Brush Cutter

[ColdBlackWind]

I have a CT322 Deere. It doesn’t have an enclosed cab. Wanting to get a brush cutter to take care of the wooded area of my property. Was thinking about using expanded mesh with 1/8” lexan for a front shield while using the brush cutter. Thoughts??

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Old conveyor belt cut to fit and chains have worked for most people for years, I would think that expanded metal would be hard to clean up once clogged up with grass clippings .

 

[bcp]

Are you putting the shield on the cutter front or behind the tractor seat?

Bruce

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Are you putting the shield on the cutter front or behind the tractor seat?

Bruce

I made the assumption that he was talking about building a guard for the front of the cutter, but you know what assumptions are good for doing.

 

[ptsg]

A JD CT322 is a skidsteer. So I imagine he will put the guard in from of him.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Google seems to think that Deere is a track loader?

 

[2manyrocks]

1/8 polycarbonate isn't that thick. I've seen a rotary cutter on a tractor sling a grapefruit sized rock in a split second. What thickness are they using on the OEM shields?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I have a CT322 Deere. It doesn’t have an enclosed cab. Wanting to get a brush cutter to take care of the wooded area of my property. Was thinking about using expanded mesh with 1/8” lexan for a front shield while using the brush cutter. Thoughts??

I've used a skid steer cutter many a day with no front glass. Just keep it tilted up if you lift it high. I've cleaned some nasty places with it. I never have it to where I can see the blades.

 

[4570Man]

There are aftermarket skid steer doors available and there’s aftermarket metal door shields if you want something more durable.

 

[ColdBlackWind]

The machine is a track loader and I would be mounting on the front of the cab like a door. I don’t really care for the aftermarket enclosures and one from JD is stupid expensive. Was thinking expanded metal to get some air. A metal door shield sounds interesting. I had not run across that.

 

[2manyrocks]

I don't know anything about this product except they advertise that they use 1/2" polycarbonate Caterpillar Skid Steer Door | Skid Steer Doors of North America

 

[ColdBlackWind]

I don't know anything about this product except they advertise that they use 1/2" polycarbonate Caterpillar Skid Steer Door | Skid Steer Doors of North America

Yes sir. I was thinking 1/4” expanded metal with 1/8” lexan covering most of that. Kind of reverse from factory door with metal skeleton.

 

[charosenz]

I have a CT322 Deere. It doesn’t have an enclosed cab. Wanting to get a brush cutter to take care of the wooded area of my property. Was thinking about using expanded mesh with 1/8” lexan for a front shield while using the brush cutter. Thoughts??

I think if the screen is quite heavy you will be fine. BUT.....I think you will get frustrated with the polycarbonate getting dull and hard to see through real fast. I would just use eye protection and the screen and no plastic with the screen. Hope that makes sense.

 

[ColdBlackWind]

I think if the screen is quite heavy you will be fine. BUT.....I think you will get frustrated with the polycarbonate getting dull and hard to see through real fast. I would just use eye protection and the screen and no plastic with the screen. Hope that makes sense.

Makes perfect sense. I ran lexan on my dirt cars in the day and it mars up at the least touch. High water content. I was going to use a small square at head level to hide behind. I understand exactly.

 

[2manyrocks]

It's possible that something could hit the expanded metal and be split into fragments that the solid lexan would stop.

 

[4570Man]

The machine is a track loader and I would be mounting on the front of the cab like a door. I don’t really care for the aftermarket enclosures and one from JD is stupid expensive. Was thinking expanded metal to get some air. A metal door shield sounds interesting. I had not run across that.

I have an aftermarket door on my second skid steer which doesn’t have ac. It’s not that much hotter than without it and helps keep dust down. And the dust off a front mounted mower is ridiculous. It’s not pleasant to run on the open station machine. A mower doesn’t throw stuff that bad as long as you keep it on the ground. When you lift it up which I definitely wouldn’t do on an open station then all bets are off.

 

[oosik]

I would think if you got heavy enough expanded metal - you would not need any type of plexiglass. When the going get really tough - probably nothing will stop the small crap from covering the operator.

I'll bet some form of dust mask will be appropriate, also.