Weedeater line

[Codyboy]

What are yall using thats worth a ****?

I have some blue Husqavarna branded line that is total junk. It breaks off a lot inside the head. So I have to stop and pull it apart to get going again.

Stihl FS56(?) trimmer is what I have. It has a double line head on it.

 

[cody1325]

Depends on what size line you use. While expensive as holy heck, the most indestructible and longest-lasting line for .095 heads I've found is the black, gray, and orange stuff Stihl sells.

 

[george4]

Had the best luck with Echo Black Diamond .105" on a double line head.

 

[JeepYJ]

Echo Black Diamond is superior to the Stihl in my experience.

 

[scooby074]

Echo Black Diamond. Best conventional line Ive ever used (Ive used lots), better than Stihl X green and the new black/orange CF stuff.

Best Ive ever used is Oregon's gator line with the "core". Tough as hell, but I only use it in the heavy areas away from the house, it will absolutely destroy vinyl siding with one slip.

 

[JuncleJohn]

Weedwackers are my least favorite lawn tool. I quit using them years ago. I get as close as I can with the zero turn and that’s good enough for me.

However my wife does use one for around her flowers. No idea what line she uses as she knows how much I dislike them.

John

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

My neighbors and I were talking about weedeaters the other day. We were all saying that the spool is such a pain in the *** to deal with. My neighbor was going to buy a whole new unit, but instead he drilled a couple of holes in the spool and routed some 10awg(ish) electrical wire through it. He said it works great and he has already done his yard twice on the same wire. Safety concerns of doing this are valid, but I'd probably do the same.

 

[JuncleJohn]

They sell a variety of attachments to eliminate the string. I just don’t like the concept of trimming the average lawn or acreage. It’s not that I’m lazy, just not that picky. I have other things I’ rather be doing.

John

 

[mikedodge]

I've tried multiple lines and most break. I'm using stuff now from amazon. cuts great, doesn't break but it likes melting onto itself in the head. In a lot of cases in my yards if a mower can't get to it it doesn't get cut.

 

[Tchicken]

I have used the afore-mentioned Black Diamond on the old Stihl gasser (same model as the OPs) - the line was never the problem, the loading was a PITA. I am trying a battery EGO trimmer now, it has some sort of auto-feeding device that on the first try worked great. It takes pre-cut line, but hasn't yet used one up so I will have to re-learn the process . The pre-cut line I got was also .95, marked EGO but in Orange so I will notice when the strings gone ..

 

[mreisner]

No matter what the brand if you soak it in water it will last a lot longer.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I've been using the .095 Echo Crossfire line since I worked in a power equipment shop in the 90s.

 

[Notgrownup]

Echo or Ugly

 

[FullRaceMerc]

I'm in the echo black diamond camp. .095. I originally bought a couple rolls because it was cheap on closeout. It does so well I'd buy it at full price over something cheap.

I do a lot of weed eating as part of my annual brush clearance up at the retirement place. Tough skeleton weeds. My current machine is a 60v cordless dewalt DCST972B. Much more power than my previous tool. It is supposed to hold 20' of the factory line, but will only hold 12' of the .095 black diamond. No matter, 12' of the good stuff cuts far more than the original 20'.




As for winding the line, the dewalt "Quickload" head was a huge game changer. Way faster than the old line winding was. If it fits your machine it's worth swapping. I'm sure there must be other brands using the same concept. Now I carry a couple extra 12' cut lines in my pocket & just load it up wherever I am.

This guy shows how fast loading line is with that quickload head. My marks are long worn off, so I just look thru the hole & ratchet the head around until I can see thru to the other side.

 

[whateg01]

... I am trying a battery EGO trimmer now, it has some sort of auto-feeding device that on the first try worked great. It takes pre-cut line, but hasn't yet used one up so I will have to re-learn the process . The pre-cut line I got was also .95, marked EGO but in Orange so I will notice when the strings gone ..

I have a feeling you'll relearn pretty quick. Shove line through the middle. Push the button.

 

[Codyboy]

Well TSC only had that husqavarna stuff that is junk , some no name stuff,
And some Shakespeare .
I got the .105 Shakespeare and it is pretty good so far. It hasn't broken yet and thats even on some pretty thick woody plants.
Also it doesn't seem to hold a set (natural curve from being on the reel.
Some lines are very springy and want to curl up
This stuff lays out pretty flat/straight.
Liking it so far and its USA made!
But so was that husq junk.

 

[Codyboy]

They sell a variety of attachments to eliminate the string. I just don’t like the concept of trimming the average lawn or acreage. It’s not that I’m lazy, just not that picky. I have other things I’ rather be doing.

John

Hard attachments really wont work well on my place due to flagstone sidewalk where grass and weeds grow up in the joints and river rock around the perimeter of the house.
Need something a little more forgiving.

 

[mikedodge]

As for winding the line, the dewalt "Quickload" head was a huge game changer. Way faster than the old line winding was. If it fits your machine it's worth swapping. I'm sure there must be other brands using the same concept. Now I carry a couple extra 12' cut lines in my pocket & just load it up wherever I am.

This guy shows how fast loading line is with that quickload head. My marks are long worn off, so I just look thru the hole & ratchet the head around until I can see thru to the other side.

The heads Stihl's have come with the last several years now are the same idea- line up a couple arrows which are molded into it, pull the line through and wind it up.

 

[Codyboy]

I've tried multiple lines and most break. I'm using stuff now from amazon. cuts great, doesn't break but it likes melting onto itself in the head. In a lot of cases in my yards if a mower can't get to it it doesn't get cut.

I think that husqavarna stuff may have been melting .
No matter how carefully I wound it on the spool it would lay over itself making heat and break off.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Hard attachments really wont work well on my place due to flagstone sidewalk where grass and weeds grow up in the joints and river rock around the perimeter of the house.
Need something a little more forgiving.

I tried a twisted wire head one year. It cut the wicked weeds well at first. But it threw wires that stuck into my boots. And made sparks up against the rocks. Bad juju when you're cutting dry brush for fire prevention.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm still using whatever spool I had last time this came up. It's been on a nail in the garage for 4yrs or so.

Just spooked up about 15' yesterday, need to put it back away. Just some generic stuff from TSC I think

 

[scooby074]

Add a Shindaiwa /Echo/ Oregon Speedfeed head to whatever trimmer youre using

 

[WildBill]

I use a piece of steel braided line from inside a motorcycle throttle cable. It has slowly started unwinding at the end which makes it work even better. Been using the same one for at least 15 years. Makes a cool whizzing noise. Just don't hit anything you like with it. It will also launch a rock at approximately the speed of sound.

 

[Codyboy]

Yep, really liking this stuff! Way moar better than anything I've ever used before.

I just peeled off a couple feet to show how loosely it lays and doesn't try to unwind itself off its reel. Peeled it off and didnt gave to clip it in to a slot onthe reel to hold it. Wow
You can also see how it just sticks straight out from the feed head too.

 

[whateg01]

It will also launch a rock at approximately the speed of sound.

That's how my neighbor got to pay for a replacement window in my 626 a few years ago.

 

[JeepYJ]

The heads Stihl's have come with the last several years now are the same idea- line up a couple arrows which are molded into it, pull the line through and wind it up.

My Echo trimmer has that and it’s about 10 years old.

 

[Wamsutta]

Rotary Red .095 + STIHL FS 91 R

 

[PCustoms]

It will also launch a rock at approximately the speed of sound.

That's how my neighbor got to pay for a replacement window in my 626 a few years ago.

This time last year either the mower or weedeater launched a rock through the 2nd story bedroom window.

Ended up replacing the 40-year old windows with new ones.

 

[Wamsutta]

This time last year either the mower or weedeater launched a rock through the 2nd story bedroom window.

Ended up replacing the 40-year old windows with new ones.

The rocks always hit me in the shins. Can be very painful at times. I need a shin guard on my left shin.

 

[PCustoms]

The rocks always hit me in the shins. Can be very painful at times. I need a shin guard on my left shin.

I always wear pants, but stupidly did not wear glasses yesterday. After a brief pause to extract some grass from my eye, I left a pair of glasses on the shelf next to where the weedeater hangs.

 

[Cc_windsurfer]

No matter what the brand if you soak it in water it will last a lot longer.

Yep. Nylon gets brittle when it is dry so if your line is old and constantly breaking a couple of days soaking wil make it last much longer.

 

[sparky 1971]

This for the trimmer around the house

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/outdoor-power-equipment/outdoor-power-equipment-parts/string-trimmer-edger-parts/masterforce-reg-095-x-160-tri-twist-replacement-trimmer-line/mf-6272/p-1642874258369050-c-1525269720182.htm

This for the trimmer I use in the areas I don't get to very often. I used it once around the house, tore the hell out of some things I wasn't supposed to cut down, and wound up in a bunch of trouble with my wife

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/outdoor-power-equipment/outdoor-power-equipment-parts/string-trimmer-edger-parts/yardworks-trade-105-replacement-trimmer-line/yw-6243/p-1642874258369049-c-1525269720182.htm

And when I feel like cleaning up around the pond, another trimmer comes out with this...

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/outdoor-power-equipment/outdoor-power-equipment-parts/string-trimmer-edger-parts/grass-gator-reg-4680-steel-bladed-trimmer-head/4680/p-1444426650445-c-1525269720182.htm

I just have cheap trimmers, two MTD four strokes and a Troy-Bilt two stroke. I find it easier than having one good unit and swapping line and/or heads. Everything performs well, the only time I've had trouble was at my last house where I had 250' of chain link fence and I couldn't hold enough string to trim both sides.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

For years I've used Ace Hardware's premium 0.095" string on my weedwackers. And whatever Runnings carries for .155" line for my walk behind trimmer, I think it's GrassGator brand.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

The rocks always hit me in the shins. Can be very painful at times. I need a shin guard on my left shin.

I'm working in tall weeds in a climate where there might be rattlesnakes. And zoned out for hours focused on those weeds. With a tool whose noise would hide the sound of a rattle. I wear tall anti-snake bite boots. Makes my shins happy too.

I always wear pants, but stupidly did not wear glasses yesterday. After a brief pause to extract some grass from my eye, I left a pair of glasses on the shelf next to where the weedeater hangs.

And I use a hard hat with a mesh face mask. The mesh doesn't fog & is cooler. Don't need the hat, but the mesh has to hang on something.

 

[Wamsutta]

I always wear pants, but stupidly did not wear glasses yesterday. After a brief pause to extract some grass from my eye, I left a pair of glasses on the shelf next to where the weedeater hangs.

I wear long trousers. The left trouser leg looks like its been shot with a shot gun.

 

[Gmonkee]

I use mine on outside jobs so to prevent collateral damages only Truper round monofilament from 1.6 to 2.4mm depending on the machine on site.
It's locally sourced and decent quality.

I prefer to break line than other things that cost more. Windows cost more than I make some jobs.

My son prefers the Truper cored line on his 25cc machine as it lasts longer than the ordinary.

 

[Codyboy]

Do all yalls trimmers rotate CCW ?
Mine does and I hate it.
When I have to tip it left it blasts me with rocks or whatever.
The 4 stroke craftsman i had before this stihl rotated CW.
Much better design IMHO.

I wish I could run the 2 stroke in reverse, and it might be possible to run but the head would probably spin off.

I know or have heard that old diesel 2 strokes could run in reverse rotation.
Can any 2 stroke do this? Seems it could be possible.

 

[Gmonkee]

Switch the geared cutting head for direct drive. Our 25cc units have split shafts that we we can change the lower part. A used CM geared head fits a Pretul powerhead.
It would also on Stihl accessories.

My son uses a geared version, I run curved shaft direct drive. They turn opposite rotation.

 

[PCustoms]

My son uses a geared version, I run curved shaft direct drive. They turn opposite rotation.

Seems the curved shaft get caught up more in obstructions, where the straight (geared) reaches better under shrubs fences etc....pretty sure all the "pro" trimmers are geared.

Can't say I've ever thought of the direction, others then to make sure I put the blade on correctly

 

[dante2]

I have an old Shakespeare double line head (on the right) that I opened the holes a little to accept 105 line. I got some inexpensive twisted 105 line off Amazon that I'm sharing with the neighbor. Did the whole yard on 2 strings when it took 5 or more pairs of 95 before. We'll be handing this line down the the great grandkids.