DIY-focused Hart String 40V Brushless String Trimmer with Attachment Function
If you're ready to cut the cord or kick the can to trim your strings, Hart's cordless option might catch your eye at Walmart. Both 20V and 40V platforms are available in a variety of options. Today we're taking a look at their best model – the Hart 40V Brushless Cord Trimmer with Attachments.
advantage
- powerful
- great running time
- 40V platform and available hookups go deep
- 5-year warranty
- Easily available at Walmart
shortcoming
- Vibrates more than other models
- The included battery charger is slow
The Hart 40V Battery Operated Cord Trimmer cuts 15" strips using a 0.095" wire. That's pretty much the average cut diameter and wire we've come to expect from a powerful battery-operated string trimmer. It also supports 0.080 inch wire. Although it won't add thicker growth, the head will hold more lines and improve your run times.
Using a thick 0,095-inch wire, the brushless motor produces 5562 RPM, on par with most other residential models we tested.
In terms of actual cutting power, the Hart 40V Brushless Wire EDM is very powerful. It just hangs there and doesn't feel underpowered like some brushed and low voltage models.
The equipment will vibrate obviously when cutting. It's on the same level as some of the other trimmers we've used. Most premium models do have harmonics improved to reduce vibration, and this is an area Hart could work on.
Runtime and Charging
Using the 4.0Ah battery, we were able to run for over 30 minutes on high settings. That's much better than most other residential models. We're perfectly happy with anything longer than 20 minutes, and getting to 30 would be great.
The Hart includes a fairly basic charger (though, "basic" is relative in the world of brushless Li-ion tools). The advantage of this is that the charger does not take up much space and can be stored in a drawer when not in use. It's no speed demon, though. It takes approximately 4 hours to charge a 4Ah battery.
Hart 40V Brushless Wire Harness Trimmer Design Notes
Use and exchange accessories
The Hart HLST031 allows you to remove the trimmer head and attach any number of different attachments. Cultivator, blower and edger attachments are sold separately. Because Hart uses a common attachment system, you can use products from different platforms. This only increases the possibilities of this system.
Swapping attachments is a pretty standard thing. The connector is coupled to the motor at the midpoint of the shaft. The attachment locks into place, then tightens it with the thumb wheel.
There are many different ways of doing the locking system, but this is a tried and true style that has been around for a long time. By avoiding anything that deviates from the norm, Hart maintains its general applicability.
high speed and low speed
Like many battery powered cord trimmers, the Hart gives you two working speeds. Low is effective in Asakusa and extends your run time. However, we've found that when we don't need full power, it's easiest to keep the trimmer running at high speed and use its variable speed trigger to lower the RPM.
The trigger safety is a push type, and you can activate it from either side, making it really ambidextrous. The only downside is that it was a bit stiff in our testing. It may loosen with prolonged use.
weight and balance
The Hart 40V Brushless Cord Trimmer has an average weight for this class of tool – just under 12 lbs with batteries connected.
Since the Hart 40V Cord Trimmer can operate a wide variety of attachments, the brushless motor is located on the rear of the unit along with the battery. Moving weight to the rear isn't as balanced as a front motor, but it's a tradeoff we accept with all accessory systems.
In this case, however, it's no big deal. This trimmer does feel a bit heavy on the back, but the motor and battery really don't want to dive into the grass like a swan. Instead, they provide an easy balance for light heads. This helps avoid arm fatigue in the long run. That is, every accessory you install changes the point of balance.
Easy-fit trimmer heads and guards
The manufacturers all seem to have found a way to eliminate the hassle of loading strings into the heads. Hart's version works as well as most. Simply line up the arrows on the trimmer head, insert the cord, pull it to the middle point, and ratchet it back to a usable length.
The guard on the Hart 40V Brushless Cord Trimmer has a wider design than a narrower size to better protect you from rogue lawn shrapnel. The tradeoff here is that it doesn't provide the best visibility for trimming applications, but the Hart has a trimming attachment that's much faster than using the trimmer head.
Hart 40V Brushless Wire Harness Trimmer Price
You can get a Hart 40V battery string trimmer, along with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, for $194. Hart also includes an impressive 5-year residential use warranty. Notable is the inclusion of that 4.0Ah battery. Most brands of trimmer kits come with 2.0Ah or 2.5Ah batteries, which give you more capacity. For most lawns under 1/2 an acre, mowing and blowing can most likely be done on a single battery.
the bottom line
The readily available Hart 40V Brushless String Trimmer has plenty of power and runtime to get the job done, and it offers a fairly solid list of compatible tools and accessories. It doesn't have a great fit and finish, and it vibrates more than other models. However, it is proving itself to be a workhorse, and its 5-year warranty tells us Hart is confident this build will last for a long time.
Hart 40V Brushless Cord Trimmer Specifications
- Model: Hart HLST031
- Power supply: Hart 40V battery
- Maximum speed without load: 5600 rpm
- Maximum Wire Diameter: 0.095 inches
- Cutting Tape: 15 inches
- Weight: 8.7 lbs, 11.79 lbs with 4.0Ah battery
- Warranty: 5 years for tools, 3 years for batteries
- Price: $194
For more information on this and other HART tools, click here.