Brushcutting chaps?

[dmccarty]

I used to use my Stilh FS80/85? for cutting saplings and weeds. I cut a huge amount of material with that thing. I always wore eye protections, chaps, good boots, gloves, and a chainsaw helmet.

I really do not see how the blade could cut the operator short of the blade itself failing. Kicking back is not so much back but to the side. Keep any dogs, kids, people away from you when running the brush cutter.

Now I use a DR brush cutter. Much faster and somewhat easier on my back.

Later,
Dan

 

[MikeD74T]

If you wanted stellar leg protection I would suggest hockey shin-guards* coupled with chainsaw chaps...

In the late 70's I took a contract to clear 2 miles of powerline right of way the landowner wouldn't allow to be sprayed ( he didn't want the blueberries killed). I was only to cut anything that could grow to over 10', mostly alders, maples, poplars & softwoods. I wore steel toe rubber boots with hockey shin guards under my jeans & chainsaw chaps. The guards & chaps were mostly for pushing thru the brush that wasn't to be cut. Used a Homelite XL12 brush saw with a 10" circular saw blade that kicked like a mule. Used a beach towel folded to 8 layers inside my pants/belt to cushion the kickback. Without a harness failure I don't see the possibility of the blade getting back to my body although I'm only 5'6". I did manage to fall several times without issue, once onto a skunk, but that's another story. MikeD74T

 

[rd_macgregor]

I did manage to fall several times without issue, once onto a skunk, but that's another story. MikeD74T

So, if you were wearing a helmet, it was a steeenking one, right?

 

[smstonypoint]

So I ran the stihl 4 edge "grass" blade on the fs250r this morning-

<snip>

I have a lot of brambles- whats the best material to stop the bramble attack? (eg sticking in my pants and following me around trying to trip me up?)

thanks for all the thoughts

I use a 3-bladed "brush knife" to cut a swath through brambles and then to mulch the felled stems into smaller chunks that are less likely to trip me up.

Steve

 

[shane]

Well, I am a trim carpenter. I have found that if I take one of my old 12" miter saw blades and mount it on my trusty Husky brush cutter there's nothing that slows me down, other than the weight.

That thing will go through the thickest of weeds, briars, vines, you name it at little more than idle speed. And, at little more than idle, the thing will run forever before running out of fuel. Sometimes I wish it would run out of fuel a little faster so I would have to take a break.

And, as you can imagine, saplings, tree limbs, and the like are no problems either.

 

[jimmysisson]

Shane, I always meant to try that - glad to hear it works for you. You also bring up another feature of a two stroke. I like to vary the speed so it's not running wot all the time. But, it gets its lubrication when the throttle's open, not closed. With a good balanced saw blade I guess I wouldn't mind running it faster.
Jim

 

[Jaeger]

I've never had any trouble running a harnessed FS85 with either the circular saw blade, or the brush thinner blade. I always wear chainsaw boots, chaps, helmet with face shield and eye protection underneath. The harness will really help control the brush cutter and reduce fatigue.

J