Flail Mower I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower

   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #1  

millpond

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NH TC 55 DA
I've been following all the threads on Caroni flail mowers vs RC, but where
does Woods PRD 6000 finish fit in vs all the flail specs. Thanks Bill
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #2  
millpond said:
I've been following all the threads on Caroni flail mowers vs RC, but where
does Woods PRD 6000 finish fit in vs all the flail specs. Thanks Bill

Mornin Bill,
Im not sure I understand your question ! Why would you compare finish mower specs to flail mower specs ? Each piece of equipment is designed to do differnt things in a different enviroment ! :confused:
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Scotty so if you're cutting a new field which isn't going to be used as hay, but isn't suppose to look like finished lawn bordering your house would you
see flail as your best option..?
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #4  
millpond said:
Scotty so if you're cutting a new field which isn't going to be used as hay, but isn't suppose to look like finished lawn bordering your house would you
see flail as your best option..?

Let me take a stab at it.

A Flail mower IS capable of giving a quality of cut comparable to the best finish mowers. It can do so in conditions where a finish mower would struggle at times. (i.e. trash and debris present, rock, rough terrain) A flail mower will handle (somewhat more) SAFELY mowing with debris present more so than a rotary mower, be that a brush cutter or finish mower. The flail does so at a higher initial cost, along with a higher routine maintenance cost in most cases.

If a finished look is desired, a finish mower is the lowest cost solution, then the flail mower is next in cost.

If conditions dictate debris NOT be thrown about, but that debris is present, a flail mower is a logical step from a bush hog style rotary cutter. If debris isn't an issue, and quality of cut is less of a factor, a bush hog style rotary cutter can do a fairly decent job. It may require the blades to be somewhat sharper than NORMALLY found on a bush hog, but that isn't out of the ordinary.

So, generally speaking,

1. Finish mower for clean, well groomed lawns.
2. Flail mower for less than perfect conditions where a reasonably clean cut is desired.
3. Bush hog type rotary cutter for rough conditions where quality of finish is the LAST consideration.
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower
  • Thread Starter
#5  
That is perfect synopsis. I'm going to be a flail buyer. Fields are new so there still will be plenty of rocks to hit and remove. There will be leftover roots sticking up through the back dragged clear cutting and I don't want windrows
when fields mature in a few years. Flail will work nicely around buildings,ie no launching of debris, and yet still provide better finish than RC. The shift kit is
still up in the air and sounds like since it can be bought after working with flail
you can judge your needs accordingly. Thanks to all. This was super help. Bill:)
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #6  
Flail mowers are very good at spreading out what they cut too. Because they tend to chop up the grass more it comes out finer. It is also distributed evenly behind the machine. If you remove the rear guard (as our neighbour does :eek:) they will chuck the grass 20' in the air and really spread it out.

They also give a nice finish. The collector variants of them are often used in the UK to mow sportsfields and other large grass areas.

The hammers (spinning knives that do the cutting) can be expensive to replace though and tend to break rather easily. Our neighbour with a 3 metre flail won't take it where there are 'foreign objects'.
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Jake have you seen all the posts on Caroni flails. Everybody on TBN likes the
price vs all others, but I would consider larger dollar entery point if there's a make/model that I can review vs Caroni, assuming the quality tips the scales.:eek:
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #8  
millpond said:
Jake have you seen all the posts on Caroni flails. Everybody on TBN likes the
price vs all others, but I would consider larger dollar entery point if there's a make/model that I can review vs Caroni, assuming the quality tips the scales.:eek:

I haven't seen all of the posts on the Caroni flails but they do seem to be good value for money.

Our neighbours use a Big Cutter flail mower but these are only available for bigger tractors and I don't think they are sold in the US.

What do you have in mind for using a flail mower for?
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #9  
The important point that hasn't been mentioned is that there are rough cutting flails and finish cutting flails. The rough cutters use hammers and the finish cutters use knives. All flails work in the same basic manner, and their advantage over rotary blades is that they will not launch rocks, etc. if they hit them. Flails are used where bystanders are present and the operator must avoid injuring those bystanders with projectiles from the machine. Rotary cutters and mowers are normally used with no bystanders around, and thus there is not as great of a need for caution regarding the rotary blade hitting and launching a 3 lb. rock at 150 mph. Rough cutting flails with hammers are used to cut highway shoulders and medians. The machine will cut the brush, yet not send projectiles towards cars. Finish cutting flails with knives are used to cut park lawns and golf courses. Hammers and knives both can come in different shapes, T and Y being common shapes.
 
   / I'm getting confused between finish mower and flail mower #10  
Farmwithjunk's synopsis is perfect. One more point on the Caroni vs other flail brands. Caroni is a quality company that manufactures in Italy for many other companies as well as selling their own finish mowers, flail mowers and tillers. From what I have learned I think it is fair to say that the quality is very high but they are light to moderate use implements and that is what distinguishes them from the much more expensive US built flails used by highway departments etc. Just compare the weights of the Caroni vs US makes. Caroni flails should work very well in a moderately rough pasture setting but probably are not appropriate for highway medians etc. As noted, they come in two flavors: with knives for finish type cut or with "hammers" for something closer to bush hog use.
 
 
 
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