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Replies

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  Geoff Norfolk August 23, 2014 at 10:35pm

  I'd imagine steel cable (rather than wire which would be too rigid to feed through an autocut head) would work, however it could cause a lot of damage to things you are stimming up against! Give it a try and let us know how you get on lol.
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  Benedict Simmons August 23, 2014 at 11:04pm

  Serious no no. Imagain if some broke off and hit you! I have been hit by bits of standard line bouncing off a wall. Metal wire could kill you.
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  matt evans August 24, 2014 at 6:53am

  Ive tested the 3mm nylon with metal cord inside it and it was good. I think Oregon was the maker.
• PRO

  Gary RK August 24, 2014 at 7:11am

  Using untried/tested steel line must be so so dangerous to you / public? The consequences of where broken pieces of wire go (through your trousers etc) would concern me and would go as far as to say it would be illegal under HSE rules in the UK.

  HSE have partially looked at this area (in particular the use of chains on strimmers) and there final parting line was : ".....users should discontinue use of any non-standard metal cutting accessory immediately and consult the brush cutter manufacturer for guidance."

  Surely better selection of plastic line and strimmer technique would be safer ?
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  Colin Hunt August 24, 2014 at 8:52am

  Made me wince just thinking about it!
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  James Brett August 24, 2014 at 9:01am

  Don't these things have to have been tested and certified as being suitable for purpose? Personally I can only see this ending very badly for you or some poor member of the public!!
  
  Oregon make star line which is pretty tough and I think it has metal pieces within it? If not then there is a line out there which does!!
  
  Considering my reel of orange stihl quiet line will probably last me 2 years I'm not to worried about a replacement for it.
• PRO

  Phil Voice August 24, 2014 at 9:46am

  HSE advice on chain flail attachments for brushcutters: http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/brush-cutters.htm
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  Pristine Gardens August 24, 2014 at 5:50pm

  I wouldn't take the risk could end up with serious problems, als9 the issue of the head being un balanced and extra strain on the machine cutting through stuff where the line is designed to break
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  Andrew Smith August 24, 2014 at 7:12pm

  I've been using some strimmer line bought from B&Q in an emergency. To be fair it's bloody brilliant, better than the Stihl or Husquvarna stuff I had tried before! This is the stuff - B&Q Bi-Component Professional Grass Trimmer Line SL324 Yellow/Black 2.4mm..
• PRO

  Seth Burgess August 24, 2014 at 9:55pm

  So does the metal wear away as well on the metal core lines? Or do you end up with metal core with no plastic left on it?