Walk behind line trimmers

[Ski]

How useful are they, or are they just another wast of time and space.

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[bobm6996]

I have a Craftsman walk behind and it is amazing especially if you have brush that needs knocked down. The string is very strong and holds up well. I use mine to trim up against farm fence because the strong string holds up unlike hand held trimmers. I have taken down some pretty big stuff with it and it manuevers really easy across any type of terrain.

 

[kf4uda]

I have a Poulan walk behind. I has been a very useful tool for me. I primarily use it to trim under fences. I have been impressed with its brush cutting ability. I still use my hand held trimmer around trees and such as it is easier and quicker but leave the heavier brush cutting and fence trimming to the walk behind. I will add that they are not so easy to maneuver on rough ground.

 

[creekbend]

I only have a Stihl hand held string trimmer with bicycle bars. BTW, Welcome aboard.

 

[coveredbridge]

I have a DR walk behind trimmer. I haven't used it in years. Instead, I just spray the areas I used to trim with Roundup extended control. Looks neater and lasts longer than trimming, and no more trimmings matted on my boots and pants.

 

[MoKelly]

I will add that they are not so easy to maneuver on rough ground.

This is an important observation. Unfortunately for me, the areas where a walk behind trimmer would be most helpful are areas that are quite uneven and rough. A walk behind is pretty much useless in these areas forcing the use of a carry trimmer.

If you have flat areas a walk behind would be great.

MoKelly

 

[Bird]

In May, 1998, I bought what was at that time the biggest, electric start DR trimmer/mower and also got the Beaver Blade for it. It was great. When we moved back to town four and a half years later (temporarily into an apartment), I sold it to a friend. One very nice thing was that my wife used it, when she never used the hand held string trimmer. It was great for trimming under the barbed wire fence around our 10 acres, and for cutting down saplings with the beaver blade.

I don't like the "looks" of the new ones, or of other brands, as well as the one I bought in 1998, but since I've not used any of them, they may be just as good, or ever better, as far as I know.

 

[brin]

I have a Craftsman walk behind and it is amazing especially if you have brush that needs knocked down. The string is very strong and holds up well. I use mine to trim up against farm fence because the strong string holds up unlike hand held trimmers. I have taken down some pretty big stuff with it and it manuevers really easy across any type of terrain.

bob....I have a Craftsman walk behind as well...bought it back in the 90's and it has worked great and still works great...hard to start sometimes but sure beats a hand trimmer...and like Bird said in his post...the best thing is my wife just loves to use it...

 

[TripleR]

I have a DR walk behind trimmer. I haven't used it in years. Instead, I just spray the areas I used to trim with Roundup extended control. Looks neater and lasts longer than trimming, and no more trimmings matted on my boots and pants.

Same here, a sprayer in the back of my Rhino works great and the trimmer hasn't left the shed in years.

 

[kensnelling]

I'll have to respectfully disagree with those who say they're no good on rough ground, on rough, uneven ground is where the push string trimmers shine. IF used properly. I have 2 of the cast aluminum bodied DR Trimmers, and they seem to have a better balance than the stamped steel model trimmers, so they may be easier to use right.

The main mistake most people make is to push the rotating trimmer head into the ground. Makes it difficult to push and manuver that way. Used properly, the trimmer head will just lightly touch or skim the ground, making it very easy to manuver. Again, the cast aluminum body may make the difference, a neighbor of mine has a Swisher with a stamped steel body and it feels slightly nose heavy to me.

The second mistake a lot of people make results in using a lot of cord. There is one right way and many wrong ways to insert the cord into the trimmer head. The correct way is usually the most difficult, but the cords last quite a while. My dumba** former son in law went through almost 50 feet of cord one tme inserting it wrong. Inserted correctly I only have to change cords once every 2 or 3 weeks.

Ken

 

[moored4]

:welcome: to TBN! :thumbsup:

Happy :tractor: ing!

 

[MikeFarm]

Same here, a sprayer in the back of my Rhino works great and the trimmer hasn't left the shed in years.

But grass and weeds do not evolve resistance to trimmers unlike glyphosate resistance which is becoming a major problem due to overuse. I am always very tempted to just get out the Roundup for the fence but I resist.

 

[DKCDKC]

I have an inexpensive push trimmer from TSC and it is perfect for cutting around a pond (where you shouldn't spray anyway) and amid rocks along my drive - places I can't get with my bushhog. On flat ground around the house and garden, it works well and is actually easier than my Stihl string trimmer, and the heavy whips last longer than I would expect.

Two negatives... It has to be cleaned out of brush bits every 20 to 30 minutes, which is a pain. And it is hard to push on really hard or uphill ground. Overall, however, it's a useful tool for specific things.

My first choice would have been a Troy Bilt sickle bar mower, but they stopped making them years ago. Worked like a charm, and self-propelled.

 

[pacerron]

bob....I have a Craftsman walk behind as well...bought it back in the 90's and it has worked great and still works great...hard to start sometimes but sure beats a hand trimmer...and like Bird said in his post...the best thing is my wife just loves to use it...

I agree with Bird and Brin. My wife uses a Craftsman with big rear wheels and it floats on the front hub. She trims the slope sides of the dam, around the other edges of the pond, around her flower beds, and many other places.. Buy the cord in a roll and cut some to length for spares. 30 seconds or less to change the cords. Usually starts on first pull after the primer bulb is pushed. This model is 15 years old, so it may not compare to the junk made today.
Biggest advantages over hand held... NO SORE BACK and MUCH FASTER

We use gallons of Round-up concentrate diluted in tank sprayers for fence lines and other areas but where you don't want brown or dead areas the string trimmer is great.

 

[pacerron]

Two negatives... It has to be cleaned out of brush bits every 20 to 30 minutes, which is a pain. And it is hard to push on really hard or uphill ground. QUOTE]

Think like a mule, adjust the handle height and pull it backwards uphill

 

[Bird]

There was another reason I bought the DR trimmer/mower when I did. I had carpal tunnel syndrome really bad; had surgery on both hands in the Fall of 1997. I had a good Stihl string trimmer at the time, but the doctor told me I needed to avoid equipment that vibrated, such as string trimmers and chain saws. So I sold the Stihl to one of my brothers and bought the DR in 1998. I thought back then, and still think, the DR is awfully expensive, but it was worth it to us.

 

[TripleR]

But grass and weeds do not evolve resistance to trimmers unlike glyphosate resistance which is becoming a major problem due to overuse. I am always very tempted to just get out the Roundup for the fence but I resist.

If that happens then I will come up with a plan B as we now have way too much fence and my walking days are long gone.

 

[Briana03]

Welcome to TBN

I moved your thread to the General Lawn & Garden Forum.