Strimmer line

[Chris J Dixon]

I have a Bosch ART 23 Combitrim which uses nylon line 1.6 mm dia. There is also the option of a more robust 2.25 mm line, but this comes in precut fixed lengths, with a central metal crimp, and fits in a different spool, to be used double-ended.

In terms of line wear, the thicker line is, unsurprisingly, much better, but the price of the precut lengths is prohibitive.

It would clearly be possible to buy a length of thicker line and wind it onto the standard spool. I can see that auto feed would probably not work, but when does it?

About the only practical downside that I can see is that the thicker line would produce greater unbalance forces when in use. Has anyone else beefed up their strimmer line, or got thoughts on why it might not be a good idea?

Chris

[The Natural Philosopher]

I bouh two 50 meter spools of line from a local agricultural supplier John Deere at Newmarket.

lasted me 18 months so far. 1/2 way through first spool.

[Bob Hobden]

Are you sure your electric strimmer can handle thicker/heavier line? Those Bosch strimmers have not got good reviews for build quality and I've seen reviews where the heads fly off.

I normally buy line in large reels, about 100+ metres at a time. Have always bought it from a specialist shop but see it's also on here...

mended my Husqvarna strimmer when the primer bulb sprung a leak, but then it is over 15 years old and gets very hard use down on our allotment site keeping the green roadways clear.

[Steve Firth]

Tried it. Yes it bollocks up the autofeed and it also breaks where the line exits the spool. Also inside the spool the line rubs together on the coil and adjacent turns friction weld to each other.

There doesn't seem to be an advantage to using thicker line on a strimmer not designed to use it.

[Paul - xxx]

I 'upgraded' a Black and Decker (cheap, crap, but cheap) strimmer using bicycle gear cable .. Steel, multi-strand, lasts way longer than any nylon I've ever used .. and was really pretty damn dangerous .. :)

I found it better, after a few tries, to solder the cable to stop the strands parting company and lacerating shoes/toes/small children.

[Bill Grey]

If anyone tries to speak to you when strimming, switch off the strimmer and WAIT for it to stop without moving yourself. I hold my hands up to having turned round to answer my missus having switched off the strimmer, but it was still running down. Swinging the now switched off strimmer still managed to decapitate several shrubs :-(

A cautionary tale :-)

Bill

[Dave Liquorice]

Is that all? I was expecting to hear that the missus had to spend a couple of weeks in hospital with lacerated shins...

[Huge]

That's nothing - I've known beginners at clay pigeon shoots turn around and wave the gun at the queue of people behind them....!