Have picked up some good advice from this board so could do with a bit of input.

I have recently volunteered to do a bit of strimming for my local church in the graveyard as that is where my mother is buried. The place is pretty overgrown (weeds, long grass and some brambles) and a strimmer/brushcutter is the only way to go as there is no space for a mower because many of the graves have stone surrounds.

So its a strimmer and I decided to get a decent one that will make the job as easy as possible. I have more or less decided on a stihl fs80/85 or an fs400.

What I would like to know is:

1. Am I doing overkill (I might have about 4 acres of graveyard to strim) so I wnat it to be as easy as possible.

2. I can forsee a problem of hitting the stone with the nylon, so how do I make sure I can strim right against the gravestones and avoid damaging them or the strimmer. I have been told that I should have autofeed, but I have seen people make modifications, which tends to stop them going through tons of strimmer line. I dont mind about going through line, just dont want to be stopping and starting every few minutes. Should I get a nylon blade?

Thanks for any advice.

I can see a helmet, ear protectors, some gloves and strong shoes should be uses

Good for you. First, an indelicate question. What age are you?

I've used brush cutters for about 25 years now, starting with a McCulloch and now using a Stihl, which has proven fine, and I am now almost 60. I gradually have found their weight something to bear in mind since serious work (can take several hours) in bad posture and with a heavy machine can be pretty uncomfortable. And I am strong!

I use a cheapish helmet with a visor and ear muffs - it's wonderful. And I dress properly. The little stones can hurt.

I also have several corded strimmers - Flymo, Black and Decker etc., and have just bought a cordless one. Strictly for the little 10 minute jobs.

They come with autofeed, which personally I hate. It wastes cord, goes wrong and you never know whether it's working or not. Maybe I've had bad luck.

Given the size of job you have in mind I would use 4mm cord on a head with one or four strands. I'd steer clear of nylon blades.
As for hitting the gravestones, it's all a question of technique. You must try not to strim the stone all the time because it sure wears out the cord.
all the best
david

"....... I'd steer clear of nylon blades ......."
Interesting, I find them good on rough grass, Tussocks , nettles etc.

What don't you like about them?

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

Hi David

I am 35 I should be ok and think the main bit may be about 2 acres, I can go slowly as well.

I think the Stihls I had in mind may be overkill, but the bigger one which weighs 161b comes th a full harness and the smaller one comes with a shoulder harness as well and weighs 10lb. I could do with the exerciise and am not under any strict deadline.

I think I will have plenty of opportunity to get the technique right.

thanks for your advice.

"999tigger" wrote in message
I am 35 I should be ok and think the main bit may be about 2 acres, I
can go slowly as well.

I think the Stihls I had in mind may be overkill, but the bigger one
which weighs 161b comes th a full harness and the smaller one comes
with a shoulder harness as well and weighs 10lb. I could do with the
exerciise and am not under any strict deadline.

I think I will have plenty of opportunity to get the technique right.

thanks for your advice.
--

One tip for increased line life is to ensure it is kept moist, even wet,
never let it dry out because then it becomes brittle.

--
Bob

www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in
Runnymede fighting for it's existence.

One tip for increased line life is to ensure it is kept moist, even wet,
never let it dry out because then it becomes brittle.

--
Bob

I have an old B&D strimmer and have metres of plastic line, but the tap and
lengthen method never worked well from day one and the blade vanished a long
time ago. I'm forever turning it upside down and loosening drum and feeding
the line through manually. I'm wondering if I could use a measured length of
8 strand wire.
Mik

Hi,
I use a large "Lawn-Flite" strimmer, which has handlebars and harness, the machine is quite heavy but can be balanced well by moving the handlebars and carefull adjustment of the harness.

Iit originally came with a steel brushcutting blade, I have replaced this with a head which will take nylon stimming line. It is neither auto-feed or bump feed.The cutting head requires 6"-7" lengths of stimming line which are easily inserted into the head and held in place by special grippers. I buy bulk rolls of stimming line and it is available in round, star and square profiles and is available in different thicknesses from fine to about 1/8" diameter. I precut a couple of dozen lengths and when the line gets a bit ragged just push the old line through a thread the new line in, ejecting the old line in the process, this just takes seconds to do.

The new head cost just over £20, but its well worth it and economical to use, I believe auto-feeds can waste line and bump-feeds are prone to jamming. I can't remember the name of the manucfacturer, but will post details tomorrow ( its a bit late to go down to the shed now! plus the bogeyman might get me!!).

Jeff

On Fri, 25 Jul 2003 23:57:30 +0100, "Jeff Coles"
wrote:

Hi,
I use a large "Lawn-Flite" strimmer, which has handlebars and harness, the
machine is quite heavy but can be balanced well by moving the handlebars and
carefull adjustment of the harness.

Iit originally came with a steel brushcutting blade, I have replaced this
with a head which will take nylon stimming line. It is neither auto-feed or
bump feed.The cutting head requires 6"-7" lengths of stimming line which are
easily inserted into the head and held in place by special grippers. I buy
bulk rolls of stimming line and it is available in round, star and square
profiles and is available in different thicknesses from fine to about 1/8"
diameter. I precut a couple of dozen lengths and when the line gets a bit
ragged just push the old line through a thread the new line in, ejecting the
old line in the process, this just takes seconds to do.

The new head cost just over £20, but its well worth it and economical to
use, I believe auto-feeds can waste line and bump-feeds are prone to
jamming. I can't remember the name of the manucfacturer, but will post
details tomorrow ( its a bit late to go down to the shed now! plus the
bogeyman might get me!!).

Jeff

Now Jeff don't be silly ...... eveyone knows the bogeyman does not
come out in the summer .................

I find them expensive, in the first place (compared with cord), and they
break. Maybe I've been unlucky. I have rough ground, so there is occasional
bramble, gorse, broom, apart from oak seedlings etc. I used to have a device
with three retractable small (1") steel blades, and a gliding bowl, and this
worked wonders for me on the tough grass. Then I tried nylon, with no end of
trouble.
David

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
"....... I'd steer clear of nylon blades ......."
Interesting, I find them good on rough grass, Tussocks , nettles etc.

What don't you like about them?

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

Personally I wouldn't, nor would I want to be near you when you do!
David

"Akkerman's Plektrum" wrote in message
...
One tip for increased line life is to ensure it is kept moist, even wet,
never let it dry out because then it becomes brittle.

--
Bob

I have an old B&D strimmer and have metres of plastic line, but the tap
and
lengthen method never worked well from day one and the blade vanished a
long
time ago. I'm forever turning it upside down and loosening drum and
feeding
the line through manually. I'm wondering if I could use a measured length
of
8 strand wire.
Mik