Anyone use a Brush Cutter?

I'm looking specifically at this:

http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Brushcutters/SRM-410U



Has anyone used something like this?

If so what are your thoughts on the good and bad?

Thanks

With that much exposed blade, it kinda freaks me out. I've used husqvarna's similar one, and it's bit more enclosed, but when you hit something kinda large, it still kicks back around. I found that a good ol heavy weight string trimmer usually does the job fine, then come back with something else to get the big stuff.

Granted, i was in a hurry with the husqvarna, and wasn't paying allot of attention when I hit a mesquite stump, but it still gave me a "WTF!?!?!?" reaction. It's like a circular saw on the end of a pole.

I use the one that has a little bit bigger teeth all of the time. It works amazing and I can take down 3"-4" trees with a slow cut and a 1 1/2" tree with just one swipe. I have never experienced any kickback when using this and I have never felt unsafe while using the blade.

I have a Stihl that I use when it's hard to get a chainsaw on something or in tight spots like up against a fence. It's much easier on the back not having to bend down to cut numerous small trees. It works great but I do get some kickback. The kickback I get doesn't make me feel unsafe but it will kickback into a fence or something that dulls the blade. Mine was just an attachment for my trimmer. I do have a heavy duty trimmer. Is someone suggesting you need a dedicated unit? I think mine was about $30 plus the cost of the blade. It's worth it if you have a lot of saplings. It will make short work of them.

I also have the Stihl. Just put the blade on the weed eater body. Works great. Best thing they ever made for cutting little cedar. 100 times faster than the old nippers we used to use. Takes about 5 minutes to resharpen the blade on the bench grinder.

I use the hell out of mine building fence, lease work, etc. No kickback or problems if you run it right.

not good on grass though

That's kind of what I wanted to know. I want to use it to cut saplings, and vines. I also want to use it to clear the fence row. My property had been neglected for nearly 20 years and has gone feral.

Also has anyone tried the carbide blades? Like had mentioned I am more interested in clearing the woody stemmed stuff than the grass.

Be very careful on what you try and cut.. Also it's a touch and go process not just swipe across a bunch of saplings at one time..

I see way to many gears bust in the head assembly from people trying to bite a little more than a trimmer wants to handle... A machete will save you a lot of $

I've used a Stihl FS250 for a decade, I'll bet I have trimmed several hundred miles of pasture barbed wire fence with it.

Yep! Works like a champ on that stuff that's just too big for a weed eater!

The carbide blade works best. Bigger is better. Don't buy a small weed eater. We use a commercial grade Sthil. Get your rpms up and let it eat.

I have used the Stihl as well. Works very well. It has my undivided attention when being used...

I had an Echo but I never tried the brush cutter on it but I will give you some advice, get one with a big blade guard! My echo had a tiny guard and it threw every rock and stick at my face. I hated it so much that I almost broke it against a tree on several occasions. I finally gave it away because of the hatred I had for it. Stihl for me next time.

I use a Tanaka.

I did a lot of research on straight shaft trimmers before I bought and the Tanakas seemed to be what most of the professional foresters were running.

The warranty on the Tanakas is also the best out of all the makes that I looked at. It is 7 years "bumper to bumper" for private use or 2 years for commercial use and the shaft has a lifetime warranty.

Mine will take down a 3 inch maple no problem but as others have stated you have to approach it properly or it will kick. Mine also came with multiple heads so I can switch it to string if cutting non-woody plants.

we have a couple of the bigger commercial Stihl that have the motorcycle U shaped handles. We found that the carbide blades are very effective on them. Good for practically anything you need to cut down. In addition to vines and fence rows, we walk through the pastures cutting down the little cedar saplings.

May have to try something like this. The tumbleweeds laugh at my Husqvarna trimmer with "titanium" line.

I use a DR Walk behind trimmer with a 10" "Chainsaw Blade". It is a beast and will cut down anything up to 3-4" quickly. I think it's a lot safer than the weedeater with a blade.