Petrol or Electric Garden Machinery

GARDEN · GLOBAL

Petrol or Electric Garden Machinery

Where each suits, fuel and storage, two-stroke mixing and safety

The choice between petrol, corded and battery machinery is mostly about how much you cut and how far it is from a socket.

Where each suits

Battery tools have taken over small and medium gardens — quiet, no fuel, instant starting, and limited by runtime. Corded suits a small garden near a socket and needs an RCD.

Petrol still wins for large areas, long sessions, heavy cutting and anywhere with no power. It is louder, heavier and needs maintaining.

Two-stroke fuel

Two-stroke engines run on petrol mixed with oil at the ratio in the manual, commonly 50:1. Running one on unmixed petrol destroys it within minutes, which is the most common expensive mistake.

Mix in a proper container, label it, and use it within a few weeks, since modern petrol degrades. Pre-mixed alkylate fuel keeps far longer and burns cleaner.

Storage

Store fuel in approved containers outside the house, never in a cellar or under stairs. Drain or stabilise the tank before winter, and store machinery dry.

Safety

Eye protection and hearing protection for anything loud, sturdy boots, gloves and close-fitting clothing. Never refuel a hot engine, and never run a petrol engine in a garage or a shed, since exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide.

Keep people and pets well back from a strimmer, which throws stones and glass at speed.

Battery machinery

Choose one battery platform and stay with it, since the batteries are most of the cost. Check the amp hour rating against the job, and keep a spare charging while you work.

Store batteries indoors at around half charge over winter rather than in a cold shed.

Hiring

For a once-a-year job, hiring is a fraction of the purchase price and gives you a maintained machine. Tool libraries exist in many areas.

Pressure washers

Start at distance with a wide nozzle and work closer only if needed. Close range strips pointing, soft brick, render and wood, and forcing water into a wall causes damp.

Never point one at anyone, and keep it away from windows, vents, lights and air bricks.

Noise and neighbours

Petrol machinery is loud enough to damage hearing over time and to irritate everyone nearby. Wear ear defenders, check any local rules on running times, and keep sessions reasonable.

Battery tools solve most of the neighbour problem entirely.

Servicing

An annual service on a mower or a chainsaw costs little and prevents the failures that happen in the busiest week of the year.

Maintenance

Clean the deck and air filter, sharpen blades and check the spark plug, since a blunt blade tears grass and strains the engine.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop JCB Tools? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop JCB Tools — official site

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