2-cycle engines are actually quite bad for the environment, and hopefully your at this section of gardenweb because you care about these sorts of things.

Only last month I found an electric trimmer in a dumpster, it works, and I trim once and a while now.

I would suggest getting an electric or a battery powered trimmer. Don't be fooled, they can be quite powerful.

No, I am not above dumpster diving. Amazing what people throw out!

I use the Toro electric trimmer and love it. The power is excellent, and I'm not breathing noxious fumes the entire time I'm using it. I have the advantage of also knowing that 17% of the power I'm using is renewable, and that is rising slowly.

Vintageways above is correct--two-stroke engines are lousy, although they have improved considerably since your grandfather's lawnmower.