Weed whacker questions..

[C.Ann]

Never used one - gotta use one - 'fraid to use one...

How do I use it? Just stand there and let it whack the weeds - move it back and forth - swing it around like a baseball bat?

What size weeds will it whack? Teeny, tiny grass size - knee high grass - jungle weeds?

I hate trying to play the "man" of the house...

 

[Serena]

I was half afraid to open this thread thinking it was about the other thread that mentioned weed wackers.

At any rate, I'm curious too. I've never had to use one and although I've been doing a really good job with the lawn mower, there are a couple places that one of those would be easier.

 

[Meriweather]

back and forth motion

how big...depends on the size of the weed whacker (the string rather).
We have a huge one and it can cut almost anthing down.

 

[SOBDOSNV]

There are different kinds. But I've never seen one you swing like a bat. You can get them them from small to large enough to cut down small trees. Most people use the smaller type to trim grass around boarders and edges. They will also work on "normal" weeds, you'll have to try to see. Just run it an inch above the ground. Some of them you have to feed the cutting line out, and you tap the bottom on the ground every so often. Sweep it from side to side keeping the wacker just off the ground. It just takes practive. Be sure and wear eye protection as they can kick up dirt. If it's a gas powered one, hearing protection is in order then also. Another alternative is to hire the local boy who does yard work. Good luck.

 

[Philharmagik]

You should also wear long pants so your legs are protected. Usually they have a handle for one hand and then you use the other hand to guide it as you do the back and forth motion. If you are using an electric one, be careful of the cord. It's not really that hard and good luck.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

wear long pants. I do a lot of the outside chores as G's meds limit what he can safely accomplish most days and because I'm one of those tomboy country girl type women . I do the trimming here in our yard and at my mom's almost 3 acres. I use a small electric trimmer here and around the house at Mom's and a bigger gas one on the rest of her property. I am not the most coordinated of humans and I tend to really make the debris fly when I'm whacking those weeds. I've come in with bleeding ankles and shins more time than I can count so I make sure that I now wear closed toe shoes and long pants as well as some eye protection, etc.

And be careful. I tried trimming around my favorite clematis last year and ended up whacking part of it off when Isabella drew my attention away from my work. Thank goodness it grew back this year. I felt like such a dope.

Go for it girl, you can do it. And if the trimmer you have is too heavy buy a smaller, lighter one you can handle (one that self feeds the line is easiest too.) I did that with a blower to clean up after mowing and trimming. I found a great little Toro electric blower that's not very loud and is easy to handle to move grass and leaves.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by crazyforgoofy

And be careful. I tried trimming around my favorite clematis last year and ended up whacking part of it off when Isabella drew my attention away from my work. Thank goodness it grew back this year. I felt like such a dope.

--------------------------------

Believe me - there is NOTHING in my yard right now that should NOT be whacked - LOL..

I also noticed there are two weed whackers out in the garage - one small, one large - both electric..

I don't understand this "feeding the line" though.. How do I know if I have to feed the thing or if it feeds itself?

I'm thinking I might wait until tomorrow morning when all of my neighbors have gone to work so I don't have to make a fool out of myself for all the world to see.......

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

And remember there is no piece of equipment more important than this

safety glasses. (I always wanted to be just like Norm Abram and say that.) One other thing that might be helpful, go rent Texas Chainsaw Murder. While you are watching it mentally replace yourself with leather face; mentally replace chainsaw with weed whacker; and mentally replace victim with weeds. That should pretty much do it.

Jeff

 

[Philharmagik]

Look under the gaurd on the weed whacker. the guard should look almost lke a half of a circle. You should see a colored string coming from a spool at the bottom. This string should be just short of the distance from the spool to the guard. When you whack the weeds the string will shorten by the contact and you need to tap the spool on a hard surface to let more string out. If the string quits coming out then you have to take the spool off and fix the string by hand or replace the spool. look in the garage for replacement spools. You have 2 weed whackers of different sizes and i am guessing that the color of the string will be different and the gauge will be different to so make sure what goes with what weed whacker.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Come on, everybody sing it with me...

Tap on,
Tap off,
Tap on, tap off,
The Tapper!


Jeff

 

[4nana]

C.Ann,

I suggest you start with the smaller one honey. I wished I lived near so I could come help you!! This is Nana's favorite electric toy! I love it as it makes me feel so powerful...LOL!! DH is the mower, I am the trimmer...all around trees, flower beds, mail box, sidewalks, etc. and anything else that gets in my way...LOL.

Just yesterday we did dear Mom's yard.
Like I've told you, @74yo she doesn't ask anyone to do anything if she can do it herself. Not that she is so independent, but does not want to be an impositon (like she ever in my life time would be). However, the weed wacker does intimidate her. I was busy at hand, having a ball, buzzing away, when she decides she wants to give it a try. I carefully gave her directions and went over the rules. She tried it, loved it and I couldn't get my weed wacker back as she was enjoying the power of wacking everything in site!! Now wants to patent one with wheels...
LOL!!! Have fun...I personally think it is a good stress reliever!!


~ Sandie

 

[Pluto2003]

C.Ann, electric is best but not the most powerful. Few moving parts.......but our old one was whack it on the ground to feed out the line and the new one automaticly feeds. My husband says when he pressed on the bottom hub, if it pushed in, then it is the kind that you whack on the ground to make the string come out more. Our new one has no spring in the bottom hub and is an automatic line extender. Make sure the handle is adjusted to your height because it becomes real uncomfortable real quick if it isn't adjusted. Good luck...

 

[C.Ann]

Thank you all for your replies..

I'm sitting here thinking about it and can't help wondering.....

Maybe a lit match would work better???????