Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Weed Whackers...an exercise in futility.🤬

Had an $80 Homelight for about 20 years until the little plastic bulb disintegrated. Good little machine. Then bought a 60 volt Dewalt trimmer and that thing is a beast. Never have to mix gas or worry if it will start. If anything it’s a little too big for my current yard.

Don't run it wide open all the time. When you do the string melts and won't feed. The string wears out prematurely and breaks off in the head. Run it fast enough to cut what you are cutting, grass doesn't require wide open to cut. I learned it years ago.

That’s bull schit

I do that.

I had a stihl several years ago, I am pretty sure it was a lemon, could seldom get it to start, I gave it to the best small engine, 2 stroke ( boat mechanic) that I know, he couldn’t get it to start consistantly either. I bought an echo, it can sit a year, and always starts right up. The string/ feeder issue is another situation,it works ok, but can be frustrating. By the way, I have 2 Stihl chainsaws that have never failed to start right up, even after sitting for years. I burn the expensive ethanol free 2 stoke mix.

I have an old Craftsman 4 stroke that has not given me any trouble at all. It's over 15yrs old maybe 17. It's have never failed to start, ever.

It doesn't have the bump feed for the trimmer line but you feed in a pc of precut line on the head. It's a bit more time to get going but it's a very dependable system.

Mine sucks, too. You know you have to occasionally sharpen the blade that cuts off the string, right?

Another gem.

May I ask what model trimmer you’ve gotten by with all these years?

You’re old enough to die but seem to be struggling with a new-to-you endeavor.

Roundup is my friend. One, maybe two applications per growing season.

This.

https://www.oregonproducts.com/en/oregon-trimmer-head-replacement%2c-4-1-2-inch-speed-feed%2c-fits-most-straight-shaft-trimmers-%2855-265%29/p/55-265

That's expensive. Replacement trimmer head for my Echo was about $20. Of course, I had an Echo trimmer,, so I didn't need all the adapters.

Winner

Glyphosphate with a side of 2-4-D

Couple years ago SimonKenton got one of those Kobalt battery mowers.
He was happy, so in the spring, I followed suit. Most of my grass needs a gas tractor, but around the house...
I got a Kobalt 40v for around the house. I was really pleasantly surprised how well it did! With the bagger on, it did a really nice job. I bought an extra battery, and kept the thing clean and the blades sharp. Us Rednecks do stuff like that.
The next spring I got a Kobalt weed trimmer which used the same batteries. Sorta tricky to reload with string, but I figured it out.
Nice and light, and it does a helluva good job, especially around the vineyard my sister-in-law put in on the ground!
Both of them I’m well impressed with.
Depending on much you’re doing, you might wanna check this out at Lowe’s.
7mm

Yep expensive but for guys that have issues w heads they are the cats meow.

Overall I’m partial to Echo and Husky products but my Sthil weed whip runs fine. If the string breaks that isn’t the weed whips fault. Chain link fencing eats string. Feather the the throttle around hard objects.

Wide open is fine as long as you’re not running it into trees, or other hard objects. The string isn’t going to melt. It’ll break obviously if you strike hard objects.

Love my Stihl KM 111R. It's a beast of a machine and hasn't given any issues in 7 years.

Ordered it.

Talk to someone at a power center. Ask em what they recommend for weed eating along concrete and asphalt.

Some lines will do better in this type of environment.