Season Arrives! Stable Makita 40VMAX for Grass Cutting — Starting the Season with 2024 Model Year Specs

The outside temperature has dropped sharply and weed growth has settled down.
Now is the time to cut, so is it also time to buy a grass cutter? Perfect timing?

2024 Model Year Grass Cutter Specs — I tried lightly cutting weeds on a slope (embankment).

There’s a world of difference between 18V and 40V.

Since I don’t use it that frequently, I initially purchased an 18V split motor.
As I used it, I started wondering, “Is this just how it is?”

Simply put,
“I can’t do anything too rough like removing thick weeds and branches carelessly,”
and “the battery runs out quickly.”
I ran into these issues.
Ultimately, with 18V there’s no torque, so I often had to increase the rotation speed to cut grass.

This year I splurged and switched from 18V to 40V.
The difference was obvious— “Why didn’t I go with 40V from the start?” That’s the level of difference I felt.
It reminded me of the same feeling I had when I bought my first DSLR camera.
Entry-level models work fine in some cases, but higher-end models really are different.

Moreover, a dedicated integrated trimmer is definitely better than a split motor.
Grass cutting situations and frequency vary from person to person, so it’s hard to say definitively,
but I think “having torque and making things easier is better.”
Simply put, the issue of owning batteries is significant, and I think most people stick with 18V.
Adding 40V on top of that means extra cost, so you’d hesitate about the investment.

Thinking about it that way, maybe starting with 18V is the better choice.

I recently introduced the Ninja Strap.

When it comes to grass cutting, I refer to the “WASABI Channel”
for grass cutting ideas.
The Makita-supplied strap is generally inconvenient, so
I’ve been troubled by this for a while, but recently that channel introduced a convenient-looking strap, so I quickly tried it out.

Belt widths come in 25mm and 38mm.
Since grass cutters are heavy, the wider 38mm is best. The narrow one digs in and becomes uncomfortable.

This belt was originally designed for cameras to allow quick raising and lowering.
It’s easier to shoulder and lower the grass cutter, and you can quickly adjust the height when needed.
I wish I’d known about this item sooner.

It can’t be used as-is, so The North Face (brand pricing)

I wanted to make it as easy to attach and detach as possible while keeping it as secure as possible.
Finding something that reconciles these contradictory requirements took considerable effort.

I used the internet to find a nice The North Face keychain.
THE NORTH FACE (The North Face) Keychain TNF Key Keeper Long NN32435 Black

True to The North Face style?
The Ninja Strap costs 4,000 yen, but this strap was about half that price, so
I hesitated a bit.

In the end, wasting time searching was pointless, so I went with this.
The usability has been excellent and it’s working smoothly so far.
With this, the belt itself is easy to attach and detach, so the convenience has increased significantly.

Toilet-bowl-shaped? The debris guard is excellent but requires some adjustments

The STACK sticker-tuned debris guard really catches the eye!

Kitamura Manufacturing Nylon Cord Debris Guard G-Catcher ZGT-H200W200D120

It’s convenient to attach and detach, and significantly reduces the scattering of cut grass.
However, there’s one issue: because it’s so easy to attach and detach, anything touching this guard causes it to move.
It’s just out of arm’s reach, so I have to lower the grass cutter every time.
If they added clamps and stoppers to prevent movement, it would significantly increase its combat effectiveness.

As an item, I think it’s quite excellent.

The classic Darwin Grip! Dramatically improves operability

Amazon sells similar affordable alternatives, but I’ve gone with what’s supposedly the top-tier Darwin Grip.

The handle comes forward, making it extremely easy to use.
Your waist, neck, and shoulders all feel more comfortable, so if you buy a grass cutter, you should definitely get one.

There’s an affordable alternative on Amazon called a Trimmer Grip that’s also quite effective.
The Darwin Grip allows position adjustment without tools, making it simple.
The Trimmer Grip requires tools and is a bit more hassle.

It may just be a grass cutter, but surprisingly many custom parts are being released, and it has high expandability.
It might be one of those tools that tickles the fancy of guys.
Please consider this as a reference for the autumn grass cutting season.