Product Code Database
A string trimmer, also known by the portmanteau strimmer and the trademarks Weedwacker, Weed Eater and Whipper Snipper,
is a garden tool power tool for cutting grass, small weeds, and groundcover. Instead of a blade, it uses a whirling monofilament line which protrudes from a rotating spindle at the end of a long shaft topped by a gasoline engine or electric motor.
String trimmers are commonly used for cutting low foliage near obstacles or on steep or irregular terrain. Most professional-grade line trimmers take brush cutter attachments for denser vegetation.
The word "strimmer" is correctly a trade name for a particular make of string trimmer, but it is often used as a generic for any string trimmer. From it has been Back-formation the colloquial verb "to ".
The line is hand-wound onto a reel before the job is started, leaving both ends extending from the reel housing. The motor turns the reel and the line extends horizontally while the operator swings the trimmer about where the plants are to be trimmed. The operator controls the height at which cutting takes place and can trim down to ground level quite easily.
As the line is worn—or breaks off—a bump feed string trimmer, the operator knocks the reel on the ground so a release mechanism allows some of the line in the reel to replace the spent portion. Newer models "auto-feed", where a small cutter ensures the exposed length does not exceed what can be swung effectively. Newly extended line operates more effectively because of its heavier weight and surface effects. The speed of the spinning hub is controlled by a trigger-activated throttle on the handle.
A fixed-line string trimmer has a trimmer head that takes pre-cut line inserts. There is no wound spool of line in the trimmer head; the user instead feeds the pre-cut line in to the appropriate slots, making the trimmer easier to feed line into and troubleshoot than a bump feed system.
For vertical cutting the whole machine can be tilted or some trimmers allow the head to be adjusted at different angles.
String trimmers powered by an internal combustion engine have the engine on the opposite end of the shaft from the cutting head, while electric string trimmers typically have an electric motor in the cutting head, but there are other arrangements, such as where the trimmer is connected to heavy machinery and powered by a hydraulic motor.
The head contains a safety shield on the user side and a rotating hub which may also be called a head or spool. Disadvantages of a gasoline-powered string trimmer include its greater weight, the need to refuel, and the significant vibration that carries throughout the device, both of which interfere with its maneuverability and contribute to muscle fatigue. Advantages include complete mobility and higher maximum power.
Large trimmers, used for cutting thick roadside grass and weeds in large areas, are both heavier and more powerful. Some are fitted with a harness to spread weight onto the shoulders. Often referred to as brush cutters, these often mount straight or circular metal blades instead of monofilament line.
Quick-release shafts are offered on many newer models which do not require any tools to switch in accessories.
Electrically powered string trimmers produce zero emissions at the point of use, are more efficient, and eliminate risks from spilled gasoline. However, they are typically less powerful and robust than gasoline-powered units; normally they are limited to maximum diameter nylon because of their lower power output (400 to about 1200 watts). Gas-powered string trimmers are not regulated to have emission-capturing technology.
Mains-powered string trimmers have the advantage of being very light, easy to maneuver and easy-to-operate. However, both the power cord and total cord length limit them. Recharge time for a battery model using small or large sealed lead acid, nickel metal hydride, or lithium-ion batteries is typically several hours; some models offer a quick-charge option of as little as half an hour, or a removable battery pack.
Propane-powered string trimmers were also manufactured by Lehr.
Chain-link flail rotors, and any other trimmer head with linked metal parts, were prohibited from sale in the EU after a fatal accident in 2010.
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