String Trimmer Tricks?

[Gem99ultra]

I suppose I've been using a string trimmer for something over 25 years. That said, I still have not learned how to keep tall grass and/or vines from wrapping around the head. Anyone with a tip on this or any other 'pro' tip, please share your knowledge.

 

[txdon]

I put what I call the helicopter blade on when I'm weed wacking tall grass and vines. I hit the tall grass high and work my way down.
Amazon.com : AR-PRO 12" x 3 Teeth Steel Brush Blades for Cutter, Trimmer, Weed Eater | Made from Carbon Steel, Cuts Like Butter : Garden & Outdoor

 

[Carl_NH]

as TXdon says start high and work down on the material is what I do. But the other thing is the head design. I have an Echo and a Tanaka and the Echo head has a gap between the head and the spool which wraps grasses and vines in a few seconds - I was constantly stopping and unwrapping grass/vines.

The Tanaka which has a close tolerance head design and unless its really in thick material doesn't wrap much at all.

 

[CobyRupert]

As other note, cut off shorter lengths instead of cutting at bottom of stalk where stalk just falls/folds and gets wound up.
Do it in 2 or 3 strokes starting near the top and work down to base level so there are no long stalks to get wound.

 

[mikester]

Keep the head angled to the ground and take smaller bites with the string. If your bites are too large the falling grass has nowhere to go but land on your trimmer strings and then they get wound around the trimmer head.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Sometime stilt your trimmer head side to side, I have less wrapping issue at high rpms vs low rpms, also I have found that keeping the grass fed to it at a faster rate wraps less. Then again I have a weedeater that isn't lacking for power and that helps immensely, I also use .105 or .090 line which also seems to not wear as fast and knock stuff down well.

 

[bcp]

I put what I call the helicopter blade on when I'm weed wacking tall grass and vines. I hit the tall grass high and work my way down.
Amazon.com : AR-PRO 12" x 3 Teeth Steel Brush Blades for Cutter, Trimmer, Weed Eater | Made from Carbon Steel, Cuts Like Butter : Garden & Outdoor

I hope it doesn't "cut like butter." Have you ever tried to use butter to cut weeds?

Bruce

 

[ArlyA]

We've operated string cutters on trails for many, many years each summer and here is a few things we have learned. We must operate them at max speed or they don't cut worth a hoot. If your not working among buildings or plants, you hope to not hurt, larger diameter string is better. We've ran .155 string for years but are now trying to upgrade to .180 that's recently came out. Nonetheless, some stringy weeds are he&^$ll to cut and will wrap up on your head. Dry conditions will reduce that and as others have suggested, more cuts will reduce but not eliminate that grief. Some plants are just harder to cut!

I should add that we've used every steel blade made and still have them here today. We went back to heavy string as mentioned above.

 

[oldballs]

Overall, i like the.090 string in my Stihl FS90 handle bar brush cutter. It seems like the .105 string is brittle and breaks off at the head when it hits a hard object....like a rock or post. I have used the saw blade the helicopter blade and others for woody growths...up to about an inch. The tall grass I follow the routine that others have mentioned ....cutting high and working down so wrap around doesn't happen.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Thomas]

If you don't have blade try cutting tall grass half way down than close to ground,as others said shorter string high rpm's go slow works well.