weed wacker question

[ArlyA]

is 105 the max string diameter of bump cutter head? i may step up from 95

I believe it is.

 

[ning]

95 & 105 are ok for lawn grass, but anything that's grown at all above that needs more.

I inherited a Ryobi 18v cordless trimmer and it works fine around our lawn area, but the old Echo gets the majority of play time with the 155 or the blade because I can't be arsed to regularly go around acres of stuff cleaning up... I just wait for the end of growth and do it once. I've been seriously thinking about getting a couple goats to help... no sparks from hitting rocks at least.

 

[ArlyA]

95 & 105 are ok for lawn grass, but anything that's grown at all above that needs more.

I inherited a Ryobi 18v cordless trimmer and it works fine around our lawn area, but the old Echo gets the majority of play time with the 155 or the blade because I can't be arsed to regularly go around acres of stuff cleaning up... I just wait for the end of growth and do it once. I've been seriously thinking about getting a couple goats to help... no sparks from hitting rocks at least.

Strings don't mind rocks and of course, don't spark.

 

[ning]

Strings don't mind rocks and of course, don't spark.

Yes, but they're not as self-directed and self-motivated as goats, either. Then again that's not necessarily a bad thing...

 

[big bubba]

goats are great about keeping down green. but hard on landscape plantings, & then there's fencing... the idea of portable containment for goats is interesting, occasionally i see outfits like that for hire. thanks to the replies here, i have a few ideas on how to handle my initial question, regards

 

[Tinhack]

Cut from the top down in high stuff. Once it's lower then use a sweeping cut. Cutting at the bottom of tall grass will nearly always result in a wrapped head. I use a DeWalt 20v trimmer. I can do around the house, trees, five sheds, barn and several tractor attachments on one battery charge. It has 2-speeds, but I cut on the low speed to conserve the battery. It's still enough power/speed to cut the wildest weeds.

 

[dieselscout80]

Cut from the top down in high stuff. Once it's lower then use a sweeping cut. Cutting at the bottom of tall grass will nearly always result in a wrapped head. I use a DeWalt 20v trimmer. I can do around the house, trees, five sheds, barn and several tractor attachments on one battery charge. It has 2-speeds, but I cut on the low speed to conserve the battery. It's still enough power/speed to cut the wildest weeds.

I have a Ridgid 18 volt weed eater with the 2 speed and I like it as does my wife.

 

[sd455dan]

Not an answer to your situation, but I only use hand held weed wackers for light duty work. I use a wheeled string trimmer that takes .190 size line. This is more than double the thickness of most hand held trimmers.

I was doing that too- walk behind string trimmer but the Briggs blew up. Also have one of the early "Dangerous" DR self propelled brush cutters, that DR quit making because of being sued.

It is a darn Good tank of a unit no plastic anywhere on it, and is safe with a responsible operator, but right before the walk behind string trimmer threw a rod the electric start bendix stripped ( Also a Briggs )

I need to get that DR up and running again and maybe try out a predator for the string trimmer.

 

[jyoutz]

I was doing that too- walk behind string trimmer but the Briggs blew up. Also have one of the early "Dangerous" DR self propelled brush cutters, that DR quit making because of being sued.

It is a darn Good tank of a unit no plastic anywhere on it, and is safe with a responsible operator, but right before the walk behind string trimmer threw a rod the electric start bendix stripped ( Also a Briggs )

I need to get that DR up and running again and maybe try out a predator for the string trimmer.

My echo wheeled trimmer engine also crapped out after many years. Last year I replaced the engine with a Honda because the rest of the unit is still in great condition.

 

[big bubba]

Cut from the top down in high stuff. Once it's lower then use a sweeping cut. Cutting at the bottom of tall grass will nearly always result in a wrapped head. I use a DeWalt 20v trimmer. I can do around the house, trees, five sheds, barn and several tractor attachments on one battery charge. It has 2-speeds, but I cut on the low speed to conserve the battery. It's still enough power/speed to cut the wildest weeds.

correct, as i see it now. technique rather than my blaming equip design. i'll see if removing guard makes a difference as well

 

[Tinhack]

I need to get that DR up and running again...

You can have mine if you come and get it. I repowered it a few years ago and included electric start. Found a great price for the B&S engine at Surplus Center.

 

[ArlyA]

Wasn't the op asking about weak whacking with a gas powered machine? Walk behind mowers have limited use and for different terrain. No goats seen on our trails either.

 

[jyoutz]

95 & 105 are ok for lawn grass, but anything that's grown at all above that needs more.

I inherited a Ryobi 18v cordless trimmer and it works fine around our lawn area, but the old Echo gets the majority of play time with the 155 or the blade because I can't be arsed to regularly go around acres of stuff cleaning up... I just wait for the end of growth and do it once. I've been seriously thinking about getting a couple goats to help... no sparks from hitting rocks at least.

My wheeled trimmer will take 190 size string.

 

[cj7]

Whew!

All this reading about weedwackin made me tired.....!

I used cut high grasses on a steep bank at my old place. FS84 with string. Did a good job but took time.

Moved and now have a little dewalt 20v. Use it 2 maybe three times a year.


Id say let the stuff grow if you can!


Be safe!!!

 

[ArlyA]

Yes, but they're not as self-directed and self-motivated as goats, either. Then again that's not necessarily a bad thing...

What percent of people here can use goats? Renta goat? I'd guess it's less that 10%.

 

[ultrarunner]

goats are great about keeping down green. but hard on landscape plantings, & then there's fencing... the idea of portable containment for goats is interesting, occasionally i see outfits like that for hire. thanks to the replies here, i have a few ideas on how to handle my initial question, regards

Goats are a huge business here...

But they work under contract booked at least a year in advance on tight schedules.

The herd dogs are key in addition to the mostly South American herders.

Roving flocks with hundreds are here one day and gone the next...

Cities now endorse for transitory vegetation management regardless of zoning but a property owner desiring to keep a few may be prohibited from keeping by zoning

 

[etpm]

I modified my weed whackers to use a carbide toothed saw blade. I have lots of blackberries and salmon berries. The salmon berries have really woody canes so a blade is necessary to cut them down unless they are new growth. I start near the top of the canes and move down as I swing the cutter head back and forth. I then run the blade under ground a few inches to cut the root ball from the roots. My rocky soil dulls the carbide teeth of course but amazingly to me they still keep cutting. I buy the saw blades on sale and have never paid more than ten bucks for one. All steel blades are a waste of time to use because the teeth round off in minutes.
Eric

 

[kenmbz]

agreed, what I use:

Amazon.com

 

[ultrarunner]

Any shortcomings being 8" día?

 

[kenmbz]

Any shortcomings being 8" día?

takes longer than my old brushcutter that has the 10", but my Stihl FS110 specs that size.
YMMV.

The FS110 has a nice metal shield, and is a lot lighter that my old bc, so can use the shoulder strap vs. the full harness, and I last longer..