So excited - buying a petrol strimmer!!

[SarrissUK]

OMG I can't believe my luck! I was up at the allotment today and it irks me greatly that the paths are getting over grown sooo quickly and I feel like I spend more time using the shears on them, than I spend on the veggies.
I went home after a looong day up there, checked my Facebook and an old friend of mine had posted on a 'buy and sell' group about a petrol strimmer for £45! And on top of that, he will give me it for £40 - mates rates! He's dropping it off tomorrow - excited much!!

[taff]

heehee!! I live for the day my father lets me use his He still won't let me use his petrol mower even though mines the same....
I'm happy for you

[Feral007]

Oh no! I hate the strimmer (whippersnipper!) It never goes when I try to use it. If I drag the boys out to start it up it goes easily. D@mn thing!

Oh well, better luck with yours!

[Florence Fennel]

We sold ours last summer as neither Himself or myself could wield it and my son, who invariably cuts the grass, didn't like it. Enjoy yourself Sarriss. I was only saying yesterday that I could do with a little hand mower, an old fashioned push one, for in front of the stayput.

[kathyd]

We bought a petrol strimmer as soon as we moved over here, and I don't know what we would have done without it. I must admit I can't start it by myself (given up feeling embarrassed about these things now, and decided to go for the 'aging bimbo needs someone to help' thing instead), but once it's going I have a fab time in my harness and big helmety thing with a visor. I wouldn't be able to wield it without the harness FF, but the harness takes most of the weight so it's easy, and the visor is essential or I'd have blinded myself by now with all the flying bits and pieces! Having the proper equipment can make such a difference .

[dominic10]

You'll find having a strimmer so much quicker than either mowing or spending hours with shears - good luck!

[Feral007]

Ewww Kathyd, you just reminded me of the day I strimmed some dog poo. Not noice, not noice a'tall!

[OverWyreGrower]

We've gradually been moving all our power tools to petrol ones...
It's such a pain having to use 50 to 100ft extension cables, and dangerous too!

Our latest buy is a petrol hedgetrimmer - amazing!

I can start the large petrol mower, and the hedgetrimmer, but not the strimmer.... however Mr OWG would prefer I wasn't in charge of a petrol powertool, so I graciously let him do all the work!

[woody21]

Don't forget eye protection. And mind out for the nettles getting flicked up in your face like I did last time I strimmed.

Poo strimming is never fun, sprays it all up ya legs

[Chef_uk]

Yea strimming nettles hurts

I rarely use mine as i'm so clumsy i go through about 5m of reel due to hitting the metal fence. Takes me ages as i have to unlock the coil and feed the shortened reel back through grrrrrrrr

Starting strimmers is different to a mower in that it needs priming. A small rubber/plastic nubbin will be poking out of the engine which uses suction when pressed/depressed to take on the fuel mix. I quickly prime 10 times and then yank the chain repeatedly until she smokes in to action. Laying it on the concrete path before yanking helps to keep it steady.

[Nicos]

Yep-I suggest you get him to show you how to start it.

As chef says- you need to pump the fuel with a little button thingy first..
I put ours on the floor and hold it steady with my foot before pulling the starter-cord thingybob.
Even then it's not easy.
The harness makes all the difference cos it gets heavy and can pull on your back without one. And yes- goggles are a MUST- a visor/helmet even better

We found a metal type cord at the local farm supplies shop in the UK ( never seen it here though) and it lasts much, much longer.

...just a few thoughts from an insomniac!

....enjoy it- tis fun!

[Currysniffa]

Our allotment have just splashed out on a new petrol stihl strimmer/bushcutter. I was lucky enough to buy one of there old petrol strimmers for £25. Sure dose save on the old backache with the shears. I can get both plots done in in no time at all. \o/

[Pa Snips]

How are you getting on with that strimmer, hit any poo or slugs yet?

Watch out for stones too, they make a mess of your shins.

[SarrissUK]

I got it last night and it's fab! I did the back garden in a matter of minutes. Not had the chance to use it up the allotment yet, as the rain is pouring down today. He did show me how to start it, and I catch on pretty quickly with these things, as I grew up with every toy.. err.. tool imaginable and have used them lots in the past. It's HUGE though! I need to get me a harness I think even though it doesn't feel heavy, but I imagine it will after using it for more than ten minutes
A visor is on order - safety first
Thanks all! I'm still so very excited to be able to leave the shears in the shed LOL