What To Do With Old Weed Eater? (Do These Things!)
Landscaping tools evolve quickly, and weed eaters are some of the best time-saving investments for taking care of your yard. That old weed eater in your garage served you well, but it’s time for an upgrade. You might be curious about what to do with your old weed eater.
Use an old weed eater for spare parts. Sell the weed eater or parts through an online marketplace. Take it to a local salvage yard, or recycle it. Use the motor for your scooter, bicycle, boat, remote-controlled airplane or car, or your blender. Donate an old weed eater to a non-profit organization.
Old weed eaters still have some value. Here are some ideas for what to do with an old weed eater.
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Can I Throw Away an Old Weed Eater?
Old weed eaters can be disposed of in the trash. Check with your local sanitation department for any specific guidelines. There may be certain days when gardening equipment can be left for the garbage truck. You may need to take it to the landfill yourself.
Before you dispose of the old weed eater, remove the battery and gasoline. Take the battery and gasoline to the hazardous waste area in your local community.
How to Empty Gas from an Old Weed Eater
Make sure that your weed eater is cooled down before removing the gasoline. Lay the old weed eater on its side, and clean the area around the gas cap. Pull off the boot for the spark plugs. This is to prevent the weed eater from accidently starting while you are removing the gas.
Put a container under the gas fill opening. Place the metal end of a siphon tube into the gas tank and the other end in the container. Move the metal end of the siphon tube up and down inside the gas tank. Use a good amount of energy and force, but not enough to splash gasoline from the tank. This creates the pressure that is needed to siphon the gas.
If the gas mixture does not flow out of the tank, keep moving the siphon tube up and down. Do not try to suck the gas out of the tank.
Once the gas tank of your old weed eater is empty, pour the gas from the container into a plastic gas can.
How to Dispose of Stale Gasoline
Gasoline does not last forever. It goes stale after about 3 to 6 months. After that, it is less combustible and should not be used in vehicles. You can mix stale gasoline with new gasoline in your lawn equipment, but the performance may suffer. Stale gasoline cannot be recycled.
Rather than dispose of stale gasoline, you can use it for some of your DIY projects. Store it in a clearly marked gas container. Old gasoline is great for a lot of projects around the house.
- Loosening bolts
- Removing grease and grime from metal and wood surfaces
- Camping lanterns that use unleaded gasoline
- Concrete removal
- Paint thinner
Always work with old gasoline outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Even though the gasoline is old, it still produces dangerous fumes. Wear a mask and safety glasses.
Also, check with your local oil change shop, construction company, or marina. They use old, stale gasoline on a daily basis.
Keep Spare Parts from an Old Weed Eater
Like any machine, old weed eaters are full of spare parts that will come in handy one day. From nuts, bolts, and screws, to the filament that whacks your weeds. Remove as many of the parts as you can. Store them in your garage or work area.
How to Sell an Old Weed Eater Online
Believe it or not, there are people who are scouring online marketplaces for old, “vintage” weed eaters. People who are on the lookout for these machines appreciate the compact size and simplicity of the design. Clean up the weed eater, and take good photos from several angles. Also, include details about the physical and operational condition.
How to Scrap a Weed Eater
Salvage yards are always happy to bring in old lawn equipment. There’s always a customer who is looking for a part that is no longer available through the manufacturer. Check with your local salvage yard to find out if they have any requirements for scrapping old weed eaters.
How to Recycle an Old Weed Eater
Not all, but many of the parts of an old weed eater can be recycled, such as the metal and plastic. Contact your local recycling center to see what they can use from your old weed eater. Clean the weed eater first. Grass, gas, and oil interferes with the recycling process, and the weed eater may be rejected by the recycling center.
Upcycle an Old Weed Eater Engine
Definitely hold onto the engine from your old weed eater. These mini powerhouses can be upcycled and repurposed in a lot of fun and functional ways. Here’s what you can do with converted weed eater engines.
Motorize a Bicycle or Scooter
With a new sprocket and engine mounting kit, you can add an old weed eater engine to your bicycle. How does it work? The chain is mounted on the engine sprocket and wheel sprocket. The accelerator is mounted on the handlebars.
Add It to a Model Airplane or Car
Sure, you can buy an RC engine for your plane or car, but what fun is that? An old weed eater engine gives you some pretty good power, and an interesting DIY project for the weekend.
Mount It on Your Boat
Old weed eater engines are perfect for making trolling engines. All you need to do is swap out a few parts, and mount it on the boat. Lightweight and no complicated connections. A good weed eater gas engine can push up to 1,000 pounds.
Supercharge Your Blender
Be the life of the party with a supercharged blender, thanks to your old weed eater. Attach a shaft to the engine to spin the blade of the blender. You can get up to 40,000 rpm with this handy little trick. Make sure to use your supercharged blender outside. There will be fumes and noise, but it’s a lot of fun at parties.
How to Donate a Weed Eater
If your old weed eater still works, donate it. You still want to remove any of the gasoline before handing it over. Non-profit organizations are always looking for donations. They may not be able to sell or auction an old weed eater, but it would help with their landscaping. You could even offer to volunteer some of your time. Thrift shops are another place to donate an old weed eater.
Related Questions
Can you use old gas in a weed eater?
You can use old gas in a weed eater. Run the weed eater until the tank is about half full. Mix in the old gasoline.
How do I dispose of an old leaf blower or chainsaw?
Check with your local recycling centers and salvage yards to find out if they accept old lawn equipment. Empty the gasoline, and remove the battery before you scrap it. Old leaf blower and chainsaw engines can be repurposed.
How do I find parts for my old weed eater?
The best place to start for spare parts is the manufacturer. Your local hardware or home improvement store may have what you need. If parts for your weed eater are no longer available through retail outlets, check online marketplaces. People may have old weed eaters that they are willing to part out or sell outright.
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Conclusion
With a little extra clean up and some DIY creativity, you can give your old weed eater a new life. Keeping spare parts lets you manage those unexpected repairs around the house. Salvage yards, recycling centers, thrift shops, and non-profit organizations may be willing to take your old weed eater. Of course, you can also have a little fun and repurpose that weed eater engine. With so many options, throwing out your old weed eater should be the last thing on your mind.
Jennifer L. Eggerton loves being hands-on, whether it's with a home DIY project, making repairs, re-decorating a room, or keeping life organized. She enjoys helping people by sharing her knowledge, insights, and experiences, as well as her lessons learned. In addition to her work as a writer, Jennifer is a Jeep® overlander, self-published author, and nature photographer who loves being outdoors.
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