strimmers - driving me mad.

Hi gardening guru's.

I have the log edging around my garden and when i cut my grass i have long bits all around the edge where my lawn mower can't get to. so, i purchased a strimmer. it was from b&q and was the type of strimmer that has two nylon threads coming out the end. after 10 seconds of use, the nylon threads have disappeared. apparantly you can press a button on the bottom which forces more thread out a bit...but of course this did not work. so i took it back and bought another...same problem. i have just tried my third one which is a Worx strimmer and sure enough...same problem...

can anyone recommend a good strimmer to do the grass around log edging ? are there any other types of strimmer other than the nylon thread-type ones ? perhaps metal blades instead ? or am i doing something wrong ?

thanks in advance for any help.
yours, a gardening novice,

-Paul

 

yes its supposed to ! with the throttle pressed, i stamped it on concrete (just melted the button !) and also on grass (just put a small hole in my garden !)...the thread didnt come out any more though.

hmm...i was quite close to the log edging, maybe thats my problem.

well i actually did have to do this, and i noticed that the nylon cables were all stuck together..maybe the heat from the strimmer melted them a little bit ? this would explain why they wont come out when i bump them.

oh well, thanks or your help, guess ill have to persevere !

 

I agree with Marley, Paul, it`s a bump feed, don`t give up on them you just need a little more practice. Also, if the cord isn`t wound on the spool properly this will stop it feeding through too.:gnthb:

 

I've a flymo contour strimmer. The one with the swivel head and the wheel which you can use to do "edges." Had it about three years. Cost about thirty quid.
As has been said, you need to stop every thirty seconds or so to let the line feed out automatically, you hear a "click" as it pays out more line. It's never been a problem. I buy the line replacements at Wlko's, far cheaper than the flymo ones. Winding on a new line takes a bit of care as there's two spools, but it indicates which way to wind it on so it's not that difficult.

 

No patience at all here Unclepauly. I could never make those strimmer things work.

 

Paul, it's important that you wind the line on in the right direction. There should be arrows on the spool showing this. Also, line really does disappear at a rate of knots when you're strimming on or near hard surfaces, even with a bump feed.

I was using a Stihl strimmer - probably the best - last week on York stone paving. Before I started, I wound on 8 metres of heavy duty line and I used it all up in about 20 minutes! It lasts a lot longer if you stick to strimming grass.:thumb:

Chris

 

cheers guys i feel a bit better now

thanks for your replies.

 

dont put too much on there , what you are getting is line weld if the line melts, make sure you are using the correct gauge line , also google 'strimmer line weld' for more info.

 

I have the same strimmer and the same problems.

I hate the thing.

I'm looking for a pertol strimmer or brush cutter now and will put my contour on Ebay. I just think it's too fiddly and awkward to use.

 

I brought a battery operated strimmer last week and I used it in ernest yesterday. I was seriously impressed. No cables, light weight and I could walk around the whole of my garden (which is on all four sides of the house) easily and simply. The other plus point with the strimmer was that it came with a little wheel which allows you to run against the hard obstructions like walls, trees, wooden borders at just the right distance from them that the grass/weed are cut without damaging the nylon cable. BLISS.

Totally worth the £27 or so from B&Q and I am really impressed.

 

I have a Bosch cordless which uses little plastic blades which clip on. The head swivels for doing borders. Its a dream to use for general light duty but would not recommend for heasvy work. It comes with a pack of replacement blades but even with catching on stones etc when border trimming one blade lasted for over 200metres of border (thats 3 times round my borders, so 3 blades would do a summer) I think it came from Argos.

 

Strimmers in "the wrong hands" are dangerous. I've heard tales of inept contract gardeners "ring barking" small trees set in a lawn with careless use of a strimmer.

 

Well I must admit that I find electric strimmers whatever the make/model are more trouble than they're worth.The heads just aren't robust enough! Petrol strimmers are usually far stronger!