Skil Brushless 40V 14 IN. String Trimmer Kit

Why I reached for the Skil 40V trimmer

I’ve used enough cordless trimmers to know the difference between “good enough for light touch-ups” and “legit gas-replacement for a typical yard.” The Skil 40V trimmer lands closer to the latter than I expected. It’s light, quick to charge, and plenty strong for turf edges and weekly maintenance—yet it carries a couple of caveats that are worth understanding before you buy.

Setup, charging, and first impressions

Out of the box, setup is simple. The straight shaft has a foldable hinge, which keeps shipping size down and genuinely helps with storage. The hinge locks up tight; I didn’t notice any flex or rattle once it’s latched. The tool itself is 6.8 lb bare. With the included 2.5Ah 40V battery on board, you’re in the ~9 lb range—very manageable for longer sessions.

The 150W charger is on the fast side for this class. Full charges of the 2.5Ah pack took right around an hour in my shop. The Auto PWRJUMP feature is the real convenience win: from empty, I consistently saw about 15–17 minutes to reach roughly 30%, which was enough to finish the last bits of a job without breaking stride.

Skil wraps the battery cells with a cooling material to help manage heat; the pack does warm up under heavy trimming but cooled quickly after charging. As a rule, I store the battery off the tool and in a ventilated space—good practice for any lithium pack—and I noticed less self-discharge when it’s not left clicked into the tool.

Power and runtime

The brushless motor delivers a confident amount of torque for a 14-inch trimmer running 0.080-inch twisted line. It’s not pretending to be a brushcutter, but it absolutely handles weekly grass trimming, edging, and light-to-moderate weeds. Stalky, woody growth is doable if you take your time and keep the cutting head parallel to the ground.

Runtime depends on how hard you lean on the trigger. On a quarter-acre lot with normal grass growth, I had no problem finishing all trimming and edging on a single battery, usually with charge to spare. If you’re trimming heavier weeds or constantly running full speed, budget for 20–30 minutes of continuous runtime per battery. The variable-speed trigger is linear and predictable, which helps stretch runtime when you don’t need full blast around delicate areas.

Noise is low enough to skip hearing protection in short bursts, though I still prefer to wear it. Vibration is minimal compared to many cordless heads.

Ergonomics and balance

Overall balance is good. The auxiliary handle adjusts easily, and the straight shaft suits taller users well. The trigger and safety interlock are intuitive, and the guard is sized properly to keep debris down without feeling bulky. There’s no dedicated edger wheel or head rotation mechanism, but flipping the trimmer to do vertical edges is straightforward and the motor has enough control for clean sidewalk lines.

The foldable hinge is a small but welcome feature. I hang most string trimmers in the garage, but if you need to tuck this under a shelf or into a closet, the hinge cuts down the length noticeably without compromising rigidity in use.

Cutting head and line management

Skil’s Twist Load head and dual-line bump feed are designed to reduce the usual spool headaches. When everything’s working right, it’s quick: line up the arrows, feed the line through, and twist to load. The dual-line bump feed advanced reliably most of the time in my testing, and trimming with twisted 0.080-inch line gave clean cuts with less fray.

Here’s where the tool’s biggest weakness shows up: the head hardware. The plastics on the faceplate and bump surface are on the softer side. If you habitually bump on concrete or along stone edging, the nose wears faster than I’d like, and packed debris can eventually interfere with smooth feeding. I also had a couple of sessions where the bump feed became finicky toward the end of a spool; reloading fresh line (and making sure both legs were equal length) solved it, but it’s something to watch.

Tips that improved reliability for me:
- Stick with twisted 0.080-inch line as spec’d. Heavier 0.095 can work on some heads but reduces runtime and stresses the feed.
- Cut equal-length legs and avoid overfilling the head. Overstuffing causes binding.
- Bump on grass or soft soil when possible; avoid concrete contact to extend the head’s life.
- Every few uses, pop the cap and clear packed debris from inside the head.

If you’re particularly hard on heads or constantly trim against hardscape, consider swapping to a more robust aftermarket universal head. It adds cost, but it transforms the experience if you’re replacing faces frequently.

Weather resistance and durability

The trimmer is weather-resistant, and I used it in early-morning dew without issue. The electronics are well sealed, and the motor never complained after light moisture exposure. I wouldn’t run any cordless trimmer in a downpour, but this one handled damp grass fine.

In terms of long-term durability, everything north of the cutting head feels solid: shaft, hinge, handle, trigger, and guard all held up. The cutting head is the wildcard. Light-to-moderate use on lawns—no constant concrete bumping—should be fine for a season or more. If your yard is full of stone borders and you’re aggressive on edges, plan for faster wear or that head upgrade.

Storage and platform perks

The foldable shaft makes this one of the easier 40V trimmers to store in tight spaces. Skil’s PWRCORE 40 platform is growing, so if you own other 40V Skil tools, the battery compatibility is a plus. The claimed benefits of the battery’s cooling wrap aligned with my experience in warm weather: the pack kept its performance better on hot afternoons compared to a couple of generic 40V packs I’ve used on other tools.

One quirk: if I left the battery installed on the trimmer for long periods, I saw more noticeable idle drain than when the pack was stored off the tool. The simple fix is to click the battery out after you’re done—good practice anyway.

What it does best

• Weekly lawn maintenance and edging with clean results
• Quick bump-charge to finish jobs without waiting an hour
• Comfortable, balanced handling with low noise and vibration
• Space-saving storage thanks to the foldable shaft

Where it falls short

• Cutting head durability and wear on the bump face if you regularly contact hard surfaces
• Occasional finicky bump feed near the end of a spool if line isn’t loaded carefully
• Some idle battery drain if left installed on the tool between uses

The bottom line

The Skil 40V trimmer punches above its weight for homeowners who want cord-free convenience and enough power to replace a light gas trimmer. The brushless motor, variable-speed control, and 14-inch swath make quick work of lawns and typical weeds, and the charging system is among the more practical ones I’ve used. The Achilles’ heel is the cutting head: treat it kindly and it’s fine; hammer it against concrete and you’ll accelerate wear and invite feed issues.

Recommendation: I recommend this trimmer for small to medium yards, especially if you value fast charging and easy storage. It’s a strong fit for users who mainly trim grass and light weeds and who don’t routinely grind the head along hard edges. If you’re tough on cutting heads or your yard has lots of stone and concrete borders, budget for an upgraded head or consider a model with a more rugged factory bump assembly. With that caveat in mind, the overall experience, power, and platform convenience make it a smart, capable choice for most homeowners.