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Brush Cutters

Introduction

There are many different types of Brush cutters (Weed Eater) that you can choose from at your local hardware or mower shop. There are some points to consider before you buy as a wrong choice will leave you cursing everytime you have to trim the yard.

Size of Your Yard

If you have a large yard to trim then you will a trimmer that will be capable of doing the job without putting too much strain on the unit. A larger yard with more to trim will require a bigger unit that should also be petrol powered rather than electric.

Type of Yard

If your yard has a lot of bush that requires cutting back then you will want a bigger unit that can handle this type of work. A smaller m,model may be able to do the job but it will not last as long because the workload is more than it was designed for. Also as mentioned earlier a yard that is quite big and has some tough trimming to do will not be suitable for an electric model. Electric models are designed for small yards that have minimal work to do.

Physical Fitness

This is something that should be considered by all of us as brush cutting does require some physical effort and if you use a model without a harness then the strain put on your arm, wrist, hand and back can be great especially if your yard requires a deal of trimming. It may be wise to choose a model that will be able to do the job you want and is as light as possible.

Your Budget

We are all looking for ways to save money around the home and the garden is no different. Basically what you are wanting to do is to buy the right type of trimmer for your lawn. If you have a large yard then you will want a model that will have the power and durability to do the work over time. If you have a small yard then you may be able to use an electic model or a smaller capacity petrol model. You should buy a machine that will best suit you and your yards needs.

Brush Cutter Types

Petrol 2 stroke trmmers
Petrol 4 stroke trimmers
Electric brushcutters
Bent shaft models
Straight shaft models
Before you buy
Handles
Harnesses
Nylon line heads

Two Stroke
Two stroke brushcutters are what most of us are used to and they are the most common type that you will find. They like to rev higher than a four stroke but this is how they make their power. They are relatively easy to maintain and are reliable although they are noisy and can be a little smokey and smelly for some peoples taste.

Four Stroke
Four stroke brushcutters are a relatively new item with only Honda building them until recently when a number of companies have started to offer them. They are very reliable and produce good torque which is great if you have some heavy work to do in the yard. One of the advantages they offer is that they are quieter to operate than 2-stroke machines and they are also less put out less emissions than 2-strokes. Another bonus is that they use less fuel.

Durability
There is no real difference between the two types on an average house block.

Maintenance
Whatever type of brushcutter you finally choose to buy it will be in your best interests to keep it well serviced and maintained. By regularly checking your trimmer out you will see if there are any glaring problems with it. You should not let petrol get older than one month old as it starts to deteriorate after this. You should always try to keep your unit clean and make sure that it gets greased at least once a year.

If you are unsure of how to best service your trimmer then you should take it too a mower shop where they know exactly what to do.

Something new
A backpack model is also available where the engine is carried on your back with a heavy duty flexible drive conveying the drive to the head. However they are not light 10kg plus, or cheap over $1000

Brush Cutter Types

Petrol 2 stroke trmmers

This type is the most common model that is available to you the consumer. They have been around for some time now and are very reliable and easy to use. They come in all sorts of sizes and configurations.

You can a basic model for about $400 - this will get you a model with about 24.5cc that will be enough for most yards. It will have a loop handle and a bent shaft
If you pay about $600 you will get a similar engine size with a straight shaft and a loop handle.
A model with around 30cc of power will cost around $750
For a professional model with 35cc or more will cost around $800 to $900

Petrol 4 stroke trimmers

These are relatively new on the market and quite a few manufactures are offering the as a alternative to the traditional 2 stroke models.

They differ from the 2 stroke models in severral ways. Obviously they make their power in a different way to their 2 stroke counterparts. With a 4 stroke the power generally comes with lower revs and is produced in a broader range.

They make less noise than a 2 stroke trimmer as well as produce less smoke emissions. Another feature is that by being a 4 stroke you do not have to mix the oil together, the oil and fuel have separate containers and are mixed within the engine. This is useful to people who get confused over the correct ratios of oil/fuel mixtures.

For a model with a loop handle, straight shaft and with an engine size of 24.5cc expect to pay around $690

Electric brushcutters

These are good if you have a small yard to trim. They are light and are fairly easy to use especially if you do not have a large yard. Another good point is that they do not make much noise and produce no emissions.

The best way to use one is to trim the lawn quite regularly as they do not like to cut high grass. When the grass gets high it does make the task of cutting through it a bit difficult. You do have to wary of the electric cord when using this type of trimmer making sure you do not cut it, trip over it or get it near a soource of water.

You can buy a cheaper model for about $80
A better quality model will cost around $150

Bent shaft models

On less expensive light duty machines this is often a flexible shaft running in an outer tube that is curved at the head end to achieve the working angle.

This type of drive is limited in the amount of power that can be transmitted and is normally found on electric and low powered petrol units using nylon heads.

Straight shaft models

This type of machine use a rigid steel drive shaft running in bearings within the tube. A small gearbox is used to obtain the working angle while transmitting the torque required to drive a nylon head or a steel blade.

This type of drive is used on machines that offer more power and is used by professionals as well as the average backyard gardener.

Before you buy

As with any purchase make sure that you have really thought about what type of brushcutter you really need. Don't buy a brushcutter that is not going to be able to do the job you want it to or is to big for your needs. If you have a normal sized yard a machine with a capacity of around 25cc should be more than adequate. You should also consider if you want a model with a loop handle or one with handlebars. They are both fine to use but the loop handle type can make your wrist become sore. The handlebar type with a harness heps to use your trimmer for longer periods.

When you know what type you want then make sure you shop around for the best possible deal. If you are not going to service the model yourself it may be better to buy from a mower shop rather than a hardware type store.

Handles

lighter models have asingle loop handle for the forward hand while heavier machines have a double or handlebars handle that gives greater control against kickback and prevents the oerator inadvertently pulling the blade or nylon line back towards themselves.

Brushcutters being used with a steel blade must have handlebars or be fitted with a safety bar t kep the operator away from the blade.

Harnesses

Sling/Full - most petrol powered machines have sling or a harness that the operator wears to carry the weight of the machine leaving hands free to steer it.

Lighter machines use a single diagonal shoulder sling while heavier units will have a harness with straps over both shoulders which is a full harness.

Both types of harness will usually have a spring latch that allows the machine to be easily detached for refueling, starting ot line replacement.

Nylon line heads

Manual feed - stop the machine, unhook it from the harness, undo a knob, pull out some line and then reverse the proceedure. This is the most common form of trimmer head.

Tap feed - sometimes know as bump feed, this head is operated by shutting the throttle, tap the head on the ground, rev the engine and a measured length of line will feed from the spool within the head.

Brain feed - the head senses the centifugal force generated by the line when the throttle is closed and re-opened and maintains it at optimum length.

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