Trimmer Blades vs. String: Which is Right for Your Yard. Metal weed wacker string

Trimmer Blades vs. String: Which is Right for Your Yard?

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.

What is it called?! Weed Eater, String Trimmer, Weed Wacker or something else.

It’s no secret, there are a ridiculous amount of words used to identify the metal pole attached to a motor with a spinning plastic rope. That is used to cut weeds along the borders of a lawn.

In fact, I have heard so many words used to define it, that I am not sure what the answer is anymore.

So we did some research; is it weed eater, weed wacker, string trimmer or something else?

Well, if you are ready to find out, forget everything you thought you knew and let’s dive in.

Here’s a Hint: We found that there is a disconnect between what the manufacturers call them, and what the customers do. And a lot of it has not only to do with the unique languages of people from different areas. It also has to do with trademarks and marketing.

Hold tight as there is a lot to go through!

The History of the Weed Eater. Or is it String Trimmer?

The first spinning whippy rod for cutting grass along the edges of a property was called a weed eater. In fact, Weed Eater was the brand which the machine was marketed under.

The Weed Eater was invented by George Ballas in the 1970s. The machine was inspired when one of his employees was bitten by a snake while using sheers to prune the edges of the property.

As a result, Ballas went home and grabbed a tin can used to hold popcorn, he attached some wires to the can, then attached the can to his edgers motor. He found that it cut weeds like a charm and the rest is history. By 1977 the Weed Eater was mass produced and distributed nationally.

Whether you are team guard or no guard, the original gas-powered Weed Eater was marketed as a grass trimmer and lawn edger, which had no guard.

But if the original was called a Weed Eater, why are there so many different names for it? Well, a lot has to do with branding.

What do manufacturers say? (Weed eater, weed whacker, string trimmer, or something else)

Now, let’s turn to the manufacturers of these machines and see what they market them as.

And the answer is simple. Whether you are looking at STIHL, Echo, Milwaukee, or even Ryobi, they are marketed as “string trimmers”.

But, really this comes down to trademark issues. You see while Weed Eater was the original machine, the name was trademarked. And as a result, no other manufacturers could use it, so they had to get creative. Other manufacturers tried to rebrand it in other ways.

For example, Stanley Black Decker holds the Weedwacker trademark, which is used in Craftsman brand tools that were owned by Sears. It was one of the early competitors of the Weed Eater.

And Enviromental Essentials LLC holds the patent for Weed Wacker.

Today, Husqvarna holds the Weed Eater trademark. It is now a 3-tool battery-powered line of homeowner-grade tools, which includes a Weed Eater, leaf blower, and hedge trimmer.

So now we are beginning to see some of the thinking behind why there are so many names for the tool. But what do lawn care pros call it?

What Do Lawn Care Pros Say: String Trimmer, Weed Eater, Weed Whacker, Weed Whip, or something else?

So, as usual, we have found that the best source for answers to questions like this is the lawn care pros themselves. What did they have to say?

Well, the answer was resoundingly clear.

3 & 6 Blade Steel Lawn Mower Grass Weed Trimmer Head Attachment

42.4% of lawn care pros said that they call the machine a “Weed Eater”. And the reason is likley a simple one, Much like how Band-aid became the household name for bandages, so to did the Weed Eater brand become the household name for grass trimmers.

What else do lawn care pros call the tool?

Perhaps unsurprisingly the second biggest answer was “string trimmer” with almost 25% reporting that this was their preferred term.

While 17% said “Weed wacker”, and nearly 10% simply called it a trimmer. Shockingly some of the respondents said that they use the term whipper snipper, and others called it a weed whip.

What do most people call it in the US and other countries? According to Google Trends

To learn more about what most people in the US call the grass trimming tool, we turned to Google Trends to see what most people look for when they are looking for the machine. We poured through the Google Trends data using every name we came across while doing this research.

The names we found and researched included:

• Weed eater,
• String Trimmer,
• Weed Trimmer
• Line Trimmer.
• Weed Cutter,
• Whipper Snipper,
• Weed Wacker
• Strimmer,
• Weed Whip,
• and many more.

After looking into which search terms were most popular in the US, we looked into what other countries call the tool too. Below are our 7 key findings.

Key Finding #1: Weed Eater is Popular than String Trimmer

First of all, we found that the intel the lawn care pros gave us was pretty close to the information we received from Google Trends.

From the earliest data offered by Google Trends, we can see that “Weed Eater” has been the pre-dominant search as compared to “String Trimmer”. In fact, that lead actually appears to be widening over time.

Key Finding #2: String Trimmer is Popular than Weed Wacker (In Most states)

On the other hand, unlike the data we received from the lawn care pros above, it would appear that even the term “weed wacker” is more popular than string trimmer.

While string trimmer was the more popular search term in 2004, by 2010 weed wacker took a solid lead nationwide and didn’t look back. But when we break things down on a state-by-state map, we can see that the competition between these 2 search terms is very regional.

For one reason or another, weed wacker has grown in popularity in New England and the South West, while string trimmer has remained the leading term in most of the Mid-West and South East.

Key Finding #3: Weed Eater is Popular than Weed Wacker (In Most states)

Between these two search terms weed eater is still the most popular overall, but there are some unique exceptions when you break down searches on a state level. While this data may not be as reliable as it could be for reasons I will cover in a moment. Overall weed whacker is the only search word to beat out weed eater in the US on a state-by-state level.

Weed wacker is the primary search term in many New England states including; Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

DISCLAIMER. This one may be a strange exception where the term weed wacker isn’t referring to an actual weed wacker. It may be that many of these searches may be searches for the Weed Wacker trimmer by Manscaped. Which is made for cutting something entirely different.

Key Finding #4: In Minnesota Weed Trimmer is a Popular Name

For one reason or another, the term “weed trimmer” is more popular in Minnesota than string trimmer. It is the only state that appears to be attached to this term.

Key Finding #5: Weed Eater is the Most Common Name in the US

It’s simple in the US, the dominant name is Weed Eater. Which simply makes sense. after all the tool was invented in the US under the brand name Weed Eater. And most families became familiar with the tool through marketing and advertisements. By the time the competition came along with other names like string trimmer and weed whacker. Weed eater was already deeply engrained in American culture.

I suppose you could say calling the tool a weed eater is simply the American thing to do.

Key Finding #6: It’s Called a Strimmer in the UK

In the UK, a different picture emerges. Instead of 5 competing names, one name for the tool has a clear lead. And that word is one we have yet to see in the US.

The dominant name in the UK is Strimmer. Or a combination of the words string trimmer.

Its closest competitor for popularity to strimmer in the UK is line trimmer.

Key Finding #7: It’s Called a Whipper Snipper in Australia

During our research, I saw Whipper Snipper pop up a few times. And thought that it simply had to be an Australian name.

Not only is it an Australian word for the machine, but it’s also actually the most popular word used for it in Australia. With line trimmer being a fairly close second.

What is it called at the end of the day?

At the end of the day, it seems that each English-speaking country has its own name for the tool we rely on every day. And the same was even true for differing states. For one reason or another, the US seems to have more names for the tool than any other and there is less cohesion than in other countries.

Regaurdless, since the original tool was called a Weed Eater and it is already the most popular term for the tool in the US, perhaps it’s time we unite as Americans and agree to call it a weed eater, and shame those that call it a string trimmer.

Regardless of what you call it, it is interesting to see one tool with such an array of names.

Do you call it something else? Let us know on if there is a word for the tool that we missed @YourGreenPal.

If you are looking for a similar article to read, check out the History of the Lawn.

Hi, I’m Gene Caballero and I’m the co-founder of GreenPal. At GreenPal, we’re helping hundreds of thousands of Americans solve one of the trickiest problems: a reliable, fast, and affordable way to get lawncare taken care of. On behalf of GreenPal, I’ve been featured in the Indianapolis Star. the Sacramento Bee. Entrepreneur. Inc.com. and dozens more. Please feel free to say hi on or connect with me on LinkedIn.

What Size String Trimmer Line Should You Use?

When it comes to keeping a lawn neat and tidy, the string trimmer shines as a multi-purpose workhorse. Depending on the application, one could use it to mow down hard-to-access areas, trim up grass and weeds that a mower can’t quite reach, clear out thicker brush, and edge out lines for a cleaner-looking yard. So, what size string trimmer line should you use for trimming grass?

The answer lies with how you intend to use your string trimmer. Read on.

The Role of the String Trimmer Head

Generally speaking, a string trimmer uses a monofilament line to cut through grass, weeds…whatever. By spinning that line at a high speed, the cutting head generates enough centrifugal force to hold the line out at a stiff, horizontal angle. This lets it cut through most grasses quite easily.

The height and arc of the string trimmer are manually adjusted by the operator, making the trimmer quite useful for cutting around trees, walls, rock beds, etc. In addition, you can turn a string trimmer vertically to use it as an edger against sidewalks and driveways.

On many gas models, both the cutting heads and lines can be switched out. This lets them accommodate a variety of line gauges. Not so much with battery-powered models.

Check the user manual (or with your dealer) to see what gauges your cutting head can handle. Thinner spooled line, thicker pre-cut line, serrated and square lines—even blades or chains could be used if you have a strong enough system. Each string trimmer line size also comes in a variety of shapes, thicknesses, and materials.

With that said—which strong trimmer line size and type work best for which applications?

String Trimmer Line Size Means Thickness

This probably comes as no surprise to anyone, but the general rule with string trimmer line size is that the tougher the application, the thicker the line needs to be. A larger diameter line increases the power and durability of the line, which leads to less breakage and wear-out.

Thicker line, however, requires more power to drive it at the same speed.

String trimmer line comes in a range of thicknesses or sizes. For light work, such as trimming grass, 0.065″-0.085″ should be sufficient. For thicker grass and weeds, a line in the 0.085″-0.110″ range will get the job done, and for thicker underbrush, anything thicker than 0.110″ will work.

One note for the cordless string trimmer users: thicker strings will have an effect on your power and runtime. As the thickness of the line jumps up, more wind resistance affects the cutting head, slowing down the speed at which the engine can rotate the cutting head. Higher voltage and beefier cordless trimmers (see: the EGO Power Head String Trimmer) will probably be able to manage thicker gauge string trimmer line more efficiently, but lower voltage models might struggle with a thicker line. Generally, it’s best to refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation for string size.

String Trimmer Line Shaping

The shape of the line also affects the cutting efficiency. String trimmer line comes in a variety of shapes: round, twisted, square, star shaped, and serrated. Rounded line is the most common type available, but it because it lacks a cutting edge, it rips the grass rather than cutting it. Twisted line is a bit better, as the shape has a little more of a cutting edge to it.

Some line comes in a square or star shape. The edges of these string trimmer lines are sharper than rounded trimmer line, and cut through the grass rather than tear at it. Serrated line is also an option when it comes to a sharper trimmer line. It has teeth, similar to a kitchen knife, and “saws” through heavier grass and weeds with relative ease.

Check Out These STIHL Trimmer Line Options

As an example of how the shape of trimmer line can vary—even from a single manufacturer, check out these options STIHL has for its customers:

The shape of the line optimizes it for different applications. Some shapes are only available in certain diameters. Others come in a wider variety. Trimmer line can be formulated to resist fraying and splitting or for durability, noise reduction, strength, and temperature resistance.

String Trimmer Line Material

Nylon line is the most common line available, but it tends to wear out and break quickly on anything but lighter duty jobs. Manufacturers have come out with a variety of alternatives for heavier duty jobs, however. Some examples include reinforced composite nylon, internally reinforced nylon, and aluminum additives for added strength.

Although not line in the technical sense, some of the beefier string trimmers can work with nylon, or even metal, blades. All of these options improve the durability of the light gauge nylon string, but if the vast majority of your trimming work centers on light grass clipping, you can probably get by with inexpensive nylon line.

Final Thoughts

So, what type of string trimmer line size should you use? The easiest answer: probably the heaviest and sharpest gauge that my trimmer can effectively turn without losing power to wind resistance. Assuming your string trimmer has the power, you won’t lose much cutting efficiency by using a heavier line. When you need to jump over to heavier duty trimming work, that ensures you won’t have to mess around with changing your line to handle it.

For most homeowners, round nylon line probably suffices for the vast majority of simple trimming needs. You might need something heavier for edging and clearing out underbrush. However, for handling grass around the house and yard, light gauge round nylon trimmer line does the trick.

Of course, this assumes normal wear and tear on the line won’t bother you too much. If you want to spend less time re-spooling your cutting head, switching to a more durable material is a good, though pricier, option.

Trimmer Head 5 Steel Blades Razors !? REVIEW AND TEST #1

Clint DeBoer

When he’s not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years. Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film video editing, color correction, and digital video MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified. After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades. Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.

Related articles

Husqvarna Spring Products Showcase

OPE Visits Husqvarna’s North Carolina HQ for an Exclusive Tour I’m not sure what it is about spring 2023, but it seems as though outdoor power tool manufacturers are especially bullish on product line development. Husqvarna is among those brands leading the pack (not surprising considering that they’ve been making various forms of equipment for […]

Solid Steal–The HART Blower Bundle

HART’s 20V 315 CFM Blower, Two Batteries, and a Charger at a Great Price Exclusive to Walmart, HART has made a name for itself within the consumer market thanks to its extensive line of tools and outdoor power equipment. And boy, do they have a deal for you with the HART Blower Bundle! Get a […]

Wisconsin Assembly Outlaws Gas Bans

Gas-powered engines scored a win in Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Assembly. A pair of bills that conservative Wisconsin lawmakers passed on April 25 would prevent state and local governments from banning gas-fueled vehicles, snow blowers, lawn mowers, and other such equipment. The bill’s GOP sponsors targeted the passage of laws like California’s, requiring that new cars, trucks, […]

Best Riding Lawn Mowers for 2023

There are just too many benefits of riding lawn mowers to mention here, and we’re sure you already know what they are anyway. If you don’t currently enjoy these “luxuries”, then you’re definitely not alone in pining for them in the hot summer sun. So, the staff at OPE has assembled our recommendations for the […]