Unfortunately this happens more often than you think. The snow blower you didn’t need to use last winter but never “summerized”. The chainsaw that cut up storm damaged branches back in 2007. The full gas can that ended up behind an old lawn chair…well, it’s gas, right? At over $3 per gallon, you don’t want to waste it, right?

Wrong. Unless you took precautions and verified the gas you thought you had was still gasoline, you might be in for a rude awakening. Here’s why: gasoline is a highly refined petroleum product, and the reason it works as fuel is due in large part to its ability for combustion. Certain chemical characteristics cause an elevated volatility. This volatility is why the fuel can burn efficiently enough to provide the energy needed to move a car or cut your lawn. Changes in the gasoline occur if stored for extended periods. Evaporation will reduce volatility. The gas is still usable but not as efficient. I see this daily with my own gas cans on hot days. Evaporation tries to take place as the cans warm up. When this happens the can will swell. My solution is a quality gas can and cooling the cans as soon as possible. Try not to vent the pressure but move the can to a cooler location. If it’s really swollen you have to vent it, trust me here.  Unless you sit your gas can in the sun, or run a lawn service and have fuel cans on the trailer or truck all day, this will probably never become a real issue. Remember, with cheaper gas cans evaporation will happen anyway and you will lose volatility in your fuel.

The biggest problem an average person will have is the oxidation of your fuel. Oxidation occurs as the fuel ages and is exposed to the air. Again, a cheap fuel can or leaving gas sit in a machine for months to years will allow this process to take place. Certain chemicals (hydrocarbons) react with oxygen, and create new chemical compounds. This leads to gum and varnish buildup in the fuel system. Enough buildup can and will clog filters, lines and important fuel passages to the point where your machine will not run. The easiest way to determine if your gas has oxidized is by smell. Remove the gas cap from your machine or can and take a small sniff. If it smells like gas, you’re probably fine. If it doesn’t smell like gas or has a sour smell (like furniture varnish), you have oxidation taking place and the machine or gas can now needs to be cleaned. To be certain you can pour a small amount of gas into a glass jar. Fresh gasoline is almost clear…dark, cloudy or dirty gas should not be used.

If caught soon enough, just draining the now bad gas from your machine and gas can will solve the problem. Add fresh gas and dispose of the bad stuff properly. In St. Louis County there are several chemical drop off events each year. Contact your local municipality to find out where you can take old gasoline.

If allowed to sit long enough the gas will form deposits that will interfere with the operation of your machine. Eventually a sludge solid will form and cleaning becomes a massive project. If you are handy and experienced with some small engine repair, cleaning your fuel tank, lines and carburetor will be a snap. If you’re not, find a professional like me to handle this for you. The best way to avoid a problem is to simply run your machine dry before any long term storage. You can also plan ahead and use a fuel stabilizer in your gas can. Follow the directions and treat a full can of gas in September as the mowing season starts to wind down. You should also consider replacing the gas in your gas can every 3 months or so if you store it. Empty your cans of regular gas into the fuel tank of your car and refill as needed. With prices as they are, waste as little as possible!

One more thing to consider is moisture getting into your stored gas. Old gas cans, metal cans and any gas can or gas powered tool (chainsaw, blower, hedge trimmer, etc.) that sits on a concrete floor can form condensation. Temperature differences between the air of your garage and the concrete floor are the main culprit. Store your gas cans and small outdoor power tools on a shelf or piece of lumber, not directly on the floor. A product like Heet can be added to your gas can if you think water has contaminated things. Follow the directions on the bottle.

A few simple guidelines can save you time, money and hopefully keep your good gas from going bad!

Gas vs electric, 2 stroke vs 4 stroke or corded vs cordless vs battery pack. Straight vs curved and “bump n go” vs whip sticks. So many options and they are all legitimate. This guide will show the pros and cons of each major type of string trimmer and hopefully provide you with enough info to purchase the one you need.

The string trimmer is a garden tool used for trimming areas the mower can’t go and as such this tool needs to be able to perform certain tasks. The best way to make any job easier is to have the right tool on hand to begin with. The first thing you need to determine is how much trimming will you actually do? Do you have a large yard with lots of trimming and edging or a small yard with only one tree and mailbox post to worry about? Home owners who have small yards or minor trimming needs might want to consider an electric trimmer. The three primary options are corded, cordless and battery pack powered.

Corded trimmers: Pros are very lightweight, lowest cost, unlimited use time and plenty of power. Cons are dragging an extension cord around and needing a place to plug that extension cord into. The usability of this trimmer is dependent on a cord and outlet. If you have a small yard or minor trimming needs, this is a good option.

Cordless trimmers: Pros are rechargeable, fairly lightweight, decent use time, reasonable cost and decent power. Cons are having to stop trimming when battery needs recharge, steady drop in power as you use it and faster discharge of battery when under greater load. If you have heavier brush to trim, you will use the battery charge faster.

Battery pack trimmers: Pros are having more than one battery to use at a time and a faster recharge rate in general. If you had 3 batteries you could trim a very large yard. The new 18 volt trimmers look promising and could be a good tool for the average homeowner. Cons are cost and still needing to recharge. Having an entire set of outdoor tools that share batteries is a nice idea but battery packs can only be recharged so many times. The more you recharge, the shorter the life of your tools. Again, if your need is small this is a great option.

Gasoline trimmers are on the other side of the coin. Powerful and can run for as long as you have gasoline, one tank can last longer than a battery charge. The main factor when shopping for a gas powered trimmer is engine size (displacement) measured generally in “cc” or cubic centimeters. Don’t get caught up in marketing hype or bright colors on the packaging. Find out how big the engine is first. Size matters…so does fuel type. The main players in the gas powered trimmer market will be either 2 stroke, needing a fuel mix of gas and oil, or 4 stroke, using gas straight from the gas pump and a separate oil reservoir, like your car.

2 Stroke trimmers: Pros are having the most power with the smallest size and weight. A 20cc engine will handle anything a home owner can throw at it.  Fewer working parts, easy maintenance and having a great reputation as being the best choice in professional small outdoor power equipment. As a landscaper I prefer the superior power to weight ratio and reliability of a 2 stroke engine, being roughly twice as powerful as a similar sized 4 Stroke. Cons are needing a fuel mix of gas and oil. If you accidentally run a 2 stroke engine with regular pump gas you will ruin it. Replacement is the only option unless you happen to be a small engine mechanic yourself. There is a slight risk of more pollution but newer machines and properly tuned machines reduce or eliminate this risk.

4 Stroke trimmers: Pros are needing only gas straight from the pump and easier starting when temps are chilly. A 28cc engine is fairly standard in the box stores and will handle most jobs without bogging down.  Less emissions in general and less heat buildup. More quiet on average and built to be as flexible as a homeowner needs. Cons are lower power but more weight, more working parts can mean bigger repair bills and needing separate gas and oil doesn’t save any time over 2 stroke. I own and use a 4 stroke trimmer with my business as well and it does the jobs I need it to do. The average homeowner would get a lot of use from a 4 stroke trimmer.

Trim heads: spools of line vs whip sticks. Spool trimmers have several feet of string trimming line wound around a spool. Most designs allow the user to bump the head on the ground and dispense more line as needed. Hitting objects such as rocks or fence posts will shred your line faster than just cutting weeds. Go slow and learn to use your machine. Speed load trim heads use 8 to 10 inch lengths of heavier gauge trim line also known as whip sticks. Instead of relying on a spool of line you insert the whip stick lengths whenever new line is needed. The advantage of this system is the line is heavier than traditional string trim line and loading the trim head is much faster than reloading a spool head. The down side is needing to load often, sometimes before starting each job…sometimes more than once during each job. This type of trimmer head is a good option for smaller yards.

The last major option is having either a curved or straight shaft. A curved shaft places the trimmer head closer to your body but allows someone who isn’t very experienced with string trimmers to have more consistently level cuts. I like using a curved shaft for most standard trimming applications. A straight shaft puts the trimmer head further away from your body and takes a little more experience to be consistent in your cut. The benefit comes in reach, speed of use and makes the job of edging much easier.

There are many additional attachments to use with your string trimmer, each dealing with a specific job such as cutting dense brush or using a saw head to cut small trees and other woody growth. Some brands are multi tools and the engine can be attached to everything from a pole pruned to a leaf blower.

In all, the string trimmer is a very versatile tool with a wide selection to suit home owners and professionals alike. Determine the requirements of the property you maintain in order to purchase the right string trimmer.

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have regarding any outdoor tool. I am an OPE Certified Mechanic and would be glad to help!

Remember, have a garden question? Just ask My Garden Guy!