After market string trimmer head options that actually work

[nickel plate]

I have one and I love it...

dave,
I used it yesterday for the first time and was amazed how well it performed. Ran it for about 30 minutes and the strings are the same length as when installed however they have a roughed up feel to them but not any broken off. Back when I bought the JD the string was just round like spaghetti-now the strings have cutting edges-great improvement.
For ducks and kind of a NASCAR pit stop drill, I un-loaded and re-loaded fresh strings in the four head posts and it took about a minute and a half.
I also have the shoulder harness with the bungee cord and WOW! No more hefting that JD around with my arms alone. Some may think what a wuss but after shoulder surgery and yet the other side is getting worse, the simple harness is a weed eating life saver.

 

[KubotainNH]

What did you get for a shoulder strap?

 

[nickel plate]

What did you get for a shoulder strap?

Go to: The Trimmer Assist - Strap For String Trimmer
Pretty plain and simple-send the guy a small amount of money and weed eat in pleasure. Looks like it will fit all of our eaters.

 

[KubotainNH]

Doesn't get much simpler than that. Strap with balls...lol. :laughing:

 

[wirenut]

dave,
I used it yesterday for the first time and was amazed how well it performed. Ran it for about 30 minutes and the strings are the same length as when installed however they have a roughed up feel to them but not any broken off. Back when I bought the JD the string was just round like spaghetti-now the strings have cutting edges-great improvement.
For ducks and kind of a NASCAR pit stop drill, I un-loaded and re-loaded fresh strings in the four head posts and it took about a minute and a half.
I also have the shoulder harness with the bungee cord and WOW! No more hefting that JD around with my arms alone. Some may think what a wuss but after shoulder surgery and yet the other side is getting worse, the simple harness is a weed eating life saver.

Please, a question for you Piviot-trim guys......does the line really not break on hurricane fence?

 

[flusher]

I am so tired of switching out various mega footage string trimmer spool heads and still winding up with tightly raveled "bird's nests". I have followed the directions time and time again-still wound and bound up!
I see that there are several aftermarket spool manufactures out there that offer spools that fit almost any straight shaft weeder that you only load two to four sets of 8"+- (buy pre-cut from them or cut your own from standard string stock) string per application and once destroyed, re-load in a minute or so and have at it again. Please offer up what works for you, brands and model numbers.

I used those bump type heads on my Tanaka TBC245PF string trimmer for about 6 years. When it crapped out, I was shopping for a replacement when I noticed the type of head that uses precut (16.5" long) strings. Bought one this season and haven't looked back--much more convenient than that bump unit which was a bear to reload.

 

[nickel plate]

Please, a question for you Piviot-trim guys......does the line really not break on hurricane fence?

I don't actually know what hurricane fence is so I'll assume its chainlink, or woven wire. String is string-the attachment head just holds the string so I don't think from that standpoint the pivotrim is any better than all of the others however the pivotrim does have four rotating string pins which may add to the existing string "slap" that all string heads have, just try to find and use quality string (if there is such a thing).
Let me ask you this: How long does it take or how many feet of fence before you have to bump or replace your string? Knowing that, I can run a similar test-that may help us find the answer however even if I run with just two loaded pins, that's four strings in action.
The main reason I bought it was for the ease of replacing the strings which are simply one foot pieces of "you-cut" .095" or .105" string of your choice. No having to shag down any special OEM replacement string.

 

[wirenut]

Let me ask you this: How long does it take or how many feet of fence before you have to bump or replace your string? Knowing that, I can run a similar test-that may help us find the answer however even if I run with just two loaded pins, that's four strings in action.
The main reason I bought it was for the ease of replacing the strings which are simply one foot pieces of "you-cut" .095" or .105" string of your choice. No having to shag down any special OEM replacement string.

Hurricane fence is also chain link fence. I have a couple of hand held string trimmers, and a Troy Bilt 6HP walk behind which uses .155 size line. Trimming around chain link fence can "jerk" or grab the line and rip it right out breaking it off at the attachment point. If you are not careful, it will happen as soon as you get started. So it is possible to break it after just 1 foot. I find I get more control with the walk behind, walking backwards. Seems I am more able to stop it from grabbing. On TV they show the Pivot type completing several hundred feet without changing the line. Is this really true? Thanks.

 

[nickel plate]

Hurricane fence is also chain link fence. I have a couple of hand held string trimmers, and a Troy Bilt 6HP walk behind which uses .155 size line. Trimming around chain link fence can "jerk" or grab the line and rip it right out breaking it off at the attachment point. If you are not careful, it will happen as soon as you get started. So it is possible to break it after just 1 foot. I find I get more control with the walk behind, walking backwards. Seems I am more able to stop it from grabbing. On TV they show the Pivot type completing several hundred feet without changing the line. Is this really true? Thanks.

wirenut,
No chainlink anywhere out here in my area, it's all orchard, cattle and horse country so I can't run the PivoTrim as in your situation. We're going up to our Mariposa property next week and have a lot of mowing and string trimming to do so I will run a test using pre-cut PivoTrim line vs. a Shakespere bulk line to see if there is any significant difference between the two.
We have lots of sharp edged granite, stout saplings and some metal tee posts to work around amongst the weeds. Not exactly your scenerio but an obstacle structured string test nevertheless.
I still have the original PT strings at the original string length on the PT head and have trimmed our one acre home property with similar obstacles for I would say just over an hour with no string replacement so you won't see me going back to a bump head anytime soon.
For the test up in Mariposa which is far more vegetation dense I'll load with new PT pre-cuts (they included a second set in the purchase package) and fresh Shakespere cut-to-length pieces.

 

[Creamer]

When I bought my Stihl trimmer I go the Easy Cut head - let's just say I am less than impressed. While it works fairly well and i can put 20' of string in it (full) and not have it not up it also takes three hands or two and a vice to wind it in so that it does work because it takes two hands to turn it and somebody else to keep a little tension on the string. I usually use Stihl string but it works the same with other string.
I have tried the little plastic blades head for this trimmer but was very disappointed in performance and the vibration is dramatic if one blade gets damaged.
I bought the Stihl trimmer because I so loved my Stihl chainsaw which I have had about 16 years now and it works like a dream. I have never been happy with the string trimmer because even though I bought the 4 cycle engine for low vibration it still has very excessive vibration in my opinion even though the dealer says it is normal. My lower right arm goes numb if I use it for more than twenty minutes without a break. If I put the shoulder strap on it just pounds and I cannot wear ear muffs. So even though it starts and runs very well and cuts like a banshee I do not recommend it or the Easy Cut head.

 

[JimRB]

When I bought my Stihl trimmer I go the Easy Cut head - let's just say I am less than impressed. While it works fairly well and i can put 20' of string in it (full) and not have it not up it also takes three hands or two and a vice to wind it in so that it does work because it takes two hands to turn it and somebody else to keep a little tension on the string. I usually use Stihl string but it works the same with other string.
I have tried the little plastic blades head for this trimmer but was very disappointed in performance and the vibration is dramatic if one blade gets damaged.
I bought the Stihl trimmer because I so loved my Stihl chainsaw which I have had about 16 years now and it works like a dream. I have never been happy with the string trimmer because even though I bought the 4 cycle engine for low vibration it still has very excessive vibration in my opinion even though the dealer says it is normal. My lower right arm goes numb if I use it for more than twenty minutes without a break. If I put the shoulder strap on it just pounds and I cannot wear ear muffs. So even though it starts and runs very well and cuts like a banshee I do not recommend it or the Easy Cut head.

Ear plugs do not work? They come in different sizes if you happen to have small or large ear canals.

I get buzzy fingers after a few hours of using my old Stihl FS66 with an Autocut head. I do a full load which is pretty easy to do even with that head which is probably 21 years old. The trimmer was sold in 1991.

 

[Creamer]

Ear plugs do not work? They come in different sizes if you happen to have small or large ear canals.

For some reason the vibration comes through the strap and it is a pounding inside my head and this is the only way I get that. It does not matter if I use ear plugs or ear muffs. I just leave the strap off and use ear muffs to protect my hearing but it sure would be nice to be able to use a strap to support the trimmer weight.

 

[Scooby074]

For some reason the vibration comes through the strap and it is a pounding inside my head and this is the only way I get that. It does not matter if I use ear plugs or ear muffs. I just leave the strap off and use ear muffs to protect my hearing but it sure would be nice to be able to use a strap to support the trimmer weight.

Try a 4 point forestry harness.

It allows the weight to be carried by your shoulders and it does a great job of isolating the vibs.

I have one on my spacing saw. It would be impossible to use it without that strap.Duo-Balance 35 Harness - Harnesses

 

[JimRB]

For some reason the vibration comes through the strap and it is a pounding inside my head and this is the only way I get that. It does not matter if I use ear plugs or ear muffs. I just leave the strap off and use ear muffs to protect my hearing but it sure would be nice to be able to use a strap to support the trimmer weight.

I notice and feel noises and vibrations that are always there but are noticed differently when wearing ear protection. Earlier in the thread someone posted a link to The Trimmer Assist - Strap For String Trimmer which uses bungee cords to attach the trimmer to your shoulder harness. I was looking for bungee material yesterday to try it out. It would seem that the bungee is going to dampen some of the vibrations that a directly attached harness would transmit. My Stihl has a shoulder harness and I also have the big harness like Scooby shows for running a saw blade on the Stihl. The Husky trimmer has no harness and it is not the pleasure of the Stihl with the handlebar. I will sometimes wear the Stihl vibration gloves. Anti-Vibration Gloves - STIHL USA I also like bicycle gloves with Sorbothane. Some call them gel inserts. Deprecated Browser Error is a glove that has gel. Sorbothane is a cool product also used in baseball gloves.

If that sound transmission does not go away with bungee suspension then you might get some Sorbothane from McMasterCarr. The plain-back strips at 2" wide would be a perfect width for a harness when covered with a simple cloth cover with some velcro. McMaster-Carr

 

[nickel plate]

Another feature of the bungee cord on the Trimmer Assist is that I can thrust the trimmer forward into the weeds without having to walk forward or the strap wanting to rotate across my shoulder.
I too looked into buying bungee cords and harness material and making my own strap but in this case the possibility of it not working after spending practically as much and maybe more as just outright buying a Trimmer Assist was too much of a risk, after all the guy that designed it is a pro landscaper so I felt better in this case to just follow his lead. Glad I did.

 

[HarryN]

Well Nickel Plate, the Pivotrim seems real logical. I've been fooled before and I've been looking around for something that works too!
So, I ordered one today. Hope it works as well as described. Thanks...

 

[nickel plate]

Well Nickel Plate, the Pivotrim seems real logical. I've been fooled before and I've been looking around for something that works too!
So, I ordered one today. Hope it works as well as described. Thanks...

Did you order the same as mine as they do have several levels of product. The 5101PT-C, (or the 5101PT told it was the same model as the latter) retails for around $30.00. It is sort of ivory with a black ringed perimeter-probably a harder impact plastic and red/orange string attachments.
Please stay in the thread and let us know your findings as it seems that I am the only one (non-stockholder) who touts this thing.

 

[Creamer]

Didn't mean to hi-Jack this thread but I sure appreciate the ideas on the harness for the string trimmer. I will be trying some of them - haven't decided what yet but I sure learn a lot from this. Thanks!

 

[HarryN]

Nickel, I ordered the "Pivotrim Pro Trimmer Head". Directly from manufacturer. Not sure what the part number you listed. It was $29.95 and free shipping. Also got an email that it had shipped today too!

 

[nickel plate]

Nickel, I ordered the "Pivotrim Pro Trimmer Head". Directly from manufacturer. Not sure what the part number you listed. It was $29.95 and free shipping. Also got an email that it had shipped today too!

That's the one, Harry.