string trimmer heads

[Dave Fritz]

Whether gas or battery operated string trimmer heads have become a real head ache for us. We've used the Stihl cartridge's on a battery operated trimmer until the trimmer broke and was too expensive to replace. while they were coinvent they were expensive. I'm looking seriously at a DeWalt 60 volt Flex battery trimmer because we have other 20 volt DeWalt tools and it would fit into our system nicely. I'm concerned about the head. This looks interesting: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rino-Tuff-Universal-Fit-Pivotrim-Replacement-Head-for-Gas-and-Select-Cordless-String-Grass-Trimmer-Lawn-Edger-17093/206470721 I'd have to verify it would fit of course. I'm wondering what you're experiences and recommendations are regarding string trimmer heads, battery or gas units.

[Tom M King]

That kind with fixed length pieces are more trouble than they look like they are. Look for a Speed Feed head. They make different versions for different sizes of string trimmers, and they come with several adapters for different mount threads. I don't really mind the Stihl 25-2 heads that come on their trimmers, but the Speedfeed's are much easier to load.

It only takes the slightest tap to advance the string with a bump feed head like the Stihl 25-2 or the Speedfeed. I see people who have trouble with them are bumping too hard, holding them down too hard, or packing the line on too tightly. Loading too tightly is not a problem with the Speedfeed.


I have tried one of those fixed length heads for really heavy line, but I've decided if stuff you have to cut is thick enough to need a .130 line, you might as well use the Clearing Saw.

https://www.amazon.com/Shindaiwa-78890-30000-Speed-Feed-Universal-Trimmer/dp/B00DRNIZ2C/ref=sr_1_5?gclid=CjwKCAjw4ayUBhA4EiwATWyBrpwATFMBI WkHncxE8NEVWmETi1924pl7yeWl_a0PjNCUbDEAWrqZYhoCdBw QAvD_BwE&hvadid=580631161803&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9009793&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7533381775432780299&hvtargid=kwd-301407461479&hydadcr=18710_13466045&keywords=speed+feed+head&qid=1653324247&sr=8-5

[Dave Fritz]

Looks very easy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feWfQHF-150&ab_channel=EchoToolGuy

[Bill Dufour]

Before string trimmers Gravely made a 20 Inch saw blade attachment for their two wheel tractors.
Bill D.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOVOOOlJlxs

[Tom M King]

When I was growing up, before there was such a thing as a Weedeater, everyone used a Swing Blade, also called a Sling Blade. I heard it called a Sling Blade a lot more than Swing Blade.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/gardening-tools/gardening-hand-tools/7006151?gclid=CjwKCAjwp7eUBhBeEiwAZbHwkTO8IJFZwixQ 2lFSBt2Q_BHrwZuXHKotFTreY19XUq4RHv8AMExoghoCi6sQAv D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Greg Parrish]

I changed my Stihl heads out for the Echo Speed-Feed universal heads. Don't require disassembly or opening the head so easier to reload and seem to work well. Looks to be the same thing as the Shindaiwa one linked above but a little cheaper. https://www.homedepot.com/p/ECHO-Speed-Feed-400-Universal-Trimmer-Head-99944200907/204159249