Swisher trimmer....your thoughts?

[keegs]

Swisher Products : Products: Trimmers

I need something to trim around the pond. The terrain is too rough for the lawn mower. Anyone have one of these?

 

[2manyrocks]

I had a different brand.

My personal experience was that it was not fun on slopes because my machine was not self propelled. It certainly ate into tall material, but any kind of woody material tended to break the cutting lines. The cutting lines on the machine I had seemed to be much thicker than the lines on string trimmers, and more pricey.

I ended up selling it and went to a shoulder mounted Echo brushcutter with a metal blade. In my opinion, the machine I had didn't do a better job for the extra weight and lack of mobility. Plus, the metal cutting head on the Echo brushcutter is much longer lasting on brush than the cutting lines on the walk behind trimmer.

 

[duanekeys]

I just got one of these (not the same brand) for free. I've been looking for one because I thought it would make trimming my fence line faster.

It does not. The ground I am rolling it over is highly uneven and has rocks, etc (not at all like the photo in the link). I kept getting the wheel hung up in the fence because the cord doesn't extend much past it and I was trying to walk parallel to the fence and get a nice clean cut up to the fence.

I'll probably be selling it soon.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

keegs there is nothing wrong with the trimmer. I picked up a used 2010 Swisher ZT mower with 27 hours that I really like.

Years ago I did buy a DR version of the machine in question and returned it. As the other two have pointed out these machines are not so great even if you pay ZERO for them. I am sure they have their place but I just never did find it.

I second a heavy duty line trimmer that can also take a metal blade for your application.

 

[keegs]

Wow..3 for 3...

I saw one (Trim-n-Mow version) at Tractor Supply and it caught my interest. It was $350. I don't typically like to spend that much money without doing some checking first. Maybe I'll try to rent one.

Thanks.

 

[2manyrocks]

My walk behind trimmer was something like $100-$150 used, and I see them on CL for that or about what they are new from folks whom I suspect are trying to get their money back. I got a new Echo trimmer with handlebars and the interchangeable trimmer/metal brush cutter heads for $400 with sales tax. So the cost of the walk behind and the cost of the shoulder trimmers is in the same ballpark.

I think part of the walk behind trimmer problem is that we're all accustomed to walk behind mowers and expect the trimmer to handle and feel about the same. With only the two wheels, you have to hang on to it to keep it balanced and you have to push/pull it. With a four wheel mower, you only have to push/pull.

I don't understand why the things cost so much compared to a regular lawn mower anyway.

 

[keegs]

My walk behind trimmer was something like $100-$150 used, and I see them on CL for that or about what they are new from folks whom I suspect are trying to get their money back. I got a new Echo trimmer with handlebars and the interchangeable trimmer/metal brush cutter heads for $400 with sales tax. So the cost of the walk behind and the cost of the shoulder trimmers is in the same ballpark.

I think part of the walk behind trimmer problem is that we're all accustomed to walk behind mowers and expect the trimmer to handle and feel about the same. With only the two wheels, you have to hang on to it to keep it balanced and you have to push/pull it. With a four wheel mower, you only have to push/pull.

I don't understand why the things cost so much compared to a regular lawn mower anyway.

My sense of it is is that the walk behind trimmer might make the work go a bit faster than the strap on trimmer but I don't "know" that to be the case.

I'd like to keep the area around the pond (about an acre or so) cleared. It's mostly tall grass during summer with some wild raspberries, thistle ...things of that nature...nothing too woody. I've been hiring someone to bush hog it so allot of the heavy stuff that was there has been cut back. But one pass around the pond and the house with the bush hog is about $300.

A new trail cutter is beyond what I'm willing to pay. If I could find something used is another story. Eventually I'm going to pick up a used tractor and bush hog but I'm not there yet.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I too had a wheeled trimmer and sold it because pushing it was too much. Mine used short lengths of ribbed plastic trim line. I would cut lengths of line from a spool and carry them and some tools in a nylon bag on the machine. Cut okay but kind of a pain.

I switched to an FS200 Stihl maybe 8-10 years ago.

 

[2manyrocks]

My sense of it is is that the walk behind trimmer might make the work go a bit faster than the strap on trimmer but I don't "know" that to be the case.

I hope we're not talking about cutting 1 acre of vegetation with either type of trimmer. The effective cutting width of either type of trimmer is probably less than a normal push mower, and it would take forever to cut 1 acre.

You can cover a surprising amount of territory swinging a brushcutter back and forth compared to pushing a walk behind through the same overgrown area. If we're talking about cutting 1 acre, however, then some kind of self propelled brush cutter like a Gravely, high wheel yazoo, a DR or a Bachtold mower might be a better choice.

You might take a look at this post: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/206191-caught-my-first-mole-year-2.html#post2366214

Bachtold has or had a recall on some of their machines, but they were used quite a bit in rental places for many years.

 

[keegs]

I hope we're not talking about cutting 1 acre of vegetation with either type of trimmer. The effective cutting width of either type of trimmer is probably less than a normal push mower, and it would take forever to cut 1 acre.

You can cover a surprising amount of territory swinging a brushcutter back and forth compared to pushing a walk behind through the same overgrown area. If we're talking about cutting 1 acre, however, then some kind of self propelled brush cutter like a Gravely, high wheel yazoo, a DR or a Bachtold mower might be a better choice.

You might take a look at this post: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/206191-caught-my-first-mole-year-2.html#post2366214

Bachtold has or had a recall on some of their machines, but they were used quite a bit in rental places for many years.

Yeah, I'm in bush hog territory with this no doubt toomany but I'm not bush hog ready just yet...

The cutting radius on the Swisher is 22" according to their literature. I have a Sears gas powered weed wacker but it's too light weight for the job. I rented an Echo last year from the local rental place and it too wasn't quite up to the task. I understand there are better gas trimmers out there though. DR??? Gale mentioned DR too. Don't know...

The pond is slightly under an acre by my rough calculation. I'd like to keep a path clear from the driveway down to the pond and maybe keep a perimeter area around the pond clear as well. I guess how wide a perimeter area would depend on what else is on the honeydo that day....if you know what I mean :laughing:.

This photo was taken while standing in the driveway looking down to the pond:

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz215/keegsbucket/pond.jpg

 

[bcp]

Good to maintain an edge on flat, cleared land with grass and light vegetation. Not good for rough, hilly land or hard, tough stems over about 3/16 inch. The string will catch on wire (field fence) and pull the mower into it before the string breaks.

Not good for "clearing" or first cut of wild areas. For that, a regular push mower is better (if you are going to push something).

 

[flusher]

Swisher Products : Products: Trimmers

I need something to trim around the pond. The terrain is too rough for the lawn mower. Anyone have one of these?

I have one of these. Works fine on level ground. Not very useful on slopes or for mowing ditches along the road. I hardly use it any more. Instead, I use my Tanaka string mower--commercial model, about $400, now on the 6th season, paid $35 to get the carb cleaned and adjusted this Spring.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

If you are wanting the keep the bank cut to the water's edge you could pick up a small Ford/Ferguson type tractor and sickle type mower and a small bushhog.

It is not possible to keep up a place without spending some money just like it is not possible to drive a vehicle without spending some money for some tires.

You can do that for $2-3K depending on what you get. Down the road today is a little Fergerson up and running for $1700. Keep in mind this old stuff if kept running will bring what you give for it 10 years from now.

People who spend $15-$30K to do the same do it because that is what they wanted to do and not because that is "what" they had to do.

 

[keegs]

If you are wanting the keep the bank cut to the water's edge you could pick up a small Ford/Ferguson type tractor and sickle type mower and a small bushhog.

It is not possible to keep up a place without spending some money just like it is not possible to drive a vehicle without spending some money for some tires.

You can do that for $2-3K depending on what you get. Down the road today is a little Fergerson up and running for $1700. Keep in mind this old stuff if kept running will bring what you give for it 10 years from now.

People who spend $15-$30K to do the same do it because that is what they wanted to do and not because that is "what" they had to do.

I've got some ideas along these lines Gale about a used tractor and such but this is a summer place and I'm about 10 years out from making more permanent residence there. Between now and then I should be able to put up an outbuilding for storage/security and get me something to sit on ..with a jerry rigged cup holder ...if you know what I mean...:thumbsup:

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Thanks for the info. Clearly your best bet will be to get someone in the area to do the bush hogging stuff since you only need to be carrying out hand tools.

Do consider the advice about a high end line/blade trimmer. It will last about 20 years. Be careful around the pond so you do not give it a 'drink'.

It is a very beautiful place.:thumbsup:

 

[2manyrocks]

That is a beautiful pond. Good news is it looks to be mostly grass, and the slope doesn't look terrible.

If you keep looking, you'll probably come across a used walk behind trimmer for $75-$150. Buy it, use it, resell it and you're probably not out much if you don't like it. If it has just been used as a trimmer and not as a substitute bush hog, it probably will have less hours than a regular mower.

This is the brushcutter I bought. ECHO SRM-265U Emission-Compliant Powerful Brushcutter - ECHO USA (5 year consumer warranty)

I used it with a metal saw tooth cutting head to clear out a patch of kudzu and briars. If you put a metal grass blade on it, it would slice right through your tall grass. It won't grind it up like the walk behind string trimmer, but it will cut it down. That's all you need to clear a path.

They also make a metal blade conversion kit that HD carries for about $39 that you can use to adapt their other trimmers to a metal head. It includes a blade. So you could buy one of their $220 Echo trimmers and convert it if you wanted. It just so happened that the closest Echo dealer had the larger unit that he had ordered for a customer who didn't like it, and I was able to get it for a bit more.

I suspect that say 30 years ago, companies could build self propelled mowers with exposed blades that would really chop through grass without clogging up, and then products liability concerns forced them to start using enclosed decks. The enclosed decks require more HP, and the machines have gotten to be expensive.

The walk behind string trimmers have the exposed cutting head, but I suppose the use of trimmer line means they don't throw objects quite as far as an exposed steel blade.

I think either a walk behind or a shoulder trimmer will cut a path for you with some work on your part.

 

[2manyrocks]

Homebrew brushcutter from the days before shoulder mounted trimmers.

Note the rope wind starter. When you choked it on brush, you had to rewind the rope to start it again and again, and again. It was a relatively low HP engine which meant it got choked pretty often if you didn't watch it.

Small wheels that didn't like rough terrain.

Wood deck. Welded galvanized handlebars.

Sickle mower teeth riveted to a flat bar for a blade. (Think of what happens if one of those teeth flew off....)

 

[keegs]

Homebrew brushcutter from the days before shoulder mounted trimmers.

Note the rope wind starter. When you choked it on brush, you had to rewind the rope to start it again and again, and again. It was a relatively low HP engine which meant it got choked pretty often if you didn't watch it.

Small wheels that didn't like rough terrain.

Wood deck. Welded galvanized handlebars.

Sickle mower teeth riveted to a flat bar for a blade. (Think of what happens if one of those teeth flew off....)

Now that's what I'm talkin about !!! :thumbsup:

 

[Scooby074]

Almost looks like the perfect setting for a DR type mower.

All grass? with no large woody stuff to cause you grief. You'd make pretty quick work of it with one. Id pass on the wheeled string trimmer.

 

[niemeyjt]

We have some steep banks on our ponds, and I went for a backpack strimmer - the Stihl FR350. I find it keeps me better balanced and is more controllable than a conventional strimmer - so much so I use it most of the time now.

Downside on this model is you have to take it off to start - the new ones have an electric starter.

J