brush cutter for string trimmer

[sadams]

I want to attach a Forester 1" arbor brush cutter on my string trimmer. I am told that I will also have to buy a brush blade kit. Can anybody tell me if this kit is really necessary, and why? Thanks

 

[prs]

Not sure what the kit has that you may be missing. The guard? A bolt and the clamping washers that fit the blade? My straight shaft commercial type trimmers have the guard already and the string head and blades interchange. I occasionally use and unstrung string head to "bolt" the blade in place and then the head acts as a ground clearance guide. Work safe!

prs

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Could be referring to additional safeguards, like a protective device that hangs over your leg to protect from kickbacks, different head shield, etc etc. Lawsuit driven safety measures that some oem's will require you to purchase so they are not liable/as liable for you chopping yourself or someone else up.

 

[JRobyn]

I did this the other way around on my Echo blade trimmer - bought the string head kit. The blade uses a much smaller but stouter guard (aluminum). The guard for the string head is plastic and has the string trimmer/cutter out on the perimeter. The blade also uses a different slip-on arbor with a raised blade-centering pilot where the string head threads on to the output shaft.

Welcome to the forum! :welcome:

- Jay

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

I've got a Stihl brush cutter that came with a three-point blade + kit. I rarely have the 'string' head on due to (bloody ) bracken that eats the string for breakfast, then asks for more.

Anyway... the kit includes the cup/shield to lock the blade underneath and a proper locking nut + an all-in-one tool to do the job. The cup/shield keeps the blade from digging into the ground and crap getting into the head of the cutter.

JRobyn may have described it in different terminology, but yes, definitely get the proper kit for your tool... doing it 'on the cheap' will only result in repairs ($) 'down the track'.

 

[Rustyiron]

I want to attach a Forester 1" arbor brush cutter on my string trimmer. I am told that I will also have to buy a brush blade kit. Can anybody tell me if this kit is really necessary, and why? Thanks

Brush blade kit? I smell "lawyer talk" there.

 

[Wagtail]

Brush blade kit? I smell "lawyer talk" there.

Not really Mate. We're talking about properly attaching a rapidly spinning blade to the end/head of an equally rapidly spinning powered tool that comes into contact with the ground.

It's not that you can't simply bolt a blade to where the standard string 'cannister' goes, it's a matter of attaching the blade safely and balanced.

 

[ScoutmasterRick]

Not really Mate. We're talking about properly attaching a rapidly spinning blade to the end/head of an equally rapidly spinning powered tool that comes into contact with the ground.

It's not that you can't simply bolt a blade to where the standard string 'cannister' goes, it's a matter of attaching the blade safely and balanced.

I have a Stihl FS-250 that works exactly the same way. Here's what the kit for mine looks like:

 

[sadams]

Thanks for the comments one and all. Wagtail, I agree that I surely don't want a projectile blade embedding in my leg nor do I want to destroy my machine. ScoutmasterRick's pic shows how simple this kit is. My problem is really that they want $70 for this thing. Robbery. From a brief search it appears that the simple kits (and presumably the less expensive ones) are all sold in the UK. If somebody knows of a reasonably priced kit here in the US then I will buy it. otherwise I will rig this thing with nuts, washers, sheet metal, and whatever works. I am pretty good at this, but then, I do only have 1 thumb remaining, and lots of scars.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Stupid people have made what used to be simple and affordable projects complicated and expensive.