What Is It
When it comes to lawn trimming, we surely think about lawn mowers. Yet, what about cleaning the ground from bushes, parched weeds, or tall and thick grass? A brush cutter is the way out. Brush cutters are more powerful modifications of string trimmers and have performing engines and heavy-duty blades or thick cutting lines. So, a brush cutter will be an excellent assistant for beginners and professionals in pruning brushes, weeds, and other undergrowth. Brush cutters can also be used for an accurate cutting the undergrowth in flower beds or along the walls where string trimmers are helpless.
You might need to remove thick twigs and branches that a brush cutter can't tackle, so we recommend you to look at our new Gas Chainsaws review.
What Features to Compare
A brush cutter can be really helpful for you, but you should decide what you will be using it for to pick a proper model.
Type
First of all, you have to determine what type of a brush cutter you need. Brush cutters are divided into electric and gas models. Electric brush cutters are quiet and eco-friendly tools that are easy to use and maintain. They are designed for maneuverability and cutting medium greenery like nettle, ragweed, and others. Electric brush cutters will be suitable for people having medium-sized yards as the operating range of such tools is limited by their power cords (an extension cord can be used, though). Gas brush cutters are more powerful than their electric peers and they can cope with thick sprouts and dead weeds well. The gas cutters are more powerful than electric ones but are more difficult in use and need a regular maintenance. Gas models are more mobile and allow working anywhere you need.
Performance
Performance is one more important criterion when choosing a brush cutter. Moreover, the performance depends on several factors. The more powerful the cutter's engine is, the faster it cuts and makes the ground clean. If you deal with grass, you should use a brush cutter with the cutting line as it provides a good cutting width and allows you to clear a large territory. Yet, if you face thick and dense plants, a bush cutter with a blade will be much more efficient. Such blades come in multiple sizes and shapes, so you can use different ones for various weeds.
Usability
As brush cutters are manual tools, pay attention to the usability of each model. A brush cutter should be convenient and user-friendly to ensure a long and efficient work. The brush cutter's weight is probably the most vital aspect for its convenience, and a lightweight model gives you an obvious benefit when dealing with large territories. Most brush cutters are fitted with accessory handles for extra comfort and can be one-handed or two-handed. Such handles should be angle-adjustable to fit your needs. If your brush cutter has a folding shaft, you can always set its length according to your height. Pay attention to the presence of a harness or shoulder straps that evenly distribute the unit's weight over your body and reduce the strain on your hands.
Husqvarna 223R
Swedish Quality
When you look after a land plot near your house, you inevitably need to remove tall and dead weeds that spoil a look of your yard and can give refuge to insects. This is a job for the reliable and durable Husqvarna 223R brushcutter that will clear weed on bumpy grounds and places beyond the reach of a lawnmower. With the engine of 1.1 hp and the maximal rotation speed of 8000 RPM, any ground will be cleared from undesired verdure in no time. Remember that different pieces of vegetation need the appropriate cutting attachments. If you need to clean your yard from a dense growth, use a metal blade while a 0.095" line will help you trim a medium grass. So, purchasing Husqvarna 223R, you'll be able to keep your yard natty.
Convenience in Use
The weight of a brush cutter plays a crucial role when you need to mow large areas. Although Husqvarna 223R has a gas engine, it weighs 9.9 lbs so it is even lighter than some electric brush cutters. Anyone using some gas-powered equipment knows how to start a gas engine. Pull a starter rope and the engine will start. Yet, sometimes 1 or 2 pulls are not enough for igniting the engine so you waste a lot of your effort and time till the unit is finally ready for cutting. Thus, Husqvarna engineers developed the special Smart Start® starting system that removes air from the carburetor and engine of the cutter to make the ignition fast. That's not all! The stop switch returns to the home position automatically and allows you to easily turn your cutter on after it was switched off. The unit is equipped with a double harness to share its weight between your back and hands. What is more, 223R features two handles that look like a bicycle handlebar. They allow you to grip the tool and maneuver it easily while cutting.
More Products to Consider
Husqvarna 585572601 Pre-Mixed 2-Stroke Fuel and Oil for Engines is a high-octane fuel for your brush cutter that rids you of the necessity to mix oil and gas.
Husqvarna ProForest Chain Saw Helmet System is an awesome kit that includes hearing protectors, a face shield, and a neck protector.
Husqvarna Scarlett 200-22t Wood Cutting Clearing Saw Blade will help you cope with high weeds.
Additional Info
Timberpro Heavy Duty Split Brush Cutter
Two in One
The first thing to say is that it's an incredibly powerful brushcutter by TIMBERPRO. Its main advantage is the 3 hp engine that allows you to trim grass and chop thick trunks of bushes. As the manufacturer claims, this cutter can be used for lawn mowing as well. Considering that the cutter's weight is 13 lbs, we believe that it is particularly suitable for cutting heavy vegetation. Yet, the convenient handles and harness allow people to successfully use this cutter as a conventional string trimmer. This cutter's package includes 3 metal blades with 3, 4, and 8 teeth for cutting different weeds. In addition, the cutter comes with a jug for dosing the mix of oil and gas. By the way, TIMPERPRO engineers advise making the 40:1 fuel to gas mixture for this brush cutter. Every user of this model will appreciate its exceptional performance when cutting the thickest weeds and shrubs.
Safety Precautions When Using a Brush Cutter
When you deal with a gas-powered tool like this brush cutter, you should respect the basic safety precautions. Make sure that the cutter is operable and the working area is free from foreign objects before you start cutting. When you use a cutting blade, check its fixation and presence of mechanical damages. Wear a protective outfit, as the cutter's spool whirls really fast and even a tiny stone can bounce off it and harm you. So, use goggles, a mask or a shield and always inspect the cutting head shield integrity. Brush cutters are pretty noisy, so use earmuffs to protect your hearing. Read the safety guidelines specified in your cutter's manual to get a full information on the safe operation of your brushcutter.
More Products to Consider
3pk-10"-80t - RENEGADE "RAZOR" / HYBRID - COMBO Specialty - RENEGADE BLADE® is a cool kit of 3 blades that will help you cut weeds, no matter how thick and tall they are.
Oregon 22-995 Heavy-Duty Professional Magnum Gatorline Square String Trimmer Line is a coil of an excellent cutting line for your brushcutter.
Additional Info
Troy-Bilt TB42
Reliable Assistant
When you choose a gardening tool, it must be handy, versatile, and fail-proof to help you cope with all shrubs and weeds efficiently. So, we'd like to introduce Troy-Bilt TB42 which embodies a long and productive work of this company. TB42 is a brushcutter powered by the 2-stroke engine with the cylinder displacement of 27cc. As you probably know, starting a gas engine is a challenging task, but Troy-Bilt offers its own solution to this problem. The engine of the cutter can be ignited with the help of the JumpStart™ starter (not included). It allows you to make the engine run with a single push of a button. Even if you don't have a starter, the SpringAssist™ technology will provide a quicker engine starting by reducing your pulling effort by 55%. Having examined the tool's specs, we wish to highlight its convenient adjustable J-shape handle that will facilitate weeding for both left- and right-handed users. The 18" line can be used for cutting grass, but if you need to remove pretty thick vegetation, the 4-tooth blade will help you in clearing out cherry or raspberry underbrush. This brushcutter has another thing you'll surely like. It is connectable up to 10 different Troy-Bilt gardening attachments. This option lets you save the space in your home workshop and spare your money as you won't have to buy other tools.
Briefly About Troy-Bilt
The history of the Troy-Bilt company traces back to 1930. At that time, an entrepreneur Carl Kelsey owned a car-making company but, having analyzed the market, he realized that agriculture was becoming increasingly widespread and started to sell Siemens rototillers. After a huge success with Siemens, Kelsey decided to deal in agricultural machinery and focused his job on manufacturing tillers for home use. The Troy-Bilt® story begins from 1968 when WATCO Machine Products, Inc. promoted the brand in the field of gardening tools. Troy-Bilt has been a subsidiary of MTD Consumer Group, Inc. since 2001 and is regarded as one of the leading manufacturers of lawn mowers, cultivators, pressure washers, and power generators.
More Products to Consider
Pro For Sho 34dB Shooting Ear Protection - the earmuffs with a 34dB hearing protection ratio.
Troy-Bilt Corded Trimmer JumpStart is a cheaper alternative to a cordless JumpStart starter.
TrimmerPlus AH721 22-Inch Dual Action Hedger Attachment - a cool addition to your brushcutter for hedge trimming.
TrimmerPlus LE720 Edger Attachment with Steel Dual-Tip Blade will help you make eye-pleasing edges of your lawn.
Additional Info
Remington RM2700
Proven Reliability
This brushcutter will quickly remove all troublesome vegetation from your yard. Remington RM2700 has a powerful 2-stroke gas engine. The QuickStart ™ technology will help you start the engine with a few pulls and minimum effort. We should note that the engine contains a full-sized crank that extends the unit's life. As to design features, the cutter has a straight shaft that provides a better durability in comparison with a curved shaft when a blade hits large objects. Another benefit of the straight shaft is a capability of using the unit in the most hard-to-reach areas. The convenient J-shaped handle can be adjusted and allows you to maneuver the shaft with the ultimate comfort.
TrimmerPlus
Having examined the tool, we'd like to tell you about the TrimmerPlus technology of Remington RM2700. TrimmerPlus is a versatile fixation system that allows connecting different attachments compatible with the system. Buying Remington RM2700, you'll be able to use the tool as a hedger, leaf blower, edger, or tiller. Such an impressive versatility saves your money as you only need to buy attachments instead of additional tools. Moreover, it can save some space in your garage, too! So, we can say that having purchased this Remington brush cutter, you'll appreciate its functionality and your yard or garden will look amazingly neat.
More Products to Consider
TrimmerPlus TB720 Turbo Blower with Flare Nozzle is a blower attachment for your cutter that will help you keep your walkways and surrounding area clean.
HQRP Clear Tint UV Protective Safety Goggles will protect your eyes while working with a brushcutter.
TrimmerPlus GC720 Garden Cultivator is an excellent aid for tilling the ground in your flowerbed or vegetable garden.
Additional Info
Ryobi RBC1020
Eco-Friendliness is the Priority
As one of the leading and most innovative manufacturers of the power tools, Ryobi is constantly studying consumer needs and developing the tools helpful for users. RBC1020 is not an exception. You don't need to mix oil and gas each time to erase weed from your yard thanks to the environmentally friendly 1000W electric motor of this brushcutter. Just plug the unit into the outlet and the 'Livetool' indicator will start glowing, signaling that the motor is powered up. Then, release a trigger lock (that prevents an accidental start) and go ahead! We should note that the cutter features an overheating protection that automatically shuts the motor off when it overheats after a long-term operation. The package includes the 15" line and a 8" blade that will help shatter tall weeds. Cutting is easy thanks to the D-shape handle that can be adjusted to match your height. Besides, RBC1020 has a sectional shaft for a convenient storage. In all, we can say that Ryobi RBC1020 is awesome for owners of small yards and allows completing medium-scale jobs quickly. Still, the cutter needs a power supply to work and this fact upsets people who own pretty big gardens and lawns near their houses.
Tips on Lawn Care
Everybody knows that a lawn needs continuous care. If you don't look after your grass plot, it will turn into a wasteland. In this paragraph, we will give you several tips on how to keep your lawn healthy and green. Water is a super important factor affecting the condition of your lawn. Pay a particular attention to watering since your lawn should be damp to the depth of 1 inch. You can use a moisture sensor to check the amount of water in the ground. Trim your lawn on a regular basis and cut no more than 1/3 of its height. Grass should be about 3" high on average. The grass mulching will help you keep a proper moisture level in the ground. Also, a seasonal fertilizing of grass will nourish and revitalize the lawn to resist the summer heat. So, take care of your green plot day by day, and you'll be carried away with its beauty.
More Products to Consider
To expand the reach of your brush cutter, you should use the Coleman Cable 02309 16/3 Vinyl Outdoor Extension Cord.
Cyclone CY095D1-12 1-Pound Grass Trimmer Line is a cool cutting line that you should always have in stock.
Additional Info
Sources:
1. Renee Miller Advantages & Disadvantages of Brush Cutter Machines, SFGate.
2. String Trimmer Buying Guide, Lowe's.
3. CHOOSE A GRASS TRIMMER, Canadian Tire.
4. Mark Clement How to Use a String Trimmer Like a Pro, Popular Mechanics. October 8, 2013.
5. Julie Day Spring Lawn Care Guide, Today's Homeowner.
6. Chris Barnes Whipper snipper buying guide, Choice. September 19, 2016.
7. String trimmer, Wikipedia. October 11, 2016.
8. Grass Trimmers Buying Guide, Argos.
