Weed wacker - extending string life

[Eagle1]

Just don't mix them up, I imagine Cat5 is as bad for mowing as trimmer line is for signal propagation.

Very true but I trimmed around a 12ac pond, 50 RVs & their sites and assorted tent sites for almost 20 years. Add trimming around the the 4 other ponds, creek and other steep areas and we used go through one of those spools in less than 2 years. No I'm doing as little trimming as possible, to point of ripping out flower beds so I don't have to..

 

[snowfarmer73]

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.

trimmer line is nylon and when hydrated it makes it stronger as nylon over time gets brittle so soaking it in water hydratesit and makes it stronger so it won't break so easily and it lasts longer

 

[ultrarunner]

Hah, you just made me think that my bulk trimmer line storage location atop the wall header and jammed between the rafters just under a hot metal roof might not be the best location. I have a fully air-conditioned shop, but that space isn't unlimited, and outdoor tools and supplies usually stay out in the un-insulated shed.

I learned long ago items kept inside my service van often succumbed to heat… like paint can lids opening, rubber gaskets and my mounted Honda Generator…

The gas powered tools kept in the walk to daylight basement seem to keep best… it’s dry and cool with very little temp swing…

The metal garden shed is the worst except for picks and shovels…

 

[mjonesnh]

Have 628 ft of privacy fence at my house in TN along with assorted buildings. 41 acre farm in KY. Most of my trimming at house is with Glyphosate and at farm. No way would I attempt trimming with just a string trimmer and brush blade. Maybe 15 minutes /wk. with string trimmer at house and a couple times a year at farm with brush cutter.

 

[IXLR8]

When I am trimming around trees, shrubs and walk ways, I use the Echo 0.95 Black Diamond line. It cuts well and isn't too noisy. When I have lots of rocks/rock walls to trim around, I use the Oregon Magnum Gatorline as it has an inner core of Kevlar, or something like that. It stands up to the abuse better, but it doesn't cut as well as the Echo and is noisier.

 

[ultrarunner]

The Black Diamond line is not as loud as other lines I have used.

I can’t say it’s the best ever but it’s my current favorite.

My brother uses the cam lock on the farm and I asked him why… simple answer is some of the guys can’t reload a bump head… he had a guy hired to trim for the day and all started fine…

My brother left to do another chore and when he came back the guy was fussing around a good 45 minutes not able to load line.

With the cam lock no instruction or tutorials needed…

 

[ultrarunner]

Some of the worst lines I’ve used would weld themselves together when cutting nonstop.

It’s always been round line that gets hot enough to fuse together.

Only hit a ground nest once… got many stings from kamikaze wasps that time…

 

[newbury]

I wish I could find my trimmer line. I put it some place where it wouldn't get lost. I'm sure it's not lost. I just can't find it.

Unless it was a lifetime supply just buy another, As soon as you can't return the new one the misplaced one will turn up.

 

[drssg]

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.

IME, the biggest variable in breaking the line is the patience of the operator. The END of the string is what does the cutting. If you take your time, the end will gradually wear down, and then you can pull out some more.

If you put the head right up against what it is supposed to cut, it is more apt to break off. It is especially important to leave space between the head and any uncuttable object.

Your problem may be different, but this is what I've seen.