Weed wacker - extending string life

[Tpondel]

I have a Stihl weed wacker that I like but seem to break a spool worth of string every couple weeks.

What am I doing wrong? What’s the proper way to use it? Thanks.

 

[RjCorazza]

Supposedly, soaking/ storing trimmer line in water reduces line breaking. I personally don't see how that's possible and I don't do it.
Check the trimmer head eyelets for irregularities, or try a different brand and/or diameter of string.

 

[Thomas]

How old the string?
Can you post picture of trimmer head?

 

[bcp]

From:

STIHL Trimmer Heads and Line

What is the best cutting attachment for my application? How do I rewind my cutting attachment and what is the proper way to trim with a STIHL machine?

www.stihlproline.ca

"STIHL premium line will absorb 5% of its own weight in water. Trimmer line does tend to dry out over time and becomes more brittle. Storing it or soaking it in water will help reduce line breakage and make the line more flexible."


Bruce

 

[ultrarunner]

My current favorite for handlebar bump head trimmer line is Echo .105 Black Diamond.

Lots of serious cutting every Spring.

Around the house lesser quality works OK… but for heavy duty all day I started using Black Diamond…

 

[mjonesnh]

From:

STIHL Trimmer Heads and Line

What is the best cutting attachment for my application? How do I rewind my cutting attachment and what is the proper way to trim with a STIHL machine?

www.stihlproline.ca

"STIHL premium line will absorb 5% of its own weight in water. Trimmer line does tend to dry out over time and becomes more brittle. Storing it or soaking it in water will help reduce line breakage and make the line more flexible. "


Bruce

Keep all of my trimmer line stored in an old gallon ice cream pail filled with water. That stopped my line breakage. Using Rotary Black Vortex in .080 and .105 sizes.

 

[WinterDeere]

It depends a lot on what you're trimming around. Edging around mulched gardens, I can go a mile and never have to advance the string. But edging along my stone walls or loose rubble wall, I'm advancing string every few dozen feet. The rubble wall is the worst, because unlike a neatly-stacked stone wall, there's no chance to keep a consistent spacing between the stones and trimmer head.

Some of the more sharply-troweled stucco can really eat line, too.

 

[WinterDeere]

Keep all of my trimmer line stored in an old gallon ice cream pail filled with water. That stopped my line breakage. Using Rotary Black Vortex in .080 and .105 sizes.

What do you use to keep the water from turning green? Biology always finds a way...

 

[grsthegreat]

I ended up getting both the metal blade and the head with 3 spinning plastic cutting blades. They last forever it seams. I have 2 string trimmers, both Stihl. One keeps a string feeder. The other rotates between these cutting heads. I only use the string cutter in the thinner grasses and for the grass that comes up against the decorative stone blocks. The rest of the areas gets the blades.

 

[ultrarunner]

The 3 rotating Stihl knives cut like butter but snap if contact made with old fence wire or rock…

 

[grsthegreat]

The 3 rotating Stihl knives cut like butter but snap if contact made with old fence wire or rock…

Havnt had that issue with mine, and there pretty old.

But i do rend to use the metal blade more to cut thru the never ending saplings that pop up under fencing.

 

[newbury]

What would you experienced trimmer operators suggest for cutting back the "stuff" from the neighbors yard that grows thru the chain link fence that separates properties?
This is in Virginia where grass, vines, saplings, etc. have been growing fast.
Would one of those 3 plastic blade heads do well?
Herbicides are not permitted.
Trimmer of choice is my DeWalt Flexvolt.

 

[WranglerX]

What would you experienced trimmer operators suggest for cutting back the "stuff" from the neighbors yard that grows thru the chain link fence that separates properties?
This is in Virginia where grass, vines, saplings, etc. have been growing fast.
Would one of those 3 plastic blade heads do well?
Herbicides are not permitted.
Trimmer of choice is my DeWalt Flexvolt.

Chain link fence (or any "ground" fence) will eat trimmer line by the reel..... Wed burner may be answer....

 

[John0829]

From:

STIHL Trimmer Heads and Line

What is the best cutting attachment for my application? How do I rewind my cutting attachment and what is the proper way to trim with a STIHL machine?

www.stihlproline.ca

"STIHL premium line will absorb 5% of its own weight in water. Trimmer line does tend to dry out over time and becomes more brittle. Storing it or soaking it in water will help reduce line breakage and make the line more flexible."


Bruce

My last Stihl trimmer actually had it in the manual to soak the line before use

 

[Tpondel]

Great posts. Never heard the idea of soaking the line but makes sense. Plastic will get brittle.

Tomorrow AM it’s out to the barn to start soaking the lines.

 

[gsganzer]

Interesting, I've never heard of soaking the line in water. Learned something new.

 

[mjonesnh]

What do you use to keep the water from turning green? Biology always finds a way...

Change water in spring and fall. Lid locks pretty tight, have to pry up with screwdriver sometimes. Never had algae that I can recall.

 

[dodge man]

It does get old and brittle. I store it in a ziplock back with maybe a few tablespoons of water. My trimmer head will run 0.080 line or 0.095 line. I recently bought some 0.095 and it lasts longer even though you put less in the head.

I use mine to beat back the grass along my asphalt driveway and that breaks the line a lot quicker.

 

[WinterDeere]

Change water in spring and fall. Lid locks pretty tight, have to pry up with screwdriver sometimes. Never had algae that I can recall.

Cool. You put full 1000' spools in a bucket of water, or just enough for your next head change?

Like a few others here, I'd never even heard of doing this. I'm dubious as to it's effectiveness, but willing to give almost anything a try, once.

 

[LittleBill21]

I have a Stihl weed wacker that I like but seem to break a spool worth of string every couple weeks.

What am I doing wrong? What’s the proper way to use it? Thanks.

LOL on my property i go through 2 spools every time I cut.