String trimmers - how do I deal with the vibration?

[poltroon]

This year I bought myself a spiff cordless electric string trimmer to help ensure I am able to do brush clearance in smaller batches and maybe later in the season than I can with the gas trimmer. I like it a lot. I have a harness for it so the weight is distributed over my body and I’m not lifting it with my arms, only guiding it. However, even after the 40 minutes or so, my arms and hands end up feeling rather jangly from the vibration. The net effect is that I feel like I can’t do any fine motor tasks for the rest of the day - though truly it seems I can still do them, just that it feels weird. Since my life is fine motor tasks, this has kept me from doing it as often as I would otherwise like.

Am I doing it wrong? are there maybe padded gloves I can buy that would help with this?

[clanter]

ask your husband to use it?

is this string trimmer one that has two strings from the head? … if it is not a inexpensive unit I might be tempted to add a couple of screws to the head that weigh about the same as the cutting string 90 degrees to the strings to act as a harmonic balancer

or try one of those four sting head trimmers

(maybe get a goat or sheep?)

[Bluey]

@poltroon

This year I bought myself a spiff cordless electric string trimmer to help ensure I am able to do brush clearance in smaller batches and maybe later in the season than I can with the gas trimmer. I like it a lot. I have a harness for it so the weight is distributed over my body and I’m not lifting it with my arms, only guiding it. However, even after the 40 minutes or so, my arms and hands end up feeling rather jangly from the vibration. The net effect is that I feel like I can’t do any fine motor tasks for the rest of the day - though truly it seems I can still do them, just that it feels weird. Since my life is fine motor tasks, this has kept me from doing it as often as I would otherwise like.

Am I doing it wrong? are there maybe padded gloves I can buy that would help with this?

I would not keep using it if it causes you to feel the vibration doing harm.

That is not good, you can end with damage from even just a little of that over time.

[Simkie]

Are you using gloves at all? That might help?

One of those heads that has hard plastic wings instead of string might also be worth a shot?

I trimmer very little but brush cutter more than I’d prefer (a LOT) and do not feel it in my hands or fine motor skills. Trying to remember…I think the brush cutter has some vibration dampening springs in it? It’s one of those dealies with the swappable head. You may need a tool that’s more “pro” instead of “trimming along the sidewalk”… which is probably going to be gas, with a $$$ pricetag.

Eta, I use one of these:

https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Pr…eries/PAS-2620

And it has:

Engine vibration reducing mounting absorbs engine vibration

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹
Does your trimmer have anything to address vibration?

[goodhors]

You might take trimmer in for a checkup, perhaps something has come loose or the head is off balance, causing severe vibration. Do you have padded gloves? Is there any padding on the places you use to guide the cutting? Those will help. My trimmer is older, has foam padding where I hold on, which dampens any vibration a lot. You can probably purchase such foam and add it to your machine. Mine is not really thick but it is dense. I have seen such foam sold as handle padding for a push lawn mower, made to reduce vibration.

[poltroon]

@clanter

ask your husband to use it?

Um, how does that help? His body is valuable too!

(maybe get a goat or sheep?)

Got lots of them! But, they don’t eat well next to the road and if you include the house in their enclosure they will chew on it. So I exclude all buildings from their range, except the ones that hold them.

[poltroon]

@goodhors

You might take trimmer in for a checkup, perhaps something has come loose or the head is off balance, causing severe vibration. Do you have padded gloves? Is there any padding on the places you use to guide the cutting? Those will help. My trimmer is older, has foam padding where I hold on, which dampens any vibration a lot. You can probably purchase such foam and add it to your machine. Mine is not really thick but it is dense. I have seen such foam sold as handle padding for a push lawn mower, made to reduce vibration.

I am using deerskin gloves. So yes, but they don’t have any kind of padding, protective only. There’s no foam on the machine, but that’s a good idea to add some, and it could be thicker than the gloves could be.

It’s a new trimmer and it doesn’t feel out of balance at all. It actually feels great when I use it. It just doesn’t feel great when I stop.

[poltroon]

We do also have a very nice gas-powered Stihl but it’s much heavier and much more front loaded time to use - that is, it’s not something you can just take out on a quick whim. The electric trimmer is just grab and go, which is why I like it so much for the small jobs.

It needs to be a string trimmer because I am using it in situations where fire is a danger. We have the Stihl set up with metal blades most of the time which is awesome for the omnipresent blackberries and thicker material but not safe to use on dry material once fire season is upon us. Which is now, apparently, June.

[clanter]

@poltroon

It’s a new trimmer and it doesn’t feel out of balance at all. It actually feels great when I use it. It just doesn’t feel great when I stop.

is the electric motor on the power-head or at the grip? if at the grip there is cable that runs through the metal housing to the power-head… it may be the cable that is causing the minor vibration

if the electric motor in on the power head then add cushioning to the handle

or get motorcycle riding gloves… they have a damping layer to absorb vibrations (please note getting a tattoo is completely optional)

https://olympiagloves.com/gel-motorcycle-gloves-7-tips-to-combat-vibration/

[clanter]

search for Motorcycle Riding Gloves… those have a layer of materiel specifically to absorb vibrations

Motorcycle engines and handlebars produce powerful vibrations when driving down the highway.

This ‘buzzing’ can often become intensified during long distance rides, when hand, wrist and forearm muscles experience tiredness from long periods on the throttle.

Gel motorcycle gloves are one of the primary defenses in the fight against hand fatigue, and aid in preventing injury.

They are designed to reduce vibration, decrease numbness and tingling, as well as prevent several conditions that plague riders, including Carpal Tunnel and Guyon’s Canal syndromes. more

unable to link source as the post becomes unapproved

[clanter]

post was unapproved… but search for Motorcycle Riding Gloves… those have a layer of materiel specifically to absorb vibrations

[B]Gel motorcycle gloves

cannot link source or any cut from the source as post become unapproved [/B]

[rememberthenight]

Yes. I haven t found a string trimmer that won’t vibrate back through the handle. Nature of the beast. If it really bothers you, try only doing 20 mins. I find it gives me a bit of shoulder and hand tremors for a bit afterwards, but that is going to happen with any muscle memory. Kinda like sea legs.

I think I have seen trimmers on wheels, but they still are going to vibrate. Energy has to be passed on.

[Jarpur]

Orthopedic MD (hand specialist) recommended cycling gloves, which ran about $30.

[2DogsFarm]

What worked for me was to get a cheapass cordless trimmer that has 30min battery life. And no backup battery.

Still vibrates, but after 30min, no lingering numbness.

I realize it limits your ability to complete a trim job, but I live with getting trimming done in 30min increments.

[Jarpur]

@2DogsFarm

What worked for me was to get a cheapass cordless trimmer that has 30min battery life. And no backup battery.

Still vibrates, but after 30min, no lingering numbness.

I realize it limits your ability to complete a trim job, but I live with getting trimming done in 30min increments.

I did this, too, and it helps. I also pace myself – don’t do too much in one day (because my natural inclination is to get it all done) – make sure I practice piano before trimming, etc.

[Simkie]

There are quite a few anti vibration gloves out there, but it really might be worth trying a string head on the Stihl to see if that’s any better. Know it’s heavier and harder to get out, but it’s more likely to be designed as a pro piece of equipment, for people who use it all day, so will have features to really limit the amount of vibration up to the user.

I wonder how the battery powered Stihl stuff is on this issue…?

[Guilherme]

If the trimmer is working as advertised then you might try some different gloves. Google vibration absorbing gloves and you’ll get a bunch of alternatives.

But, the truth is that weed whackers vibrate, some more than others. It’s the nature of the beast.

G.

[poltroon]

Oh yes! There is even an ANSI standard for this kind of glove! Thanks y’all, I will buy one and report back. A little grumpy that my dealer had a whole display of brand-matched gloves to use with power equipment and nothing like this.

[Jarpur]

My problem is that I have quite small hands, and I was unable to find anti-vibration gloves in my size locally. Small women do outdoor work, too!

[poltroon]

@Jarpur

My problem is that I have quite small hands, and I was unable to find anti-vibration gloves in my size locally. Small women do outdoor work, too!

I found smalls on Amazon! Admittedly they’ll be men’s smalls but they might work.

I’m going to try these and they come in small: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GV637B2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1R6S57DRSURU0&psc=1