Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

Masterforce isn’t a household name around here in Central Florida, but it certainly is in America’s Heartland where you can find it at your local Menards. Today we’re taking a deeper dive into a relatively new category for the brand: lawn care equipment. Specifically, the Masterforce 20V 12-inch string trimmer is our subject.

Masterforce equips this string trimmer with a brushless motor that delivers between 5,800 and 7,000 RPMs using a variable speed trigger for control. That is on the higher end as speed is concerned but it’s necessary for maintaining an effective cut with its lighter 0.080-inch line and 12-inch cutting swath.

We did the majority of our testing with the throttle wide open and it performed better than we expected for a string trimmer in the 12-inch class. As a smaller model, we expect it to primarily take care of your weekly maintenance trimming and it does that just fine, but it can handle more than just the light stuff. You can also give it a boost by refilling the head to a premium line, such as Echo’s Cross-Fire.

Running at full speed with a 4.0Ah battery, we ran for 25 minutes and 23 seconds continuously. That’s plenty of time for maintaining up to 1/3 or even 1/2 an acre depending on the number of landscape elements you’re working around.

There is some noticeable vibration in the handles when you’re running this string trimmer. The shaft absorbs a lot of it, so it’s not a bad experience. However, there are some higher-end trimmers on the market with more advanced vibration control technology.

We noticed right off the bat the weight of this string trimmer…or lack thereof! It’s a true featherweight, tipping the scale at just 7.25 pounds with a 4.0Ah battery. With many battery-powered options well over 10 pounds, Masterforce’s design is a relief to your back and arms.

There’s an adjustable auxiliary handle to help you set it the way that’s easiest for your reach. Regardless of where you put it, the minimalist rear design and lighter-than-average battery make this a forward-weighted string trimmer. That’s okay, though. We’d rather have the additional weight on the front to keep the trimmer head down than fighting too much weight on the back.

As we mentioned already, Masterforce’s trimmer head uses 0.080-inch line and it’s a dual-line head. Refilling the line is a manual process. You need to remove the cover, wind the line on by hand, thread each end through the holes in the cover, and snap the cover back in place.

Much like others on the market, the Masterforce 20V 12-inch string trimmer has a split-shaft design. However, that’s primarily designed to help with the packaging and shipping, so don’t plan on folding it down for storage. Doing so can introduce some frustration with the constant removing and installing screws and can also introduce some wear on the power cable over time.

You can snag this string trimmer at your local Menards or Menards.com for $89.00 as a bare tool and $139.99 as a kit. The kit includes a 4.0Ah FlexPower 20V battery and charger. Masterforce covers this string trimmer with a 3-year warranty. Menards runs frequent sales and rebates, so keep your eyes open for an even better deal.

Looking at the overall landscape of what else is out there, Masterforce offers a compelling value for the performance you get from this string trimmer.

With solid cutting performance and runtime for its size, the Masterforce 20V cordless string trimmer is a great choice for homeowners who prioritize light weight and high value.

Click here to check out the full Masterforce lineup.

Having worked in the automotive and metalworking trades, Josh has even found himself core drilling commercial properties for purposes of surveying. His knowledge and love of tools are exceeded only by a greater love for his wife and family.

A fan of all things that can stretch him mentally, Josh quickly dives into new products, tools, and product testing with ample amounts of both enthusiasm and precision. We look forward to many years of growth alongside Josh as he settles into his role at Pro Tool Reviews.

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros