I was introduced to @chrisgarage78’s TikTok video where he replaced weed eater string trimmer line with cable ties, and I was initially skeptical. String trimmer line, and string trimmers in general, can be frustrating to use. So, any idea that challenges the traditional string trimmer paradigm is worth exploring. Could this be another genius home and garage zip tie hack to add to the list?
The failure rate of trimmer line is frustrating, especially when dealing with tougher surfaces like concrete and wire fences. Constantly replacing trimmer line due to it breaking easily can be a hassle. The idea of using cable ties as an alternative is intriguing.
Setting up a fair fight between the trimmer and the trimmed
I decided to test this hack by comparing the strength and durability of cable ties to trimmer line. I purchased a pack of Hyper Tough cable ties with a tensile strength of 75 pounds per foot to see how they would fare against common .095-inch trimmer line. My goal was to see how well cable ties could perform in practical trimming tasks.
Using a gas-powered trimmer, I conducted various trimming tasks to compare the performance of cable ties against trimmer line.
Game day: testing string trimmer line against cable ties
I tested four brands of .095-inch trimmer line against Hyper Tough cable ties in different colors for various tasks. The experiment involved cutting grass, trimming against a fence, and cutting against concrete surfaces. The results showed that cable ties did not perform as well as trimmer line in these tasks.
A waste of (otherwise) perfectly good cable ties
The attempt to use cable ties as a replacement for trimmer line was unsuccessful. Cable ties lack the flexibility and durability needed for effective trimming tasks. While more expensive cable ties might perform better, the cost outweighs the benefits compared to standard trimmer line. It’s better to stick with trimmer line for a more efficient and less frustrating trimming experience.
