String mowers?

littleman · 07-31-2009, 02:22 PM

I guess I'm on the right forum for this. How many of you guys/ gals use a string type mower? How well does it work for normal lawn mowing? Does it leave a nice manicured result, or a blotchy finish?
I have a fairly small area to care for. I was thinking of a mower that would serve to cut grass, as well as trim up; quite a bit of my yard needs "weed eating" as much as mowing.
Thanks for any advice you can give me.

nathangdad · 07-31-2009, 06:03 PM

If you have the talent you could build some type wheeled stand outside the radius of the string. But that is a long shot for most of us.

The larger the area to be cut the more botched will appear the result.

However, you are far from the first person to ever contemplate this solution.

deerhuntertyler · 07-31-2009, 07:06 PM

We have a string trimmer, i belive it is toro, and cuts a 21" path. we use it for mowing along the barbed wire fence and such. it does not leave a very "manicured" cut. it is more for heavy duty type cutting in tall weeds and some brush. watch out though, they don't like chains very much

Gray Wolf · 07-31-2009, 10:20 PM

Mine is good for rough ground, does not leave nice "manicured" finish.
And I still need to use a weedeater around the trees and fenceposts.

troy2000 · 07-31-2009, 10:42 PM

I can get a manicured appearance on a lawn when I use a string trimmer. On the other hand, I've been using one to keep an acre and a half under control for over twenty years, and I've had a lot of practice. When my nephew or my two sons try it, you can tell that's what they used.

And inside my fenced front yard with an honest-to-goodness lawn, I use a regular mower when I can, anyway. It's easier.

If you have a normal lawn, instead of just open ground where you need to keep the weeds and Johnson grass knocked down, I seriously recommend a conventional mower instead. If you're tight on money, electric mowers are a lot cheaper and a lot better than they used to be.

cremley · 08-01-2009, 12:49 AM

I wish I had grass.

I do have a weedwacker for the tall weeds and the edges around the trees where the "lawn" mower can't get.

littleman · 08-01-2009, 06:51 PM

Thx, all. Sounds like we are all on the same page. I have a regular string trimmer any way. My old Craftsman 6 hp self propelled is 13 years old. It uses as much oil as gas.Get in a heavy patch, and smoke boils out the muffler, and the rod "pecks".
When it gives up, I'll get another blade mower.
I didn't think a string mower would leave a clean, smooth cut on lawns. You all confirmed it.

troy2000 · 08-01-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleman

Thx, all. Sounds like we are all on the same page. I have a regular string trimmer any way. My old Craftsman 6 hp self propelled is 13 years old. It uses as much oil as gas.Get in a heavy patch, and smoke boils out the muffler, and the rod "pecks".
When it gives up, I'll get another blade mower.
I didn't think a string mower would leave a clean, smooth cut on lawns. You all confirmed it.

With some practice, you can get a clean, smooth cut. But you have to pay attention, and work at it.

Basically what you do is make sure you keep the string level, keep the spool lightly skimming the ground, and keep the head moving in short, smooth arcs without reaching too far from your body and tilting it. It's almost impossible to do it properly without a shoulder strap. And it isn't much fun, unless you like challenges.

rebel727 · 08-01-2009, 10:22 PM

I've got a two wheeled string mower. It's possible to get a smooth cut with it with practice but a regular mower would be faster. The two wheeler is unbeatable for cutting around trees or fence lines or wherever a four wheeled blade mower is a PITA.

littleman · 08-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy2000

With some practice, you can get a clean, smooth cut. But you have to pay attention, and work at it.

Basically what you do is make sure you keep the string level, keep the spool lightly skimming the ground, and keep the head moving in short, smooth arcs without reaching too far from your body and tilting it. It's almost impossible to do it properly without a shoulder strap. And it isn't much fun, unless you like challenges.

I have COPD, arthritis and disc trouble, so I'll have to take the path of least resistance. You mentioned the electric mowers; I may look at them.I've seen ads on a battery powered model.

troy2000 · 08-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel727

I've got a two wheeled string mower. It's possible to get a smooth cut with it with practice but a regular mower would be faster. The two wheeler is unbeatable for cutting around trees or fence lines or wherever a four wheeled blade mower is a PITA.

I would love to have a wheeled string mower. I've promised myself for years I'd get one, but always seem to wind up spending the money on something else, instead. Story of my life.

troy2000 · 08-01-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleman

I have COPD, arthritis and disc trouble, so I'll have to take the path of least resistance. You mentioned the electric mowers; I may look at them.I've seen ads on a battery powered model.

My wife bought an electric mower a couple of years ago for the fenced yard up against our house, and I'm quite impressed. It's lighter and easier to handle than a conventional mower, and has plenty of power for an ordinary lawn. I would personally get a corded one instead of the battery powered ones, though. It doesn't really take that long to get used to running a pattern that keeps the cord mostly behind you; you don't run out of juice; and they have more power.

Although I dunno; I suppose the battery-powered ones are a lot better than they used to be, too.

Metronome · 08-02-2009, 12:10 AM

I used a push mower (ya know, without a motor) for a bit on a small patch, if you used it regularly it worked great, but if the grass got too long, the work was exponentially harder.

I also had a 'modified' roto-tiller that had bicycle training wheels mounted on it for stability - you can find those at any department store

thrillbilly · 08-02-2009, 03:38 AM

A old skil-saw blade mounted on a big weedeater will cut through some big sh*t pronto! My dad has one he uses to trim trees around the horse pasture...very dangerous to use though! LOL I think you could call it a bubbafied weedeater.

I've never used a wheeled weed whacker, so no input there, I do agree with Troy that a weedeater can leave a nice lawn, if ya know how to use one.

littleman · 08-02-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillbilly

A old skil-saw blade mounted on a big weedeater will cut through some big sh*t pronto! My dad has one he uses to trim trees around the horse pasture...very dangerous to use though! LOL I think you could call it a bubbafied weedeater.

I've never used a wheeled weed whacker, so no input there, I do agree with Troy that a weedeater can leave a nice lawn, if ya know how to use one.

I used that saw blade trick years ago on an old trimmer I had; it would cut anything I tried.

littleman · 08-02-2009, 07:03 PM

Thx for the input. I remember in the mid 50's, I was a youngster; we had very little actual grass at the old home place. A lot of area was taken up by Mom's meticulous flower beds, a big garden, fenced chicken lot and house, cow stable, etc.Dad mowed with a "swing" mower, a bow shaped frame with a handle and a toothed blade.He eventually got a reel type mower, which I was big enough to use by then; and finally a conventional gas mower.
I still have his 1958 Sears & Roebuck horizontal shaft, front tine tiller; it still works! He and I ( I was 11 at the time), and one other brother, were the only ones in the family who knew how to use it. I plowed many a garden around the neighborhood with that thing. You have to stay limber and let it bounce and jerk without trying to fight it.

rebel727 · 08-02-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleman

I still have his 1958 Sears & Roebuck horizontal shaft, front tine tiller; it still works! He and I ( I was 11 at the time), and one other brother, were the only ones in the family who knew how to use it. I plowed many a garden around the neighborhood with that thing. You have to stay limber and let it bounce and jerk without trying to fight it.

If you fight it it's going to win. Heck it's going to win anyway. Fighting it just makes it win sooner.

Rex in OTZ · 08-18-2009, 05:26 PM

As a Kid the weed abaitment was one my main jobs when not helping the grownups, had a old Troybuilt push type mower (1950's era) that was plain evil would whack off small elm's and willows (1-2" dia) this old mower had 2 big wheels in the back and a 4" caster out front and a coverd mower deck and a shroud across the back to deflect junk kicked by the blade, this mower had a horizontal shaft 4HP Briggs and the v-belt did a twist to the verticle shaft this was one bad mother!

In the age of litagation and lawsuits its hard to find a good brush cutter, the wheel type self propelled HD string types is as good it gets in a walkbehind with flex steel blades, cable and plastic trimmer strings, a hand held serious size gas trimmer with the optional brush cutter blade is a sound investment Ive used a Sthil with a 8" blade to cut down 6" birch and 10" black spruce, this little trimmer did it from blue berry bushes to labridor tea thickets, willows, and heavy sedges and razor grass the hand held has the flexability to get in tight spots with power to do the job and works great irregular slopes and ground too rough or swampy for walk behind units.

its all what you have my brush wacking in Arctic Bush Alaska is allot different than say Idaho, Nebraska, Florida, NewHampshire, Nevada
If the ground supports suitable equipment use what works the most efficently (takes the chore outta the chore) ide rather spend a Hour doing the job with the right size equipment than a smaller piece of equipment that would take 14 to do.

The TractorHouse.com used farm equipment has a great selection of used Farm tractors across the nation a small 200Farmall with a belly mower for less than $3500 you bet get er done I like working hard at times but prefir to work smart freeing up time to do other worthwhile things like chaseing the ole lady round the house or going fishing or helping relatives with ther needs.

07-31-2009, 02:22 PM	#1
littleman Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 128	String mowers? I guess I'm on the right forum for this. How many of you guys/ gals use a string type mower? How well does it work for normal lawn mowing? Does it leave a nice manicured result, or a blotchy finish? I have a fairly small area to care for. I was thinking of a mower that would serve to cut grass, as well as trim up; quite a bit of my yard needs "weed eating" as much as mowing. Thanks for any advice you can give me. __________________ Beware the man with one gun; He likely knows how to use it!

07-31-2009, 06:03 PM	#2
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,164	This is a trimmer not a lawn cutter If you have the talent you could build some type wheeled stand outside the radius of the string. But that is a long shot for most of us. The larger the area to be cut the more botched will appear the result. However, you are far from the first person to ever contemplate this solution.

07-31-2009, 07:06 PM	#3
deerhuntertyler Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Medford MN Posts: 412	We have a string trimmer, i belive it is toro, and cuts a 21" path. we use it for mowing along the barbed wire fence and such. it does not leave a very "manicured" cut. it is more for heavy duty type cutting in tall weeds and some brush. watch out though, they don't like chains very much __________________ I'm a farm boy who definitely isn't afraid of hard work! If its worth doing, its worth doing right!

08-01-2009, 12:49 AM	#6
cremley Young Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 2,655	I wish I had grass. I do have a weedwacker for the tall weeds and the edges around the trees where the "lawn" mower can't get. __________________ I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me. NRA MEMBER

08-01-2009, 06:51 PM	#7
littleman Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 128	Thx, all. Sounds like we are all on the same page. I have a regular string trimmer any way. My old Craftsman 6 hp self propelled is 13 years old. It uses as much oil as gas.Get in a heavy patch, and smoke boils out the muffler, and the rod "pecks". When it gives up, I'll get another blade mower. I didn't think a string mower would leave a clean, smooth cut on lawns. You all confirmed it. __________________ Beware the man with one gun; He likely knows how to use it!

07-31-2009, 10:20 PM	#4
Gray Wolf Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 201	Mine is good for rough ground, does not leave nice "manicured" finish. And I still need to use a weedeater around the trees and fenceposts.

07-31-2009, 10:42 PM	#5
troy2000 Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,554 Images: 9	I can get a manicured appearance on a lawn when I use a string trimmer. On the other hand, I've been using one to keep an acre and a half under control for over twenty years, and I've had a lot of practice. When my nephew or my two sons try it, you can tell that's what they used. And inside my fenced front yard with an honest-to-goodness lawn, I use a regular mower when I can, anyway. It's easier. If you have a normal lawn, instead of just open ground where you need to keep the weeds and Johnson grass knocked down, I seriously recommend a conventional mower instead. If you're tight on money, electric mowers are a lot cheaper and a lot better than they used to be.

08-01-2009, 10:22 PM	#9
rebel727 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Heidelberg, Mississippi Posts: 2,209	I've got a two wheeled string mower. It's possible to get a smooth cut with it with practice but a regular mower would be faster. The two wheeler is unbeatable for cutting around trees or fence lines or wherever a four wheeled blade mower is a PITA. __________________ North-1 South-0 HALFTIME!

08-02-2009, 12:10 AM	#13
Metronome Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 951	I used a push mower (ya know, without a motor) for a bit on a small patch, if you used it regularly it worked great, but if the grass got too long, the work was exponentially harder. I also had a 'modified' roto-tiller that had bicycle training wheels mounted on it for stability - you can find those at any department store __________________ I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.

08-02-2009, 03:38 AM	#14
thrillbilly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ozark Hill Country Posts: 2,611	A old skil-saw blade mounted on a big weedeater will cut through some big sht pronto! My dad has one he uses to trim trees around the horse pasture...very dangerous to use though! LOL I think you could call it a bubbafied weedeater. I've never used a wheeled weed whacker, so no input there, I do agree with Troy that a weedeater can leave a nice lawn, if ya know how to use one. __________________ " I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."* John Wayne

08-02-2009, 07:03 PM	#16
littleman Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 128	Thx for the input. I remember in the mid 50's, I was a youngster; we had very little actual grass at the old home place. A lot of area was taken up by Mom's meticulous flower beds, a big garden, fenced chicken lot and house, cow stable, etc.Dad mowed with a "swing" mower, a bow shaped frame with a handle and a toothed blade.He eventually got a reel type mower, which I was big enough to use by then; and finally a conventional gas mower. I still have his 1958 Sears & Roebuck horizontal shaft, front tine tiller; it still works! He and I ( I was 11 at the time), and one other brother, were the only ones in the family who knew how to use it. I plowed many a garden around the neighborhood with that thing. You have to stay limber and let it bounce and jerk without trying to fight it. __________________ Beware the man with one gun; He likely knows how to use it!

08-18-2009, 05:26 PM	#18
Rex in OTZ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NorthWest Alaska Posts: 975	cutting grass As a Kid the weed abaitment was one my main jobs when not helping the grownups, had a old Troybuilt push type mower (1950's era) that was plain evil would whack off small elm's and willows (1-2" dia) this old mower had 2 big wheels in the back and a 4" caster out front and a coverd mower deck and a shroud across the back to deflect junk kicked by the blade, this mower had a horizontal shaft 4HP Briggs and the v-belt did a twist to the verticle shaft this was one bad mother! In the age of litagation and lawsuits its hard to find a good brush cutter, the wheel type self propelled HD string types is as good it gets in a walkbehind with flex steel blades, cable and plastic trimmer strings, a hand held serious size gas trimmer with the optional brush cutter blade is a sound investment Ive used a Sthil with a 8" blade to cut down 6" birch and 10" black spruce, this little trimmer did it from blue berry bushes to labridor tea thickets, willows, and heavy sedges and razor grass the hand held has the flexability to get in tight spots with power to do the job and works great irregular slopes and ground too rough or swampy for walk behind units. its all what you have my brush wacking in Arctic Bush Alaska is allot different than say Idaho, Nebraska, Florida, NewHampshire, Nevada If the ground supports suitable equipment use what works the most efficently (takes the chore outta the chore) ide rather spend a Hour doing the job with the right size equipment than a smaller piece of equipment that would take 14 to do. The TractorHouse.com used farm equipment has a great selection of used Farm tractors across the nation a small 200Farmall with a belly mower for less than $3500 you bet get er done I like working hard at times but prefir to work smart freeing up time to do other worthwhile things like chaseing the ole lady round the house or going fishing or helping relatives with ther needs. Last edited by Rex in OTZ; 08-18-2009 at 05:30 PM.