Once you have worked your way through all the latest lawnmower reviews, you will find that all of them leave areas of your garden uncut. You have the hard to reach areas where your mowers can’t reach, yet it makes your yard an eyesore.
One of the best tools for the job to tackle these areas around trees, stumps, fence posts and more are trimmers. However, if you look at a top-rated weed trimmer review, you’ll see there are different types.
While there used to be just a straight shaft trimmer, there are now curved shaft trimmers.
Luckily, here you can see what the difference is between straight and curved shaft trimmers to cut your search down by half. By the end, you’ll know which type is the best for you and your garden.
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What is the Difference Between Straight and Curved Shaft Trimmers?
You will find that a straight shaft trimmer and a curved shaft trimmer can both cut weeds equally as well in some situations.
However, with curved shaft trimmers, you find these are often shorter and lighter. With this, you find you have copious amounts of control.
One significant difference is that you do lose some flexibility when using curved trimmers because a straight trimmer can reach into a tight area and the related posts of the fence or other objects you can’t get to the other side of.
What is a Benefit of Curved Shaft Trimmers?
When you begin looking for benefits of using a curved shaft trimmer, you ought to check out the pros and cons of each. Much of this you will do anyway when reading string trimmers buying guides.
Here are some quick overviews of the plusses and minuses of each type of weed trimmers.
Curved Shaft Trimmers
One reason these trimmers came about are many homes are arriving with smaller hards and gardens. Affordability brought about these convenient weed control machines.
Pros
- Affordable – You will find these are most often the cheaper options, yet they can perform nearly every function a straight shaft trimmer can do.
- Maneuverable while lightweight – Because these are smaller, they tend to be much lighter and you can maneuver them much more relaxed.
- Great for light work – If you have a small yard, then you may find these much more suited. For quick jobs, you have them out and away in hardly any time at all.
Cons
- On the small side – Curved trimmers are set lengths, so tall users may find they need to stoop in use.
- No Blades – You can’t use blades on a curved trimmer
Straight Trimmers
If you have large areas around shrubs and bushes, you may find a straight trimmer more your thing.
Pros
- Powerful – A straight trimmer delivers more power than curved for heavy-duty trimming. You may find many models of gas straight shaft trimmer.
- Vibrations – because these tend to be heavier, vibrations are dampened in comparison. As an addition, this makes them more durable.
- Flexible – you can find some models allow you to change heads. one minute you have string trimmers, and then you are suing blades
Cons
- More Expensive – Of the two types, these are generally more expensive
- Cumbersome – While they are suited to taller people with the extra length, they can be hard work for smaller individuals. Some models may even incorporate shoulder straps to help cope with the excess weight.
How Does a Curved Shaft Trimmer Work?
Inside the driveshaft, you will find a drive cable, which provides a direct connection between the power source and to the trimmer head with no gearbox. The drive cable is made from a flexible plastic, which enables it to adapt to the curve of the shaft.
This shaft connects the power source at the upper end of the string trimmer and can be either an electric motor (in most cases) or a gas-powered garden tool, and connects to the spinning head for cutting at the bottom.
You will probably consider many factors when you purchase a curved string trimmer:
- The amount of power the motor will deliver
- The weight of the trimmer
- How comfortable they are to use in the operation
- How much the trimmer costs
Is straight or curved shaft trimmer better?
When you are looking at, which is better, straight or curved shaft trimmer? Much of this decision comes down to the best use and reach you need from your trimmer.
Straight shaft string trimmers make lots of sense for individuals who need functional and durable options.
For instance, if you were a professional picking up your trimmer countless times per day, then you would benefit from increased durability and power from a straight shaft trimmer.
Add to this; there is the extended reach that allows you to trim well away from where you stand.
As an aside, taller people don’t have to bend as they do with a curved trimmer, so backache can be a thing they don’t encounter.
Lastly, there is the added functionally with a straight shaft weed eater, with various attachments. On straight shaft trimmers, these can open up the trimmers for countless applications.
As you can see with this kind of weed eater, straight shaft offers many benefits. However, it doesn’t mean they win right away in the straight vs curved trimmer battle.
The way curved trimmers direct the power (downward), you can see easier and control the trimmer better as the cutting head is closer. When trimming around flowerbeds or trees, you have much more control compared to a cutting head that can be several feet from where you are.
You also find you can control curved vs straight trimmer easier because of the overall weight and the weight distribution. Lighter shafts do equate to lighter machines to carry.
The major downside of curved vs straight trimmer is that they aren’t the best choice for extended use. The extra wear on the cable means they lack durability.
There is one final difference, yet it isn’t something that can make one option better than another can. The cables on curved string trimmers run in a clockwise motion while straight shaft trimmer blades are designed for counter-clockwise operation, hence one of the reasons you can’t use blades.
When looking for a straight trimmer vs curved shaft string trimmer. Forget the drive cable and look at what you need the trimmer for and how long you can expect to use it around your garden.
There is no right or wrong in the battle for straight shaft vs curved shaft string trimmer. You may find you have use for both to care for your lawn and garden.
