Brushcutter advice
- Thread starter JustinE
- Start date
- Views: 43771
Scooby074
Super Member
How heavy of brush are you cutting?
moship
Veteran Member
JustinE,
I recently purchased a Stihl FS130 with saw blade and I'm very impressed with how fast it cuts trees. 1" to 1-1/2" is no problem and in fact I cut some much larger. The bigger ones might need two passes but it will cut faster than a chainsaw. Whatever you do make certain to get the bicycle handles versus the loop for better control.
The rate at which this cuts in amazingly fast. In a few hours I was able to cut hundreds of sapplings down on my hunting propery.
My Dad has the FS 90 with loop handle and it is very efficient cutting, but the loop makes it too difficult to control while cutting. Based on how well this cuts and how scary fast my FS130 cuts I see no reason to buy something bigger.
I recently purchased a Stihl FS130 with saw blade and I'm very impressed with how fast it cuts trees. 1" to 1-1/2" is no problem and in fact I cut some much larger. The bigger ones might need two passes but it will cut faster than a chainsaw. Whatever you do make certain to get the bicycle handles versus the loop for better control.
The rate at which this cuts in amazingly fast. In a few hours I was able to cut hundreds of sapplings down on my hunting propery.
My Dad has the FS 90 with loop handle and it is very efficient cutting, but the loop makes it too difficult to control while cutting. Based on how well this cuts and how scary fast my FS130 cuts I see no reason to buy something bigger.
Jimfromcanmore
New member
I also have the FS130. I can run with the chisel blade for hours, sharpening as required as I go. You'll need bike bars and a 4 point harness once you attach a saw blade. When pricing it out make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
moship
Veteran Member
JustinE,
Forgot to add this in the original post (#4).
In the event it helps. My FS130 is outfitted with a Chisel Tooth blade and my Dad's FS90 uses the Scatcher tooth blade. Both of these look like circular saw blades. If the trimmer is outfitted with the bicycle handles it comes with a 4-pt harness.
FYI... I also had a very old McCulluch HD Trimmmer/Cutter with circular blade and it doesn't cut anywhere near as well as the two Stihls listed above. (This was more of a semi-professional straight shaft model at the time and it came with bicycle handles)
Forgot to add this in the original post (#4).
In the event it helps. My FS130 is outfitted with a Chisel Tooth blade and my Dad's FS90 uses the Scatcher tooth blade. Both of these look like circular saw blades. If the trimmer is outfitted with the bicycle handles it comes with a 4-pt harness.
FYI... I also had a very old McCulluch HD Trimmmer/Cutter with circular blade and it doesn't cut anywhere near as well as the two Stihls listed above. (This was more of a semi-professional straight shaft model at the time and it came with bicycle handles)
mikehaugen
Elite Member
I think the stihl is out of the league of the other 2, for the same price maybe try the f250 which is probably a more comparable machine. I could be wrong as I am not a stihl salesman, but as far as I know nobody makes anything comparable to 460, so it wouldn't be an apples to apples comparison.
Scooby074
Super Member
I have a Husky 252Rx. A little bigger than the 460 or the 345 above (2.4kW vs 2.2kW and 2.1kW respectively). There isnt much it wont cut. That said, for the price, the 345FR would likely do all you want. Also dont just consider it a brush cutter, with a Tri-blade or string trimmer head you can cut very heavy grass. I regularly use mine in "grass mode" to keep the places that get overgrown under control.
PapaPerk
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2004
- Messages
- 2,403
- Location
- USA
- Tractor
- Kubota L3830, Ford Golden Jubilee, 1939 Sears Economy, Polaris Ranger 400, Honda Foreman 450 ES, 2004 Dodge Diesel 3500
Do you really need a dedicated brush cutter? Like I said you can easily and cheaply add a guard and blade to a FS90 with bike grips. Works great. Those dedicated machines are for pros that are running them 8 hours a day, everyday.
Scooby074
Super Member
They really are a grass terminator!! If you have any areas like mine that only get cut once a year, you'll love the power of it. Its not for trimming against the house after the weekly mow , but in the proper places nothing beats it There's no replacement for displacement.:thumbsup:
Bwgad96
Silver Member
PoorPlowboy
Platinum Member
No matter which one you choose, get a Beaver Blade for it. You won't regret it, I assure you.
I would get a Stihl. I think their heads are much better than the rest. I've never had clogged debree with the Stihl head design. A FS250 is a beast for under $600. I can cut up to 2in sapplings w no problem with mine. The tri blade cuts sapplings and heavy brush great. I love the handle bars and shoulder harness. Very comfortable to operate and can make wide swipes.
I've had a Stihl FS360 (52cc and basically an older version of the FS550 clearing saw) for over 20 years and it's still going strong. It's heavy but very efficient at cutting anything from grass to large saplings. With the full harness and bike handles, I find it easier to use than a much lighter loop-handle trimmer. If you do a good bit of trimming/brushcutting and can handle and afford a clearing saw, I think you can't do better than getting a big one.
