Have you ever thought about the difference between brush cutting and string trimming? Well, the difference is rather big. If you are looking for a power tool for domestic gardening or you are a commercial gardener, you should understand it well and learn how to benefit from it.
Brush cutter blades are typically made of carbide – a significantly stronger metal than steel. This gives it the hardness to deal with any plant that may come its way. The metal is also durable. Brush cutter blades are easy to replace whenever necessary – some blades can also be attached to trimmers making them pretty versatile.
Below, you will find my comprehensive experience-based brush cutter blade reviews and a description of the best brush cutter blade in my set. I’ve already spent over 10 years testing various gardening equipment around my country house, and brushcutters have always been among the most frequently used tools. Now I’m ready to share everything a gardener needs to know about brush cutting blade, its features, and purposes.
Why is a Brush Cutter Blade Necessary?
They are sharp and strong enough to deal with the overgrown brush that a trimmer or even a lawn mower has a hard time with. The carbide steel they are mostly made of ensure they stay sharp throughout and sufficiently hard to deal with various types of vegetation.
Brush cutters allow attachment of different blades. This provides the versatility of dealing with different materials. If proper maintenance is provided, the blade offers long-term benefits.
Their portability and reach is another thing worth writing home about. Brush cutter blades can access those hard to reach spots with lawn mowers and tractors. They are also a safer alternative when cutting weed and brush close to fence lines. The cutters can also work on really steep slopes – really steep where the mower can easily tip over.
Types of Brush Cutter Blades
Mainly, there are 4 different types of blades for brush cutters. They are: Chisel, Smasher, Knife, and Mulching. They are suitable for different tasks and come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Here I am explaining each of the types in details:
Knife Blades
This is the most common type of blade used in brush cutters. They come with a sharpened knife edge on the front edge of the blade. Knife blades work by slicing through the vegetation. Knife blades can come in different shapes but there is one thing common in every knife blade, which is all knife blades are stamped or lasered from thinner steel sheets.
As mentioned, from rectangular to the round shape, knife blades can come in any shape. But the most widely used shape is the star-shaped which comes with four cutting edges. They are easily found on anywhere. The number of sharpened edges in the blade plays a big role in how the blade will perform.
And when it comes down to mulching, the rectangular and star-shaped knife blades are the ones which pull the best. They are highly effective since they go vertically through the vegetation. There is a blade made by KIWI, the airecut blade. This is one of the best knife blades for mulching. This blade will cut things and throw upward which looks good.
Chisel Blades
These blades are little similar to the knife blades since some knife blades come with sharp teeth as well. However, chisel blades are circular shaped and have sharpened teeth around the edge of the blade and that is what cuts through the vegetation.
Chisel blades are highly effective. They are like chain saw blades, actually, you can use chain saw blades on the brush cutter if you want. In horizontal cutting, chisel blades perform excellently, it can make the in-depth cut. You will be able to cut branches effortlessly larger than even 50 to 60mm.
That being said, in order to get the best out of this kind of blade, you will need a powerful machine that comes with good torque and power. The faster the blade rotates, the better results you will get. And be very careful when handling them.
Smasher Blades
They are completely different from the previous blades which come with sharpened edges. Smasher blades don’t come with any sharp edge. As the name suggests, they are smashers. They rely on their thin thickness and the weight to smash through the vegetation. These blades can be used by any brush cutter. That being said, they are now not highly available.
But when sharp knife blades wear out completely and get dull, they act like a smasher blade. As far as I know, there are only a few flail type smasher blades available in the market and one of them is Australian made weedwakka blade. These blades are only good for grass and watery weeds.
Never try to cut through any hard materials with this blade, you will end up damaging it. I have tried personally and only found this Australian made weedwakka blade to be amazing. Having that said, since they are very lightweight they can’t hit any heavy thing. However, smashing blades are also a good option for mulching watery weeds and grass.
Mulching Blades
As the name implies, they are designed for mulching leaves and they are not widely used. Mulching blades are not even available widely. I have never used one but I have contacted some people who used it, and according to them, they work well on mulching leaves and branches.
Our Top Picks
With all this in mind, some of the best handheld and adaptable brush-cutting products can help you clean up those overgrown corners. For a new handheld brush cutter that also can edge the driveway, check this list. If you have an excellent string trimmer and want to give it a brush-cutting upgrade, one of these products can help.
1. FORESTER CHAINSAW TOOTH 9″ BRUSH BLADE
Forester is a trusted US-based brand from Wilkes Barre with production lines in China. It provides licensed, high-quality replacement parts for top power tool brands, including Stihl and Husqvarna. I also consider it the best manufacturer of heavy-duty 9” chainsaw-type blades for brushcutters.
This item is extremely sturdy as it’s designed to withstand up to 10,00 rpm. It has 20 sharp full-chisel teeth that are similar to those teeth on rough chainsaw chains for cutting hardwood. As a result, you can use it to cut nearly anything except thick trees and, of course, rocks.
It’s quite easy to sharpen this one as it requires 2-3 even strokes for each tooth every time you refill the fuel tank. I tested this blade on a large choke cherry bush that had dozens of thick trunks growing close to each other.
The item worked out perfectly well on my 32cc Stihl brush cutter, and I didn’t feel a lack of sharpness until I finished with that large and very wet bush. Even if you are going to cut down several bushes like that in a row, you can quickly replace the blade (there are 2 of them in a pack) and continue working.
2. Renegade Blade Renegade Razor/Hybrid
Are you tired of searching for the top brush cutter on the market? Well done, you have reached one of the finest products. This GST-Razor is a good one that you can find for personal use. Due to its carbide steel, this razor has an extremely high level of durability.
Not only that Carbide lasts up to ten times more than steel but is also cheaper than the steel, which makes this razor a good value for money! But the main benefit of getting this product over others is the big compatibility level. The blade comes with attachments, making it fit most brush cutter.
3. POOLSUPPLY TOWN 2 PACK 8” 80-TOOTH BLADE
The PoolSupply Town 2 Pack 8” 80-Tooth Blades offer a universal fit, which can adapt with either 1” or 20-mm Arbor. And with the Carbide tipped blade, it is estimated to last 10 times longer than the plain steel.
In comparison with the Echo and Renegade 8” 80-tooth blades, this one is highly competitive in terms of cutting power and durability. Also, the pack comes with two blades, offering longer service life.
This blade is compatible for any RPM brush cutter, providing powerful and professional cutting performance. It’s one the “weed eater” in the industry, a prevalent choice for anyone looking for a strong and durable brush cutter blade.
4. Husqvarna 336FR 966604702 Brush Cutter
This gas-powered brush cutter comes complete with a trimmer head, a grass blade, and a saw blade, giving you complete flexibility to get the job done. The engine provides plenty of power and excellent fuel economy. The string line features a twin line cutting system and quick line feed.
It is a powerful brush cutter with a gas engine. The three cutting heads give you the flexibility to get all your yard work done quickly and efficiently. It features both an adjustable handlebar and a balance harness for the comfort that you need.
5. Trimmer Plus BC720 Brushcutter
As per the name, TrimmerPlus offers all kinds of accessories and tools related to trimmers and brush cutters. And you can find a great brush cutter attachment from TrimmerPlus in this article.
The TrimmerPlus BC720 brush cutter attachment is in the 2nd position in this article as it one of the highest-rated options out there. It offers an 8-inch cutting head for cutting grass and weeds. While it is not the widest or the largest options out there, it still works quite great due to its sharp blades.
You can find a 4 tip steel blade in this brush cutter which is also reversible if needed. And this results in an excellent cutting performance from this cutter.
As per its name, it comes with a J-handle for its attachment mechanism. This means that you can use it with any string trimmer of your choice that offers a J-handle mechanism. Another great thing about this brush cutter is that it comes with a shoulder strap. As you would expect, this makes it a highly ergonomic tool for cutting grass in your backyard.
How to Purchase a Brush Cutter?
If everything else has failed, then brush cutter is the right tool to reply on. They are incredibly tough, strong and can cut anything. Being powerful, they can be an expensive investment. However, it is the best choice you can make for your garden.
For purchasing the best brush cutter for your lawn, garden or landscaping, you have to consider certain factors. We have mentioned them below for your reference.
Tips to Use Brush Cutters Safely
As brush cutters are used for cutting down heavier and larger plants, you should be very careful while using them. Some tips to consider while using them are mentioned below.
- Before using the brush cutter, we recommend to read the product manual carefully. And make sure to follow all the safety standards.
- Make sure to wear hard hat, eye protection and hearing protection while wearing brush cutter.
- When it comes to costume, you should wear padded gloves, long clothes and boots.
- It is recommended to keep your children away from working area.
FAQs
How do you use a brush cutter?
Always operate the blade parallel to the ground. Because the blade spins counterclockwise, cut with the left side to avoid kickback. Use a blade with fewer than eight teeth and a long sweeping motion to cut grass. For tall, woody shrubs, use a tri-blade. Begin with the blade at waist height and lower the blade onto the material. Using a circular saw blade, only cut saplings 2 inches in diameter and smaller. Use a chainsaw for larger trees.
Always be aware of others in the area who might be harmed by flying debris. Wear hearing protection, safety glasses, work gloves, long pants, and work boots to protect yourself.
Are brush cutters very heavy to move?
They are actually much heavier than a string trimmer. Though they may not look like heavy, once you use them for 20 to 30 minutes continuously, you will feel the weight. That is why you need a harness to withstand the weight. And don’t forget the vibration it will generate.
Which fuel should I use in a brush cutter?
It depends on the engine used in the brush cutter. Most of the brush come with 2-stroke engine so you can use a combination of petrol and 2-stroke oil. However, we recommend to check the specifications before using. But for a 4-stroke engine, you need only unleaded petrol to run the machine.
Conclusion
This is the end of our buying guide to getting the best brush cutter blade and if you are reading this, congratulations, you now know everything you need to in order to find the most suitable product for your needs. We know how confusing and even hard getting the proper tools for your garden can be, but we would be happy if we have helped you, even a little bit by creating this buying guide.
Hopefully, you have found our tips and information useful and we would appreciate it if you share this article with your friends. If you think we have missed anything, feel free to leave us a comment or send us an email. Feedback is always nice to have.