Brushcutter Advice/starting out strimming etc.

[Muddy42]

40 minutes ago, skc101fc said:

I use these exact ones from oregon. Damned effective on 45cc+ machines. They're so good at mulching anything to pulp that you get complacent and lazy and just plunge into any size scrub. I can't seem to stop myself from smashing into large size gorse bushes that should be done with the chainsaw. Gearboxes, pinion shafts and the occasional driveshaft outer tube are all too frequent victims to the massive impacts, cutting too heavy material. 

 

Yes that Oregon mulching balde is awesome, but you've hit the nail on the head with the issues with blades.  I find because they work so well in thick stuff, eventually something wraps around the shaft, you can't see the cutter and you smash into a stump or rock.  This sends huges shocks through the system and eventually something wears or goes off-centre.  I was forever replacing spacers, cups or blades. 

 

I now use 4mm square diamond edge string with a fixed oregon jet head which is almost as effective, but the string provides some 'give' if you hit something. I can normally go for two tanks without replacing the string - about an hour.

 

Don't get me wrong blades are great for the odd job or to get results out of a medium powered engine, but for the kind of jungle clearance I often do with my 50cc strimmer, the extra wear wasn't worth it.

[Donnie]

Used the 461 with a 200mm blade cutting regen today and it was quick as anything. Just demolishing it all, even cut through fence wire and still continued to cut… 

 

 

Sharpening the blade with a 325 file but not sure if it is the right size. 
 

Was using a 250mm guard with a 200mm blade. Would not recommend, can hear it hitting the guard. 
 

Will remove the guard I think as it seems to get in the way when fighting through little Sitka branches. 
 

@Stubby

Edited September 13 by Donnie

[Donnie]

Field side of the deer fence over halfway done in a day on my own. 5 fills of the 461. Thick in bits, not so much in others. 
 

The white van is where I started in the morning and was on site for maybe 6 hours or so and was taking it rather casual. 
 

Lemme know what you guys think, how many fills etc should I be doing a day/how many metres. 
 

I know a lot of variables but it’s good to know. 

[Dan Maynard]

Looks like you need a mountain bike to go back and fetch the van!

[Donnie]

12 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

Looks like you need a mountain bike to go back and fetch the van!

Aye it’s a bit of a twat but broke up the day between fills. 
Climbed over the fence and got stuck in it. Took half the thing down with me 

[Donnie]

Anything I can buy for my brushcutter to mulch piles like this into something smaller for a new customer?

[Donnie]

2 hours ago, Donnie said:

Anything I can buy for my brushcutter to mulch piles like this into something smaller for a new customer?

@Brushcutter 

Branches and pile has been sat a while. 
Say 2-3 inches. What blade if any will shred this kind of pile? 
 

It’s my first real job and the family I’m doing it for are really nice and I’d like to do all I can to make there woodland how they like it in the most economical way possible so any advice here would be grand. 
 

Hitting it with a chainsaw just doesn’t seem worthwhile…

 

 

[Peasgood]

I don't know of any brushcutter that would do it. A garden shredder maybe and it would have to be a reasonable quality one.

[Stubby]

Forestry mulcher .

[openspaceman]

11 hours ago, Donnie said:

It’s my first real job and the family I’m doing it for are really nice and I’d like to do all I can to make there woodland how they like it in the most economical way possible so any advice here would be grand. 

bonfire by far the cheapest