An Introduction to brushcutters -

A good brushcutter is invaluable to any homeowner with property that includes areas that are overgrown with shrubs, tall grass or seedlings. There are many types of brush cutters, so when shopping for a new brushcutter to add to your garden tools collection it is important to compare options to ensure you get the right brushcutter for your needs.

Types of brush cutters -

Two basic types of brush cutters include the following:

• Hand held brushcutter/trimmer combos

• Walk behind brush cutters and Field mowers

Hand held combos typically have interchangeable heads for using string for grass trimming and blades for brush cutting. Some larger hand held brush cutters have blades that are similar to saw blades, where others have replaceable plastic blades that are more durable than trimmer string but which are replaced as they wear.

To illustrate some of the features and key differences of these different types of brush cutters, the following are examples of some popular models.

Tanaka commercial grade hand held brushcutter/trimmer combo -

Tanaka's commercial grade 47 CC 2.4 hp to stroke gas powered dual handle brushcutter/grass trimmer is a powerful hand held brushcutter/trimmer combo. It weighs in at 19.9 pounds. It has a solid steel shaft drive and comes with a BRAIN head and saw blade. For commercial use it has a two-year warranty and homeowners receive a three year warranty. For a handheld machine, this unit will get the job done and more. It sells for $689.99.

Nikita gas powered hand held brushcutter -

The Makita 24.5 cc gasoline powered brushcutter offers a lot for $399.99. It features a mini for stroke brush cutter for delivering maximum power in a lightweight model. This results in increased operator comfort with less fatigue. It's 1 hp 24.5 cc motor operates quieter and with less environmental impact, and it provides to speeds of 3000 and 7000 rpm. It has a fast starting ignition. The drive shaft is solid steel to deliver more power with lower vibration and a heavy-duty gear case for heavy loads. Makita offers a one year warranty. Customer reviews rate this unit high, citing material and manufacturing to be first rate, good performance in starting right away and cutting extremely well, being durable and lightweight, and the ability to fill up with regular unleaded gas for convenience. Users say this machine has plenty of power and even for tough cutting jobs this equipment won't let you down.

Swisher self-propelled walk behind brushcutter -

The Swisher predator 24 inch 11.5 hp gas self-propelled brushcutter is a powerful machine representing the walk behind brush cutters or Field mowers. This machine is a real powerhouse. It is ideal for cutting trails in the woods, clearing large fields, or mowing ditches with tall grass. The 24 inch predator brushcutter clears dense undergrowth and saplings that measure up to 1.5 inches diameter. It clears up to two thirds of an acre per hour at the self-propelled walk behind speed. This heavy-duty brush cutting unit has handlebar mounted controls that are ergonomically designed for comfort. It has large pneumatic tires to roll across all-terrain types and a four speed transmission to give power for climbing, smooth cruising, and reverse mode for backing up from trouble spots. Homeowners or professionals with large areas to clear will find this machine fit for the job. It retails at $1389.99 and is currently on sale for $1299.99.

Choosing your brushcutter type -

Now let's consider what type of brush cutting jobs you will be doing because the various types of brushcutters have attributes that are better suited for certain types of cutting. If you have large property with fields full of tall grass, for example, or ditches that grow tall leaves which require mowing alongside roads, the walk behind brushcutter is much better suited for your needs. If on the other hand, you have occasional brush cutting needs with small areas and your interest is more oriented toward trimming corners, trimming around trees, trimming around fence posts, etc. then a hand held machine will be more suited for your needs. Certainly, a good brushcutter is an important item for any good collection of garden equipment.