Using a weed eater is not rocket science, but how do you operate it for the best effect?

A weed eater goes by many names. It can be called a string trimmer, strimmer, weed whacker, weed-whip, or a whipper-snipper. Weed Eater is actually a brand name product manufactured by Poulan. Today, though, it has seeped into common usage to refer to any string trimmer garden tool.

Before anything, scour the area you will be clearing. Get rid of any stones or rocks. Although weed eaters are heavy-duty pieces of machinery, rocks cause undue wear and tear on the nylon cutting thread. This leads to the need for frequent replacement, which can be costly and tiresome.

With your basic preparation done, it’s time for ACTION.

Prime up your weed eater and get ready to do battle with the unruly yard.

With a gas-powered device, perform the initial check for gas levels. Most string trimmers powered by gasoline have a choke or priming bulb – sometimes both – in order to aid cold starting. Refer to instructions in the owner’s manual or you risk flooding the carburetor. 

If you have an electric version, simply plug it in, make sure that the plug will not detach from the socket and you’re good to go.

Once you are underway, you will soon find that weeds start resisting the weed eater. As soon as this happens, simply release more thread. The method for doing this varies from model to model. Some weed whackers have a button you press, a few high end models are automatic, but most will use a bump-feed system. Get six inches or so of thread out and carry on…

If, though, you are a confident trimmer and have a good pair of safety glasses and long protective pants, ditching the guard does come with some benefits. The guard keeps the string cut at a length which can be sub-optimal. By detaching it, you can use more string – listen for a high-pitched whirring and avoid vibration – for a more effective weapon against rogue weeds. Exercise this option entirely at your own risk and only if you feel very confident with your equipment. This is no stunt for the casual operator.

Pay attention to the way the string rotates. Most weed eaters have a counter clockwise rotation. This means that you should trim from right to left. By operating in this manner, the clippings will naturally be flicked out into the yard and easily picked up by the mower. Do it wrong and the debris will be flung against the fence or house.

Different users prefer different angles but 90 degrees is widely considered to be the most efficient option.

The best procedure to adopt – assuming the counter clockwise rotation mentioned – is to kick off on the far right side facing the house. Start here and work your way carefully around. Continue with this right-to-left movement until completion.

These extra techniques really help to extract the most mileage out of your weed eater.

When you perform this action, you simply hold the weed eater so that the string ends up striking at a very slight angle. It’s best pressed into commission along curbs, walls, fence lines or trees.

This is a method used when grass or weeds are growing on paths, sideways or even in sidewalk cracks. Tip the weed eater gently so that the strings are just dancing off the stone. Move towards the base of the weeds and cut. Take special care when screeding: if you use too shallow an angle you will end up eating into the string rather than cutting. Conversely, when angled too sharply, the string will simply fail to hit the base and again result in non-cutting.

With parallel surfaces, edging is key. The area between the grass and your driveway is a great example. Turn your weed eater so that the string is vertical. If you are working on an area which has not been edged for some time, watch closely for rocks and stones and expect them to fly up.

When you have finished your job, clean the weed eater. Never leave it clogged up and soiled. Take care of your equipment so that it performs perfectly and serves you well.

Take heed of some of these handy hints and you will soon be using your weed eater like a pro.

Replacing the string on your weed eater isn’t nearly as difficult as you might think. Although there is a definite market for folks who would rather just buy the spools of pre-wound string, there are those of us who enjoy the satisfaction of doing something ourselves. (It’s great to save some money too!)

So for those of you who want to learn how to replace the string in your weed eater, we’ve outlined the complete process right here. Whether you have a single line or double line trimmer, you should be able to replace the string by following these directions.

Having all the necessary supplies is critical to the success of any project but it’s especially true when you’re replacing the string on your weed trimmer.

The most important first step is to buy the proper size or width of string. If the line is too large, the trimmer won’t work, so this is not something that you want to “guess-timate.” Check the manual or the company website to make sure that you know the correct string size.

It’s a good idea to pre-cut the line or string. The spools for most weed eaters can accommodate from 10 to 25 feet of line. If you’re not sure how much line your particular weed eater can hold, cut the line to a full 25 feet. If that’s too much for the spool, you can always cut the remaining string to a size that fits.

This first step is the most important part of this process - it’s the part about safety. Always remember that you are dealing with a tool that can do some serious damage if it’s not handled carefully.

The next stage is to remove the spool from the trimmer head. Because there are multiple mechanisms for keeping a string spool in place, removing it might involve depressing a couple of tabs to remove the spool cap or perhaps unscrewing it.

Although it should be simple to remove the spool, if you have problems, consult with the manufacturer’s website or the manual.

Take a careful look at the spool and locate the small hole in the center core. Insert the end of the string in this hole and begin to wrap the string in the direction indicated by the arrows.

This is where attention to detail will help you do the job properly. When you are wrapping the line, try to wrap it in concentric rows of string, laying the new wrap of string directly next to the previous one. Laying out the string in neat rows like this will help keep the string from jamming when the tool is in use.

Continue to wrap the line around the spool until it’s completely filled or until only 5 or 6 inches remain. Fasten the line through the retainer on the spool.

Before returning the spool to the trimmer head, make certain to align the retainer—which is currently holding the loose end of the string—with the outside slot on the trimmer head.

Put the spool into the trimmer head, and then take the line out of the retainer that’s been holding it in place. Thread the string through the slot in the trimmer head, and give it a small tug to ensure the string isn’t caught.

Make certain that the string is also feeding smoothly through the trimmer head. Replace the cap on the trimmer head and you are ready to work!

Replacing two strings on a trimmer is nearly as easy as replacing one, so be sure you’re following the previous directions correctly. The only difference between the single-line and double-line trimmers is how the spool is wrapped and how the line comes through the trimmer head.

Just like with the single line, you’ll need to make sure the tool is turned off and cool to the touch as well as making sure you’re rewrapping the spool with the correct size of string. Check with the manufacturer if you’re not sure about the proper string size.

You’ll also want to pre-cut the string for a double-line spool, with the line length ranging from 10 to 25 feet.

The two-line spool looks remarkably like the single-line spool, with one exception—there’s a small plastic wall around the center of the spool. This tiny wall of plastic divides one set of string from the other.

When the motor is fired up, the string on your trimmer revolves at high velocity. This speed is anywhere between 3000 rpm and 10,000 rpm. The line spins out from the cartrdidge due to centrifugal force.

In most aspects, string trimmers differ slightly. The cutting swath can be from 8 to 22 inches in diameter. Most models spin a diameter in the lower range.

Take care when using the choke or priming bulb. This is a feature which helps when starting your gasoline weed eater cold. As the function varies, it’s crucial to consult the manual. If you fail to follow the instructions you have a high chance of flooding the carburetor.

String diameters vary. They usually measure between 0.065 to 0.090 inches. Installing the wrong type of string will result in malfunction. Again, check the owner’s manual and buy the right kind of string.

Take advantage of the guard provided. This will stop rocks, stones or other debris from shooting up into your face. It’s a wise idea to wear safety glasses too.