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Who's in love with their string trimmer HEAD?

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Who's in love with their string trimmer HEAD? DerbyDad03 05-07-2008
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Posted by DerbyDad03 on May 7, 2008, 10:05 am
I read the entire thread "Who's in love with their string trimmer?"
and there was minimal mention of the head itself.

Of the various trimmers we've had over the years, both electric and
gas, the trimmer head always seems to be the biggest PITA.

The "Bump and Feed" style never semed to work efficiently and were a
pain to reload. The pre-cut snap-in cords were also a bit of a pain.
We currently buy the spools and cut our own for the replacement head
on our gas trimmer, but loading them doesn't seem as easy as it should
be.

The reason I ask is that my 16 YO daughter is taking over her
brother's lawn mowing clients and will need to use the trimmer on a
regular basis. My son always hated fighting with the trimmer head and
I know my daughter will too.

Since I won't always be around to help her, I'd like to get her a
trimmer head (preferably Bump and Feed) that actually works.

Any ideas?

Posted by BobR on May 7, 2008, 10:42 am
> I read the entire thread "Who's in love with their string trimmer?"
> and there was minimal mention of the head itself.
>
> Of the various trimmers we've had over the years, both electric and
> gas, the trimmer head always seems to be the biggest PITA.
>
> The "Bump and Feed" style never semed to work efficiently and were a
> pain to reload. The pre-cut snap-in cords were also a bit of a pain.
> We currently buy the spools and cut our own for the replacement head
> on our gas trimmer, but loading them doesn't seem as easy as it should
> be.
>
> The reason I ask is that my 16 YO daughter is taking over her
> brother's lawn mowing clients and will need to use the trimmer on a
> regular basis. My son always hated fighting with the trimmer head and
> I know my daughter will too.
>
> Since I won't always be around to help her, I'd like to get her a
> trimmer head (preferably Bump and Feed) that actually works.
>
> Any ideas?

I have had several string trimmers over the years since they were
first introduced and must admit they held the biggest promise and
worst delivery of any power tool I have ever seen. I have yet to find
one that would feed the string properly or didn't break off the string
inside the head every 5 minutes. There can't possibly be a more
annoying tool on the market. I can't make a recommendation because I
have yet to find one that works with any dependability.

What I have considered and using instead of the nylon string is
replacing the string with a short length of stranded metal cable. I
have seen some plastic replacements for the string advertised but
don't feel they would endure any sustained use. Stranded cable would
not break and could easily be replaced. A small crimped clamp could
be placed over the end inside the head to retain it in place.
Replacement would take a lot less time than trying to get the ends of
the string untangled when it breaks inside the head and you wouldn't
have to replace more than a couple of times per season.




Posted by S. Barker on May 7, 2008, 10:50 am
I like the bump heads on the stihl. They actually use a seperator between
the two lines as opposed to having them intertwined with one another.
Having any of the heads work properly is as simple as proper loading. Take
the time to do it in an orderly fashion, and they'll feed properly until
they're empty.

steve

>I read the entire thread "Who's in love with their string trimmer?"
> and there was minimal mention of the head itself.
>
> Of the various trimmers we've had over the years, both electric and
> gas, the trimmer head always seems to be the biggest PITA.
>
> The "Bump and Feed" style never semed to work efficiently and were a
> pain to reload. The pre-cut snap-in cords were also a bit of a pain.
> We currently buy the spools and cut our own for the replacement head
> on our gas trimmer, but loading them doesn't seem as easy as it should
> be.
>
> The reason I ask is that my 16 YO daughter is taking over her
> brother's lawn mowing clients and will need to use the trimmer on a
> regular basis. My son always hated fighting with the trimmer head and
> I know my daughter will too.
>
> Since I won't always be around to help her, I'd like to get her a
> trimmer head (preferably Bump and Feed) that actually works.
>
> Any ideas?



Posted by S. Barker on May 7, 2008, 10:55 am
Forgot to mention. I have worked at a lawn and landscape company for 13
years and we've always used one size bigger string than what the trimmer
called for. The Stihl's we use come with .095 and we always use the .105
string in them. As for breaking off inside the head, well that's from
improper loading and/or getting the string caught on something. Chain link
fences are hell on string, keep that in mind. Our guys will use a string
trimmer perhaps 4 to 5 hours a day and only go through about three quarters
to one full load of string in the spool. Each stihl spool holds about 12
feet of string on each side of the divider. We also use the 5 sided twisty
line when we can get it.

steve


>I read the entire thread "Who's in love with their string trimmer?"
> and there was minimal mention of the head itself.
>
> Of the various trimmers we've had over the years, both electric and
> gas, the trimmer head always seems to be the biggest PITA.
>
> The "Bump and Feed" style never semed to work efficiently and were a
> pain to reload. The pre-cut snap-in cords were also a bit of a pain.
> We currently buy the spools and cut our own for the replacement head
> on our gas trimmer, but loading them doesn't seem as easy as it should
> be.
>
> The reason I ask is that my 16 YO daughter is taking over her
> brother's lawn mowing clients and will need to use the trimmer on a
> regular basis. My son always hated fighting with the trimmer head and
> I know my daughter will too.
>
> Since I won't always be around to help her, I'd like to get her a
> trimmer head (preferably Bump and Feed) that actually works.
>
> Any ideas?



Posted by BobR on May 7, 2008, 11:16 am
> Forgot to mention. =A0I have worked at a lawn and landscape company for 13=

> years and we've always used one size bigger string than what the trimmer
> called for. =A0The Stihl's we use come with .095 and we always use the .10=
5
> string in them. =A0As for breaking off inside the head, well that's from
> improper loading and/or getting the string caught on something. =A0Chain l=
ink
> fences are hell on string, keep that in mind. =A0Our guys will use a strin=
g
> trimmer perhaps 4 to 5 hours a day and only go through about three quarter=
s
> to one full load of string in the spool. =A0Each stihl spool holds about 1=
2
> feet of string on each side of the divider. =A0We also use the 5 sided twi=
sty
> line when we can get it.
>
> steve
>
>
>
>
>
> >I read the entire thread "Who's in love with their string trimmer?"
> > and there was minimal mention of the head itself.
>
> > Of the various trimmers we've had over the years, both electric and
> > gas, the trimmer head always seems to be the biggest PITA.
>
> > The "Bump and Feed" style never semed to work efficiently and were a
> > pain to reload. The pre-cut snap-in cords were also a bit of a pain.
> > We currently buy the spools and cut our own for the replacement head
> > on our gas trimmer, but loading them doesn't seem as easy as it should
> > be.
>
> > The reason I ask is that my 16 YO daughter is taking over her
> > brother's lawn mowing clients and will need to use the trimmer on a
> > regular basis. My son always hated fighting with the trimmer head and
> > I know my daughter will too.
>
> > Since I won't always be around to help her, I'd like to get her a
> > trimmer head (preferably Bump and Feed) that actually works.
>
> > Any ideas?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I have had the best luck with the bump head units but the problem of
break off inside the head has been constant frustration. I have tried
loading as carefully as possible with no overlapping but still have
the break off problem. Not using around any wire fence but do use for
edging which is where it most frequently breaks. The only reason I
can think of is getting wedged between concrete and dirt during use.
I will try the larger string option and see if it helps. (Sure as heck
can't hurt.)


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