ECHO Trimmer Line Rant

[Wamsutta]

ECHO Black Diamond trimmer string ***** ***! I can't go 3 feet without having to bump the trimmer head.

That's because the stuff doesn't hold up to concrete worth a damn. It will cut grass just fine but don't try to edge a sidewalk with it.

I had three 20 foot sections of string ready to go and used ALL OF IT ON ONE HOUSE. I hate that stuff!

 

[mreisner]

Did you try soaking it in water before you used it? Seriously it can make a big difference. 

 

[Wamsutta]

No I didn't soak it in water. Does that help?

 

[john.k]

Stihl trimmer cord is the best ...........Incidentally ,I also use Stihl cord for lacing flat belts for cone pulley drives ....very tough.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'll get the STIHL next time then. I have a STIHL trimmer and it's awesome. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[mreisner]

No I didn't soak it in water. Does that help?

Absolutely. I use the Stihl line myself, and I believe the package I had last time had a note in there about doing that every now and then. Definitely makes the line more pliable and less brittle and I believe keeps it in a condition that it doesn't bind up in the head also. I never would have believed it until I tried it myself either!

 

[JeepYJ]

I prefer the Echo Black Diamond over the Stihl trimmer line.

Stihl trimmer cord is the best ...........Incidentally ,I also use Stihl cord for lacing flat belts for cone pulley drives ....very tough.

 

[Steve_P]

Project Farm did a trimmer line test.

 

[Wamsutta]

Project Farm did a trimmer line test.

Yes and he left out the Black Diamond.

 

[Firebrick43]

He left out a lot of lines. I find the Stihl yellow/green .095 X line much better than the orange Stihl .095 round line.

Water helps string life as it softens it. Sounds counter intuitive but if the plastic is dry and hard its also brittle. In that state instead of wearing the line of it actually breaks of pieces and does so quite quickly.

 

[rct]

I have found the closer to round shape, the longer the line lasts against concrete. Everyone is making line with sharp edges for better cutting, but that makes the core thinner. I tried the fancy echo line once, it just shrinks away against hard surfaces, switched to a generic hone depot line that's almost triangular which is lasting longer. Avoid gimmicks, get a fat line with less edges.

 

[scooby074]

Stop hitting the cement! lol.

But if you cant, soaking can help although I dont do it myself. Try the Sthil "Carbon" line. Ive also had good luck with the Shakespere Triangle "yellow" line from Home Depot.

The Oregon Gator line is amazingly tough, BUT if you slip up and contact the siding, you will have a hole in it. It doesnt mess around. Great for the course grass though

 

[Wamsutta]

If Black Diamond was the only trimmer line in the world, the stick edgers would be flying off the shelves.

 

[L.Cheapo]

If Black Diamond was the only trimmer line in the world, the stick edgers would be flying off the shelves.

I've been using the .095 Echo Crossfire line since the 90s. No complaints. Also works great for cleaning out car sunroof drains.