Grass trimmer (stri...
 

Grass trimmer (strimmer?) but more

19 Posts
20 Users
0 Reactions
44 Views
Offline  noone
Full Member
Topic starter
 
Share this post

Hi,

Coming to the end of a Reno project and now starting to think about clearing the neglected gardens in anticipation of landscaping works beginning.

I have a grass trimmer with the usual wire on a spool. I’m looking for something more heavy duty to just cut right through the shoulder height brush and nettles. Perhaps a trimmer but with blade instead of a wire? Does that exist? Any recommendations?

cheers

 
Posted : 16/07/2024 9:42 pm
Offline  jam-bo
Full Member
 
Share this post

Can you get a brush cutter head to fit yours.

 
Posted : 16/07/2024 9:51 pm
Offline  bigyan
Free Member
 
Share this post

Brush cutter.

 
Posted : 16/07/2024 9:54 pm
Offline  kormoran
Free Member
 
Share this post

I've a Makita strimmer with cord and blade heads. Beast of a thing, 36v. Very impressive

Also you can maybe upgrade to a thicker cord on yours

 
Posted : 16/07/2024 9:56 pm
Offline  johnstell
Full Member
 
Share this post

Hot tip - to make the filament more durable - soak it in water for a few days. Nylon is hydroscopic and becomes brittle when it’s dry. You won’t believe the difference

 
Posted : 16/07/2024 10:04 pm
Offline  blokeuptheroad
Full Member
 
Share this post

I've a Stihl petrol strimmer/brush cutter.  It takes less than a minute to switch between strimmer spool and heavy duty steel blade.

 
Posted : 16/07/2024 10:11 pm

Offline  FuzzyWuzzy
Full Member
 
Share this post

I have one of these (corded electric) https://www.direct-powertools.co.uk/ryobi-rbc1226-intelli-tool-electric-26cm-brush-cutter-c2x20843911 and it works really well dealing with brambles etc. My garden is pretty small so I wanted corded but obviously for some use cases that's a limitation.

I also bought steel toed safety wellies, face shield and harness for it (possibly all from Oregon but not sure), I'd highly recommend them (especially the face shield as more protective than just goggles/glasses).

If you're anywhere near Bristol happy to loan it to you

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 7:13 am
Offline  midlifecrashes
Full Member
 
Share this post

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Trimmer-23-37-cutting-diameter/dp/B01AK2DYEQ/“

I have this one, it’ll clear the lot in an hour. Doncaster if you want to borrow it.

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 7:39 am
Offline  timba
Free Member
 
Share this post

Any recommendations?

One-off? Borrow or hire, you can devastate a lot of brush in a day. Invest in PPE as suggested above

You could also consider getting in touch with your 1600s self and getting a slasher/sythe/machete and a pair of thick gloves

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 8:39 am
Offline  dovebiker
Full Member
 
Share this post

I’ve got a Makita 18V brush cutter fitted with a saw blade to deal with all the gorse and bracken that surrounds us - was able to cut through 100mm branches with a few cuts - isn’t too powerful that you have to worry about backlash. I’ve also got a smaller cordless strimmer for dealing with lawn edging etc.

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 8:42 am
Offline  cloudnine
Free Member
 
Share this post

Be aware of strimming cow parsley and other umbellifers.. the sap is photo toxic and will result in blisters if bits of the plants get on bare skin and unknowingly left..

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 8:44 am
Offline  kilo
Full Member
 
Share this post

We have quite a big garden with rough bushes , grass and reeds all over it which gets left for months to go wild. After a few years of destroying kit the answer is a Stihl petrol strummer with a blade as well as a spool. Not cheap but it just lasts.

If you go petrol get ear protection. Decent gloves take the edge of the vibration and I too use a face guard / visor as getting hit in the face or eyes by bits firing up from the machine head at high speed gets boring very quickly

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 8:59 am

Offline  kayak23
Full Member
 
Share this post

I’ve got a Makita 18V brush cutter fitted with a saw blade

Nope, no, not.

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 9:05 am
Offline  matt_outandabout
Free Member
 
Share this post

+1 on be aware of cow parsley etc.

I hired one to make the 'first cut' on our overgrown garden.
I then spent far more days digging and uprooting things. Like blackcurrant bushes with stems as thick as my arm...
I now have a light Stihl but only use it once or month or so on less and less area.

IMO I would rent a big one with PPE, then buy my own decent battery one.

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 9:11 am
Offline  the-muffin-man
Full Member
 
Share this post

If you've already got some hedge trimmers they make a decent job of hacking stuff back.

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 9:14 am
Offline  Scapegoat
Full Member
 
Share this post

If you go petrol get ear protection. Decent gloves take the edge of the vibration and I too use a face guard / visor as getting hit in the face or eyes by bits firing up from the machine head at high speed gets boring very quickly

see also keeping your mouth closed if you’re strimming in the vicinity of slugs, dogshit, decomposing small mammals……

 
Posted : 17/07/2024 1:54 pm
Offline  i_like_food
Free Member
 
Share this post

"If you’ve already got some hedge trimmers they make a decent job of hacking stuff back."

This is true. I once cleared a small but very overgrown garden using a hedge cutter wielded like a samurai on speed. Most satisfying.

 
Posted : 18/07/2024 8:33 pm
Offline  z1ppy
Free Member
 
Share this post

Brush cutter head+1, but also +1 to the hedge cutter idea. Though if you’re using a brush cutter, do two passes. First not too low, so any wildlife get chance to flee & not the alternative
To make good use of a hedgecutter, we found two ppl work best, one can use a rake to lift/push the undergrowth, so the person wielding a hedge cutter can get into the bases.

 
Posted : 19/07/2024 6:24 am

Offline  Mikeypies
Free Member
 
Share this post

Dont bother with a bush cutter blade as they are not very effective, so long as you have a relatively powerful petrol strimmer buy a Oregon mulching blade

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oregon-Universal-Vegetation-Professional-Brushcutters/dp/B00RZH0V4G/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-s7iO8px2En7E8Xi3P5W4sgEAAvhpqQ6gOd0yzh-_dzlspn9I4T1vEjrTzhhCNk63gcomaXjV6buwThYEulKWux6rcK4N3FJB570cMyW2ZCY4Vrxoqito1vgwU1m0q4PByJUOvzEHlHQ4k1Z46aExOrWLQ0nKC1ShcTcbrl1KTcKZ8ASx1dCInwDD2XFJQpbmV9MTX_0D_1ilo5jsNl_INUyaMkbEnOMX4o2_zhK6Bk.A8IEz0lEkNH1GQ2VjnhLgXrO0tf5sPU-Qav1bHw27C0&dib_tag=se&keywords=oregon%2Bmulching%2Bblade&qid=1721367885&sr=8-2&th=1

it will blast through brambles and  branches up to 2 cm thick, just make sure you have some PPE as well, to use it don’t just ram it in but instead use a gentle up and down action and it will very quickly and with out much effort from you clear brambles

 
Posted : 19/07/2024 6:48 am
Offline  trail_rat
Free Member
 
Share this post

I’ve got a Makita 18V brush cutter fitted with a saw blade

Nope, no, not.

Where does one purchase such HSE violations. Temu ?

 
Posted : 19/07/2024 6:52 am

Secret Diary Of Benjamin Haworth Age 47 3/4

Last Minute Tuscany

Digital Detox

singletrack issue 159 cover image

Issue 159