Summer is coming, and along with the great weather, it’s barbeque season. If you want to be able to spend time outside with your family and friends this season, you’ll need to tidy up your lawn. Many people find that their backyard has become overgrown with weeds, shrubs, and bushes during the spring. A weed eater can make quick work of the problem, determining if you should use trimmer blades vs. string is an important decision.
Now’s the time to cut your grass and clear away any unwanted and overgrown plants. An overgrown yard can become a breeding ground for insects such as mosquitoes and spider mites.
The easiest way to maintain a small lawn with many borders, paths, or obstacles, such as washing line poles, is using a strimmer. If you prefer a strimmer to a lawnmower, you may be wondering which is best, trimmer blades vs. string?
Brush cutters have metal blades, while trimmers use nylon string to cut through grass and weeds. Let’s find out what the differences and similarities are between these two options!
Trimmer blades vs. string
The main difference between trimmer blades vs. string is the method used to cut grass, shrubs, and weeds. A brush cutter or strimmer has metal blades, while a strimmer uses pieces of nylon string to cut the grass.
You may think that blades are more efficient or more robust as they are made from metal, but this isn’t always the case. Nylon string moving at high speeds is also very powerful and can cut through grass and weeds.
Metal blades are slightly more durable and robust, but it depends on your purpose as to which you should choose. A string trimmer can generally only be used to cut through weed and grass, while a brush cutter with a metal blade can also cut down shrubs, bushes, and even small trees. Let’s look at each type of strimmer in more detail and discuss the pros and cons of each.
String trimmers
There are a wide variety of string trimmers available on the market, and these are either powered using a rechargeable battery or an electric cord. You can also buy a string trimmer that’s powered by gas. Which you choose will likely come down to personal preferences and the size of your yard.
If you choose a string trimmer with an electric cord, you’ll need to ensure that the cord reaches across your yard, and you’ll need a power socket in a convenient location. If the line isn’t long enough, you’ll only be able to trim the area that’s near the power source, or you’ll need to buy an extension cable.
Investing in a battery-powered string trimmer may cost more but will also be a lot easier to use and more convenient. You’ll be able to move around more and won’t be limited by a cord. You will need to remember to keep the battery recharge.
Generally, electric-powered string strimmer’s are cheaper than gas-powered, and these often need less maintenance. They are great for people who have small yards and only need to cut through grass and weeds.
A gas-powered string trimmer will allow you to cut a larger area and are generally more powerful than their electric counterparts. String trimmers are great for cutting grass and weeds in hard-to-reach areas. You can cut the grass along borders, fences, paths, and beside decking or the edge of your house.
The benefits of a string trimmer
String trimmers are lightweight and are very simple to operate. They don’t require much maintenance and can be used to cut your grass and weeds in hard-to-reach areas.
The disadvantage of a string trimmer
When compared to a trimmer with a metal blade, the main disadvantage of the string trimmers is that they are less powerful and can’t be used to cut through shrubs, bushes, and trees. The strings can also snap easily, which can be annoying and dangerous. Sometimes small rocks end up flying out from underneath the trimmer like projectiles when the string snaps. It’s, therefore, best to wear protective goggles when using a string trimmer.
Metal Blades
Many gardeners see the brush cutter as an upgrade to a string trimmer, but it depends on your purpose as to whether this is actually the case. A brushcutter has powerful metal blades instead of nylon strings which means you can cut through stubborn weeds (weeds that look like grass) and shrubs, bushes, and even small trees.
Trimmers with blades can be used for heavy-duty work. On many brush cutters, the blades are interchangeable, which means you have more options on the type of job you do than with a string trimmer.
Brush cutters are available with either gas engines or are electric-powered, either using a cord or a battery. As brush cutters are more heavy-duty, you need to be more cautious and be safe around this machine. Brush cutters are designed to be used either one or two-handed.
The benefits of a brush cutter
The main benefit of choosing a brush cutter with a metal blade rather than a string trimmer is that it’s more powerful, and you’ll be able to cut through thicker stems, which means you can cut bushes, shrubs, and small trees. Like string trimmers, brush cutters can also be used in areas that are hard to reach with a lawnmower.
Most brush cutters come with interchangeable blades, and these are generally very durable and won’t need to be replaced or changed very often.
The disadvantages of a brush cutter
Brush cutters are generally heavier than string trimmers and are slightly cumbersome, especially if you need to use them on a large area. They are also more expensive as they are longer lasting and have a more powerful performance.
Which is best for your yard: Trimmer blades or string?
Brush cutters are powerful and versatile as it has interchangeable blades and can cut through thicker steams. However, it can be a cumbersome and exhausting machine to use. It would help if you were fit and strong to use a brush cutter as you’ll use your body’s weight to support the machine, which could lead to back pain.
If you’re looking for a trimmer to clear a small area around the perimeter of your home or under your decking, a string trimmer will do the job well. These are generally budget-friendly don’t require much maintenance.
Conclusion
When choosing a machine with trimmer blades vs. string, you should consider the types of undergrowth you have in your yard. String trimmers are great for most gardeners as they are lightweight and easy to use.
They are also relatively cheap and allow you to cut hard-to-reach areas. If you need a more powerful machine to cut through thick shrubs, bushes, and even small trees, it’s best to invest in a brush cutter with a metal blade.