One of the great inventions of modern times is the string trimmer – better known as the weedeater. (Like kleenex and band-aid, I've stopped capitalizing it.)

For a long time, I owned two. One, which I bought more than 20 years ago, is powered by a two-stroke engine, which operates about three inches from my right ear. It requires me to mix oil with the gas before putting the gas in the engine. Then I have to pull the starting rope multiple times before it fires up. It used to start on the second or third pull, but, like many of us, it's become more cantankerous with age.

My second weedeat...