String-line grass trimmers and weed-whackers are some of the most useful lawn tools you can have. They’re perfect for cleaning up hard-to-reach places in the lawn, trimming on hills too steep for a mower, and taking care of overgrown weeds.
Most of the grass trimmers that you’ll see for sale use a string-line cutting head. Some also let you switch cutting heads and use a brush cutting blade. Knowing about the different types of cutting head options can help you decided which trimmer will be the best fit for your own lawn care needs.
What Types of Heads Are Available?
For string-line trimmers, there are three types of cutting heads: bump feed, automatic feed, and fixed head/fixed line.
- Bump Feed. These trimmer heads have lengths of cutting line wound around the spool in the head. Two lengths of line feed out on either side of the spool. When you need more line while cutting, you just bump the cutting head on the ground and more line spools out. Bump heads are simple to use and usually easy to repair, making them the most popular cutting head.
- Automatic Feed. Like with bump feed, automatic feed heads have cutting line wound around a spool. In these heads, though, a motor feeds out new line automatically so you don’t have to pause and bump the cutting head. This makes cutting go faster, but it also means if something goes wrong maintenance is more difficult.
- Fixed Head. These heads used fixed lengths of line that are loaded into the trimmer. When the lines break or wear out, you need to stop the trimmer to replace them. This makes dealing with trimmer line easier, but it works best on large commercial trimmers that use tougher, longer-lasting string.
Many string-line trimmers also offer the option to switch out the string-line cutting head for a cutting blade. Types of cutting blades include saw-tooth blades and weed-whacking blades with flat cutting arms. If you plan to cut lots of tough or overgrown weeds, you’ll probably want to get a trimmer that can use a cutting blade.
When Should I Change the Cutting Head?
The cutting head itself will only need to be replaced if it gets damaged or wears out. Depending on the trimmer model, you might also have the option to switch your string-line head for a cutting blade. If you have that option, you’ll want to switch to a blade for heavy-duty weed-whacking jobs. String-line works great for grass and smaller weeds, but it can’t always handle sturdy, woody, or overgrown weeds.
If you do need to replace the cutting head, check the owner’s manual for your specific trimmer. If you don’t have a manual, you can look it up online by searching your trimmer’s model number. Usually, though, what you’ll be doing is replacing the cutting line in the head. To learn more, check out this article: 5 Easy Steps To Replace The Cutting Line On A String Trimmer.
Where Can I Buy Cutting Heads?
Here at Richardson Saw, we stock one of the largest parts inventories in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We carry trimmer heads, bump knobs, springs, spools, cutting line, and cutting blades for all the trimmers that we sell. In many cases, we also have parts on hand or can order them in for brands that we don’t carry.
If you have any questions about what type of trimmer will work best for you, or which replacement line or head to buy for a trimmer you already have, just get in touch with us. Click here to contact us, or stop by our location in Richardson. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.
