String Trimmers Blow

Blow little bits of non-biodegradable plastic string everywhere.

True. Though it doesn't have to be so. Commercial grade trimmers can be fitted a steel weed blade that is both terrifying and effective.

And can shred the bejesus out of a mountain of fall leaves in short order!  :)

Somewhere I read about making lightweight weed blades from the lids or bottoms of 5 gallon pails. (I think it was the Tightwad Gazette). It's still plastic, but it's recycled and won't leave tiny string bits everywhere. Apparently it was good for heavy weeds and raspberry canes.

We've got a brushcutter with a metal blade.  It's not great for grass, though. My husband bought some thin aircraft cable and made a thing he can attach instead of the blade. A length of aircraft cable goes on each side, like a string trimmer. Seems sketchy to me, but he likes it.

He left a piece of the cable outside for a bit to see how quickly it rusted. It was fairly quick, so the little bits that break off during use should rust away in an acceptable amount of  time.  

It takes a couple minutes to cut and attach the lengths of cable, and they last 20-30 minutes of use. Best to have a few made up in advance so you can just quickly swap them out when they wear down.

I like all my tools to be terrifying and effective. This does not exclude my truck!

Howdy,

I am trying to use my old guitar strings on my string weed wacker

Try to look at it this way.... IT COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE!


Couple years back I saw my neighbor chargingdown his driveway! And he threw his gas powered weedwhacker about 15 feet as hard as he could at his trash can sitting at the curb! I asked him what was wrong.

He said, "The damned thing caught fire!!!....WHILE I WAS USING IT!!!

I loaned him y electric one.

randal cranor wrote: I am trying to use my old guitar strings on my string weed wacker

Please wear a face shield! Guitar strings are hardened steel. Very tough under tension, but a kink creates a break point. If bits shatter off, you have a sharp projectile that will penetrate flesh.