Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get 2,000+ tool plans, full site access, and more.

User Tag List

Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Weed Wacker(R) Modification

  1. #1
    Supporting Member rgsparber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    1,278
    Thanks
    733
    Thanked 2,763 Times in 650 Posts

    rgsparber's Tools

    Weed Wacker(R) Modification

    This is such a simple modification to a Weed Wacker(R) that it might not be considered a homemade tool.

    My problem was that the automatic line feeds on both of my Weed Wackers don't work well. They either don't feed out enough line or the feed it all out. My solution is detailed in

    http://rick.sparber.org/stm.pdf

    and entails removing the bobbin and cover. Then I take a length of heavier line and tie two knots in it. Fish it through the holes and I'm done.

    The heavier line means it lasts longer. To replace the line, I just pull on the old line from the center and it comes out. Thread in a new one which takes a few seconds.

    Rick

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to rgsparber For This Useful Post:

    kbalch (Jul 8, 2013)

  3. #2
    kbalch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Clermont, FL
    Posts
    5,034
    Thanks
    2,275
    Thanked 531 Times in 383 Posts
    Thanks Rick! I've added your String Trimmer Modification to our Miscellaneous category, as well as to your builder page: Rick Sparber's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:


    2000 Tool Plans

  4. #3
    Supporting Member Paul Jones's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Del Mar, California
    Posts
    1,231
    Thanks
    5,810
    Thanked 1,440 Times in 655 Posts

    Paul Jones's Tools
    Rick,
    Great idea. I have a property on several aces in a hillside area prone to wildfires and we must clear brush every year. In fact, my next door neighbor's house burnt totally to the ground in November 2008 because of one of these wildfires that had 60 MPH wind gusts. I have two heavy duty brush cutters with autofeed string feeders that rarely fail to feed (I do buy new spool feeders each year because the old ones wear out and that helps) but I go through 1000+ feet of trimmer string each year. I think your idea would save me the cost of the trimmer string and will try this idea next spring. Thanks for the idea. Paul

  5. #4
    Supporting Member Captainleeward's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    San DIEGO, California
    Posts
    1,097
    Thanks
    496
    Thanked 1,330 Times in 525 Posts

    Captainleeward's Tools
    WOW Great Idea Rick now I know what to get every one for Christmas. :O)

  6. #5
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    Altair's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    11,722
    Thanks
    1,353
    Thanked 29,236 Times in 9,716 Posts
    Thanks for the tip Rick.

    Al

  7. #6
    Supporting Member Christophe Mineau's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    France, Brittany !
    Posts
    913
    Thanks
    825
    Thanked 1,687 Times in 481 Posts

    Christophe Mineau's Tools
    Yes, simplest tricks are the better.
    I have the same concern with auto feed, I don't have the same consumption level as Paul, but every time I have purchased auto-feed heads, it ended up working poorly as well (it seems that age, more than real wear affect them, or lack of cleaning up between sessions), and I don't like buying and rebuying expensive things that don't work well enough for my case.
    Your trick is really faster than the pre cut version I use now.
    I have a question, is there a chance that the center area that is left without any cover finishes grabbed by any shrub and could be pulled out before is is worn ?

    I will try that repurposing one of that old heads I don't use any longer.
    Thanks !
    Cheers !
    Christophe
    ________________________________________________________________
    Visit my Website : http://www.labellenote.fr/
    Facebook : La Belle Note
    All my personal works, unless explicitly specified, are released under
    Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.

  8. #7
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,056
    Thanks
    772
    Thanked 1,850 Times in 1,652 Posts
    Good tip, Rick! Practical advice as always.

  9. #8
    kbalch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Clermont, FL
    Posts
    5,034
    Thanks
    2,275
    Thanked 531 Times in 383 Posts
    This thread has been moved to the Must Read subforum. Congrats (and thanks) to Rick for making such a valuable contribution!



    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •