Hi, Let’s talk about your most pressing concern today: how to use a brush cutter blade.
Whether you’re a gardener or a homeowner, you already know how useful a brush cutter is.
The brush cutter is useful because it can reach regions where the mower cannot.
Let’s have a look at brush cutters and the many sorts of brush cutter blades. After that, we’ll go over how to operate a brush cutter blade safely and efficiently.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is a Brush Cutter?
Brush Cutter Vs String trimmer
Types of Brush Cutter blades
Types of Brush Cutter operations
How to install a brush cutter blade
Safety gears for using brush cutter with blade
How to use a Brush Cutter blade
To cut thick grass and weeds
To cut brushes
To cut tree trunks and branches
Hazards to be considered while using a brush cutter blade
Maintenance of brush cutter blades for long life
How to sharpen a brush cutter blade
How often to change a brush cutter blade
WHAT IS A BRUSH CUTTER
A brush cutter is a trimmer that uses a blade for cutting and trimming. The blade can be made of plastic or metal.
The working principle of the brush cutter is the same as the trimmer. A fastly rotating blade cuts the grass and brushes.
Blade makes brush cutter compatible for cutting tall grass, brushes, bushes, and even trees. Blade trimmer needs powerful motor for heavy-duty tasks.
BRUSH CUTTER VS STRING TRIMMER
You will not be wrong if you consider a brush cutter, a type of trimmer. A trimmer uses nylon string as a cutting tool while a brush cutter uses metal or plastic blades.
Nowadays trimmers are available that can be used with string as well as blades. If you are about to purchase a brush cutter, consider this dual trimmer. For a thorough discussion on comparing string trimmer and brush cutter click weedeater with a blade instead of a string.
TYPES OF BRUSH CUTTER BLADES
Brush cutter blades come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. You can select the most satisfactory option that meets your needs. They are divided into four groups.
TYPES OF BRUSH CUTTER OPERATIONS
The brush cutter is a powerful trimmer that can cut
- Tall and thick grasses
- Shrubs and weeds
- Woody plants
- Small trees and brushes
- A brush cutter with a strong motor and blade can cut tree trunks also.
HOW TO INSTALL A BRUSH CUTTER BLADE
- Brush cutter blade installation is very easy.
- Open the nut of the brush cutter head and remove the washers.
- Put the blade on the head so that the blade’s hole fits the mounting screw.
- Note the direction of the arrow on the deflector. Put the blade in the same direction.
- Most of the blades have printed spinning direction indications. But if it is not and if the blade has teeth, you can easily know the spinning direction of the blade. Teeth will move in the direction so that they face the cutting area.
- The spinning direction of the blade and head must be the same.
- Blade’s central hole must fit the mounting screw. If it is loose use another blade or use a reducer. Because if the blade is loose it will not work properly.
- After fitting the blade at the mounting screw put the washers and then nut. Tie the nut by locking the mounting screw with the screwdriver and rotating the nut with another hand.
- You have done.
SAFETY GEARS FOR USING BRUSH CUTTER WITH BLADE
Safety always comes first when using any electric appliances. Brushcutter is a powerful machine so it demands great care while handling.
In the first place read the product manual and follow the given safety instructions.
Additionally, wear the following gears for safety.
- A Hard helmet for head protection.
- A Dust mask for preventing irritation caused by dust.
- A face shield and or safety glasses for eye protection.
- Padded gloves for hand protection.
- Long pants and hard shoes for foot and leg safety. Legs are in the range of brush cutter blades. So take great care because minor carelessness can cause serious injury. Never go in sandals or barefooted for trimming.
- Tie your hair so that it should be above the shoulder.
- Don’t wear jewelry.
HOW TO USE A BRUSH CUTTER BLADE
- After installation of the blade now your brush cutter is ready to use.
- Hold the brush cutter and adjust the height so that its handle should rest at your hip.
- You can raise the brush cutter for cutting bushes or tree trunks. But do remember blade should not raise above your waist height.
- Always keep the blade parallel to the ground while cutting.
- Use the left side of the blade and move from right to left while cutting.
- Different types of vegetation demand different specifications. Here is the summary of essential considerations for grass, bushes, and tree trunks.
TO CUT THICK GRASS AND WEEDS
For thick grass and weeds move the brush cutter back and forth in long arcs. Continue it until the brush cutter reaches the ground.
TO CUT BRUSHES
To cut the brushes start from the upper side of the brush keeping the blade parallel to the ground. Move gradually downward until the blade reaches the ground.
TO CUT TREE TRUNKS AND BRANCHES
To cut tree trunks less than 2 inches in diameter use a circular saw blade. For thicker trees, chainsaw blades will be a better option.
For cutting tree trunks start the brush cutter.
Raise the blade about 2-8 inches above the ground so that the left side of the blade is against the right side of the tree.
Put the left side of the deflector on the tree so that blade should not move up and down.
Put the blade at one point until it starts penetrating the tree trunk.
Now move the blade gently forward until it cuts the tree trunk.
HAZARDS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE USING A BRUSH CUTTER
The brush cutter blade moves counterclockwise. So use the left side of the blade for cutting and move from right to left.
If you move in the opposite direction that is left to right, kick out or blade thrust will happen.
When the blade moves to the right side and strikes any hard object it has a strong jerk. This jerk is called kick out.
Chances and intensity of kicking out dangerously increase while cutting hard objects or having pebbles on the ground.
MAINTAINANCE OF BRUSH CUTTER BLADE FOR LONG LIFE
Cleaning is the key to a blade’s long life.
For the long life of the blade clean it after every use.
Dust and grass accumulate around the blade after trimming. Particularly wet grass accumulates in large amounts.
This dust and grass if not cleaned causes rusting of the blade making it blunt and weak.
After every use cleans the blade with a stiff brush or sourcing pad. Then dry it with a piece of clean cloth.
Putting the blade in sunlight at regular intervals also prevents the rusting process.
HOW TO SHARPEN A BRUSH CUTTER BLADE
Brush cutter blades come in a variety of shapes. The sharpening technique depends on the shape of the blade.
For a simple blade, you can use a bench grinder. But for a toothed blade, you must use an angle grinder.
Sharpening requires great care. The angle of sharpening must be the same as the company beveled angle.
For a detailed discussion on sharpening, the blade read How to sharpen the edger blade.
HOW OFTEN TO CHANGE A BRUSH CUTTER BLADE
The brush cutter blade needs sharpening from time to time. After sharpening blade works like a new blade.
If the blade’s efficiency does not improve after sharpening then replace the blade.
If the blade gets thinner by several times sharpening then consider a new blade.
If the blade is damaged or its length is decreased by half of its original length on continuous use then a new blade is the only option.
