Black & Decker AFS Replacement Spool .065" (3pk)

Why I keep a three-pack of AF-100 spools on the shelf

Swapping trimmer line used to be the part of yard work I dreaded—fiddly rewinding, kinks, and the inevitable bird’s nest at the worst possible moment. After a season of mowing and weekly cleanups, I’ve settled into a low-friction routine built around prewound AF-100 spools. They’re 0.065-inch line on a drop-in spool designed for Black & Decker’s auto-feed system, and they’ve turned a small but persistent hassle into a non-event.

Setup and compatibility

Installation is genuinely simple: pop the cap, drop in the spool, feed the line ends through the eyelets, and click the cap back on. No bumping, no threading through a complicated head. There’s no assembly required, and that’s the point—you’re buying back time and patience.

These spools fit a wide range of Black & Decker trimmers using the AFS auto-feed head, including many corded GH and ST models and popular cordless units like the LST220, LST300/400/420, and LST136. I’ve run them primarily in an LST-series 20V trimmer and a corded GH model. If you own one of the combo mower/trimmer tools (MTC220/MTE912) or legacy NST/NST1118/NST2118 units, they’re compatible there too. If your trimmer’s manual calls for AF-100, you’re set. If it doesn’t, don’t force it—auto-feed relies on a precise fit.

A quick fit tip: check that the spool bottoms out on the hub and the cap spring has free travel. If the spool feels tight or doesn’t rotate smoothly by hand with the cap on, remove it and verify you’ve seated the spool fully; bits of grass packed inside the head can also cause binding.

Performance and auto-feed behavior

Auto-feed is only as good as the line lay and spool geometry. With these spools, line advancement has been predictable: a short advance on startup and small increments as the line shortens during use. That consistency is what separates a stress-free trim from an exercise in frustration.

In practice, I mow first and then do a trim-and-edge pass. The spools feed reliably for both. Running along fencing and around planters, the line holds its length without dramatic changes, and I don’t find myself stopping to bump or tug. If your trimmer is overeager and feeds too much, it’s worth checking the cap lever and spring for sticky residue and ensuring you haven’t nicked the spool edges. Conversely, if it doesn’t feed at all, inspect the line ends—if they retract inside the head during install, the auto-feed can’t grab them. Leaving 4–6 inches outside each eyelet at install helps.

Cut quality and line life

This is 0.065-inch monofilament, which is appropriate for lawn trimming, edging along sidewalks, cleaning around trees, and tidying fence lines. It’s not meant for thick, woody weeds or gravel-strewn ditches. In grass, the cut is clean and controlled, and the thinner diameter helps keep noise down, especially on cordless units.

Line life depends on the surfaces you hit. Grazing concrete or chain-link eats any line quickly; staying just off the hard edge makes a big difference. With mindful technique, I can get multiple full-yard trims per spool on a quarter-acre with lots of edging. For heavier abuse, you’ll go through line faster—no mystery there.

I’ve also noticed fewer tangles compared with hand-wound refills. The factory wind is even and tight, and that matters for auto-feed heads. When line is wound crookedly, it can bite into lower layers and stick; I’ve not had that issue with these prewound spools.

Durability of the spool and head interaction

The plastic spool body itself has held up: no cracked flanges, no mushrooming where the cap engages. More importantly, it doesn’t abrade the trimmer hub. The smooth rotation under the cap is the quiet success here—consistent friction means consistent feed. If your head is older, it’s worth cleaning out compacted debris every few swaps; dust and line shavings can gum up the works and make any spool feel “tight.”

Ergonomics and workflow

The main ergonomic win is removing rewind time from the job. I can swap a spent spool in under a minute without losing my rhythm. Because the spools are prewound and uniform, the trimmer’s balance and vibration stay consistent from full to near-empty. There’s also a small safety benefit: fewer mid-job fiddles with a semi-open head while the tool is powered—though you should still pull the battery or unplug before swapping.

At 0.4 lb for the three-pack, it’s easy to toss one in your pocket before you start. The spools are sealed enough that the line doesn’t dry out or become brittle between seasons in my shed, which is more than I can say for bulk line coils I’ve stored in the past.

Value and the convenience premium

Buying prewound spools costs more per foot than winding your own from bulk line. If you trim vast acreage or chew through line weekly, that math can favor DIY rewinds. But for most residential yards, the convenience delta is worth it. The pack of three keeps me going for much of a season, and I don’t spend time repairing bird’s nests when a rewind goes wrong. If you’re cost-sensitive and comfortable winding, you can reuse the empty spools—just mind the winding direction arrows and keep tension even.

Troubleshooting tips

If the auto-feed isn’t behaving, these quick checks usually sort it:

• Won’t feed: Ensure the line ends protrude through both eyelets; re-seat the spool and cap; check for debris under the spool; confirm you’re using 0.065-inch line on an AF-100 spool.
• Over-feeding: Inspect the cap lever and spring for wear or sticky grass sap; clean and lightly dry-lube the mechanism; make sure the spool flanges aren’t nicked.
• Feels too tight: Verify the spool is fully seated; remove any grass packed around the hub; look for flashing on the new spool rim and gently smooth it if needed.
• Breaks quickly: Slow your approach near hard edges; let the tool reach full speed before contacting grass; replace line if it’s visibly nicked or cloudy from age.

None of these steps require special tools, and they’ll extend both spool and trimmer head life.

Limitations

A few practical boundaries:

• 0.065-inch line is for light to medium trimming. If your property demands heavy brush clearing, you need a thicker line and a different head.
• Auto-feed depends on clean, matched components. A damaged cap or worn hub can cause inconsistent results even with a perfect spool.
• Compatibility matters. These are made for AF-100 heads; similar-looking spools with different part numbers won’t always fit or feed correctly.

Sustainability note

Prewound convenience creates more small plastic pieces in the waste stream. If that bothers you, consider rewinding the empties with bulk 0.065-inch line. The spools are durable enough to reuse several times if you wind neatly.

The bottom line

The AF-100 spools have turned trimming from a chore-within-a-chore into a quick, predictable step in my yard routine. They install cleanly, feed consistently on compatible Black & Decker trimmers, and hold up well to typical residential tasks. The 0.065-inch line is rightly sized for lawn care, and the three-pack format means I’m not scrambling mid-season.

Recommendation: I recommend these spools for anyone using a compatible Black & Decker trimmer who values reliability and time savings over squeezing the lowest possible cost per foot. If you have a large, rough property or routinely tackle thick brush, step up to a more robust trimmer and head. For everyday edging, fence-line cleanup, and weekly maintenance on typical lawns, these spools are the easy, dependable choice.