Can any weedwacker handle a rough job?

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

Got a new Stihl F5 13OR weedwacker and it may be long lasting, but it vibrates so much it will skitter around on a smooth surface (Hello carpal tunnel syndrome) and the string lasts about 30 sq. ft. to get a clean ground. Then you have to clear the head before you can cross-thread and wrap 20.5 inches of string through 3 holes to get another total of 8 inches of working length. After you unthread the old string. I hate its guts.

Friend has a Husquevarna with a special head that takes a 1/4 inch string you just cut in two 8 inch lengths and push it though a one-way slot and off you go again. Borrowed it last year and loved it, but they have plastic parts that break, so what's the deal on those?

We have rough ground with big round rocks poking up here and there, gopher mounds like crazy and lots of wire fence. Afraid fire is going to catch us if I can't get the grass down right now. What to do?

[RonM]

You need to use .090 string with metal in the center.......

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

Silly me, never heard of such a thing. I'll get some of that.

Still don't like this Stihl though, and I read up on everything here that talks about weedwackers. I need performance over longevity. Anybody?

[Cabin Fever]

If you don't already have it, I'd get a double shoulder harness (like backpack straps) that hooks to your machine and bicycle handle bars. This should cut down on the vibration to your hands.

If you like your friends Husky head that uses the 8" line, Stihl has the same thing called the Stihl FixCut 25-2.....

[meanwhile]

We are clearing a big field with weed whackers. The weeds/grass are waist high and in one section, shoulder height. I do not know what the weeds are but some have very strong fiber and when cut, they spin the fiber out and it gets all tangled up in the weed whacker string.

What we did was to use the blade attachment and cut the weeds about half way down, then cut them again. The smaller stuff we used the string with the wire in it.

We have a Stihl and also a new Echo. Both are working good but we did use a lot of string today. Once it is cut, then we will keep up with it and not let it get out of control.

Good luck.

[highlands]

We have a Husqvarna 323R which we've put to hard use. It works very well with both string and a variety of blades from triangle to saw. Everything from grass to brush to trees of several inches in diameter. Miles of fence lines.

We also have two of their chainsaws. Heavy duty. Works.

Cheers,

-Walter Jeffries
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
ButcherShop | Sugar Mountain Farm

[Darren]

What Cabin Fever said. The bicycle bar set up with the "back pack" harness really helps to control vibration and take the load off your arms. It really makes a difference. Use the heaviest line that will fit. If you don't use up the roll fast, store it in water. I prewind several of the heads so I can go for hours.

There's always something to be said for buying the highest horse power weedeater you can afford without going to the forestry models. The higher horsepower really keeps you moving and the weeds dropping.

[jwal10]

I like this setup. Not good around rocks though....James

NEW STIHL FS 40, 72, 75 TRIMMER POLYCUT 10-3 BLADE CUTTING HEAD # 4004-710-2130 on eBay!

[pheasantplucker]

I am on my second Husqvarna straight shaft...great trimmers. I am constantly switching out their heads. I put some blades on them sometimes...They stand up to heavy cutting brush, but will break when hitting metal fence or t-posts. They also wear down if I'm doing a lot of trimming on sidewalk. Now this past week I put in a Shakespeare Ugly head. It's a string head with easy pop ins...Takes me all of about 30 seconds to put three new pieces of string in and I'm good to go.

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

Good advice everywhere - taking this back to the saw shop to see what they can do - the guy there told me this morning the Stihl motor was "TOO powerful" for a husky head. ??? Maybe this thing is better suited for blade attachments, the best they could offer me was a bump feed head, but of course that uses lighter line. A harness strap is also verbotin for this model. I'm thinking it's off to my closer shop for a Husquevarna. Just from the get-go, it's a pound lighter; going to take the Stihl with me for a vibration comparison.

[Cabin Fever]

According to your original post you say you have big rocks in the area that you groom. Be VERY CAREFUL using a metal saw blade around rocks. In fact, I would advise against it.

This link provides you with info on the various heads that you can use on your model Stihl brushcutter ==> http://www.stihlusa.com/trimmers/201...gtoolchart.pdf

[FreeRanger]

For about ten years, I have used the triangle Brush Knife on a FS90R (or the older version of the smallest straight shaft trimmer, not sure what the model is) for nearly every job on the farm. I can run full throttle thru three tanks of gas, with no problems. Each tank of gas last about twenty minutes. I cut everything from tall grass, thistles, small srubs, small trees, vines etc... I do occassionally hit rocks, wear safety glasses at ALL TIMES.

Only use the bump feed string when trimming against rock retaining walls. Don't understand why your string is so short? My two string bump auto feed reel takes about eight feet, each strand. Best designed string reel in my opinion. No tools, easy open, easy load and go.

[NorthCountryWd]

That's a quality trimmer. I have the same one plus a FS250 and a FS350 brushcutter.

My advice is get rid of the bump feed head and lose the guard (but wear long pants while using). Learned this doing property maintenance years ago. Cut my trimmer line use in half. You have to manually extend the line, but not nearly as often as you'd think.

Owned several stihls and huskys over the years and now stick with the stihls. If you are doing a lot of clearing, get the neck lanyard or rent a brushcutter with bike handles. They are good for swinging, but not so good for lawn trimming. A brushcutter head is good for thick weeds and small saplings, but not as good for tall grass.

Good luck!

[FreeRanger]

Originally Posted by NorthCountryWd

wear long pants while using

If you are doing a lot of clearing, get the neck lanyard or rent a brushcutter with bike handles. They are good for swinging, but not so good for lawn trimming. A brushcutter head is good for thick weeds and small saplings, but not as good for tall grass.

Good luck!

Great advice: wear long pants and not thin cotton pants. Goes along with the safety glasses. I also wear leather steel toe boots, not tennis shoes! If the grass is wet, I wear pheasant hunting pants

The brushcutter head has trouble with normal grass. But since I rarely cut grass, I cut VERY low to the ground when I do cut. Usually the grass is VERY thick and tall, then no problems with the triangle blade which can be sharpened as needed.

[simplegirl]

We have a high-wheel trimmer that works GREAT for clearing large areas. Much like a lawn mower in looks, but has the trimmer head. I can use that thing for a long time and don't get tired with it. A regular weed eater wears me out in no time and then I have a sore arm for at least a day.

[idigbeets]

Get rid of the string, go w/ an actual brush blade.....

[snoozy]

Just don't weedwhack the dogpile...