Compact Trimmer

There’s a new breed of trimmer on the market--the small, cordless hand-held trimmer. It is designed primarily to fill the needs of people who have small yards, patios or decks and don’t need a full-size electric or gas trimmer. It is particularly useful for condo dwellers.

Several firms produce these trimming and grooming machines and most are priced between $30 and $40.

We tested the Clip Quik model from Weed Eater, which operates on a rechargeable, self-contained, 6-volt battery. It proved ideal for close-up trimming around tree trunks, flowers and shrubs. It was also useful for trimming around sprinkler heads and between paving stones.

The Clip Quik comes with a plug-in recharger. It is compact and easy to store and weighs only about 2 1/2 pounds. It has no blades; it uses precut nylon line cartridges instead.