Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Brushcutters???

Mainly looking at the Stihl at the moment, but open to suggestions. Never used a brushcutter before so it's all new to me.

Any specific brand or style of blade?

I have a bunch of thinning to do in the form of small trees up to about 2 inches in diameter. I've been doing it with a chainsaw or ax so far and need a better way.

Thanks

I have this one:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/jonsered-cc2128-brushcutter-carb-compliant

It operates clipped on to a backpack harness to take the weight off your arms. You just move it to and fro. Pretty good cutter. Clears fence line like a champ.

Thanks for the info and link rockin'

Echo has a 5 year warranty.

I own two Shindaiwas. The first still runs, and is over 20 years old. I thrashed it unmercifully, and it wouldn't quit. It needs a carb kit and priming bulb to be good to go. My newer model is about four years old and is a beast. They are homeowner size with commercial quality throughout. This one will probably outlast me since I am 64.

I just bought a Shindaiwas this summer so far its been great. Was going to buy a Stihl bought was talked into the Shindaiwas. Plenty of power for what I'm using it for.

I use a Stihl.

Dad has two of them.

Stihl and Shindaiwa/Echo are all awesome.

If brush and trees are the primary quarry, then buy the heaviest duty model you can afford. I have a Husqvarna 39R I bought 25 years ago to clear a woodlot after trashing a couple light weight machines. It's an absolute beast of a machine, comparable to todays Husqvarna 345FR / Jonsered FC2245 / Stihl 460 C-EM . It's not the greatest machine for light duty work like weed trimming because of its weight and size, but man will it chew through the trees and brush!

My old Shindaiwa was bought for dual-purpose yard/brush duty. Had it since 2003 and it's never been in the shop. Replaced the priming bulb last year. That's it. Does need a new Beaver Blade though. Works great on trimming up around my deerstands after bush-hogging the main lanes. The brushcutter and a Stihl polesaw can let a guy get a lot done in the woods.

I have a DR field and brush mower that was purchased in 1990. It has been a great piece of equipment and done its job for all these years with out problems.

They will do 2" stuff but cutting such down or pulling out by the roots is faster. It is designed for 1" and smaller.

You should be able to find one for rent.

I have a Stihl FS 35 that I've had for at least 15 years, including 5 years, or so, where it was left at the deer camp as a community tool. It's back in my garage now, because nothing else works as long or well.

Older Echo with 10" brush blade here. Runs like a champ and really zings the small trees/brush - wish I could use it more.

I have a Stihl FS 130

http://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/professional-trimmers/fs130/

It is shown here as a string trimmer but I have never used the string head. I have a couple brush cutter blades that I swap out as they dull. I could not ask for a more effective tool for clearing brush.

Awesome tool.

405wcf

Thanks for all the suggestions gents.

I did a bit of looking today and didn't realize the big boy Stihl pro brushcutters were that expensive... We're talking starting at 1K and going up from there.

The FS130 was what a dealer recommended and has my eye at the moment. I'm going to take a look at an Echo too. The Shindiawa looks good, but the nearest dealer is 100 miles away.

Brushcutters are similar to chainsaws in that unless you're cutting really big wood, the key is in a sharp cutting implement, a big cc cutting head is not needed.

I'd say pick a pro quality cutter with a 30CC or bigger head and run a real brush cutting blade and you'll be gtg. Just remember a brush cutting blade is like a chainsaw blade, run it into the dirt and you better sharpen it or you'll just be making noise and smoke vs. cutting.

I spent more days with a brush cutter than I want to remember once upon a time. If you have a lot of woody brush/saplings in the 1 to 2" range get a big brush cutter and consider a circular saw type blade. The triangular metal brush blades will handle some small saplings with a powerful brush cutter, but the circular saw blades will cut the larger stuff much better with less shock to you and the machine (but they don't work nearly as well in weeds/briars/grass/ferns/etc). I was using a big stihl with shoulder strap and handle bars clearing old logging roads, probably equivalent to their current FS 460 or 560 brush cutter. With 2" trees you don't want a trimmer, you need a brush cutter or clearing saw. Or like the poster above said, rent a walk behind brush cutter. That would be my first choice if the land is suitable, I did not enjoy using that big brush cutter.

Have not been impressed with stihl for the last years moved to Husky

What model of Stihl brushcutter/trimmer did you have? What model of Husky brusher do you have now?

I have the Stihl 240FS with the Stihl Chisel Tooth blade and it is a monster.


I also have the 8" chainsaw attachment, 2' hedge trimmer and tiller head for the 240.