Weed wacker line

Darren · #1 07/07/08, 01:00 PM

I bought a new weed wacker recently with the idea that with more hp I could go to a heavier line and get more life. I was running .095. The new stuff is .105. I think I can go up to .130. I was surprised that the Stihl .105 welded fairly quickly. After I removed the spool I had to use a pair of pliers to separate the two layers.

In the past, I've used Shakespeare line and liked it. I'm not sure who supplies Stihl. Anyone have a suggestion on a line that will last longer and not weld to itself?

Anyone tried the Rino-tuff line?

Wisconsin Ann · #2 07/07/08, 01:11 PM

I have rhino in one weedwhacker...works really well. The other one gets blades. the steel tipped blades. man...those just chew through heavy underbrush.

Beeman · #3 07/07/08, 01:39 PM

I use .095 in my 2 Stihls with no problems or welding. I did buy some of the Stihl line with metal wire in it, now worth the money as it snaps as soon as it hits a rock or fencepost.

Darren · #4 07/07/08, 01:55 PM

I didn't have a problem with the .095 either. You could see where it would try to stick. But it never took more than a pull to separate it. The .105 stuck real good!

Tom in TN · #5 07/08/08, 01:17 AM

Darren,

I recently bought a new Echo brand string trimmer. The string spool has a separator in it so that the two strands of string don't touch each other. The bump feeder works perfectly. Since the two strands don't touch each other, there's no welding. I love it. I'll bet that all of the trimmers will eventually go to that design. Maybe someone will even make it possible to retro-fit existing units.

Tom in TN

EDDIE BUCK · #6 07/08/08, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom in TN

Darren,

I recently bought a new Echo brand string trimmer. The string spool has a separator in it so that the two strands of string don't touch each other. The bump feeder works perfectly. Since the two strands don't touch each other, there's no welding. I love it. I'll bet that all of the trimmers will eventually go to that design. Maybe someone will even make it possible to retro-fit existing units.

Tom in TN

I have one also and it gets the job done. I think having the string coming out opposite sides, balances the head so less viberation means easier operation = less tiring.

Quint · #7 07/08/08, 04:08 AM

I generally go with the line they recommend. In my experience if you increase the line diameter it doesn't cut as well since it isn't sized to the motor. Likewise when I tried lighter line than recommended it broke and didn't cut right either.

The only exception was my DR walk behind string trimmer but it had a 6 hp lawnmower engine. It came with 3 different types of line 130, 155, and 175 mil . You changed them depending on what you were cutting. It handed all of them fine. That 175 would do a real number of heavy weeds and brush.

Windy in Kansas · #8 07/08/08, 11:32 AM

I have had good results with Grass Gator line which is a twisted line. Their packaging states that twisted line lasts 5X longer and produces less noise.
http://www.grassgator.com/ My local hardware store carries it.

I did have some of the barbed line but it didn't do as well as I thought it should have at ripping through stalks and foliage.

Darren · #9 07/08/08, 12:09 PM

The new machine will work with anything between .095 to .130 depending on the head. The rino-tuff was recommended on a commercial maintenance site awhile back as being longer lasting. The best line I used before was made by Shakespeare who also makes the rino-tuff. I finished the spool of Shakespeare line last year and I've never found anything as good. The current Stihl branded stuff hasn't impressed me.