft-grip handle, and an open view grass guard. Reduces operating costs and is virtually maintenance 11 pounds - fully assembled including power cell and drive unit Use with the CORE Quad Power Pak for run time up to 4X of a single power cell User Manual/5 Year Warranty Shipping Note: Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, PO Boxes and APO addresses not available for this item Warranty: 5 Year CORE

For the next few hours, or until they are all gone, you can get a pretty amazing deal on a pretty powerful cordless string trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower. I just picked up a Core Gasless String Trimmer off Woot (woot.com daily deal site) today for $150 plus $5 shipping. This is new, not refurbished. It's not exactly what I'm looking for (3 hour charger) and I'm not sure if it will take a brush cutter blade. But for the money, hard to pass up the deal. On the plus side, it's relatively light at around 10 pounds with battery and trimmer attached. It also spins at a pretty robust 7000rpm in high speed mode (5000 rpm in eco mode). The main thing though is that it's gasless. I've sworn off gas. Now, if I could figure out how to hack a brushcutter blade and handlebar controller onto it... If you need a cordless trimmer, blower or hedge trimmer, check it out while they last: http://tools.woot.com/offers/core-power-lok-kit-and-accessories?ref=ord_cnt_ryo_oc_1_img

Good info. It makes sense. I'm pretty sure the handlebar trimmer and the backpack battery pack unit are new. I couldn't find anything at all about them available online short of the trade catalogue pics I referenced. Not even an Ego press release, so what you say is probably the best explanation. They don't appear in any Youtube videos that I'm able to find, so either no one has reviewed them or had a chance to post reviews as of yet.

Dwain, I watched your reviews of the Ego line. Really good stuff. It was the first time I noticed some interesting differences between the US versions of the Ego products and those that can be purchased outside the US. For example, the Ego 15" brushless string trimmer you guys reviewed came with a quick release handle adjustment lever and a shoulder strap. The green quick release handle adjust can be seen in the pic below. The US versions do not have these options (apparently to keep costs down for Home Depot). Perhaps there are other cost cutting measures employed, but that's the only visual one I could tell. It's currently not possible for US customers to purchase the nicer units you guys get outside the US. It's also not possible for US customers to order the quick release handle as an accessory from Ego or its partner retailers or Amazon. Although we can order the shoulder strap through a couple online e-tailers for around $18 USD. According to the Ego Trade Catalogue available on the Ego Ireland site [http://egopowerplus.ie/pages/ego-catalogues], they recently came out with a backpack battery unit as well as a handlebar string trimmer. As of yet, both are only available outside the US, so we can't get our hands on them. Have you guys had a chance to check these out? Perhaps an upcoming review. Hopefully these will be made available in the US soon. Pics follow (click the pic for full size)...

Based on the chart below, its interesting to note the RPM speeds of the 4 Ego string trimmers. Curiously, the fastest one appears to be the least expensive 12" model.

Either these are brand new, just released products, or Ego does a terrible job at marketing and promotion of new products (or both) or for some reason they don't wish to sell these products to the US market. Their product strategy and positioning is a bit puzzling. Obviously these are fully developed products as they are currently available outside the US. Why they would embargo some of their key products from the world's largest economy is a bit unclear. - perhaps they are in soft beta, limited release to test the waters outside the US market. However, the decision not to include the quick release handle and the shoulder strap on the string trimmer are pretty obvious cost cutting measures for the US market - perhaps forced by Home Depot to get the units below the $200 price point. These products, the upgraded string trimmer with features missing from the US versions, the backpack battery unit and the bike handlebar trimmer would be differentiating products that would further set them apart in this competitive marketplace. But hardly no one in the US knows they exist.

Backpack battery unit. From the Ego Trade Catalogue. Not currently sold in the US...

Yep. Also interesting that the Amazon versions you are referring come with different battery configurations. The "split" shaft comes with a 2Ah battery while the "straight" shaft comes with a 2.5Ah battery. Unfortunately, Home Depot only carries the split shaft version - I'd prefer a solid shaft, the HD version does come with the 2.5Ah battery. I'm fairly certain that HD exerts leverage on Ego for what they think they can sell and at what price point. That may explain the different configuration from that available on Amazon.com

Another difference between the North American version and the models available elsewhere. The 15" brushless straight shaft trimmer comes with a green quick release lever on the handle along with a shoulder strap. I'd like to be able to have that quick release for my son and I to work together on projects without having to pull out the toolbox to simply change the handle position. The quick release rocks. I understand the strap can be ordered online through Grainger.com. Oddly, not available through Ego. There's a few YouTube videos with the guys from Oz Talk Reviews in which you can see both of these features that don't show up on the US models.

Could be. I've reached out to their media contact to see if I can get some additional information. I'm holding off on the purchase for now. I'm about there with Ego. The value proposition is just too great compared to the currently available options. I REALLY need the ability to use a brushcutter blade. I have thick weedy growth along a creekbed that requires constant attention during summer months. I'm curious if the Ego head comes off similar to the Bosch? If so, it may be possible to bolt a blade on there (understanding it may void warranty and all that). Has anyone dissasembled the head to see if the shaft assembly looks similar to the bosch pics I posted above?

1) A string trimmer that has a detachable head so we can bolt on a brush cutter blade. Just like Bosch's 36v GFR 42 model does (see pics below) 2) Allow US customers to purchase the handlebar version of the Ego 56v 15" string trimmer I've attached a few product pics below of the handlebar trimmer available from Ego UK site: Bosch 36v Battery Powered string trimmer with removable head (Not currently sold in the US)

Swappable head attachments. Go from string bump head to steel brush cutter head with screw twist (I hope Ego and others are taking note of this)

These cordless trimmers are pretty sweet. Only problem is you can't get them in the US (That, and the fact they currently cost about 3x that of pro gas models, but these are minor details...lol)

From what I've seen of the bosch OPE lineup, its the best engineered OPE you can't buy in the US. Perhaps if the US Pro OPE cordless market demand catches up to the Europeans, we will start seeing these available in the US. I especially like the way Bosch has introduced the option to change the head from string cutter to brush cutter blade. Hope Ego offers this soon. I also like the handlebar design with harness capability, but I haven't seen a single one available in the US from any cordless manufacturer (perhaps Husqvarna has one that I haven't seen). Even Ego has a handlebar design for their popular 15" 56v trimmer. But, guess what, you can't get it in the US. http://egopowerplus.ie/products/bike-handle-trimmer-38cm

@KnarlyCarl Thanks. If Dan and Eric can do this, anyone can right? Just kidding of course. I really like their reviews as long as Eric can keep Dan awake. I'm in the market for OPE and want the best equipment available that I can reasonably afford - so I've had to do some real research with all the options out there. I have an over acre lot with a creekbed running through the backyard that keeps me real busy during spring and summer. I'm tired of small engine maintenance and just started believing in battery power for OPE. My first need is a string trimmer and brush cutter. So far, I'm considering: - Ego 56v - DeWalt 40v - Greenworks Pro 80v - Makita 36v - Sawing the front deck off of an old pushmower (I saw a few of these "homemade" brush cutters on youtube and they are beasts) - 6500rpm Angle Grinder with brush cutter blade hacked onto a straight shaft weed eater body. I'm considering the last two above if I decide to wait it out on the Milwaukee rig

A bit more information on the "powerstate brushless motor" tech that appears to be at the heart of this system: http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2012-02/new-motor-makes-stronger-18-volt-drill This may explain more than anything what's going on with the demo's above.

I'm intrigued with this new line of OPE from Milwaukee. In particular, I like the idea of how they are leveraging lower volts to get competitive power with longer run times and less weight. The lower voltage allows for them to pack longer runtimes into smaller batteries. Especially compared to much higher voltage options that are pushing 14-15 pounds as runtime needs increase and force larger battery packs. It appears that they've managed to wring more efficiency out of their brushless motor so that it achieves more torque and RPM with the same amount of voltage - they replaced the brushes with tuned circuitry. According to Andrew Lentz who is the "Cordless Product Manager" for Milwaukee Tools, the key differences with this trimmer are (1) M18 "High Demand" 9 amp hour battery (2) Solid steel drive shaft connecting the gear box at the head of the trimmer to the (3) "Powerstate" brushless motor located in the tail of the trimmer (as opposed to the business end) and (4) Larger mass cutting head that prevents string backwinding and string memory issues. Their decision to put the motor in the tail by the battery, forces the need of a drive shaft to connect the motor to the gear box at the trimmer head. Depending on who you ask, this is an advantage or a disadvantage. For example, folks like Ego, Stihl and Dewalt would tell you its a disadvantage due to linkage inefficiencies and energy loss and vibration. Milwaukee touts it very forcefully (and convincingly) as an advantage. It does allow for instantaneous power transfer (pull the trigger and get 100% feedback with no lag) as there is a hard linkage between the motor and the trimmer head. The obvious disadvantage would be that it introduces vibration up through the shaft and into the operator's hands - a major disadvantage of gas powered trimmers. I haven't heard anyone comment on the vibration effects as of yet, but perhaps Dan can comment. He did the second video below. The Milwaukee product team don't appear to be interested in attachments so its definitely a unique decision to place the motor in the tail absent that requirement. I can't think of any other cordless trimmers that purposely have the motor at the tail (and don't do it just to allow attachments). Definitely impressed with what we can see from the few videos we have thus far: