Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower

   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #1  

bdhsfz6

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Apr 11, 2015
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Location
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Tractor
Kubota MX5800 HST & L6060 HSTC Formerly L6060 HST B7100 HST, L2550, L3010 HST, L3430 HST
Yeah, this topic has been done to death here, but I have a question for those who have used both:

I went to the dealer this week to get replacement knives for my flail. The guy behind the counter said I should switch to hammers because they last longer and cut just as well. Has anyone found this to be true?

I've used both, and never got as good a cut with hammers as I did with knives. Even brand new, the hammers seem to beat the vegetation into submission rather than cut it cleanly.

The only advantage I've found with hammers is they are more durable and better for rough rocky ground. They are also quicker and easier to sharpen.

Maybe it's just my mower but what has been your experience?
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #2  
Tag for more info. I have hammers currently for clearing 10+ years of neglect but am wondering if knives will be worth it once it is initially cleared
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #3  
My opinion of hammers vs knives mirrors yours.
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #4  
Knives cut grass cleaner than hammers. Hammers excel in brush and branches. Hammers do get damaged by rocks which greatly reduces their cutting ability.
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #5  
My old flail mower will cut weeds and grass as good as a finish mower. It uses the folded cup fails. But it will choke on really tall weeds and twigs thicker than 1". My new flail mower will cut stems and branches up to 2+" as good as my brush hog. It uses the "duck-feet" hammers. I got the new flail to do banks, ditches and under Mesquite trees where I can't get the brush hog. It extends to the side as well as tilts. It will go vertical too. I plan to use it a lot on my east and west fence lines and front ditches and banks. It's a poor-man's shredder. ;)

I just can't see how anyone can have just one mower. I need them all and I still have a ZTR to fill in the gaps and do the "lawn".
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #6  
Agree more than one mower. I have 3
Hammer flail
SS Brush Hog
3pt Brush Hog converted to chain blades
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #7  
Agree more than one mower. I have 3
Hammer flail
SS Brush Hog
3pt Brush Hog converted to chain blades
How ya liking the chain mower?
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #8  
My old flail mower will cut weeds and grass as good as a finish mower. It uses the folded cup fails. But it will choke on really tall weeds and twigs thicker than 1". My new flail mower will cut stems and branches up to 2+" as good as my brush hog. It uses the "duck-feet" hammers. I got the new flail to do banks, ditches and under Mesquite trees where I can't get the brush hog. It extends to the side as well as tilts. It will go vertical too. I plan to use it a lot on my east and west fence lines and front ditches and banks. It's a poor-man's shredder. ;)

I just can't see how anyone can have just one mower. I need them all and I still have a ZTR to fill in the gaps and do the "lawn".
Mr. Tin hack, can I kindly ask what kind of flail you own?

Also, what's it cut width?
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #9  
I like the hammers. I am rural, not suburban. I don't have lawn.

Knives should be better if you want a more lawn-like finish.

My hammers are big and heavy. I can run over branches up to 3" like a forestry mulcher. But it still cuts grasses well, too.
 
   / Knives vs Hammers on a Flail Mower #10  
How ya liking the chain mower?
I like the chain mower where I'm rough mowing an overgrown field or where I'm mowing an unknown field where I don't want to find rocks and debris with blades. I did a little thread on it. It started with an old free mower and an inspiration from reading TBN posts from abroad.
 

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