Good Brushcutter/stringtrimmer- $850.00???

dukenyc · Apr 18, 2005

I need to get a good string trimmer style brush cutter. The local Stihl Dealer advised me to get the fs450K w/ the brush blade. It is $850 with the blade and string head. It looks like a good trimmer, but is a bit more than I was looking to spend.

I need to cut sumac and 1-2" thick brush and saplings alongside a trail. I will use my CUT to maintain the trail, this will just be to work along the edges and to reach into areas I cant get the CUT. The only other tool i could think of to do the job was the pole -pruner (chainsaw on a stick), and it is $600.

I guess what I am asking is if this overkill or if there is a comparable tool for less money from another manufacturer.

Thanks for the help.

Bird · Apr 18, 2005

Duke, there's no doubt that FS450K is a fine machine for the purpose, but in my opinion you could drop back several models in the Stihl line and get one for half that price that would work very well. I've forgotten the model number now that I bought in '95 for about $350, but I used the circle saw blade on it quite a bit and it worked just fine for big vines and small saplings up to a couple of inches or more in diameter.

chatcher · Apr 18, 2005

( I need to get a good string trimmer style brush cutter. The local Stihl Dealer advised me to get the fs450K w/ the brush blade. It is $850 with the blade and string head. It looks like a good trimmer, but is a bit more than I was looking to spend.

I need to cut sumac and 1-2" thick brush and saplings alongside a trail. I will use my CUT to maintain the trail, this will just be to work along the edges and to reach into areas I cant get the CUT. The only other tool i could think of to do the job was the pole -pruner (chainsaw on a stick), and it is $600.

I guess what I am asking is if this overkill or if there is a comparable tool for less money from another manufacturer.

Thanks for the help. )

The only brush blade I've had success with is the one that has chainsaw-style teeth (not a chain) around the edges. It works better for me than either the circular-saw style teeth or the cross-shape blade. I don't think any manufacturer would include the chansaw-tooth blade as original equipment! Having said that, I think I'll try the pole pruner next for versatility. I think Stihl makes at least one model with interchangeable pole pruner and weed trimmer heads.

Bird · Apr 18, 2005

( I think Stihl makes at least one model with interchangeable pole pruner and weed trimmer heads. )

Like the FS130; string trimmer, hedge shears, pole saw, tiller, sweeper, and edger. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

jeffinsgf · Apr 18, 2005

I'll second the comment about the blades with the chainsaw teeth on them. I just got one last week and I am running it with a Husqvarna 225 trimmer/cutter. That's half the horses of what your Stihl dealer is proposing (if model numbers relate to engine cc like I think they do). I had a circular saw style blade and felt like I was never getting anywhere with it. I was going to get a bigger machine (until I saw the price of the Stihl 450), but my JD dealer also sells Shindawa and he had these 9 inch Shindawa blades with either 6 or 12 chainsaw teeth. I thought I would gamble 20 dollars instead of 850. I got the six tooth model and it will knock down finger sized saplings as fast as you can swing it. 2 and 3 inch stuff requires a little concentrated effort, but still less than 30 seconds. Plus, if you know how to file your chain saw chain, you can sharpen this puppy yourself! It binds and hangs up much less than the circular saw style blade did and I haven't had it kick back at all -- yet.

PBinWA · Apr 18, 2005

I bought one of these a few years ago and it is awesome:

Beaver Blade

I run it on my old beat up Ryobi Gas Trimmer and it cuts through thick branches and black berries like nothing. I've even used it to prune the lower branches off large 40 foot Douglas Firs. It is now my "pole saw" for anything I can reach with it.

It is probably super dangerous but IMO anything that works well usually is.

My only regret is not finding it before I destroyed my carpal tunnels hacking down blackberries with one of those crappy brush blades.

Bird · Apr 18, 2005

I had the Beaver Blade for my DR string trimmer/mower, and, yes, it's a great tool for taking down stuff on up to about 4.5", but I thought the circle saw type blade on my Stihl worked just fine for stuff in the 2" range.

chatcher · Apr 18, 2005

( I bought one of these a few years ago and it is awesome:

Beaver Blade

I run it on my old beat up Ryobi Gas Trimmer and it cuts through thick branches and black berries like nothing. I've even used it to prune the lower branches off large 40 foot Douglas Firs. It is now my "pole saw" for anything I can reach with it.

It is probably super dangerous but IMO anything that works well usually is.

My only regret is not finding it before I destroyed my carpal tunnels hacking down blackberries with one of those crappy brush blades. )

I haven't tried the beaver blade, which looks like it is made with actual chainsaw chain. The blade I was referring to is one piece of steel, with chainsaw-shaped teeth cut into the outer edge. It cuts a thinner kerf than a chainsaw. Having not used both types, I can't compare, but mine cuts like crazy.

Bird · Apr 18, 2005

Chuck, you're right about the Beaver Blade being an actual chain saw chain. I don't think I've seen the other type that you've described.

beenthere · Apr 18, 2005

I have had all three, and the Beaver blade (with chain) I like the best. It did not fit on my new Stihl cutter, so am running the blade with stamped/sharpened teeth on the order of chainsaw teeth. The regular sawblade with pointed teeth just gets dull too quickly and doesn't have enough kerf to make a quick cut.

I can be happy with the one I have. I had been told the Stihl warranty would not hold if they knew I had the Beaver blade. I used it anyway for years.

I had the FS90 Stihl, and now have the FS120. New numbers may be different now.

rswyan · Apr 19, 2005

I have a Stihl FS66 that I have had for about 15 years or so. Cleaning up the garage yesterday I ran across the original receipt - it was like $280 back then.

I've used it to trim and cut heavy brush and small saplings (1 - 2 inches) - it's a bit underpowered for anything larger, like Christmas tree famring.

It's been good, minimal maintainence - I'd buy another Stihl in a heartbeat.

One thing - just make sure you ALWAYS use their oil for the premix.

Charlie_in_TX · Apr 19, 2005

I had similar needs. I bought a kombi system similar to http://www.stihlusa.com/multitask/KM55.html. With trimmer, edger and prunning saw I am in about $600.

Haoleguy · Apr 22, 2005

This past week I invested in a forest clearing saw/trimmer from Husqvarna(345FX). The 2.9hp is enough power to make quick work of saplings and small brush with the 24T saw blade. I have the vine/brush cutter(3 cutter points) but have not used it yet as I'm missing the larger guard for this cutter. In 1hr I cleared brush and vines in a 8' by 50' area. My spouse was pleased which is always an added bonus. This unit cost me $725 from local dealer but I noticed a $649-1000 price range on the web.

65hoss · Apr 22, 2005

Stihl FS 110-250 with the brush blade will do anything you want it to. I've used the blades on my FS 85's also and they do fine with it.

Moon · Apr 26, 2005

A few years back I needed one of these. Though a friend I found out that our local power company workers used shindawa weed eaters/ burshcutters for the task (and they put em though quite a workout). So ... that's what I bought. It works fine for cutting back mutiflorra rose and what not. I've cut 3" sticks / trees with it. It's still going strong. I"ve had it about 5 years now. It cost $365.00.

Moon

fishman · Apr 26, 2005

I use a Stihl FS85 Pro with the aforementioned chainsaw style blade and it works great. Keep it sharp and it will take down any tree that is thinner than the distance from the edge of the blade to the hub. I also tried the saw tooth blades and they don't work for big stuff at all.

I bought the FS85 because it was the least expensive Stihl model that still had a solid shaft and was approved for metal blades. It also has the bicycle handles which are safer. I really wanted a bigger one, but couldn't justify the price. My dealer said "Why, when this one will do what you need?" and he was right.

dukenyc · Apr 26, 2005

Thanks for the responses!

The local Stihl dealer told me the smaller models would not work and wants me to get the 450K. If The others will work, it will save me coin which can be put towards a brush cutter for the tractor.

Where can you get a "beaverblade" or other chainsaw type. The dealer only has the saw type.

otus_branch · Apr 26, 2005

( Stihl FS 110-250 with the brush blade will do anything you want it to. I've used the blades on my FS 85's also and they do fine with it. )

'hoss is right about this, but it's worth noting that the (2-stroke) Stihl 250 is a heck of a lot more powerful than the (4-mix) Stihl 110 or 130. I've only demo'd each of these outside the local dealer, but even that was enough to convince me that the 250 was worth the coin for my brushclearing tasks. The 250 is on order now (I demo'd a bicycle-handle type, but wanted the loop handle for its flexibility...). The damage for me was around $500 with tax, etc. That's still a bunch in my book, but better than $850.

-otus

PBinWA · Apr 26, 2005

( Where can you get a "beaverblade" )

http://www.atvyardtrim.com/BeaverBlade.shtml

Google will show them too.

I use mine on a cheap Ryobi 32cc Gas trimmer and it worked great.

fishman · Apr 27, 2005

PB,

Did you get extra chains and if so, is the tool they list required to change them?

Does the blade come with a chain, or is that extra?

Looks like a great product.