WORK APPARATUS

A work apparatus has a drive motor for driving a work tool and has a control unit for the drive motor. The operating device includes an actuating element actuated by a user. The actuating element is mounted in a movable manner in a housing and can be adjusted in an actuating direction between a zero position and a maximum position. An intermediate stop acts between the zero position and the maximum position. The position of the intermediate stop is settable via a setting element. After the intermediate stop has been reached, the actuating element can be actuated further as far as the maximum position. The operating force (F) for further actuating the actuating element increases when the intermediate stop is reached. Provision is made for the operating force (F) to drop again upon further actuation of the actuating element after the intermediate stop has been overcome.