Buying a new String Trimmer

[Nessism1]

Great questions. Seems as if I find a brand I like, then it changes next buy.

Crossfire .095 string has been fairly decent.

Arnold .105 not bad.

Good old Oregon green .080 is my go to .080". Better than that MaxPower junk

I think freshness counts! Old hot dry stored string gets brittle.

I have a clam of Dewalt .080 trimmer line, which is better than average, but it breaks way easier than the Echo .095 Black Diamond. I also have some of the common green solid round line, which breaks even easier. No doubt, the breaking problem relates to my use, getting too close. Regardless, though, I think the "better" stuff works better.

And FWIW, with my old Dewalt electric, which cut well enough, when bumping the head for more line, many times the head couldn't spin the line fast enough for a clean shear on the trimming blade. The machine would hack and clack, until eventually the line would shear and get back to business. Never had this happen with a gas trimmer.

 

[football]

The trick for trimmer line is to store it in water. It’s hydroscopic and MUCH more durable and less brittle if it soaks in water.

 

[Pablo]

The trick for trimmer line is to store it in water. It’s hydroscopic and MUCH more durable and less brittle if it soaks in water.

I was thinking that! Good point

 

[Nessism1]

The trick for trimmer line is to store it in water. It’s hydroscopic and MUCH more durable and less brittle if it soaks in water.

Once upon a time, back in my Quality Engineer days, I visited a supplier that was molding some plastic parts for the company I was working for. During the production line review, I noticed a water tank filled with bicycle wheels. I asked why, and was told that the wheels were nylon, and needed to be properly hydrated, before they reach full strength.

AI suggests that weed whacker string is mostly nylon, so soaking in water makes sense.

 

[UncleDave]

Paid a fair bit of money for a Dewalt electric weed whacker, and the speed controller died under warranty. Got it fixed, only to have it die after a few more years. It seemed that every time I needed it, the battery was low, also. My bad. But I don't want batteries on the charger in the garage overnight. A guy on a different forum burned down his garage that way.

2 parts to this.

Part 1 Dewalts fault -with 2 identical failure in a switch Im guessing they refused an existing switch for an intermittently run tool, not one designed for sustained repeated full drain running like a trimmer gets.

My Dewalt stuff all performed well, right up until they wore out early and became uneconomical to source parts for and fix. I wore out a saw and drill kit beyond economic repair with just a 10x10ft tool shed and a 40x20 deck.

Part 2 Implicit in battery design and construction all batteries degrade under regular use they store less and less, but some degrade more gracefully that others, and Im not saying anything that can be inferred from my prior posts so as not to jinx my situation.

 

[UncleDave]

It doesn't just screw on? String heads are pretty universal, there are a few different thread sizes and left-hand vs. right hand rotation.

Im pretty sure the head on his unit has an integrated feeder /winder .
It may need an electrical connection to the body to run. (?)

 

[johnD2]

Thread drift alert....

What's everyone's favorite string? I've been loving my new Echo 2620T, which comes with .095 Black Diamond string, and it seems to be pretty durable. On the Echo website they state that their Cross Fire string is the most popular. I suspect it doesn't matter a whole lot, but feel free to share your opinion...

HIPA Twist , 3lb spool.

https://www.amazon.com/Hipa-Trimmer...cphy=9012162&hvtargid=pla-2281435179578&psc=1

 

[johnD2]

Or Oregon gator line, on sale today.

https://www.amazon.com/Oregon-22-89...cd8bb5277c5eff7434&qid=1752154966&sr=8-4&th=1

 

[Rand]

I am pretty sure the Costco units are made specifically for a price point. I have read this, at least. Different models maybe explains why I am pleased with mine. Wife bought the 80V stick blower at Costco and I notice the online units are different, and of course this model is weak compared to the 80V Greenworks Backpack blower which is a monster with the 5Ah battery on my back. Really blows!!

Pretty sure they are the same thing with different model numbers.. all the clubs do this.. Samsung TVs Hisense.. Grills. etc.

 

[Pablo]

Pretty sure they are the same thing with different model numbers.. all the clubs do this.. Samsung TVs Hisense.. Grills. etc.

Not in this case. Maybe I was unclear and should not have written the price point part

Costco one is bottom line model, sure maybe the same as bottom line direct. My point is there ARE HUGE model differences, and changes over time.

https://www.greenworkstools.com/collections/80-volt?uff_knr5hq_productType=String Trimmers

 

[ARB1977]

My Sthil combi has been flawless for the last 11 years. Ran their moto mix cans for 4 years only because they gave me an extra year warranty if I did. The last 7 has been with Amsoil saber at 80-100:1 and 93 E10. I’ve done one tune up since owing it. Plug, fuel filter and air filter. If you buy two stroke take the spark screen out of the muffler. It’ll save you some trouble down the road.

 

[TheOGOilGuy]

Thread drift alert....

What's everyone's favorite string? I've been loving my new Echo 2620T, which comes with .095 Black Diamond string, and it seems to be pretty durable. On the Echo website they state that their Cross Fire string is the most popular. I suspect it doesn't matter a whole lot, but feel free to share your opinion...

If I'm clearing a field, I'd probably go back to using the Husqvarna titanium force string. Stuff seemed like it lasted forever and was hard to break. I didn't like how noisy it was, how hard it was to see when spinning, and the poor cut quality though.

Best string overall for me is the echo black diamond. Great cut, extraordinarily quiet, and fairly tough.