PHD and Brushcutters

[Sockwell]

I've recently bought a small farm that needs some TLC. One of the areas needing attention is the fenceline. It is grown up in samplings and brush. There are also posts that need adding and replacing. I've looked at Stihl and Husqvarna brushcutters and Land Pride and Bush Hog PHD's. What are the opinions and recommendations of you guys? I have a CCY EX3200. Was looking at a PHD with a 9" bit.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

9" is the auger bit I picked up as the most likely to be used on my place - both for pole buildings and fence posts.
either of the 2 brands you mention for brushcutter should work fine.
In the past I've used a older (when they were still quality) Homelite trimmer with a 10" carbide tooth sawblade ($5 from HF) and had good luck taking out 2" cedars. (wear steel toed boots & safety glasses)

 

[whistlepig]

I've recently bought a small farm that needs some TLC. One of the areas needing attention is the fenceline. It is grown up in samplings and brush. There are also posts that need adding and replacing. I've looked at Stihl and Husqvarna brushcutters and Land Pride and Bush Hog PHD's. What are the opinions and recommendations of you guys? I have a CCY EX3200. Was looking at a PHD with a 9" bit.

I have a Bush Hog 2102 PHD. What makes it a better PHD digger for me is the staggered replaceable teeth on the augers. These augers start better without walking and will dig in the hardest of ground. I have a 9" auger for 4" posts and a 12" auger for 7" posts. I am on my second Stihl FS80 brush cutter. It took me many years of hard use to wear the first one out. I never had any luck using a brush cutter saw blade to cut saplings. The sapling always pinched the saw blade and I would have to stop and free it. Stihl makes a good three edged brush blade that will handle saplings up to about 1".

 

[Sockwell]

Thanks for the info. I thought about posting pictures, but most of ya'll have seen grown up fence rows. The current owner got the place about 12 years ago and has pretty much let it go. The fence has been consumed with pines from 1" to 3" diameter. There is about 1500 yards of fence, 900 of which is along either road frontage or along the driveway. That's a lot of chainsaw work if a brushcutter won't do it.

I've priced brushcutters. They range from about $450 for the bottom line Husqvarna to about $1200 for the top line Stihl. I'm leaning toward the Husqvarna 343FR for $750. Does that sound like a fair price? I'm also looking at about $1000 for the Bush Hog PHD. Good, or at least fair, price on these items?

 

[whistlepig]

Thanks for the info. I thought about posting pictures, but most of ya'll have seen grown up fence rows. The current owner got the place about 12 years ago and has pretty much let it go. The fence has been consumed with pines from 1" to 3" diameter. There is about 1500 yards of fence, 900 of which is along either road frontage or along the driveway. That's a lot of chainsaw work if a brushcutter won't do it.

I've priced brushcutters. They range from about $450 for the bottom line Husqvarna to about $1200 for the top line Stihl. I'm leaning toward the Husqvarna 343FR for $750. Does that sound like a fair price? I'm also looking at about $1000 for the Bush Hog PHD. Good, or at least fair, price on these items?

1500 yards of fence line with a brush cutter would be a rough row to hoe. I would pull the fence poles out and take a loader and shave the trees and fence off. The only reason that I would pull the poles so that none break off at ground level and puncture a tire or go through the feet of livestock.

 

[RPW]

I'm in agreement with whistlepig and that's pretty much what I've seen done around here. Also when you pull the posts if they're rotted then depending on the area you're in you might look at using steel posts (2-7/8 for bracing and corners, 1-3/8 for the intermediate). Around my neck of the woods it's cheaper to use steel and I've got to run about 2500 for perimeter and probably about 3000 for various cross fences (eventually). I just picked up a leinbach L7200 as it was the most reasonable price in my area (even cheaper than TSC).

Good luck.