I had a model older than this one that I love. My sister has difficulty with tools that are too heavy and she actually loved mine and found it easy to use ua-cam.com/users/postUgkx_rBCFuDW1zD6blTGhLkvAkxU657uR_lG . This is a newer model but was even lighter which she really appreciates. She enjoys it and I no longer have to go to her house to trim as she can handle it fine. Haven't used it enough to comment on the battery life but lithium batteries last longer than the old style. Being cordless makes it easy to trim the far edges of the property. The entire yard can be trimmed with one charged battery.
I attach two small length of chain (5 links) using a small nut and bolt to secure the chain to each side of the center housing. It doesn't matter if you hit concrete, a brick wall, or stones. The chain doesn't break and it cuts brambles and grass with ease.
Dude, I'm glad there are folks out there like you trying to reinvent the weed eater because I spend SO much time sitt'n down (getting eaten by mosquitoes) and rewinding the string that I've given up on weed completely!
Trimmer string sits for months before it's even sold so any moisture it had in it has dried out causing it to get brittle and not last long. Plus most sits around for months in our garage and turns brittle. So, the trick is to soak the whole roll fully submerged in water for a day or two. It will be much more flexible and will not break off as often. Also, only buy the round string because the heck style stuff doesn't last and is just sales hype plus it always gets stuck in the head of the trimmer so you're always having to open the head up to untangle the string which gets old. For gas trimmers only use .095 or thicker string and anything under that is for cordless or electric trimmers. Remember just round string lasts much longer.
I am loving this (and your video about using just two pieces of the trimmer line) SO MUCH! My weedeater melts the line into a clump every time, then I have to wait for Himself to come home and refill the spool. I like doing the yard work so this is brilliant. Thank you so much. (Now, if I can just undo that damned spool by myself right now I will be very, very happy. LOL)
Thanks, it works pretty well. I have a new trimmer that lets you wind the line onto the spool while it's mounted to the machine. That is a much better idea than the pre-loaded spools.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this easy how-to use zip ties in place of string in your weed eater! I couldn’t figure out how to replace/rewind the string in my Black & Decker weed eater. The UA-cam videos weren’t helping me, and then I saw your video about using zip ties. Omgosh! It was so easy! I even drilled a couple of extra holes so I could use 4 zip ties instead of two. I broke a couple, but I think it was my fault, because I let them hit some rocks. But, even if I do have to replace the zip ties pretty often, they’re super cheap at the Dollar Tree, and they’re a snap to install. So, thank you for posting your video. It really does work! And, by the way, I cut down some seriously tall weeds and grass that should have been trimmed a long time ago but wasn’t. So, I’m so totally happy with the way the zip ties perform. They do every bit as good a job as the string does without the expense and difficulty of putting in new string. I recommend everyone try this!
I watched your other video too. Many others are also experimenting using zip ties, (including myself) which mostly don't work. Your demo is with a specific brand of weed whacker. My Black & Decker electric will only take zip ties if you fasten them the way zip ties are fastened normally because they won't fit through the string hole. It normally uses a single string, but I have to fasten two on opposite sides because one makes it off-balance. With that said, here's an opportunity for an entrepreneur/inventor to fill a need and manufacture inexpensive alternatives to the expensive line spools we're all forced to buy.
ok i tried the zip ties..not much success like you...then i added a length of my regular trimmer line ,with knots to hold it in ,along with the zip ties and ran them both.great success! i did 2 yards..around concrete,wire fences etc and near the end i went to the edge of the hay field and cut some big thick johnson grass...when i was done i had about 40% of the zip ties and string left! and the zip ties i used were cheapo dollar store ones too...i used just the one set.no more winding string and beating my trimmer trying to get it to come out.i use a kobalt 80 v battery trimmer...great trimmer..except the line dispensing part...im sold on zip ties! thanks for the great vids!
Thank you for posting this video, I’m definitely going to give this a try. I have an electric trimmer and I have to stop every ten minutes to spool the line. Not only that, but the plastic wires appears to mend to the rest of the plastic wire within the spool and my guess is due to heat. It’s quite frustrating.
Thanks, I tried a few more methods that work better than this. Buy a bulk roll of trimmer string, cut off a few pieces 6 to 8 inches, tie a knot in one end of the string and insert it through the holes in the trimmer head. The knot keeps the string from coming out. It will eventually break but all you have to do is insert another pre-cut piece.
Don't think I mentioned it in this video but try tying a knot in short pieces of trimmer line and feed t through the holes. Works better than the zip ties and lasts longer. Thanks for the comment.
a win for sure! my gas trimmer is so old, the string holes are huge. I'm gonna try wrapping a long tie around the refill spool and out, hoping it is long enough
I think the whole trick is use a thick ziptie and let it stay as loose as possible so it can bounce around and not break. Sounds like your way might work.
Soak the string or wire ties in water before you use them. Sitting around it dries out so fully submerge in water for a day and will be much more flexible and last much longer.
I tried this over the weekend. But I doubled up on the zip ties through the holes so the stayed in place nice and snuggly. Unfortunately, the zip ties I used (which looked about as thick as the ones in this video) shredded down really fast. Even while doubled up. And I wasn't hitting the sidewalk or edging. I may experiment with other Zip tie brands for durability, But this certainly beats reloading the line spool!
They say not to use anything heavier than the recommended line because it can cause the thing to over heat - but a heavier line should work if you're not filling up a spool with it and it's balanced. I thought of using wire. (I did fix it so it wasn't auto feeding every time I turned it on)
You shouldn't use a weed wacker (strimmer in the UK) at right angles to the wall but rather parallel with the wall so the guide cover protects the line from touching the hard surfaces.
The guide is missing off of mine anyway. This was kind of an experiment. The way I use it now is to cut 9 or 10" pieces off of a bulk roll of trimmer string, tie a knot in one end and put them through the holes in the trimmer head. It works better than the pre-loaded cartridges and is way cheaper. I was spending $10 or $12 on trimmer line every time I did my yard. This way it costs only a couple of cents. Thanks for the comment.
Buy a bulk package of trimmer line cut it into 12" pieces, tie a knot in one end and feed one through each hole in the trimmer head. (make several in advance). Works much better than the zip ties.
That is awesome! I had the idea to try zipties but I connected it to an empty spool using another ziptie and it broke very quickly, will definitely try your way.
Looks Like U got it figured out. As the ties break off the motor speed picks up going faster and faster which then makes them break off faster. This problem is easy to solve.... This yr I added a Motor Speed controller U get for $2 from ebay and now I Can turn up the knob and run it at about 2/3 -3/4 full speed which allows the motor to spin up slower and it keeps them from shredding when cutting. Try 2 on each opening and that loads the end better and keeps the speed even. It cuts best between 2800 and 3500 RPM the rest of the time it's just flying along too fast.
Excellent..I took your advise and it works but if you get to close to the wall, bricks or rocks they do chip so for weeds, grass or what ever that’s too close to the wall I use weed killer and spray about 6 inches from the wall so it gives me enough space to wack’em....
Another idea is to go to something stronger than plastic, but DO think twice. When those things break--think circuit breaker. They NEED to break to save the motor, if you get something that just can't give, then the motor--will give.
6 years ago and I'm just catching the train , I've been working on mine today and have made some gain's, looser is a plus for sure. Mine is a Ryobi 18 volt battery single line , so tomorrow I will bypass the spool and just run it through the hole 👍
@@waynecastleman1363 That's really the best move. That's what I ended up doing until I bought a trimmer that only uses bulk line,(not pre-loaded cartridges).
doesnt just work, the zip ties last longer than the thread for me. Mine lasts about 10 minutes before I have to refill and that is including the very first use with the preloaded spool. It emptied, I refilled by hand with some supposed extra strong stuff, and had to do it about every 10 minutes to finish that part of the yard. Ridiculous. Thought it was broke but not seeing anything about the issue online.
I BET if you turned the ties where the THIN edge is hitting the grass instead of the flat side you would see even better results, THANKS, I will try this.
I found the best hack is to cut pieces (from a bulk pack) of real trimmer string, tie a knot in one end and thread it through the holes. It works great even up against concrete and is super easy to change when it does finally break.
Fun Video but my question is, Why did you insert the zips so that the flat-vertical edge was "slap-cutting" instead of the horizontal to slice? Did they not fit the other way? | vs __. Just curious...
Yeah, that's just kind of the way they fit. I have since found that using actual trimmer line cut in short pieces with a knot tied in one end and fed through the holes in the trimmer head works really well if you don't have the actual line spool. Thanks for the question.
i found out the color of a zip tye determines its stregth, and useage, like black is for outdoors where it wld be in sun where as whoite isnt to be used in sun, etc,
LOOK at the package and check the tensile strength. The higher the tensile strength, the better they do the job. The cheap ones in a package for a buck will just break off like potato chips. Go with Industrial Telco Ties.
UPDATE!! I went right out to the garage and got the spool off and there was a good couple of feet of cord on there. That grass isn't gonna know what hit it. Thank you again!!!
The music you were playing sounds like 'Teacher' from Jethro Tull. Sometimes you just have to try and experiment with different methods and materials. Congrats on finding the right one.
Thanks I got to the end of my line what a problem. Going to get some more zip ties. I use them for decorating for holidays lights on my porch. Thanks again
i bought so much replacement line and ALWAYS HAD THE LINE BREAK PROBLEM.This has got to be so much better. Guess the trolls are in business on this one
I later found the best way is to use the bulk rolls of trimmer line and cut them into short pieces and tie a knot in one end then put them through the holes. They break eventually but they last a long time and are easy to replace. Thanks for the comment.
It should cut MUCH better if you orient the zip ties so that the thin edge of the zip tie is the cutting edge. Trying to cut using the wide side of the zip tie spatters lots of grass all over.
I saw a package of stainless zip ties at Harbor Freight for about $8. There were made 20 in the pack. I was going to try them. I'm afraid if it breaks they might impale my head. Lol
I was welding up shark cages offshore bro. I'm thinking about trying to get on a pit crew at the mud races though. My old lady cats out anytime I'm gone for more than 9 hours.
As soon as I can get some zip ties, I'm going to try this as a last resort. I bought a challenge 350watt strimmer but on first use, the line broke. Trouble is, one of the broken ends was inside the cartridge and the cartridge had a plastic collar round it. I tried to remove the collar with a flat head screw driver but it eventually broke. I thought it wasn't really needed until a second later the line unraveled like a spring! I tried winding a few turns of thicker line round it but that broke the second it touched grass! I'm sick of strimmers!
I did this as an experiment but two days ago I needed to cut some tall grass at the bottom of my deck stairs and was out of trimmer string so I grabbed the thickest zip ties I had on hand and it worked great on that small area.
Hmm. impressive. I like and prefer the 2mm plastic string. We can buy (here in Australia) just every type of trimmer both battery, and power and petrol (gas to you guys) and weed eater. We call them 'whipper snippers' Works (or doesn't work!) the same. Makes lazy man's sense to me to sit in front of the TV and cut a few (lots!) of the 2mm lengths and tie the knot at the end, so when you go out to the lawn, you have a pocket full of them, so that the bogey man out there who's trying to really annoy you, gets the middle finger. I mean what fiend invented that double string wind-up rubics cube? I've got better things to do. Like jump off the cliff or something !! When the string needs replacing , you ALWAYS unplug the cord and quickly replace the two strings out of the bunch of them in your pocket. Why unplug the cord? You guys have only 110 volts. We have 240volts in Aussie. So if your grass is wet, you get 240volts right through your heart and straight through to earth. Saves worrying about any more mowing !! Because I have only my own small backyard with a couple of pathways, I got the full electric Ozito 500w 290 whipper snipper cost $49 at Bunnings which is like your Costco I think. I call it the Chinese warehouse because everything comes from...... BUT I always wear jeans for the long legs. I got a bit tired of the blood on my legs from the rocks that the lawn throws at me and of course the mandatory eye covers It's the height of summer here, so lots of mowing. Your info is always helpful. Thank you.
Maybe it depends on how the ties are installed. They have a natural bending ability in one axis, but rotate the tie 90 degrees and bending is greatly resisted. I think if the tie strikes a hard object on the natural bend side, it may be more resistant to breakage.
You're right.It will work in a pinch but the trimmer line is much stronger. I no longer have this trimmer but I was using cut pieces of trimmer line after I made this video and they worked great.
I figured out a better way since this. Cut two pieces of trimmer string and tie a knot in one end. Thread them through the two holes and it works great and lasts longer than the zip ties.
Wht are size of zips and cn u use in a gas weedeater I'm with severe ra and lupus lotnof pavers and I cnt even get the string to stay in the spool even on grass no pavers I am struggling I hope I cn know i I cn use this plz
Ok I think I found a new tool, steel wire from an old coat hanger, passes through the hole… just, need to bend it around the housing with pliers so hopefully it can take a few beating along the edge of the wall like in this video.
Works for an emergency but not recommended for every day use. I usually buy bulk trimmer string cut off a foot long piece tie a knot in one end and feed it through the hole in the trimmer. Works much better.
I have a semi-related question: how much eye protection is enough? I wear glasses a little bigger than yours, do I need to put goggles on over my glasses? I've been doing without goggles for years, but is it wise?
You can't go wrong wearing goggles. I almost never do (I should), and I HAVE had some stuff hit my glasses that would have been no fun if it had missed and hit my eye.
Try using .095 trimmer line cut a piece a little longer than the diameter of your cut then tie a knot in the center and install like in the video works well and lasts a long time.
Why didn't you try the metal ones, as recommended in the comments last time? I just looked them up, and they cost the same as the heavy-duty black ones - 100 pieces, $12 - 2-day delivery with Prime.
Probably not worth the xtra effort but if you have a belt grinder of any kind try sharpening the leading cutting edge of the tie wrap, might cut better, just a thought Sir..
Not a bad idea. The thicker ties fit the holes vertically so they're actually not oriented correctly. I'm not sure how they're angled when they're spinning at speed.
First off, thanks for doing the video and testing this out. You can get a pack of 100 8-inch zip ties for around $5 at Home Depot. You can get 40 ft. of actual weed trimmer line (in various thicknesses) for about $2.75. Sure, trim line breaks too, but when it does all you have to do is tap the end of the trimmer, more line is released, and away you go. Plus, trim line is more durable. With a broken zip tie, you have to stop and take the time to remove the old zip tie and then replace with a new one. As a lot of people have stated, if you’ve run out of line and don’t have any on hand this would work in a pinch until you can go and get more. I can see myself doing that when the time comes, but normally I will keep using trim line. Thanks again.
But it's such a pain trying to get the string wound and then the really hard part is getting the spool back on without the string springing loose. Then what? Prewound or DIY winding, it loosens, then you have to fiddle to get it not under the spool, so by the time you get the spool back in place the string is all mixed up and you've got maybe 2 min of whack time before it feeds out but can't and you have to start over. 12 min fix time then 2 min whack time. Total waste of time. If the zip ties work for 12-15 min before replacement (which is so much quicker) then we are ahead by much!
Just use strips of trimmer line sliced up short. Tie a knot at the end, slide into hole and you are all set. No need to tie them to the head. Drill extra holes in trimmer head for even more fun!
I know your wife told you about this but does she really think it's a good idea to slap the weeds to death instead of chopping them off? Some of your comments here are pretty fun, like trying this in a "weed emergency" I don't know of any women who ever had a "weed emergency" WTH is that?
I just meant if you don't have the proper trimmer string on hand. This was pretty much just an experiment. A way that really works well, and what I actually do, is buy a bulk roll of trimmer string, cut off a couple of pieces, tie a knot in one end and thread it through the holes in the trimmer head. This works as well or better than the pre-loaded spools of string and is way cheaper. On a big yard I was going through two spools of string each time . This way is literally a couple of pennies per use.
I have a "weed emergency" !!!! An acre of fox tails and something else. MUST get the tops of those foxtails off before they lodge in my dogs. Last year it was surgery on my big guy for three removals including one in his peepee. The one in his ear could have migrated into his brain and killed him. Yes, it's an emergency. The other kind (don't know what they are) are sometimes called "fireman's delight" because when they are dried, they have an oil that burns nicely. I have them the entire rest of the acre that has no foxtails. Can't spend 50 min out of every hour rewinding string!
I had a model older than this one that I love. My sister has difficulty with tools that are too heavy and she actually loved mine and found it easy to use ua-cam.com/users/postUgkx_rBCFuDW1zD6blTGhLkvAkxU657uR_lG . This is a newer model but was even lighter which she really appreciates. She enjoys it and I no longer have to go to her house to trim as she can handle it fine. Haven't used it enough to comment on the battery life but lithium batteries last longer than the old style. Being cordless makes it easy to trim the far edges of the property. The entire yard can be trimmed with one charged battery.
I attach two small length of chain (5 links) using a small nut and bolt to secure the chain to each side of the center housing. It doesn't matter if you hit concrete, a brick wall, or stones. The chain doesn't break and it cuts brambles and grass with ease.
What type of chain?
Dude, I'm glad there are folks out there like you trying to reinvent the weed eater because I spend SO much time sitt'n down (getting eaten by mosquitoes) and rewinding the string that I've given up on weed completely!
Oh no don't give up on weed Man!!!! 😁🚬
WHOLE CLASS GRADUATES WITH THESE STUPIDS AND CONS GOODBYE
Trimmer string sits for months before it's even sold so any moisture it had in it has dried out causing it to get brittle and not last long. Plus most sits around for months in our garage and turns brittle. So, the trick is to soak the whole roll fully submerged in water for a day or two. It will be much more flexible and will not break off as often. Also, only buy the round string because the heck style stuff doesn't last and is just sales hype plus it always gets stuck in the head of the trimmer so you're always having to open the head up to untangle the string which gets old. For gas trimmers only use .095 or thicker string and anything under that is for cordless or electric trimmers. Remember just round string lasts much longer.
I am loving this (and your video about using just two pieces of the trimmer line) SO MUCH! My weedeater melts the line into a clump every time, then I have to wait for Himself to come home and refill the spool. I like doing the yard work so this is brilliant. Thank you so much. (Now, if I can just undo that damned spool by myself right now I will be very, very happy. LOL)
Thanks, it works pretty well. I have a new trimmer that lets you wind the line onto the spool while it's mounted to the machine. That is a much better idea than the pre-loaded spools.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this easy how-to use zip ties in place of string in your weed eater! I couldn’t figure out how to replace/rewind the string in my Black & Decker weed eater. The UA-cam videos weren’t helping me, and then I saw your video about using zip ties. Omgosh! It was so easy! I even drilled a couple of extra holes so I could use 4 zip ties instead of two. I broke a couple, but I think it was my fault, because I let them hit some rocks. But, even if I do have to replace the zip ties pretty often, they’re super cheap at the Dollar Tree, and they’re a snap to install. So, thank you for posting your video. It really does work! And, by the way, I cut down some seriously tall weeds and grass that should have been trimmed a long time ago but wasn’t. So, I’m so totally happy with the way the zip ties perform. They do every bit as good a job as the string does without the expense and difficulty of putting in new string. I recommend everyone try this!
I watched your other video too. Many others are also experimenting using zip ties, (including myself) which mostly don't work. Your demo is with a specific brand of weed whacker. My Black & Decker electric will only take zip ties if you fasten them the way zip ties are fastened normally because they won't fit through the string hole. It normally uses a single string, but I have to fasten two on opposite sides because one makes it off-balance.
With that said, here's an opportunity for an entrepreneur/inventor to fill a need and manufacture inexpensive alternatives to the expensive line spools we're all forced to buy.
Yep, If some company could make a strong zip tie like device that wouldn't easily break, they could make a killing.
Very cool! Thank you. I have been thinking about this since the first video. I love the job that a weedeater does, but restringing them is the worst.
Thanks, it reminds me of printers, the ink (or string) is the expensive part...
ok i tried the zip ties..not much success like you...then i added a length of my regular trimmer line ,with knots to hold it in ,along with the zip ties and ran them both.great success! i did 2 yards..around concrete,wire fences etc and near the end i went to the edge of the hay field and cut some big thick johnson grass...when i was done i had about 40% of the zip ties and string left! and the zip ties i used were cheapo dollar store ones too...i used just the one set.no more winding string and beating my trimmer trying to get it to come out.i use a kobalt 80 v battery trimmer...great trimmer..except the line dispensing part...im sold on zip ties! thanks for the great vids!
Thank you for posting this video, I’m definitely going to give this a try. I have an electric trimmer and I have to stop every ten minutes to spool the line. Not only that, but the plastic wires appears to mend to the rest of the plastic wire within the spool and my guess is due to heat. It’s quite frustrating.
Thanks, I tried a few more methods that work better than this. Buy a bulk roll of trimmer string, cut off a few pieces 6 to 8 inches, tie a knot in one end of the string and insert it through the holes in the trimmer head. The knot keeps the string from coming out. It will eventually break but all you have to do is insert another pre-cut piece.
Same here! That's why I am here!
Since I cannot find spools for it any more, I will try this now, I love the power it has!!!!!!
Don't think I mentioned it in this video but try tying a knot in short pieces of trimmer line and feed t through the holes. Works better than the zip ties and lasts longer. Thanks for the comment.
Weed-wacker tip: Spray the line with WD-40 and store in a sealed zip-lock bag until needed. My line use went way down once I started using doing this.
Thanks for the tip.
Or store the line under water that way it will not ger brittle
a win for sure! my gas trimmer is so old, the string holes are huge. I'm gonna try wrapping a long tie around the refill spool and out, hoping it is long enough
I think the whole trick is use a thick ziptie and let it stay as loose as possible so it can bounce around and not break. Sounds like your way might work.
Soak the string or wire ties in water before you use them. Sitting around it dries out so fully submerge in water for a day and will be much more flexible and last much longer.
Good way to get yourself out of a pinch...Good DIY home tip...
Thanks Scott. I was surprised how much better it worked this time.
I tried this over the weekend. But I doubled up on the zip ties through the holes so the stayed in place nice and snuggly. Unfortunately, the zip ties I used (which looked about as thick as the ones in this video) shredded down really fast. Even while doubled up. And I wasn't hitting the sidewalk or edging. I may experiment with other Zip tie brands for durability, But this certainly beats reloading the line spool!
use steel zip ties
They say not to use anything heavier than the recommended line because it can cause the thing to over heat - but a heavier line should work if you're not filling up a spool with it and it's balanced. I thought of using wire. (I did fix it so it wasn't auto feeding every time I turned it on)
Unplug or pull the battery. Also tell us if it lasts longer or forever?
You shouldn't use a weed wacker (strimmer in the UK) at right angles to the wall but rather parallel with the wall so the guide cover protects the line from touching the hard surfaces.
The guide is missing off of mine anyway. This was kind of an experiment. The way I use it now is to cut 9 or 10" pieces off of a bulk roll of trimmer string, tie a knot in one end and put them through the holes in the trimmer head. It works better than the pre-loaded cartridges and is way cheaper. I was spending $10 or $12 on trimmer line every time I did my yard. This way it costs only a couple of cents. Thanks for the comment.
Its so nice to actually have a reply to a comment. Cheers
NIce. Trying it tomorrow. Thanks..."Teacher"
Thank you. I've got one that they no longer make the cartridges for and I totally wore mine out. Now, I can use it again.
Buy a bulk package of trimmer line cut it into 12" pieces, tie a knot in one end and feed one through each hole in the trimmer head. (make several in advance). Works much better than the zip ties.
That is awesome! I had the idea to try zipties but I connected it to an empty spool using another ziptie and it broke very quickly, will definitely try your way.
Buy a bulk roll of trimmer string, cut pieces and tie a knot in one end. That REALLY works. It's what I do now. Works great and is super cheap.
Looks Like U got it figured out. As the ties break off the motor speed picks up going faster and faster which then makes them break off faster. This problem is easy to solve....
This yr I added a Motor Speed controller U get for $2 from ebay and now I Can turn up the knob and run it at about 2/3 -3/4 full speed which allows the motor to spin up slower and it keeps them from shredding when cutting. Try 2 on each opening and that loads the end better and keeps the speed even. It cuts best between 2800 and 3500 RPM the rest of the time it's just flying along too fast.
Thank you. Worked like a charm
Glad it helped
Excellent..I took your advise and it works but if you get to close to the wall, bricks or rocks they do chip so for weeds, grass or what ever that’s too close to the wall I use weed killer and spray about 6 inches from the wall so it gives me enough space to wack’em....
Clearly it works... still wondering about practicality... Ill give her a go the next time I have to replace the string.
It's pretty effective. The fist ties I tried were too thin.
Another idea is to go to something stronger than plastic, but DO think twice. When those things break--think circuit breaker. They NEED to break to save the motor, if you get something that just can't give, then the motor--will give.
Now it worked properly. What was width of the zip tie you succeded
6 years ago and I'm just catching the train , I've been working on mine today and have made some gain's, looser is a plus for sure. Mine is a Ryobi 18 volt battery single line , so tomorrow I will bypass the spool and just run it through the hole 👍
Good stuff
@@MrBulletpoints It just don't work for me I will just buy bulk string and keep wacking
@@waynecastleman1363 That's really the best move. That's what I ended up doing until I bought a trimmer that only uses bulk line,(not pre-loaded cartridges).
@@MrBulletpoints Yes sir I have both but I will just reload the little spools , three are 23.00 + tax and I'm not gonna pay that. Lol
Where can I find cable ties like those?
Thanks, I'm using it on my 4 year old 30v Black & Decker.
doesnt just work, the zip ties last longer than the thread for me. Mine lasts about 10 minutes before I have to refill and that is including the very first use with the preloaded spool. It emptied, I refilled by hand with some supposed extra strong stuff, and had to do it about every 10 minutes to finish that part of the yard. Ridiculous. Thought it was broke but not seeing anything about the issue online.
I BET if you turned the ties where the THIN edge is hitting the grass instead of the flat side you would see even better results, THANKS, I will try this.
I found the best hack is to cut pieces (from a bulk pack) of real trimmer string, tie a knot in one end and thread it through the holes. It works great even up against concrete and is super easy to change when it does finally break.
How about using the push weed eater string?🤔. That stuff is really thick!
Fun Video but my question is, Why did you insert the zips so that the flat-vertical edge was "slap-cutting" instead of the horizontal to slice? Did they not fit the other way? | vs __. Just curious...
Yeah, that's just kind of the way they fit. I have since found that using actual trimmer line cut in short pieces with a knot tied in one end and fed through the holes in the trimmer head works really well if you don't have the actual line spool. Thanks for the question.
I've read that tennis racket stringing cord works great. (but haven't had the chance to try it myself)
I'm tempted to try a wire hanger. Perhaps you will and give us a demo :)
i found out the color of a zip tye determines its stregth, and useage, like black is for outdoors where it wld be in sun where as whoite isnt to be used in sun, etc,
LOOK at the package and check the tensile strength.
The higher the tensile strength, the better they do the job.
The cheap ones in a package for a buck will just break off like potato chips.
Go with Industrial Telco Ties.
UPDATE!! I went right out to the garage and got the spool off and there was a good couple of feet of cord on there. That grass isn't gonna know what hit it. Thank you again!!!
The music you were playing sounds like 'Teacher' from Jethro Tull. Sometimes you just have to try and experiment with different methods and materials. Congrats on finding the right one.
Good ear. Jethro Tull it is. Thanks.
@@MrBulletpoints Sure!
Thanks I got to the end of my line what a problem. Going to get some more zip ties. I use them for decorating for holidays lights on my porch. Thanks again
i bought so much replacement line and ALWAYS HAD THE LINE BREAK PROBLEM.This has got to be so much better. Guess the trolls are in business on this one
I later found the best way is to use the bulk rolls of trimmer line and cut them into short pieces and tie a knot in one end then put them through the holes. They break eventually but they last a long time and are easy to replace. Thanks for the comment.
For the gras near the foundation, just dont go full speed ! And you'll see a magic!
Thanks for the hack, it will make my chore much easier!!
It should cut MUCH better if you orient the zip ties so that the thin edge of the zip tie is the cutting edge. Trying to cut using the wide side of the zip tie spatters lots of grass all over.
How about using metal ties ?? (if they can be bought cheap and are available) but will definetly be trying this out. Cheers
I saw a package of stainless zip ties at Harbor Freight for about $8. There were made 20 in the pack. I was going to try them. I'm afraid if it breaks they might impale my head. Lol
I wonder if doubling up on the zip ties would help
Nice bro! I use zip ties to hold my tuba to my washboard for my one man band gig.
ELK DADDY! where you been bro?.....
I was welding up shark cages offshore bro. I'm thinking about trying to get on a pit crew at the mud races though. My old lady cats out anytime I'm gone for more than 9 hours.
ESCAPED END IT BYE
i tried speaker wire on my auto feed black and Decker and it still broke rite where it comes out of the hole ...
As soon as I can get some zip ties, I'm going to try this as a last resort. I bought a challenge 350watt strimmer but on first use, the line broke. Trouble is, one of the broken ends was inside the cartridge and the cartridge had a plastic collar round it. I tried to remove the collar with a flat head screw driver but it eventually broke. I thought it wasn't really needed until a second later the line unraveled like a spring! I tried winding a few turns of thicker line round it but that broke the second it touched grass! I'm sick of strimmers!
I did this as an experiment but two days ago I needed to cut some tall grass at the bottom of my deck stairs and was out of trimmer string so I grabbed the thickest zip ties I had on hand and it worked great on that small area.
great video! is that Jethro Tull in the theme?🤔
Thanks, yes it is (teacher).
Going to try, have a 40v kobalt and string is pricey and hard to install
I'll keep this in mind when my spool runs dry.
And, looks a lot easier than threading--at least on mine, plus it can work as an emergency back up if you are out of line.
I guess I have to try the bigger zips! Btw, you look like Bob Seger!
That's funny, my new next door neighbor told me that the first time he met me. I sometimes get old Mark Hamill too.
Hmm. impressive. I like and prefer the 2mm plastic string. We can buy (here in Australia) just every type of trimmer both battery, and power and petrol (gas to you guys) and weed eater. We call them 'whipper snippers' Works (or doesn't work!) the same. Makes lazy man's sense to me to sit in front of the TV and cut a few (lots!) of the 2mm lengths and tie the knot at the end, so when you go out to the lawn, you have a pocket full of them, so that the bogey man out there who's trying to really annoy you, gets the middle finger. I mean what fiend invented that double string wind-up rubics cube? I've got better things to do. Like jump off the cliff or something !! When the string needs replacing , you ALWAYS unplug the cord and quickly replace the two strings out of the bunch of them in your pocket. Why unplug the cord?
You guys have only 110 volts. We have 240volts in Aussie. So if your grass is wet, you get 240volts right through your heart and straight through to earth. Saves worrying about any more mowing !! Because I have only my own small backyard with a couple of pathways, I got the full electric Ozito 500w 290 whipper snipper cost $49 at Bunnings which is like your Costco I think. I call it the Chinese warehouse because everything comes from...... BUT I always wear jeans for the long legs. I got a bit tired of the blood on my legs from the rocks that the lawn throws at me and of course the mandatory eye covers
It's the height of summer here, so lots of mowing. Your info is always helpful. Thank you.
They break after 5 seconds. Don't water your time
Maybe it depends on how the ties are installed. They have a natural bending ability in one axis, but rotate the tie 90 degrees and bending is greatly resisted. I think if the tie strikes a hard object on the natural bend side, it may be more resistant to breakage.
Andrew McGowan mine broke after 5 seconds. idk
Probably if you use a real weed eater, sure. But shitty electric weed eater, probably works great
Maybe in a pinch, but it seemed the zipties didn't 'cut' as well as round line...
You're right.It will work in a pinch but the trimmer line is much stronger. I no longer have this trimmer but I was using cut pieces of trimmer line after I made this video and they worked great.
How many grass you can cut in M2
I would have done the entire lawn and compare the overall experience to other materials
Thank you I was looking for something like this I will definitely try it ♥️♥️♥️
NIce. I have an idea for this. Help in edging and corners. I'll let you know
Now that’s Ingenuity!
Gonna try this out!! Great video thank you for posting 🇮🇪
I figured out a better way since this. Cut two pieces of trimmer string and tie a knot in one end. Thread them through the two holes and it works great and lasts longer than the zip ties.
MrBulletpoints thank you I'll give it a go on Thursday evening I'll drop a comment to let you know the craic thanks again
I'll let my landscaper know about this idea next time he asks. lol. Not a bad idea
Tell your people it actually kinda works.
ARRANGED SHIT
Pretty Cool They Worked.
Thanks Derp! Pretty amazing. You could actually get by with these.
Thanks Just Figured Out My Issues Was The Center Spring Is Gone So Everytime I Would Tap On Ground Lots Of Line Would Come Out And Stall The Motor
derplinkster Cool, glad you got it sorted out.
Thanks.
Wht are size of zips and cn u use in a gas weedeater I'm with severe ra and lupus lotnof pavers and I cnt even get the string to stay in the spool even on grass no pavers I am struggling I hope I cn know i
I cn use this plz
Try using a thick weedeater line cut in pieces and tied in a knot on one end. This works much better than the zip ties.
Maybe steel instead of plastic is required. Flexible but stronger material.
That works but if you try it be very careful. Steel cables can damage fences etc. and pieces can break off and hit your legs or even eyes.
@@MrBulletpoints true, just had issues with these wires as they are very weak. Even tried a bit of steel wire but it got eaten up within a few metres.
Ok I think I found a new tool, steel wire from an old coat hanger, passes through the hole… just, need to bend it around the housing with pliers so hopefully it can take a few beating along the edge of the wall like in this video.
Excellent! Thank you for the video. Going to try this.
Works for an emergency but not recommended for every day use. I usually buy bulk trimmer string cut off a foot long piece tie a knot in one end and feed it through the hole in the trimmer. Works much better.
GREAT! Thanks for the video. I'm going to try this.
It works fairly well.
Just sent my son down the hill with the weed wacker...next time I'll send his with some zip ties.
It's funny, now there are 10 new videos about this in the last couple of days. This way actually works... Who knew!
This is great, thank you
I have a semi-related question: how much eye protection is enough? I wear glasses a little bigger than yours, do I need to put goggles on over my glasses? I've been doing without goggles for years, but is it wise?
You can't go wrong wearing goggles. I almost never do (I should), and I HAVE had some stuff hit my glasses that would have been no fun if it had missed and hit my eye.
Better safe than sorry 🤷♂️
Try using .095 trimmer line cut a piece a little longer than the diameter of your cut then tie a knot in the center and install like in the video works well and lasts a long time.
Thanks for the tip.
Why didn't you try the metal ones, as recommended in the comments last time? I just looked them up, and they cost the same as the heavy-duty black ones - 100 pieces, $12 - 2-day delivery with Prime.
Tried the steel ones. Broke right off. Should've worked.
Didnt.
Whackin' weeds on the flat side of the zip ties instead of cutting the weeds.
That did look more promising as soon as you loaded up the zip ties :-)
Easier AND better... I could actually use it this way.
SCRAMBLED EGGS EHHH QUINN GETS A
I’m going to try stainless steel zip ties
How much did you spend for that bag of ties?
About a buck.
Probably not worth the xtra effort but if you have a belt grinder of any kind try sharpening the leading cutting edge of the tie wrap, might cut better,
just a thought Sir..
Not a bad idea. The thicker ties fit the holes vertically so they're actually not oriented correctly. I'm not sure how they're angled when they're spinning at speed.
First off, thanks for doing the video and testing this out.
You can get a pack of 100 8-inch zip ties for around $5 at Home Depot. You can get 40 ft. of actual weed trimmer line (in various thicknesses) for about $2.75.
Sure, trim line breaks too, but when it does all you have to do is tap the end of the trimmer, more line is released, and away you go. Plus, trim line is more durable. With a broken zip tie, you have to stop and take the time to remove the old zip tie and then replace with a new one.
As a lot of people have stated, if you’ve run out of line and don’t have any on hand this would work in a pinch until you can go and get more. I can see myself doing that when the time comes, but normally I will keep using trim line. Thanks again.
Thanks for the comment.
But it's such a pain trying to get the string wound and then the really hard part is getting the spool back on without the string springing loose. Then what? Prewound or DIY winding, it loosens, then you have to fiddle to get it not under the spool, so by the time you get the spool back in place the string is all mixed up and you've got maybe 2 min of whack time before it feeds out but can't and you have to start over. 12 min fix time then 2 min whack time. Total waste of time. If the zip ties work for 12-15 min before replacement (which is so much quicker) then we are ahead by much!
what about thick stem weeds??
Interesting t-shirt...
Did Eric send you the rainbow colored zip ties?
Think about what you just said..... Did Eric send me?...........
My error is so obvious now.
I’m going to try that
use steel zip ties worked like a charm
BLAST IT With a WeedEater Like. A FLORIDA BOY 💕💕👍🐊
LOL, Had to keep trying until it worked....
Just use strips of trimmer line sliced up short. Tie a knot at the end, slide into hole and you are all set. No need to tie them to the head. Drill extra holes in trimmer head for even more fun!
Yep, that is what I've been doing. Seems to be the best answer, Thanks.
if i didnt have real string maybe? but definatly not buying zip ties over string
oh brother
Nice!😊
Your wife must love these "experiments" lol .. chores have never been soooo much fun!
I always do them when she's at work... She actually gave me the idea for the first ziptie video.
1984 FRUITCAKES AND DAUGHTER
BACK TO LA YOU GO HAVE FUN BACK IN PRISON
What is relationship between how cable (and how its bent) is rapped and rotation of the head ?
I know your wife told you about this but does she really think it's a good idea to slap the weeds to death instead of chopping them off? Some of your comments here are pretty fun, like trying this in a "weed emergency" I don't know of any women who ever had a "weed emergency" WTH is that?
I just meant if you don't have the proper trimmer string on hand. This was pretty much just an experiment. A way that really works well, and what I actually do, is buy a bulk roll of trimmer string, cut off a couple of pieces, tie a knot in one end and thread it through the holes in the trimmer head. This works as well or better than the pre-loaded spools of string and is way cheaper. On a big yard I was going through two spools of string each time .
This way is literally a couple of pennies per use.
I have a "weed emergency" !!!! An acre of fox tails and something else. MUST get the tops of those foxtails off before they lodge in my dogs. Last year it was surgery on my big guy for three removals including one in his peepee. The one in his ear could have migrated into his brain and killed him. Yes, it's an emergency. The other kind (don't know what they are) are sometimes called "fireman's delight" because when they are dried, they have an oil that burns nicely. I have them the entire rest of the acre that has no foxtails. Can't spend 50 min out of every hour rewinding string!
They also make stainless steel zip ties
I bet that would work but I wouldn't want to hit my leg with one. Thanks for the comment.
sirr i think you are luke skywalker by the thumbnail
LOL
You can buy metal cable/zip ties. They last for ever mate 😉
Thanks. Ordered it already. Hopefully it works as you say .
Dude it's just beating the shit out of the vegetation it's not really cutting.
It gets the job done
guess your fist test failed because of old sip ties(dried out old stock ) not being flexible like the new ones
The first test I did was with very thin zipties. These were wider. That, plus not restricting them seemed to do the trick.
Life saving hack!!
Thanks, I appreciate it.