I’ve never been a fan of the bump control system on brush cutters/line-trimmers.
I have kitted mine out with one of these gizmos,
Unfortunately, most trimmers fitted with a “cut to length blade” are designed to encounter 1 or 2 “lines” and battle to come to speed with 6 danglers… at least that’s the story with my cordless 36V Ryobi trimmer.
Not only that, I hate the thought of crawling on all 4’s trying to find the 6 pieces of orange off-cuts, if it actually managed to sever them.
These are the “bulk singles” that I buy,
which are 20mm too long and trying to get the right length was a PITA.
I cut a piece of PVC tubing to the appropriate length, plugged one end with a piece of 16mm dowel and used that to measure 3 pieces to length at a time. Unfortunately, the curve and the rigidity of the line's plastic made it a hassle to fish the pieces out of the tube's top. I considered some sort of plunger design so I could push the pieces out of the tube from the bottom.
Went into Bunnings plumbing department with hope of some sort of inspiration and found this tube with the spring clips, that got me thinking. My first thought was to glue a piece of dowel into part of the clip and clip that at the bottom of the tube, insert the line piece(s) and cut to length, The glue turned out to be a no-no... DOH! spring loaded clip and glue is not a good mix. Salvaged with the use of 3 pop-rivets,
so it easily slipped on/off the end, permitting easy extraction of the lines. In fact I could just about fill the tube and just make 1 cut... still trying to figure out best way. The three I cut with my flush cut pliers, which didn't crimp the cut, for easier insertion into the trimmer head's holes.
Any tube cut to length will do, to compensate for the spring in the bent/coiled line and most people only having two hands.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I also hate the weed whacker line feeds, work of the devil.
You could go further and using your original jig, pack it full and cut to length at the band/table saw. Install a air hose coupler at the dowel and a shot of compressed air would liberate the strands. Being substantially longer they should be easier to police up around your shop that the short auto-cutoffs that put you down on your knees.
Thinking further, maybe a washer that fits into the tube, long screw through the washer to create a plunger. Shaft of the plunger through a hole in the dowel. When done cutting, push the plunger to expose an 24.5mm or so length to grab onto and pull the buggers out.
Some good tips. Mine ran out of line and I used a large zip tie, say 1/4" wide tightened around the drum. Worked like a champ until I could buy some new line.
You could go further and using your original jig, pack it full and cut to length at the band/table saw. Install a air hose coupler at the dowel and a shot of compressed air would liberate the strands. Being substantially longer they should be easier to police up around your shop that the short auto-cutoffs that put you down on your knees.
Thinking further, maybe a washer that fits into the tube, long screw through the washer to create a plunger. Shaft of the plunger through a hole in the dowel. When done cutting, push the plunger to expose an 24.5mm or so length to grab onto and pull the buggers out.
The thought crossed my mind till I saw the clips... I don't mind being creative but sometimes too much thought can eat (is that the right word?) into valuable drinking time.
Bazza's intro reminds me of a duck in a my spa.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Sadly Amazon does not have these, looks like a good idea. I ordered a different brand that looks the same. That's ok as I still have not forgiven Triton for the H.S. router that I bought from them and ended up in the landfill.
Didn't thing they were the same company... however, I guess that coy names must be copyrighted (or whatever).
Triton have gone through many changes and takeovers over the years with the quality of components on the ever decrease. Once George sold the business it was down hill all the way.
I've had their router for over 15 years and one of the most used item in the shop. It's mounted upside down in a tabletop with through top access to the colette by a hex key so I never get to see what it looks like lately underneath... but it seems to perform good as new... but then it had not-made-on-cheap-Chinese-production-line components.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I actually saw a Triton work center when I was in Sydney still going great guns. Pity Bunnings and GMC dragged them under with them. Ozzito another Australian Coy . Dick Smith Electronics also comes to mind.
