In reply to Nick Maclaren ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

I have been given a new lawn, and we are going to replace our old
rotary mower with a somewhat more "rifeened" version - i.e. one
with a roller, and possibly even a cylinder. Recommendations for
mains electric ones would be appreciated, but that is by the way.

So what I am asking is whether anyone can recommend a functional
strimmer (preferably mains electric) for rough lawn grass (i.e.
pasture type) and similar use. It need not handle woody plants,
and it would be better if it was fairly safe around shrubs.

I had an el cheapo Black and Decker plastic string one before,
and swapped it for a chocolate teapot :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string with
heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a beast. I'm
surprised it's still going, it has had some seriously hard treatment. I took
a buddleia down with it, in pieces so I could get at the root, plus a load
of nasty nettles and dock and stuff.

I also have a petrol (two-stroke) one which is good if you're away from the
mains, but it's a cow to start, smelly and downright dangerous IMHO.

In article ,
"Uncle Marvo" writes:
|
| I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string with
| heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a beast. I'm
| surprised it's still going, it has had some seriously hard treatment. I took
| a buddleia down with it, in pieces so I could get at the root, plus a load
| of nasty nettles and dock and stuff.

Thanks. Actually, nettles etc. are EASIER than pasture-style grass
for strimmers, which is one reason I am not sure what to get.

| I also have a petrol (two-stroke) one which is good if you're away from the
| mains, but it's a cow to start, smelly and downright dangerous IMHO.

That's why I don't want one. My total area is c. 1000 square yards,
and I have ensured power at all necessary points; the hassle of petrol
just isn't worth it.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In reply to Nick Maclaren ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

In article ,
"Uncle Marvo" writes:

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string
with heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a
beast. I'm surprised it's still going, it has had some seriously
hard treatment. I took a buddleia down with it, in pieces so I
could get at the root, plus a load of nasty nettles and dock and
stuff.

Thanks. Actually, nettles etc. are EASIER than pasture-style grass
for strimmers, which is one reason I am not sure what to get.

Have you thought about bolting a scythe to the bottom of the strimmer?

*Please do not take this as advice*

:-)

In article , Uncle Marvo
writes

Have you thought about bolting a scythe to the bottom of the strimmer?

*Please do not take this as advice*

:-)


I'll wait for this advice to turn up in gardenbanter without the
proviso at the end of course!
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

On Nov 14, 2:54 am, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article ,"Uncle Marvo" writes:

|
| I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string with
| heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a beast. I'm
| surprised it's still going, it has had some seriously hard treatment. I took
| a buddleia down with it, in pieces so I could get at the root, plus a load
| of nasty nettles and dock and stuff.

Thanks. Actually, nettles etc. are EASIER than pasture-style grass
for strimmers, which is one reason I am not sure what to get.

| I also have a petrol (two-stroke) one which is good if you're away from the
| mains, but it's a cow to start, smelly and downright dangerous IMHO.

That's why I don't want one. My total area is c. 1000 square yards,
and I have ensured power at all necessary points; the hassle of petrol
just isn't worth it.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Agreement (about hassle of starting/petrol.)
renting the sheep, they recently passed a law here permitting
residential ownership of goats for the purposes of trimming lawns and
controlling undergrowth. (Incl Blackberry bushes which grow here up to
5 meters high, with inch long stickers).

Several local towns that I know of have taken to renting herds of
goats (at outrageous prices!) to control growth along highways, around
municipal buildings, nearly everywhere they used to maintain huge
tractors and gang-mowers for.

Now if we could just find an animal to eat it's way through the 30
foot deep snow clogging our mountain passes every winter...

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
My total area is c. 1000 square yards,
and I have ensured power at all necessary points; the hassle of petrol
just isn't worth it.

1000 square yards to cut?

Have you considered a power scythe? We hired one to cut our padock that had
been wild for 4 years.

In article ,
"CWatters" writes:
|
| My total area is c. 1000 square yards,
| and I have ensured power at all necessary points; the hassle of petrol
| just isn't worth it.
|
| 1000 square yards to cut?

No. More like 200. The 1000 figure was in a different context.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Nov 14, 10:04 am, "Uncle Marvo"

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string with
heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a beast.

A friend of mine said he went to a more industrial type place and they
had some carbon fibre or wire reinforced type super-duper wire and I
don't think he ever had to change it again.

"adder1969" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Nov 14, 10:04 am, "Uncle Marvo"

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string with
heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a beast.

A friend of mine said he went to a more industrial type place and they
had some carbon fibre or wire reinforced type super-duper wire and I
don't think he ever had to change it again.


Possibly Kevlar? That stuff would make great strimmer cord. Carbon fibre is
too brittle. Kevlar isn't as strong as carbon but it's much tougher. You
need special ceramic bladed sissors to cut Kevlar cloth and even then it can
be tricky. It makes the sissors twist and it slides between the blades as if
they are blunt. With a kevlar cord you would have problems with the little
blade on the strimmer used to cut the cord to length!

In reply to CWatters ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"adder1969" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Nov 14, 10:04 am, "Uncle Marvo"

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string
with heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a
beast.

A friend of mine said he went to a more industrial type place and
they had some carbon fibre or wire reinforced type super-duper wire
and I don't think he ever had to change it again.


Possibly Kevlar? That stuff would make great strimmer cord. Carbon
fibre is too brittle. Kevlar isn't as strong as carbon but it's much
tougher. You need special ceramic bladed sissors to cut Kevlar cloth
and even then it can be tricky. It makes the sissors twist and it
slides between the blades as if they are blunt. With a kevlar cord
you would have problems with the little blade on the strimmer used to
cut the cord to length!

One of the selling points of a strimmer is that it won't cut your legs off
by accident. I suggest if the Kevlar wire is employed, then one should think
of investing in a very stout pair of boots.

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
In reply to CWatters ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"adder1969" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Nov 14, 10:04 am, "Uncle Marvo"

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string
with heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a
beast.

A friend of mine said he went to a more industrial type place and
they had some carbon fibre or wire reinforced type super-duper wire
and I don't think he ever had to change it again.


Possibly Kevlar? That stuff would make great strimmer cord. Carbon
fibre is too brittle. Kevlar isn't as strong as carbon but it's much
tougher. You need special ceramic bladed sissors to cut Kevlar cloth
and even then it can be tricky. It makes the sissors twist and it
slides between the blades as if they are blunt. With a kevlar cord
you would have problems with the little blade on the strimmer used to
cut the cord to length!

One of the selling points of a strimmer is that it won't cut your legs off
by accident.

Not sure I'd like to test that though. :-)

In reply to CWatters ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
In reply to CWatters ) who wrote
this in , I, Marvo, say :

"adder1969" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Nov 14, 10:04 am, "Uncle Marvo"

I've got an el cheapo Flymo one, and I replaced the plastic string
with heavy duty plastic string (available anywhere) and it's a
beast.

A friend of mine said he went to a more industrial type place and
they had some carbon fibre or wire reinforced type super-duper wire
and I don't think he ever had to change it again.


Possibly Kevlar? That stuff would make great strimmer cord. Carbon
fibre is too brittle. Kevlar isn't as strong as carbon but it's much
tougher. You need special ceramic bladed sissors to cut Kevlar cloth
and even then it can be tricky. It makes the sissors twist and it
slides between the blades as if they are blunt. With a kevlar cord
you would have problems with the little blade on the strimmer used
to cut the cord to length!

One of the selling points of a strimmer is that it won't cut your
legs off by accident.

Not sure I'd like to test that though. :-)

I have done. It stings a bit.