The First Weed Trimmers

Trimmer Genesis

• Ballas made his first fortune in the dance instruction business managing several franchised dance studios and his own Houston dance instruction operation. His palatial home had three acres of lawn that needed constant trimming by a landscaping staff. His search for an alternative to time- and labor-intensive shears gained urgency when a yard worker was hospitalized after being bitten by a poisonous copperhead snake. He got the idea for the string trimmer while in a car wash watching the rotating bristle brushes that scrubbed off dirt without scratching the finish.

First Prototype

• After Ballas' tin-can-and-wire prototype proved itself to his satisfaction, he hired an engineer to design a safer model using spooled monofilament fishing line instead of wire and with an integrated motor that would be lighter and easier to handle. He dubbed it the Weed Eater, patented the device and sought a manufacturer but found no interest among lawn equipment makers or anyone else.

Sold It Himself

• He decided to sell the device himself, formed Weed Eater Inc. and launched a high-visibility TV ad campaign that included Super Bowl spots. By 1976, his company was selling $40 million worth of gas and electric Weed Eaters annually. Other manufacturers noticed, found ways around Ballas' patents and flooded the market with their own string trimmer versions. Ballas sold Weed Eater in 1977 and went on to other things. The brand is still in production, made by Husqvarna Outdoor Products.

Selecting a Trimmer

• The basic design of the string trimmer hasn't changed much since the first commercial models, but there have been refinements such as better debris shields, tap-n-go line feed and improved trimmer line. There are three basic types of string trimmer --- corded electric, gas and cordless electric. Corded electric trimmers are lightweight and inexpensive with motors at the base of the shaft, just above the cutting line. Their big drawback is the extension cord. Gas trimmers have their engines at the head of the shaft, and are the most powerful string trimmers. They're the preferred choice for maintaining large lawns because they can be taken wherever needed. Cordless electric trimmers run on rechargeable batteries. They are lightweight and moderately powerful but limited in run time so they are best suited to small yards.