Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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Hairyloon
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Brushcutter heads...These seem to come with anything from 3 to 40 tooth blades. What's the advantages of which?
I've also heard of a chain based head, though I have heard it has been outlawed: anyone know about that kind of thing?
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dpack
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iirc bits can fly off chain ones in a ballistic manner which could be unpleasant if they go in a bad direction.if they are banned that is probably a good thing
as to how many "teeth" iirc it is a matter of getting the right sort for the type of brush to be cut which should be mentioned in the sales spec.
spose it is a bit like chainsaw chains and bars or disc cutter disks,different ones are best for different jobs
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dpack
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ed culled for double post 
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Hairyloon
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Mostly it is for bramble, with a certain amount of sticks in it.
The cord did fairly well on it, but it was eating the cord at an excessive rate.
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Mistress Rose
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The chain ones were ideal for brambles, but as Dpack says they have been banned. Sadly, a man died as the result of an accident with a very badly maintained one and working in an unsafe manner. Unfortunately HSE considered that brush cutters were not designed to be used with them, and has not revisited rules about their use, but just banned them.
The best thing we find for brambles is a straight blade with turned down ends. Not sure if they would be available for domestic strimmers, but we use them for bramble clearance on the professional brush cutters.
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SteveP
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Is this any help?
http://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Products/Grass-Trimmers-Brushcutters-and-Clearing-Saws/0281/Cutting-tools.aspx
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Hairyloon
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The chain ones were ideal for brambles, but as Dpack says they have been banned. Sadly, a man died as the result of an accident with a very badly maintained one and working in an unsafe manner. Unfortunately HSE considered that brush cutters were not designed to be used with them, and has not revisited rules about their use, but just banned them. |
I've already told HSE to take a running jump over top-handled chainsaws, so they can get stuffed over brushcutters also, especially now I know that the fatality was down to bad practice.
Any clues where I can get one?
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Hairyloon
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Is this any help?
http://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Products/Grass-Trimmers-Brushcutters-and-Clearing-Saws/0281/Cutting-tools.aspx |
A little. Thank you.
Tavascarow
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If it's just for brambles & small saplings the three or four blade head is more than adequate.
I use nylon mostly because even the blades can shatter & become ballistic if you hit a stone.
Thicker nylon lasts longer. I think I'm using 3mm which smashes all but the biggest woody brambles with ease.
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Hairyloon
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If it's just for brambles & small saplings the three or four blade head is more than adequate.
I use nylon mostly because even the blades can shatter & become ballistic if you hit a stone. |
If you've got the guard on then you should be safe from ballistic action and if there is nobody else in range, then their safety is not your problem.
I liked the nylon because it has a bigger cut than the blade so it's quicker, but as I said, my brambles were eating it... some of that could've been user error I suppose.
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| Thicker nylon lasts longer. I think I'm using 3mm which smashes all but the biggest woody brambles with ease. |
I forget how thick it was, 'twas a borrowed machine, I think it was 4mm.
RichardW
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If it was eating 4mm fast either is was cheap crap, old stock or as you said user error.
Possibly the brass eyes are word & damaging the cord.
Is the cord snapping at the head or are you having to manually / bump feed it often?
Some auto feed at max revs so if your holding it on the limiter then that will also explain the fast usage.
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Hairyloon
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If it was eating 4mm fast either is was cheap crap, old stock or as you said user error. |
I'm fairly sure it was good cord.
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| Is the cord snapping at the head or are you having to manually / bump feed it often? |
A bit of both.
Mistress Rose
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No, I am afraid you can't buy the chain ones as it is illegal to sell them.
It will depend on the brambles you are cutting. If they are fairly thin then the cord might do it, but if they are really thick and include dead ones, the cutter I described will work best.
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Hairyloon
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No, I am afraid you can't buy the chain ones as it is illegal to sell them. |
I don't believe that is a world-wide ban. Nor can it be a particularly complicated mechanism, and I know a good engineer.
Assuming that we have dismissed the ban as the over-reaction of a bunch of desk jockeys, then the relevant question is: how good are they?
Hairyloon
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Another point: what size line do you want for what power engine?
Or do I mean that question the other way about?
I was looking at a 3hp strimmer which I thought was probably meaty enough, but it comes loaded with 2.5mm line, which seems rather lightweight.
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Tavascarow
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The extra weight of thicker line isn't going to make a jot of difference to the head speed.
As Richard has said if it's breaking a lot & it's 4mm line my first thought would be the eyelets which on most machines are cheap to replace.
Last time I bought any they where less than £1.00 each.
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Hairyloon
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The extra weight of thicker line isn't going to make a jot of difference to the head speed. |
I tried a thicker line on my machine, and while it cut like a demon, it didn't half rattle...
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As Richard has said if it's breaking a lot & it's 4mm line my first thought would be the eyelets which on most machines are cheap to replace.
Last time I bought any they where less than £1.00 each. |
That was on a borrowed machine, hence my question about engine sizes.
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