Forum Home
PC World Chat
 
Thread ID: 85596 2007-12-15 18:28:00 Weed eaters/ Line Trimmers Myth (110) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
621438 2007-12-17 04:44:00 OK.. my father and me combined have a Husky push mower, ride on mower, a straight shaft brush cutter, a curved shaft weed eater and two chainsaws.

Never buy anything else! :p

A curved shaft weed eater should suit you well, and I would highly recommend going with Husky. Go with the heaviest line you can fit in it. And if you want to do ANYTHING more that edges/light grass, get a straight shaft. Will last the distance if you use it hard.
wratterus (105)
621439 2007-12-17 21:01:00 What an amazing thread. I must add to my previous comments about our cheap Black & Decker.
Well it was $107 in 1998 - which was cheap in those days.
It is fully automatic - needs no "bumping" - has never needed replacement heads (I don't even know what the definition of a head is) and has been used by two families for 9 years with no replacement parts apart from the lines of course. It isn't even treated kindly - just used. It amazes me that well thought of expensive devices have needed new switches.
But I must also add my comment that I do know that our machine is lightweight and could not be used commercially or for huge jobs. I assume it is not chinese made and wonder if the new ones are as good.
Tom
Thomas01 (317)
621440 2007-12-17 21:07:00 I think it's safe to assume that ANY weed-whacker is worth it's salt if it sprouts two lines. It must have enough power to swing them..or so the manufacturer thinks anyway.

Some smaller units use what's essentially speedometer cable to run the head from the engine, down the curved shaft.

I use my big-un for small trees, grapevines (very tough) and weeds between the cement cracks. Beyond that...it's my Husky 24 inch chainsaw. After that fails, I get the demo hammer and remove the offender.

It (the bigger unit) might also be usable as a paint remover and rust if I were so inclined.

The cheap-o's have non-refillable heads..and that's where the line actually resides...until it's empty that is.
SurferJoe46 (51)
621441 2007-12-17 21:51:00 The cheap-o's have non-refillable heads..and that's where the line actually resides...until it's empty that is.

Not quite correct. My cheapo is normally filled by just dropping in a new cassette (wrong term?).
But it can be refilled manually and I did buy a large reel of wire to do just that. I found it tricky to refill and not worth the bother really although much cheaper.
Tom
Thomas01 (317)
621442 2007-12-18 00:32:00 We have some WEN units in Wal-Mart that are non-refillable...and then you have to buy a new cartridge/cassette etcetera..that's what I meant.

I guess it could be refilled if you knew exactly where to crack the case and think of a way to reseal it again.
SurferJoe46 (51)
621443 2007-12-18 02:26:00 We have some WEN units in Wal-Mart that are non-refillable...and then you have to buy a new cartridge/cassette etcetera..that's what I meant.

I guess it could be refilled if you knew exactly where to crack the case and think of a way to reseal it again.
Never a truer word was spoken,or more obvious.
Cicero (40)
621444 2007-12-18 02:36:00 I guess it could be refilled if you knew exactly where to crack the case and think of a way to reseal it again .


I reckon I must be lucky in mine . The case is wide open and no need to crack anything .
Unusual these days to find units that can be opened etc . I remember when working for Mattel in the late 1960s we designed toy voice units which were solvent welded on final assembly so that the kids could not open them . The Germans on the other hand made similar units that had 4 screws holding the parts together . The kids could separate the thing and see how it was made and functioned . Not politically correct nowadays of course - a youngster under 3 or thereabouts might swallow some small component . But he would have to have an older brother or similar prepared to undo the screws for him .

I also remember an electric steam iron that was held together with a couple of screws - it could be dismantled in seconds and any part needing replacing easily fixed .

I think we have lost out along the way . I'm even having trouble opening the milk bottles this last week since they added a seal-able top to the things . We also have an artificial sugar container that has defeated us - blowed if we can figure out how it is supposed to function .
We did have a washing up liquid bottle that proved impossible to open some 10 years ago and I rang the manufacturer up . They told us a mistake had been made in the factory - they had hundreds of complaints and we were gifted a free replacement - that worked perfectly .

Tom
Thomas01 (317)
621445 2007-12-18 03:36:00 Straight or curved shaft?

Curved fine if all you want to do is weedeat.

For scrubcutting or blade use the heavier duty that this use puts on the machine is too much for the spring core in most of the curved shafts
dvm (6543)
621446 2007-12-18 03:46:00 I wonder what Mytho thinks so far? Cicero (40)
621447 2007-12-18 05:19:00 Well, had a look around... talked to a few people.
Have opted for a Dolmar
Myth (110)
1 2 3 4 5 6