Best light/medium 5' rough cutter?

[mjarrels]

Now you have me thinking about parking my rotary mower for good and only using my flail mower... the thought of loosing a blade... yikes.

"A working party isn't what you think"

mark

 

[RollTideRam]

The Kodiak looks pretty good on my computer. I have yet to price one though. JC

 

[Soundguy]

Everything has a bit of risk.. just keep your mower in good repair and check it before and after each job.. that's about the best you can do. More or less.. you setting on your tractor are in a fairly 'safe' place, except for the very minute posisbility of the blade going thru the top deck at just the right angle to miss the 3pt hitch or lift frame... In other words.. you ont he tractor are fairly safe.. it's others that you may be mowing close to that are not as safe.. that's why i don't mow 'that' side of the pasture if I see neighbors out at the fence.. etc.

Soundguy

Now you have me thinking about parking my rotary mower for good and only using my flail mower... the thought of loosing a blade... yikes.

"A working party isn't what you think"

mark

 

[john_bud]

Now you have me thinking about parking my rotary mower for good and only using my flail mower... the thought of loosing a blade... yikes.

"A working party isn't what you think"

mark

Every tool has its place. A flail mower is much safer to use in populated areas. Not so good for taking out 2" oak saplings....

My experience as well as the ones listed above all point out that even blades in good condition can snap. They are very closely thermally treated to be both hard, durable and tough. When I hear about people welding on one, I shudder.

jb

 

[mjarrels]

I don't mow anything but grass... flail mower works fine and mows wider than my 5' rotary mower and doesn't stick out as far... tractor/mower take up less room in garage.

mark

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm also seriously considering a flail mower. The 5ft Caroni costs about $1400 shipped which is not so bad when you consider it is closer to a finish mower in cut quality but almost up to bush hog capabilities in rough terrain. I agree you wouldn't attack 2 inch saplings with one but if you wanted to do that there is a heavier duty Caroni with hammers rather than blades that would take care of saplings too. Not sure if Agri Tech carries the heavy duty version however.

 

[GeauxLSU]

Good grief. I wonder how hot a suit of armour gets?

My son will definitely just stay inside when I'm cutting.

I just ordered the 5' medium duty Howse with slip clutch and chains front and rear. $925. I suspect there will be a discussion on price when I go to pick it up as the supplier is 'making' the local dealer sell it at that price which was MUCH lower than what he had quoted me and he'll be eating freight.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

 

[chrisjbell]

A flail mower is much safer to use in populated areas. Not so good for taking out 2" oak saplings....
jb

You ever seen how far a flail mower can hit a golf ball? I was out in the natural area at work (golf course) and hit a ball, as I do all the time. Well, this time it flew about 200 yards, bounced off a tree, and nearly hit a lady who was getting ready to putt. If only I could hit a ball like that...

My point is, don't think a flail mower is safe to use around people. Might be less dangerous than a rotary cutter, but I wouldn't suggest getting complacent.

 

[IslandTractor]

My point is, don't think a flail mower is safe to use around people. Might be less dangerous than a rotary cutter, but I wouldn't suggest getting complacent.

As you mention, I think the point is they are less dangerous than the rotary cutters. They are also a bit more predictable in that they would hurl objects (eg golf balls) directly backwards most of the time while a rotary cutter can send it in any direction. I would imagine they also impart less force to objects as the flail mower blades have 1/100th the mass and travel at half the speed of a rotary mower blade (especially a bush hog blade). A golf ball would be less likely to shoot out of a rotary mower at it would be ripped apart but a rock or piece of metal could come out at even higher velocity than the golf ball you witnessed. Again, no disputing that any mower can be dangerous to bystanders but the physics and design of the flail mowers are a safety advantage generally.

 

[GeauxLSU]

Thanks guys. The "medium-light duty" 5' Howse (M60T), with over ride clutch and chains front and rear for $925 was the final deal.
Happiness is a dirty new bush hog and a fresh cut pasture.