Re: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test
Hi all, I absolutely hate doing anykind of yard work but I do like the appearance of a well edged lawn. I remember, when I could still see, that a well-edged lawn always made a property look so much cleaner and appealing. Has anyone ever used a gas-powered lawn edger with any real success? Is there anykind of a technique one can use to edge along a sidewalk or driveway without damaging the edger by coming too close to the concrete or tar? Any help greatly appreciated. Take care, Ed At 03:29 PM 2/26/2007, you wrote: Hi All Lawn Edgers Are Put to the Test A well-groomed, head-turning lawn calls for more than just freshly mowed grass. Attention to detail goes a long way toward a lawn achieving a great look over a good look. Using an edger to clean up a lawn's perimeter enhances its overall appeal and neatness, resulting in garden edges and footpaths with a crisp and clean appearance. An edger is a different tool than a trimmer, although many modern units do feature interchangeable trimming and edging attachments. Whereas a trimmer's cutting ability relies on a rapidly rotating string positioned at the end of a shaft, edgers typically use a rigid rotating blade to ensure a straight, uniform cut. Although a trimmer can be used for edging applications, the edges tend to look rather scruffy, whereas a dedicated edging blade is designed specifically to achieve a beautiful, immaculate appearance. The first step to edging is thorough inspection of the area to be edged, removing all sticks, stones, wires or other foreign objects. Depending on the edger model, blade height may then need to be adjusted. Operating an edger is very similar to operating a trimmer. Generally speaking, position the edger upright and perpendicular to the ground and, while the engine is running, pull the throttle trigger to activate blade rotation. Allow the edger blades to reach maximum speed before lowering the cutting head into the lawn. This may take a second or two but will help ensure you begin with a clean, smooth cut. With the blade at full speed, ease the cutting head downward. As the cutting action begins, push the unit slowly forward so the blade cuts as you walk forward. If the blade jams or stops in the ground, retract the blade and begin again. If cutting on a concrete edge such as a sidewalk or driveway, rest the guide wheel of the cutting head on the hard edge of the surface you are cutting against. The guide wheel, a common feature of most dedicated edgers, helps guide the edger along the sidewalk, assisting with directional control. As the edger is pushed with a slow walk forward, cut a swath that lines the edge of the sidewalk. If grass growing over the concrete prevents seeing the edge of the sidewalk, tilt the edger slightly sideways so the blade tilts and kisses the concrete edge, acting as a guide. While edging, many models tend to kick back dirt and grass. A great deal of this debris often hits the operator's feet and ankles, so it's advisable to wear some tough work boots while edging. A variety of new edgers on the market offer a slew of new bells and whistles. Some manufacturers offer multiple-use units with the ability to operate as both trimmer and edger, or even other lawn tools. In the past, the drawbacks of some multi-use units have included increased tool weight and problems with balancing the edger perpendicular to the ground during use. If a lot of edging is to be done, it may be wise to invest in a single-use dedicated edger for easier handling. Nevertheless, new edger designs hit the market every year featuring enhanced maneuverability, greater design efficiency and more. From the small end of the equipment spectrum to the heavy-duty end, today's edgers come in many models to meet an array of needs. The YardStick American Gardener's lightweight and compact YardStick cordless electric trimmer/edger offers 24 volts of rechargeable power. The unit comes with a wall-mount charge rack to re-juice between jobs, comfortable grips and an adjustable handle. As a trimmer the YardStick offers surprisingly effective cutting power for an electric tool, efficiently chopping away freestanding grass and weeds. This two-in-one system's edging action comes in the form of a tilted string-trimmer head that doubles as the unit's plastic guide wheel. As an edger, the user twists the motor housing, which positions the cutting head perpendicular to the earth rather than horizontal for trimming. Place the guide wheel, which is constructed into the plastic spindle head of the trimmer, along the edge of a sidewalk and work the cutting string along the edge. For edging, this system's use of a string rather than a rigid blade may not be the most clean-cutting method, but should suffice for small yards and garden needs. Unlike most edgers, the design of the YardStick requires the user to stand to the side of the edging path and move the unit along laterally, making directional control slightly more
RE: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test
Ray Lets not get ahead of our selves now. I have to dig down through 18 iches of snow just to find my lawn. And when I do it is frozen solid. LOL But really thanks for the post I will put it in my BHM folder for when spring gets here. -Original Message- From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Boyce, Ray Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 2:29 PM To: blindhandyman@Yahoogroups.Com Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test Hi All Lawn Edgers Are Put to the Test A well-groomed, head-turning lawn calls for more than just freshly mowed grass. Attention to detail goes a long way toward a lawn achieving a great look over a good look. Using an edger to clean up a lawn's perimeter enhances its overall appeal and neatness, resulting in garden edges and footpaths with a crisp and clean appearance. An edger is a different tool than a trimmer, although many modern units do feature interchangeable trimming and edging attachments. Whereas a trimmer's cutting ability relies on a rapidly rotating string positioned at the end of a shaft, edgers typically use a rigid rotating blade to ensure a straight, uniform cut. Although a trimmer can be used for edging applications, the edges tend to look rather scruffy, whereas a dedicated edging blade is designed specifically to achieve a beautiful, immaculate appearance. The first step to edging is thorough inspection of the area to be edged, removing all sticks, stones, wires or other foreign objects. Depending on the edger model, blade height may then need to be adjusted. Operating an edger is very similar to operating a trimmer. Generally speaking, position the edger upright and perpendicular to the ground and, while the engine is running, pull the throttle trigger to activate blade rotation. Allow the edger blades to reach maximum speed before lowering the cutting head into the lawn. This may take a second or two but will help ensure you begin with a clean, smooth cut. With the blade at full speed, ease the cutting head downward. As the cutting action begins, push the unit slowly forward so the blade cuts as you walk forward. If the blade jams or stops in the ground, retract the blade and begin again. If cutting on a concrete edge such as a sidewalk or driveway, rest the guide wheel of the cutting head on the hard edge of the surface you are cutting against. The guide wheel, a common feature of most dedicated edgers, helps guide the edger along the sidewalk, assisting with directional control. As the edger is pushed with a slow walk forward, cut a swath that lines the edge of the sidewalk. If grass growing over the concrete prevents seeing the edge of the sidewalk, tilt the edger slightly sideways so the blade tilts and kisses the concrete edge, acting as a guide. While edging, many models tend to kick back dirt and grass. A great deal of this debris often hits the operator's feet and ankles, so it's advisable to wear some tough work boots while edging. A variety of new edgers on the market offer a slew of new bells and whistles. Some manufacturers offer multiple-use units with the ability to operate as both trimmer and edger, or even other lawn tools. In the past, the drawbacks of some multi-use units have included increased tool weight and problems with balancing the edger perpendicular to the ground during use. If a lot of edging is to be done, it may be wise to invest in a single-use dedicated edger for easier handling. Nevertheless, new edger designs hit the market every year featuring enhanced maneuverability, greater design efficiency and more. From the small end of the equipment spectrum to the heavy-duty end, today's edgers come in many models to meet an array of needs. The YardStick American Gardener's lightweight and compact YardStick cordless electric trimmer/edger offers 24 volts of rechargeable power. The unit comes with a wall-mount charge rack to re-juice between jobs, comfortable grips and an adjustable handle. As a trimmer the YardStick offers surprisingly effective cutting power for an electric tool, efficiently chopping away freestanding grass and weeds. This two-in-one system's edging action comes in the form of a tilted string-trimmer head that doubles as the unit's plastic guide wheel. As an edger, the user twists the motor housing, which positions the cutting head perpendicular to the earth rather than horizontal for trimming. Place the guide wheel, which is constructed into the plastic spindle head of the trimmer, along the edge of a sidewalk and work the cutting string along the edge. For edging, this system's use of a string rather than a rigid blade may not be the most clean-cutting method, but should suffice for small yards and garden needs. Unlike most edgers, the design of the YardStick requires the user to stand to the side of the edging path and move the unit along laterally, making directional control slightly more challenging than using a traditional, dedicated edger. Xtra Edger
Re: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test
I found a square shovel or a ice chopper works great and is a lot less expensive. Dale - Original Message - From: Boyce, Ray To: blindhandyman@Yahoogroups.Com Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 1:29 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test Hi All Lawn Edgers Are Put to the Test A well-groomed, head-turning lawn calls for more than just freshly mowed grass. Attention to detail goes a long way toward a lawn achieving a great look over a good look. Using an edger to clean up a lawn's perimeter enhances its overall appeal and neatness, resulting in garden edges and footpaths with a crisp and clean appearance. An edger is a different tool than a trimmer, although many modern units do feature interchangeable trimming and edging attachments. Whereas a trimmer's cutting ability relies on a rapidly rotating string positioned at the end of a shaft, edgers typically use a rigid rotating blade to ensure a straight, uniform cut. Although a trimmer can be used for edging applications, the edges tend to look rather scruffy, whereas a dedicated edging blade is designed specifically to achieve a beautiful, immaculate appearance. The first step to edging is thorough inspection of the area to be edged, removing all sticks, stones, wires or other foreign objects. Depending on the edger model, blade height may then need to be adjusted. Operating an edger is very similar to operating a trimmer. Generally speaking, position the edger upright and perpendicular to the ground and, while the engine is running, pull the throttle trigger to activate blade rotation. Allow the edger blades to reach maximum speed before lowering the cutting head into the lawn. This may take a second or two but will help ensure you begin with a clean, smooth cut. With the blade at full speed, ease the cutting head downward. As the cutting action begins, push the unit slowly forward so the blade cuts as you walk forward. If the blade jams or stops in the ground, retract the blade and begin again. If cutting on a concrete edge such as a sidewalk or driveway, rest the guide wheel of the cutting head on the hard edge of the surface you are cutting against. The guide wheel, a common feature of most dedicated edgers, helps guide the edger along the sidewalk, assisting with directional control. As the edger is pushed with a slow walk forward, cut a swath that lines the edge of the sidewalk. If grass growing over the concrete prevents seeing the edge of the sidewalk, tilt the edger slightly sideways so the blade tilts and kisses the concrete edge, acting as a guide. While edging, many models tend to kick back dirt and grass. A great deal of this debris often hits the operator's feet and ankles, so it's advisable to wear some tough work boots while edging. A variety of new edgers on the market offer a slew of new bells and whistles. Some manufacturers offer multiple-use units with the ability to operate as both trimmer and edger, or even other lawn tools. In the past, the drawbacks of some multi-use units have included increased tool weight and problems with balancing the edger perpendicular to the ground during use. If a lot of edging is to be done, it may be wise to invest in a single-use dedicated edger for easier handling. Nevertheless, new edger designs hit the market every year featuring enhanced maneuverability, greater design efficiency and more. From the small end of the equipment spectrum to the heavy-duty end, today's edgers come in many models to meet an array of needs. The YardStick American Gardener's lightweight and compact YardStick cordless electric trimmer/edger offers 24 volts of rechargeable power. The unit comes with a wall-mount charge rack to re-juice between jobs, comfortable grips and an adjustable handle. As a trimmer the YardStick offers surprisingly effective cutting power for an electric tool, efficiently chopping away freestanding grass and weeds. This two-in-one system's edging action comes in the form of a tilted string-trimmer head that doubles as the unit's plastic guide wheel. As an edger, the user twists the motor housing, which positions the cutting head perpendicular to the earth rather than horizontal for trimming. Place the guide wheel, which is constructed into the plastic spindle head of the trimmer, along the edge of a sidewalk and work the cutting string along the edge. For edging, this system's use of a string rather than a rigid blade may not be the most clean-cutting method, but should suffice for small yards and garden needs. Unlike most edgers, the design of the YardStick requires the user to stand to the side of the edging path and move the unit along laterally, making directional control slightly more challenging than using a traditional, dedicated edger. Xtra Edger For more
RE: [SPAM] Re: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test
I need to buy a manual edger, it has a rubber wheel on it and has a blade that cuts as you roll it. They work pretty well, I think they are about $25.00 or so. -Original Message- From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Dale Alton Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 7:23 PM To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Subject: [SPAM] Re: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test I found a square shovel or a ice chopper works great and is a lot less expensive. Dale - Original Message - From: Boyce, Ray To: blindhandyman@Yahoogroups.Com Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 1:29 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test Hi All Lawn Edgers Are Put to the Test A well-groomed, head-turning lawn calls for more than just freshly mowed grass. Attention to detail goes a long way toward a lawn achieving a great look over a good look. Using an edger to clean up a lawn's perimeter enhances its overall appeal and neatness, resulting in garden edges and footpaths with a crisp and clean appearance. An edger is a different tool than a trimmer, although many modern units do feature interchangeable trimming and edging attachments. Whereas a trimmer's cutting ability relies on a rapidly rotating string positioned at the end of a shaft, edgers typically use a rigid rotating blade to ensure a straight, uniform cut. Although a trimmer can be used for edging applications, the edges tend to look rather scruffy, whereas a dedicated edging blade is designed specifically to achieve a beautiful, immaculate appearance. The first step to edging is thorough inspection of the area to be edged, removing all sticks, stones, wires or other foreign objects. Depending on the edger model, blade height may then need to be adjusted. Operating an edger is very similar to operating a trimmer. Generally speaking, position the edger upright and perpendicular to the ground and, while the engine is running, pull the throttle trigger to activate blade rotation. Allow the edger blades to reach maximum speed before lowering the cutting head into the lawn. This may take a second or two but will help ensure you begin with a clean, smooth cut. With the blade at full speed, ease the cutting head downward. As the cutting action begins, push the unit slowly forward so the blade cuts as you walk forward. If the blade jams or stops in the ground, retract the blade and begin again. If cutting on a concrete edge such as a sidewalk or driveway, rest the guide wheel of the cutting head on the hard edge of the surface you are cutting against. The guide wheel, a common feature of most dedicated edgers, helps guide the edger along the sidewalk, assisting with directional control. As the edger is pushed with a slow walk forward, cut a swath that lines the edge of the sidewalk. If grass growing over the concrete prevents seeing the edge of the sidewalk, tilt the edger slightly sideways so the blade tilts and kisses the concrete edge, acting as a guide. While edging, many models tend to kick back dirt and grass. A great deal of this debris often hits the operator's feet and ankles, so it's advisable to wear some tough work boots while edging. A variety of new edgers on the market offer a slew of new bells and whistles. Some manufacturers offer multiple-use units with the ability to operate as both trimmer and edger, or even other lawn tools. In the past, the drawbacks of some multi-use units have included increased tool weight and problems with balancing the edger perpendicular to the ground during use. If a lot of edging is to be done, it may be wise to invest in a single-use dedicated edger for easier handling. Nevertheless, new edger designs hit the market every year featuring enhanced maneuverability, greater design efficiency and more. From the small end of the equipment spectrum to the heavy-duty end, today's edgers come in many models to meet an array of needs. The YardStick American Gardener's lightweight and compact YardStick cordless electric trimmer/edger offers 24 volts of rechargeable power. The unit comes with a wall-mount charge rack to re-juice between jobs, comfortable grips and an adjustable handle. As a trimmer the YardStick offers surprisingly effective cutting power for an electric tool, efficiently chopping away freestanding grass and weeds. This two-in-one system's edging action comes in the form of a tilted string-trimmer head that doubles as the unit's plastic guide wheel. As an edger, the user twists the motor housing, which positions the cutting head perpendicular to the earth rather than horizontal for trimming. Place the guide wheel, which is constructed into the plastic spindle head of the trimmer, along the edge of a sidewalk and work the cutting string along the edge. For edging, this system's use of a string rather than a rigid blade may not be the most clean-cutting method, but should suffice for small yards and garden needs. Unlike most edgers, the design of the YardStick
Re: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test
I think there is probably a little misunderstanding here. The lawn edger that Rae is talking about in that article is a grass cutter intended to cut close to the edges much as a string trimmer or so called weed eater or weed Wacker. The sort of edger you are thinking of is a cutter that cuts the sod to form a sharp edge to the lawn. Someone else speaks of it a little further down the list. I have a sort of cemi-circular sharpened plate with the top flat edge turned over on a handle you can step on and rock then move and rock to cut along the edge of a sidewalk or what ever. I have used it for things like cutting a narrow trench for sinking a hose to flower beds by laying out a board in the direction I want to go or even the hose then just running along it cutting down as deep as I can then, with an ice scraper I have which is quite a bit longer but flat across the cutting surface I deepen and pry the crack wider then lay the hose into the crack and tap it down with a scrap of plywood and a heavy mallet, not a 16 pounder though, just something to settle the hose into the bottom of the slit. Then I just walk it back and forth until the crack is about disappeared. After a few days you can't tell it was ever cut. Dale Leavens, Cochrane Ontario Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype DaleLeavens Come and meet Aurora, Nakita and Nanook at our polar bear habitat. - Original Message - From: Dale Alton [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 8:22 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test I found a square shovel or a ice chopper works great and is a lot less expensive. Dale - Original Message - From: Boyce, Ray To: blindhandyman@Yahoogroups.Com Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 1:29 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Lawn Edges Are Put To The Test Hi All Lawn Edgers Are Put to the Test A well-groomed, head-turning lawn calls for more than just freshly mowed grass. Attention to detail goes a long way toward a lawn achieving a great look over a good look. Using an edger to clean up a lawn's perimeter enhances its overall appeal and neatness, resulting in garden edges and footpaths with a crisp and clean appearance. An edger is a different tool than a trimmer, although many modern units do feature interchangeable trimming and edging attachments. Whereas a trimmer's cutting ability relies on a rapidly rotating string positioned at the end of a shaft, edgers typically use a rigid rotating blade to ensure a straight, uniform cut. Although a trimmer can be used for edging applications, the edges tend to look rather scruffy, whereas a dedicated edging blade is designed specifically to achieve a beautiful, immaculate appearance. The first step to edging is thorough inspection of the area to be edged, removing all sticks, stones, wires or other foreign objects. Depending on the edger model, blade height may then need to be adjusted. Operating an edger is very similar to operating a trimmer. Generally speaking, position the edger upright and perpendicular to the ground and, while the engine is running, pull the throttle trigger to activate blade rotation. Allow the edger blades to reach maximum speed before lowering the cutting head into the lawn. This may take a second or two but will help ensure you begin with a clean, smooth cut. With the blade at full speed, ease the cutting head downward. As the cutting action begins, push the unit slowly forward so the blade cuts as you walk forward. If the blade jams or stops in the ground, retract the blade and begin again. If cutting on a concrete edge such as a sidewalk or driveway, rest the guide wheel of the cutting head on the hard edge of the surface you are cutting against. The guide wheel, a common feature of most dedicated edgers, helps guide the edger along the sidewalk, assisting with directional control. As the edger is pushed with a slow walk forward, cut a swath that lines the edge of the sidewalk. If grass growing over the concrete prevents seeing the edge of the sidewalk, tilt the edger slightly sideways so the blade tilts and kisses the concrete edge, acting as a guide. While edging, many models tend to kick back dirt and grass. A great deal of this debris often hits the operator's feet and ankles, so it's advisable to wear some tough work boots while edging. A variety of new edgers on the market offer a slew of new bells and whistles. Some manufacturers offer multiple-use units with the ability to operate as both trimmer and edger, or even other lawn tools. In the past, the drawbacks of some multi-use units have included increased tool weight and problems with balancing the edger perpendicular to the ground during use. If a lot of edging is to be done, it may be wise to invest in a single-use dedicated edger for easier handling
