String trimmer as saw and pitchfork.

[JimCan]

Like most of you, I have used a string trimmer since maybe the 1980s. At the time (date?) little red ones from Japan were the nuts. But, I have always really hated string trimmers as being too fiddly ..but useful in certain situations, like around my wife's flower beds, stones, and other hard surfaces. I recently found two situations where they were totally out of their league, offering only marginal performance - no matter the 'latest sensational Youtube string revue'. I have ~800' of deep side drainage ditch and 400' of shallow frontage ditch.

The side has been unaddressed for maybe 15yrs. Much was shoulder-high and dense. Everything: Poison Ivy, cedars, pines, a variety of berries - some with very fine fishhooks, water reeds ...basically all sorts of c'hit. I would back my flail mower as close as I dared and then got out a machete, chainsaw, pole saw, and weedwhacker to get over the edge.

I saw a cheap adaptor on Amazon to switch out string for a skill saw blade. That was 100s times better than string! The pole saw got the big and deep stuff, but the skill saw blade got down deep and dirty. I only got ~400' before it got too hot, but my life only got easier. Given it worked so well along the side, I put on my boots and walked in the center of the frontage ditch. It also gets overgrown pretty quickly with water-type reeds with a thick base like celery, grasses, and other knarly stuff the string only marginally dealt with.

This is where the saw/pitchfork comes in. I can sweep the bottom from right to left and flick a glob of c'hit up onto the bank. The carbide blade has been used a ton (feels like..) of hours with only a couple of chipped teeth. It easily cuts into the loamy damp soil and allows me to get a deep cut, rather than superficial 'trim'. God, I wish I would have known this for the last 35yrs here!

Anyway, I hope someone finds this useful. At 78, I don't know how many 'ditchyears' there are left. Cheers.

Jim

 

[sea2summit]

Yep, have three styles of blades now that I use for their specific application. Very rarely use strings, mostly for stuff right up on the house where I don't want to ding up siding.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Yep! Small branches and large bushes are also no match for the sawblade on a stick!

 

[ArlyA]

We run larger strings .155 today but trying to up it to 170. These will cut young frees and shoots. We tried but gave up on all other blade systems. Here is a thread which these are talked about.

trail clearing technique and tools

 

[nyone]

I used a 3 tipped blade once..until I tried edging along my foundation..then went back to string. I have been useing the husqvarna platinum thick and expensive stuff.

 

[Wagtail]

I used a 3 tipped blade once..until I tried edging along my foundation..then went back to string. I have been useing the husqvarna platinum thick and expensive stuff.

The 3 tipped blade is part of my arsenal of trimmer attachments... it has a specific purpose in my ongoing/never-ending battle with bracken. Bracken has a 'woody' stem that fair eats any thickness of string.

I also use the 3-blade for saw-grass.

 

[sea2summit]

I used a 3 tipped blade once..until I tried edging along my foundation..then went back to string. I have been useing the husqvarna platinum thick and expensive stuff.

Not until last year did I discover that not all three blades are created equal. Really recommend the project farm videos, he does an excellent job at attempting scientific testing of all sorts of things. He’s spent a lot of my money and so far I haven’t regretted it.