Score! Found a barely-used DeWalt trimmer for $40 - worth it?

Hey yall, was at a garage sale this morning and snagged a DeWalt 20V MAX String Trimmer (DCST970) for only $40! The guy said he used it once and then got a robot mower. No battery or charger though. I already have a few DeWalt 20V batteries from my drill. But I've been using a gas trimmer forever - is this thing gonna be a letdown? Seems like a steal but I don't wanna waste my time.

Nice grab, Sarah! I've restored a few of those. For $40 you can't go wrong. The DCST970 is a solid trimmer – loads of torque for a battery unit. Just make sure the head spins freely and the shaft isn't bent. I'd check the trigger mechanism too; sometimes they get sticky. But even if you need to drop $20 on parts, you're still ahead. Pair it with a 5Ah battery and you'll get a good 30 mins of heavy trimming. Definitely better than messing with gas mix and pull cords.

Sarah, you did good! I'm all about saving a buck. I've been using a similar DeWalt trimmer for 2 years now – bought it refurbished for $50. For light to medium trimming it's perfect. My advice: keep your blade sharp and don't let the grass get too tall before you trim. Also, if you have a 4Ah or bigger battery, it'll last long enough for most yards. Worst case, you can resell it for more than $40 if you don't like it.

Thanks guys! I gave it a quick test spin and it runs smooth. Gonna take Steve's advice and check the head. I've got a 5Ah battery so should be good. Definitely beats dragging out the gas trimmer for the little edges. Appreciate the tips!