What is best Weed Eater for woman?

[4570Man]

I think most women could start a gas trimmer, if they wanted to. My wife is a tiny creature, and not abnormally strong (I don't think?) And starts all the stuff; pole chainsaw (she can't get much else done with it though), leaf blower, weed eater, and pressure washer. The only thing she can't start is the generator. The pressure washer is over 200cc and if she cant get it started in the first two or three pulls she calls me.

I can’t imagine most women not being able to start a weed eater as long as it was a good one that started in a few pulls. Not being physically able and not wanting to is a different set of problems.

 

[strantor]

I can’t imagine most women not being able to start a weed eater as long as it was a good one that started in a few pulls. Not being physically able and not wanting to is a different set of problems.

Agreed. That's not be construed as a vote for insistence on women using gas lawn tools, just a suggestion that they can. After reading through this thread I'm tempted to get an electric one for the wife, just in hopes of less complaining...

...who am I kidding? The real reason is because it sounds a whole lot easier, and I'm the one doing the trimming most often, and who doesn't like their life easier?

 

[dragoneggs]

I can’t imagine most women not being able to start a weed eater as long as it was a good one that started in a few pulls. Not being physically able and not wanting to is a different set of problems.

But everything surrounding 2 cycle vs 4 cycle gas, using the choke and what to do when you flood it makes small engine tools a pain in the arse for most let alone a female that is not used to them.

Good for all you guys that have strong armed women that don't mind grease and mixing gas. I guess it is the chauvinism (not to be taken as a negative) in me passed down from my father. I prefer my wife not to have to deal with such things but I do enjoy her helping out in the yard which she gladly does.

 

[Bearsixty7]

My Echo PAS 225 starts in 1 or 2 pulls and isn't much resistance to pull start. My 18+ yr old craftsman 20 mower (neighbor back then just gave it to me 16 yrs ago as he wanted a new one) will start on the first pull (it does have the old primer button on the carb though). My wife can start either but usually just uses the mower for a little bit of clipping collection in the bagger to put in the compost pile.
I don't change spark plugs but once a year or 2, sometimes 3 years. I do add Quickshot fuel treatment every time I fill the fuel cans (with 87 octane up to 10% Ethanol) and I only use Amsoil 2 stroke oil in the 2 stoke fuel can at 64:1 or 2 ounces per gallon (It's labeled for up to 100:1). I think too many people add the wrong amount of oil and that is why many 2 stokes are difficult to start and maintain.

I may check out the battery powered versions soon as my son (and possibly my wife) might appreciate it for the mowing jobs he does.

 

[Grumpycat]

You are asking for trouble if you think you could or should make that decision for her.

The fact you are asking suggests she would not be happy with a full size heavy noisy vibrating gas trimmer. So take her to the store and let her pick anything she wants. Look for something with readily available batteries and get a spare so one can be charging when the other is in use. 6 hours/week is a pretty good bit of string trimming.

I have an EGo trimmer. Is full size. Is powerful. Is heavy. Also have an older 48V Worx which has only a single cutting string of 0.080" vs the dual 0.095" fo the EGo. The Worx is maybe half the weight so it gets the job done much easier and battery lasts more than long enough.

 

[strantor]

But everything surrounding 2 cycle vs 4 cycle gas, using the choke and what to do when you flood it makes small engine tools a pain in the arse for most let alone a female that is not used to them.

Good for all you guys that have strong armed women that don't mind grease and mixing gas. I guess it is the chauvinism (not to be taken as a negative) in me passed down from my father. I prefer my wife not to have to deal with such things but I do enjoy her helping out in the yard which she gladly does.

Oh now I didn't say anything about grease or mixing gas. She won't mix the gas for the irrational fear I accidentally instilled in her. I was only trying to stress the importance of making sure you put the mix gas (not the plain gas) in the 2 cycles, in the same breath as how you determine the amount of oil per gallon, and I guess what she heard was "if you get this ratio even slightly wrong, 39:1 or 41:1, you'll burn up every tool we have and probably kill yourself in the process."

I stay so far behind on the simplest of life's demands that I'll take whatever help I can get. I gave up trying to handle all the traditionally male chores a long time ago. It only makes sense; she only works half the year and I work 60+ hours/wk avg, sometimes more sometimes less. I would let her change the oil in my truck if she would deign to crawl under it. I would have more faith in her work than those untrained apes at jiffy lube.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Best guess is that it would work 6 hours a week on average. Pick best weed wacker for a woman or short person is complicated.

A Goat

 

[RBLapham]

I have an EGo battery trimmer, one advantage is the easy replacement of the string.

 

[Mat4644]

For hand held trimmers it doesn't matter if 2 or 4 stroke they're all temperamental cold. Even the Honda I own. The DR I have with Brigs just push full throttle and pull one or two times. Hot, cold or sitting for 3 months it doesn't matter. Easiest starting gas engine I've ever owned.

 

[crashz]

I've had a variety of weed eaters and electric is by far the easiest and quietest to operate. If you want to save money and don't mind a cord, that would be the lightest. I had a Ryobi that lasted 20 years. I still might have it, I don't remember throwing it away, but haven't seen it in quite awhile. All the gas models are a pain in the butt, especially after sitting all winter!!! I'm now using a Makita cordless and I really like it a lot. It takes two batteries, so there is some weight to it. I can do my entire yard on just those two batteries. So far, I have never ran out of power or needed to change batteries while using it.

Don't tell Eddie, but I think I have his old Ryobi. JK! I have had this old 18v one string Ryobi forever and it honestly does every I need it to do. It won't run a blade, but for general trimming it really works well. At my old house, a fully charged battery would make it an entire month (4-6 cutting/trimming days). The new house is a full charge per trimming, but I have a lot more to trim. My only complaint would be a compliment for a short person. Its about 3 inches too short. Extended all of the way, I have to stoop just a little.

 

[RalphVa]

I can’t imagine most women not being able to start a weed eater as long as it was a good one that started in a few pulls. Not being physically able and not wanting to is a different set of problems.

My wife is pretty strong. She cut up a 100 yard long pile of debris left by the storm of 2018 and cut down invasives and downed trees among them on about 5 acres, with battery chain saws. She cannot start even our lawn mowers. The one she uses has electric start. It failed recently, and she could not start it.

Ralph

 

[RalphVa]

One other thing that stringed grass whips need to be woman friendly is an easy way to put new windings in. Neither the Porter Cable 20v one nor the Kobalt 40v ones we have are friendly. You have to rewind the line by hand. The Kobalt has 2 lines that wind simultaneously. No woman friendly. Need to be able to buy rewind inserts.

Every other time I use the Kobalt, I have to put new windings in it.

Ralph

 

[4570Man]

One other thing that stringed grass whips need to be woman friendly is an easy way to put new windings in. Neither the Porter Cable 20v one nor the Kobalt 40v ones we have are friendly. You have to rewind the line by hand. The Kobalt has 2 lines that wind simultaneously. No woman friendly. Need to be able to buy rewind inserts.

Every other time I use the Kobalt, I have to put new windings in it.

Ralph

A speedfeed head is the only way to have a weed eater head. I can’t believe they’re not industry standard by now. Aside from being a breeze to load they spool out correctly without jamming up. How to Easily Load Speed Feed Trimmer Line - YouTube

 

[powerstroke444e]

Milwaukee m18 string trimmers are the one we have been having good luck with, also like the pole saw attachment.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Best thing is to mulch everything so weed eating isn't so much, but I have transitioned over to everything battery powered.
Growing up, grandparents lived next door, I've seen my 4'11" grandmother dig up tree stumps. It would take her a few days using what looked like kids gardening tools.

 

[4570Man]

Best thing is to mulch everything so weed eating isn't so much, but I have transitioned over to everything battery powered.
Growing up, grandparents lived next door, I've seen my 4'11" grandmother dig up tree stumps. It would take her a few days using what looked like kids gardening tools.

It’s more work to keep the grass out of the mulch vs just weed eating a little.

 

[ericm979]

My wife likes her Black and Decker battery string trimmer. It's fine for the small stuff but it can't handle thicker weeds and grass. We have Stihl FS75 and FS240 two stroke trimmers/brush cutters. She's used the FS75 but she's not got the patience to start it or mix fuel for it. She's more mechanical than many women- she'll do plumbing and change the oil in cars and motorcycles. But if the FS75 doesn't start in a few pulls she gets frustrated. The battery eliminates that. She burnt out the first B&D trimmer's motor because she removed the guard. On the second one she was going to remove it again but saw the big warning "DO NOT REMOVE GUARD OR MOTOR WILL OVERHEAT" and I talked her out of doing it anyhow. Now she does the garden and the area around it and I use the FS240 everywhere else.

6 hours/week is a lot of string trimming! Consider a harness. And making some of the area mowable by tractor.

 

[RalphVa]

A speedfeed head is the only way to have a weed eater head. I can’t believe they’re not industry standard by now. Aside from being a breeze to load they spool out correctly without jamming up. How to Easily Load Speed Feed Trimmer Line - YouTube

Had not heard about this one. Will check it out for potential replacement of the head on the Kobalt.

Thanks.

Ralph

 

[Bearsixty7]

A speedfeed head is the only way to have a weed eater head. I can’t believe they’re not industry standard by now. Aside from being a breeze to load they spool out correctly without jamming up. How to Easily Load Speed Feed Trimmer Line - YouTube

I thought they were industry standard, I have an Echo with it and the only issue is after a few years that "Arrow" is ground off, You just have to look through the spool for light passing through to line it up.

 

[RalphVa]

Ours are old. BTW, the smaller one is a B&D. Ran over it when it fell out of the FEL. Haven't tried to use it since. Much lighter weight than the Kobalt.

Ralph