How To String A Weed Eater With Two Holes. Thread weed eater

How To String A Weed Eater With Two Holes

Weed whackers are an excellent addition to any yard work tool inventory. If you’re like most people, you may never have had to string your weed eater before. Unfortunately, even with the most user-friendly weed whackers on the market, stringing one can be difficult.

Aside from the difficulty of how to put string in a weed eater for the first time, one of the most frequently asked questions is what line to choose.

Ensure the line you choose for your weed eater has the proper diameter size. If you use a string that is a bit bigger than the holes, the line will not fit, and even if it does, it won’t feed through as you need it.

Do not rely on eyesight to choose the correct string for your weed eater; instead, read the operator’s manual.

In our guide, you can learn more about how to add string to weed eater, and by the end, you’ll be able to do this quickly; and should anyone ask how to string a craftsman weed eater with two holes, you can do it for them, or give them solid advice. (Find the Top Rated String Trimmers)

String a Weed Eater with Two Holes – Step by Step Guide

It would be best to do this in a large space with no children or animals present. It would be much better if you could do this in your garden alone.

Weed eaters come in various sizes and shapes, and the number of sides on a spool is one of such distinctions.

A single-sided or dual-sided spool is included with your weed eater. Most manufacturers have their specifications for how the trimmer line should be loaded on the spool. You’ll discover it can differ from being wound in which direction and whether the lines should be wrapped in only one direction.

Thus, be sure to keep your user manual close by.

One-string or single-sided spool weed wackers are more popular, but dual-sided spools are the best for thicker weeds.

Unfortunately, two holes are a little more complicated to re-spool than one.

As long as you have the right tools and follow these steps, you can easily string the dual-sided weed eater spool. (Read Straight Vs Curved Trimmer)

Turn off your weed eater

• Unplug from the mains if you have an electric corded weed eater.
• If it’s gas powered, press the off button, and you can also disconnect the spark plug for safety.
• If you have been using the weed whacker, don’t open the spool head right away, the trimmer head could be too hot to touch, so let it cool.

Remove Spool Back

• Once the trimmer head is cool, remove the spool back. You’ll find most covers held in position by multiple tabs. Squeeze the release tabs together to release.
• Screws hold in other covers, so you’ll need the right size screwdriver to remove the screws on your string trimmer cover.
• Remove the spool from the trimmer.

Check String Weed Eaters Operator Manual

• Check the manual of your weed eater to see how much trimmer line your spool needs. A good rule is to wind a 12–15-foot length of string trimmer line.
• The goal is to avoid overfilling the spool with the right length of the new line to the point it bulges. If you do, you won’t get the cover back on the spool.

Fold Line and Cut

• Take this fresh line and feed it straight into the spool’s center slot, folded point down. Then, with your index finger in between the lines, hold it in place.
• Keep your thumb and other fingers holding the lines taut while you draw these lines.
• Turn the spool, so the lines wind clockwise around the spool and check each spool’s guide has one line.

Locate Two Holes

• Locate the two holes from which the two strings emerge on the exterior of the spool. Leave around 12 inches of line unwound after winding the line around the spool.
• Place these lines through the exit holes in the spool where each hole has the right string in it.

Slide Spool Into the Cover.

• Make that the lines can still move freely when you replace the spool.
• Replace the weed whacker trimmer head’s cover. The line should be clipped to a length no longer than the weed eater’s shield’s limiter blade.

Start Your Engine

Start the engine or motor and check you have sufficient line to get rid of all your other unwanted plants.

How To String Craftsman Weed Eater with Two Holes

Follow these instructions to properly restring your double-line weed eater and get back to your gardening work in no time. The technique may differ slightly based on the manufacturer; therefore, consult your owner’s handbook. (Find the Best Cordless Hedge Trimmer)

For example, a single line trimmer will use one line while double weed eaters use two lines at the same time to cut through grass and weeds.

Get ready for the job

Before you replace the strings, make sure you have everything you need.

There are a few things to remember about the line:

Before purchase, double-check the length and width of your weed eater from the handbook. The best solution is to use the same string size as before.

This step is crucial since many models have extremely specific line dimensions and working with the wrong size might lead to a lot of frustration. Second, look for an appropriate wrench or spanner. (Read Bad Boy Mower Troubleshooting)

Prepare Your Weed Eater

Then, if necessary, prepare the weed eater itself—always there’s the chance of a bad accident if you don’t take the proper safety procedures.

Take the following steps with this in mind:

• First, turn off the engine on the weed eater.
• Then, allow time for the gearbox to cool down as well.
• Also, consider removing the spark plug boot from the unit (for a gas model).

Remove the Retaining Cup

Many newer weed eaters have a cap on the bottom to keep the string in place.

• You’ll need to get it out to the crucial initial holes (where you will insert the new string).
• The most intriguing aspect of weed eater architecture is that manufacturers do not construct this section in the same way.
• Some versions require only unscrewing the cap, while others require pressing a tab (or many tabs) to loosen the cap.
• Others have a wide range of systems, so consult your manual for instructions on removing the cap instead of risking damage by depending on guesswork.

Insert the Line

This is the crucial stage of the stringing procedure for weed eaters with two holes, so proceed with caution.

• First, trace the two beginning holes (you should be seeing them by now).
• After that, take the first length of the trimmer line and insert the tip into starter hole.1.
• Make sure you are winding line in the direction the arrows suggest.
• Push the line into its spool retainer when it’s about 5-inches long to keep it in place.
• Continue by grabbing the second line and push it into the other starter holes.
• Wind as instructed previously, then snap it into the retainer as described with about 5-inches of line.
• The line will now end up at opposite ends of the spool.

Get Lines Out of Retainers

The last step is to detach the lines from their retainers.

• Because of the simplicity of the design of these accessories, you should be able to string a weed eater at this point in under a minute.
• The first thing you should do is feed the lines through the hole or eyelets (also known as line exit holes) outside your weed eater head.
• After that, replace the spool in the weed whacker’s head and pull your string lines straight and to the correct length through the slot.
• This helps create smooth feeding through the hole.
• Replace the retaining cap you removed earlier by screwing it back onto the weed eater head or slapping it back into place, as needed.
• Depending on your model, you may need to wriggle the retaining cap to ensure a secure fit on the trimmer head.

The final words are that you will be set to go, and your weed eater will deal with any undesirable plants, weeds, or grass you want to get rid of.

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The 10 Best Weed Eaters of 2023

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes Gardens, among others.

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry’s most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years of experience and 20 years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

Whether you call it a “weed eater,” “weed whacker,” or “string trimmer,” these landscaping tools are ideal for trimming grass and weeds along the edge of a flowerbed, around a tree trunk, underneath a deck, and in other hard-to-reach places.

Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love, says, “A weed whacker can quickly and effectively trim grass, weeds, and other unwanted plant growth in areas difficult to reach with a mower or shears. When choosing one, the most important thing to look for is the power it offers, as well as the size and weight of the tool. Gas weed eaters are the most powerful, but electric models are best for most homeowners.”

He cautions, “To ensure safe use of a weed whacker, always wear the appropriate protective gear, including goggles and gloves, stand with your feet apart for balance, hold the tool’s handle firmly but comfortably with both hands, and never operate the weed whacker without its guard attached.”

Best Overall

Ryobi 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Electric Cordless String Trimmer

If you want the power of a gas weed eater but the convenience of a battery-powered tool, then this 40-volt offering from Ryobi is the answer. Our top choice of string trimmer is loaded with great features, including a brushless motor for longer life with less required maintenance and an adjustable handle so you can position it comfortably for your height. We also appreciate its two-speed trigger with variable speed control, so you can go faster when you need extra power for tough weeds or brush, and slow the tool down to extend the battery run-time when merely cutting small weeds and grass. Plus, it has an adjustable cutting width, with a minimum of 13 inches and a maximum of 15 inches.

This string trimmer comes with 0.085-inch string, which is good for trimming grass and weeds, but you can also load it with 0.095-inch string if desired for tackling tougher weeds, light brush, or thick grass. Either way, the weed whacker is very easy to reload, thanks to the REEL EASY head, which can be rewound in under 60 seconds. When you want to let out more string, a gentle bump of the tool against the ground advances just the right amount so you can keep working without having to stop and let out line by hand. The tool also comes with a set of serrated plastic blades, which can be fitted into the tool’s head in place of string. Use the blades for cutting tougher brush and weeds. While not nearly as strong as metal blades, these do a good job on softer weeds and grasses, but they aren’t sturdy enough for woody weeds.

This versatile weed eater works with the Ryobi line of Expand-It accessories, sold separately, which can turn your string trimmer into a pole saw, electric hedge trimmer, soil cultivator, snow thrower, blower, and more quickly and easily. The weed whacker comes with one Ryobi lithium-ion 40-volt battery and charger, which are compatible with any other Ryobi tool using a 40-volt battery. Depending on conditions, you can get up to one hour and 10 minutes of run-time from the battery before needing to recharge.

Price at time of publish: 213

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 11.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 40 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 15 inches

Best Budget

Greenworks 5.5 Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric String Trimmer

Just because a weed whacker comes at a budget price, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo great features, as this corded electric offering from Greenworks proves. Plug the tool into an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 100 feet in length; no smelly gasoline fumes or worrying about a battery running down before you finish. Suited to a small-to-medium yard, this string trimmer’s head easily pivots for use as a trimmer or an edger, doubling its versatility. It has a 15-inch cutting swath and uses 0.065-inch string, which automatically advances as the exposed string wears down. When you need to reload the string, you can use pre-filled spools or rewind bulk string onto the spool that comes with the tool. However, you cannot use heavy-weight string with this weed eater, and if you choose to rewind the spool, rather than replace it, it can be a bit tricky to do correctly.

The handle telescopes from 40 inches to 50 inches, and the grip is also adjustable, so you can set the weed whacker to fit your own height, making it comfortable to use for lengthy gardening sessions. Its 5.5-amp motor runs smoothly and quietly and has enough power to quickly cut through grass and non-woody weeds. At only seven pounds, this is a reasonably lightweight string trimmer, so it won’t wear you down before the job is through.

Price at time of publish: 90

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 7 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 5.5 amp | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 15 inches

Best Gas

Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight Shaft Trimmer

If you have a large area of brush, overgrown grass, or woody weeds to clear, then you’ll appreciate the extra power of a gas weed eater like this offering from Echo, which runs on a 25.4 cc, professional-grade two-stroke engine. Like other gas-powered weed eaters, you’ll need to fill the gas tank with a 50:1 ratio of fuel to oil mix. Echo’s i-30 starting system makes it much easier to start up this weed eater than most others, and once powered on, this sturdy beast chews steadily through just about anything you ask it to. The handles are padded and ergonomically shaped for comfort and are also designed to greatly reduce the amount of vibration that reaches your hands and arms.

The 0.095-inch heavy-duty string advances with a bump of the tool against the ground. When the string runs out, the Echo Speed-Feed system requires no tools and takes only seconds to reload; no frustrating fuss or bother. With a 17-inch cutting swath, you can work your way across the lawn quickly. Should you need even more powerful cutting action, Echo sells a separate conversion kit that lets you swap out the string head for a metal-bladed head that easily cuts through thick underbrush and overgrown weeds. Be aware that this weed eater is quite loud and does emit gas fumes, as is typical for gas-powered tools.

Price at time of publish: 329

Type: Gas | Weight: 13.4 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 25.4 cc | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 17 inches

Best Cordless/Battery

Ryobi ONE 18-Volt Cordless Battery String Trimmer

Go cordless with this lightweight string trimmer that’s designed to take care of small-to-medium yards. The curved shaft makes it easy to maneuver around shrubs, rocks, and tree trunks, and the handle is ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip. Plus, weighing a mere four pounds, this is a weed eater that shouldn’t tire you out. It’s powered by an 18-volt battery that recharges in an hour and runs for anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes per charge, depending on how you use it. And with a simple push of a button, you can switch the head’s orientation: use it horizontally for trimming and vertically for edging.

The cutting swath of this tool is 10 inches, which is on the small side but can be a good thing if you are edging a flowerbed or other area with many obstacles to work around. It can only use 0.065-inch string and automatically feeds out more string as required. It’s not too difficult to reload once the string runs out. The weed whacker comes with an 18-volt battery that can be used in other 18V Ryobi tools, as well as a charger. Note that it is not compatible with Ryobi’s Expand-It attachments, however.

Price at time of publish: 69

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 4 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 18-volt | Shaft Type: Curved | Maximum Cutting Width: 10 inches

Best Corded Electric

Ryobi 10-Amp Attachment-Capable Corded String Trimmer

As long as you have an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 100 feet, and you don’t need to trim beyond that point, a corded electric weed eater is a great option. You get a lot of power, like you would from a gas-powered tool, but you also get the benefits of a cordless tool, including no smelly fumes, no need to keep gasoline on hand, and an easy start at the push of a button. Plus, there’s no need to worry about your battery running out too soon. This corded weed whacker from Ryobi is loaded with great options beyond the above: It has a 10-amp motor for maximum performance, it cuts an impressive 18-inch path, and it is designed to reduce vibrations through the handle, so it’s easy on your hands, although it is relatively heavy for this type of tool.

The tool comes with 0.080-inch string, but can also use 0.095-inch string if you need something even more heavy-duty. String advances with a bump of the tool to the ground, and when it’s time to replace the reel, it’s very easy to install a new one or simply rewind bulk string around the reel. Best of all, this string trimmer is compatible with Ryobi’s extensive line of Expand-It attachments, meaning you can purchase a wide variety of optional attachments to turn the weed whacker into a brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw, snow thrower, and more. However, its head does not pivot for use as an edger, as do many other weed eaters.

Price at time of publish: 90

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 11 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 10 amp | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 18 inches

Best Under 200

BLACKDECKER 20V 12 Inch Lithium Ion Cordless 2-in-1 Trimmer/Edger

Here’s a reasonably priced tool that effectively whacks weeds with the head in a horizontal position and then serves as an edger when you rotate the head into a vertical orientation. This battery-powered, 20-volt string trimmer from BLACKDECKER is perfect for small-to-medium-sized lawns and has enough power to chew through typical grass and weeds (although this isn’t the tool for tough brush or heavily overgrown lawns). You can adjust the handle up or down to suit your height. The cutting width of this weed eater is set at 12 inches, which is somewhat narrow but sufficient for small yards.

The weed eater comes with 0.065-inch line, which is suited to light use on grass and small weeds. Note that you cannot refill it with heavier line. The line advances automatically as it wears down with use, so you don’t need to carry the task out manually or bump the tool on the ground. The weed whacker comes with the 20-volt battery and charger, which are compatible with other BLACKDECKER cordless tools. Run-time before needing to recharge the battery varies greatly, depending on yard conditions, but you will typically get anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes on a single charge, which is enough to finish trimming or edging a small lawn.

Price at time of publish: 89

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 7.1 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 20 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Rated

WORX WG163 GT 20V Power Share Cordless String Trimmer Edger

The WORX Power Share cordless weed eater just keeps racking up high ratings; this weed whacker has more than 20,000 customer ratings and an average of 4.5 stars. But that’s not really surprising, considering that this 20-volt tool comes with two batteries, so you can have one charging and one in use, doubling your working time. The batteries and charger are compatible with any other 20-volt WORX tool. You can easily pivot the head on the weed eater to turn it from trimmer to edger, and it’s easy to angle it for use on a slope or when reaching into awkward spots between plants or around obstacles. When using it as an edger, its rubber wheels help you stay in a steady line.

This weed whacker uses 0.065-inch string, which is easy to advance at the push of a button, thanks to the Command Feed spool system. But most amazing of all, WORX will send you free refill spools of string for the life of the tool; you just pay for shipping. This will come in handy, since the string can run out quickly. It also has a 12-inch cutting diameter, which isn’t the highest but is quite sufficient for average-sized lawns and yards. And at only 5.3 pounds, this is a lightweight string trimmer that’s easy to use even when your gardening sessions stretch out long.

Price at time of publish: 140

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 5.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 20 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Splurge

DeWALT 60-Volt Cordless Attachment-Capable String Trimmer Kit

If you use your string trimmer frequently and want lots of power as well as useful features, then you’ll appreciate the DeWALT weed whacker, which is a cordless model running off a 60-volt battery; that’s a lot of power, although it does add to the overall weight of the product. The high-efficiency brushless motor requires no maintenance to keep on running smoothly and fairly silently. There’s a two-speed, variable control trigger, so you can turn it up high when you need maximum power for chewing through brush or tall grass, or turn it down low to extend the battery run-time. You can even adjust the cutting width between 15 and 17 inches.

The weed whacker comes with 0.080-inch string, but the tool can also use 0.095-inch string if you need something even more heavyweight. To advance more string, just bump the weed eater lightly against the ground. The quick-load spool makes it easy to refill the string once you run out. If you want even more versatility from this weed eater, you’ll like its universal-attachment capability, which means you can purchase a wide variety of attachments from DeWALT or other companies to transform the weed whacker into a brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw, blower, tiller, and more. It comes with a 60-volt DeWALT battery that is compatible with other tools from this company, as well as a charger.

Price at time of publish: 301

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 15 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 60 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 17 inches

Best with Attachments

BLACKDECKER Corded String Trimmer With Lawn Mower Attachment

With most models of string trimmers, you have to purchase attachments separately. However, this 6.5-amp corded electric weed whacker from BLACKDECKER comes with a lawnmower attachment, making this a highly versatile tool for small backyards. In fact, it’s three tools in one: edger, string trimmer, and lawnmower. It’s especially good for mowing on slopes or hills where a traditional lawnmower can be hard to maneuver. And it can be used with an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 150 feet in length, so you can work your way around most small yards. Since there is no way to add a clipping bag to the tool, you can leave the grass clippings in place on the lawn to decompose into mulch or rake them up once you are finished mowing.

The string trimmer uses 0.065-inch string. There’s an automatic string feed, so you don’t have to stop and reel string out yourself or worry about bumping it against the ground while mowing. As a weed eater, the cutting swath is 12 inches. It pivots easily into edger mode. For use as a mower, the trimmer simply snaps into the mower base. You can adjust the mower’s cutting height from 1.6 inches to 2.4 inches; the mower does not have blades, but simply uses the spinning string to cut the grass, and it does a great job on most lawn types. You can even adjust the height of this tool’s handle between 33 inches and 43 inches to make it comfortable for your height.

Price at time of publish: 119

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 9.9 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 6.5 amps | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Heavy-Duty

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Quik-Lok String Trimmer

This professional-quality cordless string trimmer has the kind of power and run-time you’d expect from a gas weed eater, thanks to its M18 8.0-Ah lithium-ion battery. This sturdy weed whacker consists of two parts: a Milwaukee M18 FUEL power head with Quik-Lok and a Milwaukee M18 FUEL Quik-Lok string trimmer attachment. You can use any of Milwaukee’s other compatible attachments with the fuel head, making this a very versatile tool that can carry out a wide range of landscaping tasks. It has enough power to clear through thick brush, overgrown grass, and heavy weeds, reaching full throttle in less than a second and maintaining power without bogging down. The tool is designed for good balance, making it easy to carry and comfortable to use, even on lengthy yard tasks.

A variable-speed trigger lets you go faster when you need more power, or slow things down when you want to extend battery run-time as much as possible. The cutting width of the weed whacker adjusts from 14 to 16 inches. The string that comes with the tool is 0.080 inches, but you can also use it with heavier 0.095-inch line. Either way, you can reload the string reel in just a few seconds. When the string gets short during use, just bump the trimmer against the ground to advance more string. Not everyone needs a weed eater with this kind of power and at this price point, but for those who do, it’s hard to beat this offering from Milwaukee.

Price at time of publish: 349

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 12.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 18 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 16 inches

If you’re looking for a cordless electric weed eater that not only has plenty of power but is also loaded with great features like an adjustable cutting swath, variable speed control, and compatibility with numerous attachments for other landscaping purposes, then it’s hard to go wrong with the Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Electric String Trimmer. But if you need the kind of power that only a gas tool can deliver, then the Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight-Shaft Trimmer is our recommendation. It has a 17-inch cutting swath and can be converted for use with metal blades instead of string.

What to Look for in a Weed Eater

Type

There are three basic types of weed eaters, based on their power source.

Gas-powered weed whackers like the Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight Shaft Trimmer are the most powerful type, making them the best suited for large properties or for chewing through heavy brush. On the downside, they are much louder than electric models and can be heavier and more difficult to start. Plus, they require you to have a supply of gasoline on hand, and in many areas, they are being phased out due to their emissions.

Corded electric string trimmers are not as popular as they once were, but are still a fine choice if you are looking for a low-priced weed eater, you don’t have a very large lawn or garden to maintain, and you have access to an outdoor electrical outlet and an outdoor-rated extension cord of 50 feet or more. The Ryobi 10-Amp Attachment-Capable Corded String Trimmer has an 18-inch cutting swath and great power.

Cordless or battery-powered weed eaters are now the most popular type—the WORX Power Share WG163 is an especially highly rated option—particularly in areas where gas-powered models are restricted. Today’s cordless weed whackers have good power, although not as much as a gas-powered model. Still, they have more than enough oomph to maintain a small to medium-sized lawn. As a rough guideline, you’ll generally get half an hour or so of runtime before you need to recharge the battery. For many people, that’s all that’s needed to get the job done. If you have a big lawn, then it’s convenient to keep two batteries on hand so one can recharge while the other is in use. Other benefits of cordless weed whackers include a lack of smelly emissions, immediate starting at the press of a button, reduced vibrations, and quiet operation.

Cutting Width

A string trimmer’s cutting swath or cutting width is the width of the tool’s cutting capacity, indicating how much you’ll be able to trim in one pass. There are weed whackers with cutting swaths as small as 10 inches, and weed eaters with large 20-inch cutting widths, but most are between 12 and 16 inches. If you have a large lawn, a string trimmer with a wide cutting swath will help you trim more quickly. But if you need a tool that can squeeze between shrubs, rocks, or other obstacles, then you’ll find that a weed wacker with a smaller cutting swath can maneuver a bit more easily.

Some higher-end weed eaters have adjustable cutting swaths that let you go up or down a couple of inches. Our top choice, the Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Electric String Trimmer, can be adjusted for cutting widths between 13 and 15 inches.

Noise Level and Vibrations

Generally, cordless string trimmers are fairly quiet; you’ll mostly hear the whirl of the string and the sound of grass or weeds giving way. However, gas-powered weed whackers are loud enough to require ear protection during use, and corded electric models may or may not be loud enough to make you want to cover your ears, depending on the brand and model. However, you should wear eye protection when using any type of weed eater, as there is always a danger of stones or debris being tossed up into your face.

Vibration can be an issue with many weed eaters, especially gas-powered models. This can be tiring if you are using the tool for an extended session of trimming or chewing through brush. Some brands now build anti-vibration technology into their string trimmers, usually in the form of a handle that helps reduce some of the vibration. You can cut down even further on unpleasant hand numbness or fatigue by wearing a good pair of thick work gloves while you use your weed eater.

Weight

Since you’ll be holding your weed eater the entire time you are working, its weight can become an issue. You don’t want to be tired out before you finish your edging or trimming. As a general rule, electric weed eaters are quite a bit lighter than gas-powered models. The Ryobi ONE 18V Cordless Electric String Trimmer weighs a mere four pounds.

Most electric weed eaters weigh 12 pounds or less, although battery-powered models are usually heavier than those with a cord. Gas weed whackers generally weigh between 12 and 18 pounds.

Safety Features

Any weed eater should have a protective guard over the string to help keep rocks and other debris from flying toward you. However, you should always wear closed shoes, long pants, and eye protection when using these tools. Most weed whackers have the power switch placed so you can easily shut the tool off immediately should there be an emergency.

Straight or Curved Shaft

There are two basic styles of weed eater shafts: straight and curved. Curved shafts are generally easier to maneuver around rocks and other obstacles and are less tiring to the user’s back during long work sessions. However, straight shafts give you more reach and can be extended underneath shrubs or fences. Weed eaters with straight shafts often have a little more power, and battery run-time tends to be a little longer on these tools as well, but the choice between the two mostly comes down to personal preference.

String Control

Weed whackers work by spinning a thin plastic string-like cord very rapidly, which creates enough force to slice through grass, weeds, and brush. Most weed eaters have a roll of string within the base of the tool, so you can reel out more as the cord wears down, which can happen fairly quickly when working on thick brush or grass. There are three basic methods for reeling out more cord:

• Automatic feed senses when the cord is getting short and reels out more without you needing to do anything. The Greenworks 5.5 Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric String Trimmer is an auto-feed weed whacker.
• Push-button feed requires you to push a button on the weed eater’s handle to reel out more string.
• Bump-feed weed eaters reel out more cord when the trimmer is bumped against the ground.

Once the reel of string is empty, you’ll need to refill it. This is a fairly simple process for most weed eaters, but be sure to read the instructions before attempting it for the first time.

Note that there are also different thicknesses of string-trimmer lines or strings: as a general rule, 0.065-inch to 0.085-inch string is for light-to-moderate trimming of grass and weeds. For heavier weeds, brush, or tough grass, string that’s between 0.085-inches and 0.110-inches is required. Many string trimmers can use different sizes of line so you can switch them out if necessary.

Standout Features

Speed Control

Most string trimmers have just one set speed. Some higher-end models, including the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless String Trimmer, however, let you adjust the speed with either a two-speed setting or variable control. This allows you to speed up the tool for more power while tackling thicker growth or tougher brush, or slow the speed down to extend battery run-time when working on small weeds or grass.

Attachments

Some string trimmers have heads that can be adjusted from a horizontal position to a vertical orientation, which allows them to be used as an edger as well as a trimmer. Others, including the DeWALT 60-Volt Cordless Attachment-Capable String Trimmer Kit, allow you to attach a variety of separately purchased heads for other landscaping tasks such as cultivating soil, shearing hedges, mowing grass, or blowing leaves.

The vast majority of weed eaters are stringed tools, using a thin plastic cord that spins very rapidly to cut through grass and weeds. There are more powerful, but similar tools often called “brush cutters,” that use metal blades instead of plastic cord to chop through thick brush, tough weeds, and highly overgrown grass. Some weed eaters can be converted for use with blades as well as with plastic cord. Typically, only a gas weed eater has the power to convert to metal blades for cutting thick brush. The electric corded or cordless models that can cut with blades, as well as cord, typically can only handle plastic blades. These can cut light brush but can’t handle thick, woody stems as a metal-bladed brush cutter can. Neither a string nor blade weed eater is necessarily better; the best choice depends on your specific needs and the condition of your property.

Both gas and electric weed eaters have their pros and cons. Gas-powered weed eaters are stronger and aren’t tethered to an electrical outlet. However, gas weed eaters require filling with gas and oil and create smelly fumes. They are generally much louder than electric models and vibrate more during use. They are also heavier and more costly than electric models. However, for maintaining a large property or tackling thick brush or very overgrown weeds, a gas weed eater can be the better choice. For most yard cleanup, however, an electric weed eater, whether corded or cordless, is sufficient to handle grass, weeds, and light brush that isn’t too woody. Electric weed eaters don’t create smelly fumes and don’t require you to keep gasoline on hand. They generally are much quieter than gas-powered models and don’t vibrate as heavily during use, which makes them easier on your hands and arms.

There are pros and cons to both two-stroke and four-stroke (also called “two-cycle” and “four-cycle”) gas-powered weed eaters. Fewer moving parts means that two-stroke weed eaters are lighter in weight and easier to maintain than four-stroke models. They generally also have quite a bit more power. However, you will need to mix the gas with oil for two-stroke trimmers. If you’re looking for a quieter model that produces lower emissions, a four-stroke gas trimmer is the way to go. Another benefit: with four-stroke models, no mixing of gas and oil is required. Keep in mind, these models are pricier and generally weigh more than two-stroke weed eaters.

There are gas weed eaters for home use with 20 cc engines and professional models with as much as 50 cc engines, but the majority of gas-powered weed eaters used by the average homeowner have 22 cc to 28 cc engines, which provide plenty of power for tackling overgrown weeds, grass, and brush. When it comes to electric weed eaters, corded models for very light use might have as little motor power as 3 amps or as much as 10 amps, but for typical home use, a motor in the middle of that range is more than sufficient. Cordless weed eaters can use batteries between 18 volts and 80 volts, but again, the middle of that range is generally powerful enough for regular home use.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was researched and written by Michelle Ullman, who specializesin home and garden products. She has been writing for The Spruce since 2020, covering a wide range of home improvement products including power and hand tools, painting supplies, landscaping tools, and tool organizers. To choose the best weed eaters for this article, she consulted dozens of customer and third-party reviews, considering each product’s power source, performance, ease of use, versatility, and price point. She received additional input from Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

The Secret To Restring A Weedeater Trimmer In Seconds! With Video Included

So just how do you restring a weedeater / string trimmer without losing all of your patience?

Quite simply, a weedeater (or weed whacker, string trimmer or line trimmer as it is often called), is a must-have tool for keeping the lawn and landscape looking neat and tidy.

But it can also be an absolute nightmare when it runs out of string!

I am not afraid to admit that the entire process has frustrated me for well over 35 years.

And I mean, really, really frustrated me!

I actually love to use the weedeater. Until it runs out of string of course. And then the nightmare comes alive.

Sometimes, I get lucky and have it re-strung in just a few minutes. And I might even pat myself on the back and think I finally have it all figured out.

But then, the very next time it runs out of string, I might fight for 20 to 30 minutes trying to rewind the spool. Only to of course finally fire it back up and watch the entire spool discharge in seconds!

I am ashamed to admit at that point, the inner child in me most likely threw the spool across the lawn in disgust.

But one day, it all changed – and I have my wife to thank for it 100%!

How to restring a Hyper Tough weed eater the right way

All it took was me being out of town on a business trip to make it all happen!

Learning To Restring A Weedeater With Ease

Mary and I have a pretty set mowing and trimming routine. She mows most of the 3 acres, while I trim with the weedeater.

She can get poison ivy by looking at it, and the covering of weeds and grass that results from using the weedeater has never been a good combination for her.

But it just so happened last summer that I was stuck out of town for two straight weeks, and the trimming was getting bad.

And Mary decided poison ivy or not, she was going to tackle the chore.

So she put on jeans and long sleeves, and fired up our old trusty Echo string trimmer.

I have owned my Echo for going on 6 years now. And beyond never knowing how to easily restring it, it has been an incredible power tool for me.

And as soon as Mary went off to trim with the weedeater, it happened. She ran out string.

Now, you have to understand, Mary to this point had a long history of watching me in total frustration when it came time to restring a weedeater.

So she did what any Smart, intelligent person would do.

She decided to “read the directions”, or in this case, look up a few “how-to” videos on line to see how it should really be done.

Why You Should Read Directions – How To Restring A Weedeater

You can imagine my surprise when she called me that night to tell me everything was mowed and trimmed.

I asked, “Were you able to start the weedeater?” When she responded back with a quick yes, I have to admit I was totally impressed. I mean, that can be a whole other frustrating thing with weedeaters.

But then she went on: “And, I learned how to restring it too – in seconds!”

I remember laughing and said, “you mean you got lucky.” Obviously, thinking to all of the times in the past I actually got lucky and had it work.

She finished by saying, “And I wound it back up with it all together.”

That was simply too much for me to believe. So much so, when I got home I went out and asked her to show me.

And about two minutes later, I stood there with my jaw on the floor.

Learning The Secret

How easy was it? Apparently, my Echo trimmer, and many others as well, have a “Speed-Feed Head” that can be wound with the entire string head together.

As you can see in the video below, it should be a simple process. One that I was making way too hard for 35 plus years.

VIDEO : IF you are unable to see the video above – you can also see it on our YouTube channel here : How To Restring A Weedeater

To restring a weedeater, you simply run the wire through the head, and then put it through the eyelets. And then, put it back together, with all of the wire still out.

Simply by holding the top side of the head, and twisting the lower side of the head in the opposite direction, it winds it up perfectly. Every single time.

I was both elated and ashamed all at the same time! Elated that it would never be a pain again.

And ashamed that I hadn’t taken the time to learn this over the last 35 years LOL!

Another lesson learned from my wife to read the directions first.

Happy Gardening and Weedeating – Jim and Mary

As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with Комментарии и мнения владельцев, questions, or to simply say hello! You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. Follow us on here : OWG This article may contain affiliate links.

What Size Weed Eater String Should You Use? (2023)

Weed eater string, trimmer line, or whatever you want to call it, is one of the most underrated tools in the lawn care game. Yes, it makes a difference. Yes, it can make or break your weed eater’s performance.

There are a million options available on the market. Some won’t even fit your string trimmer. Some are expensive and absolute garbage (we’ve tried dozens). And we are on a quest to find the best string trimmer line ever made.

That’s right. We’re trying to find the weed eater string out there that can turn a wimpy battery-powered string trimmer into a commercially-powered beast.

Why we started this site

We started The Lawn Review out of frustration. We couldn’t find clarity around what type of products were actually good and reliable. All the fertilizers we tried didn’t work. We ended up with a dying lawn, wasted time, and wasted money.

So we started buying and reviewing lawn tools and figuring out which ones were the best. And now we’ve moved onto actually keeping that lawn looking nice all year around.

We’ve spent thousands of hours building this content for people just like you and me – normal people.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

Weed Eater String Sizes Explained

When it comes to string trimmer lines, size is all about thickness of the string. Think back to geometry in high school and how things were measured using diameter, or the distance from one end to another. The true width of the weed eater string.

Us Americans use the correct way of measuring things and it is in inches. There are some who will measure weed eater string in millimeters and they are not to be trusted.

But here are the common weed eater string sizes and what they mean.

Let me explain what I mean further here:

.060 inch Weed Eater String

.060 inch weed eater string is great for smaller weed eaters. If you have a Black and Decker string trimmer or WORX weed eater that is relatively small, you can get away with using this string.

This is the smallest string trimmer line on the market and is also one of the most popular for normal homeowners. In my opinion, homeowners leave a lot on the table by just buying the “stock” weed eater string for their Ryobi, WORX or Black and Decker weed eaters.

.060 is really light and pretty cheap, but sacrifices durability and cutting power. on that later.

.080 inch Weed Eater String Size

.080 inch weed eater string is a great alternative to.060.

It has more thickness than.060 weed eater string but isn’t so thick that it slows you down. It adds more durability to each cut and is still extremely easy to load into basically ANY weed eater, even ones that normally take.060.

The added benefit of the.080 inch weed eater string is that there is more room to create patterns or different shapes in the string that allow for added cutting surfaces that absolutely melts grass.

Pros of.080 inch weed eater string:

.095 inch Weed Eater String Size

If I were to apply the scientific “Goldilocks” method, I would say that.095 inch string trimmer is just right. Here’s why.

Once you start using a.095 inch weed eater string, there’s a noticeable difference. I put it in my Ryobi Expand-It (cheap) weed eater and it freaking rocked.

For starters, the.095 inch weed eater string is heavier. In some tests we ran with an EGO string trimmer, it absolutely dominated the grass. It was truly the Mike Tyson of weed eater string.

This weed eater string is when you’ll start to notice more tension when winding it. This makes it a little tougher to load, but adds a ridiculous amount of cutting power.

We think.095 weed eater string is the best thickness of all the weed eater string we’ve tested – which is a LOT.

Most weed eaters that take.095 inch weed eater string make it so that you can’t tell. For example if you are using an Echo SRM 225 or comparable battery-powered weed eaters, this thing will load like a breeze.

Cons of.095 inch trimmer line

.0105 inch and above Weed Eater String

.0105 inch and above string trimmer is really going to be commercial applications. Think dudes that are doing commercial landscaping jobs around schools, libraries and office buildings. They’re also used in walk behind string trimmers that have great use as pseudo-lawn mowers for dense brush or wild land.

How To Replace String Trimmer Line With 2 Strings-Dual Feed Tutorial

This stuff is not going to be great for the average homeowner or even most residential landscapers and is far less common. But it still has its place as an absolute beast in all types of trimming for big, professional jobs.

Weed Eater String Colors

Many people think weed eater string colors correlate to thickness or patterns or something else. That’s not true – there is no correlation between color and thickness across all the different providers of string trimmer line.

The truth of colors when it comes to string trimmer line is simply preference. But there are important things to note with color.

Most notably, the color of the weed eater string is there to help you visualize the string better. There are dozens of different colored strings out there, but what you’re really looking for is how the string looks when it’s spinning a few thousand rotations per minute.

We have tested just about every color and our favorite was surprisingly bright green, followed by orange.

Bright green and orange gave the best contrast to the grass when cutting it. Visibility is really important when using a weed eater, especially around delicate surfaces like a shed, a deck, or even prized flowers and plants. You can accidentally seriously damage many things around your yard if you don’t know exactly where you are cutting.

We were least impressed by the red, black, gray, and clear string trimmer lines. They simply disappeared or were hard to see when up and spinning.

Weed Eater String Shapes

You may notice if you’ve spent any time shopping for string trimmer line that it comes in a bunch of different shapes. This isn’t just a marketing gimmick (okay it seems like some of it is), but has some serious utility. Let me break down what we have seen and tested over the past few weeks.

The different shapes

These things look like you walked into the space bar in Star Wars. Creatures from every end of the earth. Some of the most common weed eater string shapes are:

We learned a lot when we tested all of these suckers. I’m going to group these into round, pointed, and braided / twisted.

Round weed eater string

Round weed eater string is probably the most common. It is the “stock” weed eater string because it is super easy to manufacture, isn’t complex, and is easy to wind and fit into every string trimmer.

We expected this one to be the worst in our tests for all the above reasons. It surprised us.

It still wasn’t the best, but it was much more durable than we expected. You would think it would be the easiest to break because it isn’t as “hardcore” as the pointed and patterned ones, but it was pretty structurally sound.

Round weed eater string had average performance when it came to cutting performance. Nothing special, but not poor by any stretch.

Pointed weed eater string

For weed eater string that had several sides, like a square or hexagon, we actually found the string to be more brittle. We did not expect this. It definitely has more razor-like qualities that help cut grass more, but it also exposes much more structural breakdown opportunities when compared to round weed eater string.

There was one in particular that was star-shaped that we tried and it truly seemed to break down every 10 seconds or so.

The best weed eater string shape we found was a triangular shape. It had fewer points, but still had the razor-like quality that shredded grass. We found it to have the most structural integrity while providing the best cutting power.

Braided and twisted weed eater string

The cool things about braided and twisted weed eater string is that it has a meaningful impact on the sound of the string trimmer. It is much quieter spinning, which is great. But in reality, the spinning string is not really the loudest part of most weed eaters – it’s the motor.

So while the braided and twisted lines are quieter, they still hardly make a dent on the overall noise level of the weed eater.

Spiral and braided string trimmer also have more durability than non-twisted pointed weed eater string. Obviously they don’t make a twisted, round weed eater string (it would just be round) so it really just applies to patterned ones.

Overall these are more durable but only apply to less durable string trimmer lines with patterns. So they are good benefits in the end but also come at an extra cost. I’ve also found the twisted ones have more built-in torque, making them harder to load into your weed eater.

How to replace weed eater string

We’ve included a super short YouTube short we made below:

Common questions about weed eater string we get

Yep, over the years we have compiled dozens of questions about weed eater string that we get over and over. Let’s get started:

Can I use a thicker trimmer line?

To a point, yes. For most residential weed eaters, you can use up to.095 before things start to get hairy. Many gas trimmers can go higher, up to.105 or.110 but not much higher than that.

How do I know what size weed eater string to use?

Conventional wisdom says that for most residential weed eaters.095 or.080 are the most common sizes that fit your weed eater and maximize performance.

What size weed eater string is best for STIHL weed eaters?

We have had luck using a.095 weed eater string for STIHL’s weed eater lineup. It fits their gas powered weed eaters like the STIHL FS 56 RC and should fit most of their battery-powered ones as well.

What size weed eater string is best for Echo weed eaters?

Echo weed eaters like the SRM 225 can handle.095 or.105 thickness to get the job done.

What size weed eater string is best for Ryobi weed eaters?

There’s a huge variety of weed eaters offered by Ryobi, but my Ryobi weed eater absolutely crushes with.095 weed eater string. It came with.060 but I upgraded and it took it from a dinky tool to a freaking machine.

What’s the best weed eater string for Husqvarna weed eaters?

If you have a gas-powered Husqvarna weed eater like the Husqvarna 128LD, you’ll be safe with a.095 weed eater string.

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Corded vs Cordless Leaf Blowers: 2023 Buying Guide

Alex K

Alex is a lawn tool enthusiast who cut his teeth as a normal Joe lawn dad. After burning through expensive, fancy tools, Alex became dedicated to finding the best tools on the planet. He is now a leading expert on electric lawn tools, quoted in the Washington Post among other publications.