A Detailed Guide For Choosing The Best Brush Cutter
Maintaining an attractive lawn takes more than just running the lawnmower every once in a while. Talk of overgrown grass, shrubs, and a tangle of weeds. While these are hard to control as nature takes its course, you can maintain your backyard’s aesthetic by investing in the best brush cutter.
A brush cutter maneuvers through thick overgrown grass. More to this, it reaches corners and edges that regular mowers cannot. This home routine gadget is a long-term investment, so you need to get the best, especially if you need it on a regular basis. If you are looking for the best professional brush cutter, this article will come in handy.
We discuss what it is, when to use this instrument, and how it compares to a string trimmer. You will also learn a few factors you need to keep in mind when buying a brush cutter. And, since this is a power tool like mowers, you will learn a few safety tips when using one.
Top 7 Best Brush Cutters: Comparison Chart
Power Source | Engine Type | Power | Cutting Width | Dimensions | Weight | |
Remington RM2700 Ranchero | Gas | 2-cycle | 27cc | 18 inches | 11.25 x 12 x 37 inches | 14.5 pounds |
Troy-Bilt TB42 BC | Gas | 2-cycle | 27cc | 18 inches | 11.25 x 12.25 x 36.75 inches | 14 pounds |
PROYAMA CG430 | Gas | 2-cycle | 42.7cc | n/a | 41.5 x 11.5 x 11.25 inches | 20.94 pounds |
Wild Badger Power WBP26BCI | Gas | 2-cycle | 26cc | n/a | 11.2 x 11 x 45 inches | 12 pounds |
WEMARS WS-ST25G | Gas | 2-cycle | 25cc | n/a | 42.1 x 12.2 x 11.8 inches | 20.2 pounds |
Craftsman WS235 | Gas | 2-cycle | 27cc | 17 inches | 39 x 12 x 11 inches | 13 pounds |
Makita EM2650UH | Gas | 4-cycle | 25.4cc | n/a | 72 x 10.25 x 11.25 inches | 12.1 pounds |
How and When to Use a Brush Cutter
A brush cutter is a powered gardeA brush cutter is a powered garden tool used to trim weeds, small shrubs, and other foliage that a lawnmower cannot reach. The tool works with various blades or trimmer heads to suit different applications. It has three main parts; a power unit, a pole, and a rotary cutting head.
This lawn beauty tool is used to clear a lawn with overgrown weeds, thick grass, small trees, and shrubs. It is powerful enough to slice through the stems, especially around the edges and corners of the lawn. Since the brush cutter uses a circular blade, it clears grass growing in hard-to-reach places.
These useful tools are available in different types. Mainly, they are classified according to the type of power they use. Common types are electric brush cutter, battery-powered, gas, and manual. The best tool is highly powerful and can cut through tree materials or tree trunks.
The Difference Between a Brush Cutter and a String Trimmer
Many people do not understand the difference between a string trimmer and a brush cutter, mainly because they are both used for cutting grass in hard-to-reach areas. However, there is still a difference in how both of these operate and just the overall design.
Yes, much like a brush cutter, a string trimmer clears weeds from sidewalks, driveways, edges, and corners. However, string trimmers are not powerful enough to cut through thick shrubs and grass. On this note, the monofilament line tends to break if overworked or forced to cut thick stems. Instead of blades, a string trimmer uses a monofilament line to cut. Plus, it’s lightweight and works well for cutting weeds and regular grass. String trimmer comes in different types, the main ones are battery-powered, gas, and electric.
On the other hand, a brush cutter uses a sharp blade allowing it to clear thicker weed stems and small tree trunks. The blade is sturdy and rotates clockwise to trim weeds around corners, sidewalks, and edges. Like the string trimmer, a brush cutter tool comes in different types. The most common and popular type is the cordless brush cutter, however, you can also get gas or manual one.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Brush Cutter
When you want to choose the best heavy duty brush cutter, there are several factors you need to keep in mind:
Type of Engine
Some models have either 2 or 4-stroke engines. The former engines are more reliable and have fewer moving parts than 4-stroke ones. However, 2-stroke engines tend to be noisy when running this gadget. Another good thing is that 2-stroke engine brush cutters are cheaper and are perfect if you have a small space.
4-stroke engines, on the other hand, are heavier and have a somewhat complicated design. They are powerful, less noisy, and work well for large spaces. However, even the best 4-stroke engines tend to be less balanced and are more expensive than 2-stroke ones.
Power Source
It is essential to consider the power source before settling on a particular design. A gas brush cutter is easy to carry around, and you do not have to worry about wires and power sources. It is reliable and can handle heavy tasks like thick weeds, small tree trunks, and tangled grass.
The electric brush cutter comes in two variations: with and without a cord. The former works by using a plug-in cord to power. The cordless brush cutter comes with a battery pack making it easy to maneuver and move around. So if you are searching for the best brush cutter for small trees, a cordless electric brush is a perfect choice for you.
Other Factors to Keep In Mind
Style of Operation
A handheld brush cutter is the smallest and lightest. This type comes with thicker lines, larger engines, and metal brushes, perfect for cutting overgrown grass. You can choose between the 2 cycle and 4 cycle brush cutters depending on your convenience when mixing gas and oil.
A walk behind brush cutter is designed like a lawnmower and is great for larger areas. The best walk behind a brush cutter is powerful and cuts through overgrown, tangled grass, small tree trunks, and shrubs. A tow-behind is like a mower, but you have to tow it behind your tractor. It is, therefore, suitable for large brush areas and abandoned fields.
Power Levels
The type of tool you choose depends on what you plan to do. For example, if you need a battery-powered brush cutter with a blade, you need to be sure it has enough power to handle the task. However, even the best brush cutter with too much power can be dangerous, especially if you don’t have experience.
In the process of creating these brush cutter reviews, we’ve learned that 20-volt models are ideal for small to medium yards. Meanwhile, a 40-V or 80-V works well for larger tasks.
One Handle vs. Two Handles Design
While going through home tools reviews we discovered that the small brush cutters usually come with one handle that you can quickly move around. Although they work just fine, they might not be the best for heavy tasks and might be challenging to balance. Two-handheld designs are easy to balance when cutting through thick grass and shrubs.
The Size of the Cutting Head
The cutting width of a head will determine how well and fast even the best crush cutter does its job. The cutting width represents the brush cutter’s capacity in terms of how many weeds it can cut at once. Overall, the diameter of the cutting head determines the cutting width of the tool.
Large cutting widths are suitable for quick cutting and trimming, while small widths take more time. So if you have a small yard, you can get a manual brush cutter with a small cutting width; say 8 inches.
Additional Features
There are a few additional features that you should consider when choosing the instrument. One of these is the shaft. This is the part that connects the engine and the spinning head. Shafts are available in two types; bent and straight. The latter is more powerful than the former type since it has direct access to the source of power.
Another feature to check is quick-change heads. You want to buy one that is easy to switch heads to suit your needs. Instead of going for a cheap brush cutter, invest in one with interchangeable heads and multiple attachments for versatility.
And finally, when you’re looking for the best brush cutter consider anti-vibration features. They provide comfort and ensure that the tool is smooth and steady.
Important Tips for Safe Use of a Brush Cutter
- Make sure to read the manual before using the brush cutter.
- Always be safe: wear a hat, eye protection, and hearing muffs.
- You should wear padded gloves, well-covering clothes, and boots to protect yourself.
- Keep your children and pets away when using a tool to prevent accidents.
Final Thoughts
A brush cutter is an essential tool for backyard maintenance. It is not only versatile but also powerful to get rid of thick, overgrown grass. And when you want to choose only the best, the first thing you need is to determine the type of tool you want, as well as what power source and design you need.
And finally remember – the best brush cutter 2023 must be powerful, reliable, and durable. So hopefully you’ll keep in mind our little tips, and find just what you look for in no time! Feel free to let us know which cutter you would recommend and why!