Brush cutter

I'm looking into buying a weed eater / brush cutter. My woods is full of thorned aspen and raspberry bushes that makes getting to areas very painful and difficult. I also had most of the white pine cut out 2 years ago. So there are thousands of little pines all over. I will be using this to get to areas I want to cut, clearing shooting lanes for hunting, but will also want it for yard maintenance. Any guidance or suggestions past or present experiences would be grateful in my search. Thank you for any help Adam!

 

I have a Stihl 250. It was pricey but a good purchase- I trimmed back around 1200' feet of border on some land I bought-saplings, briars, etc.-so I have a clear transition from the field to the woods.
I also mow areas on my brothers property that we can't bush hog due to the steep terrain (around pond banks).
I have used it around 20 hours a year for the past 6 years, with a line head, plastic knives, 3 blade head, and chainsaw tooth circle blade. It will take down 2" saplings almost as fast as you can walk.
I don't use it around the house trimming ( I have another Stihl for that) but brother uses his 250 for his weekly trimming.

 

What was the price on it? I would prefer stihl but not partial to it. I just have more dealers around me for stihl then anything else.

 

I've got a homeowner string trimmer with the steel brush cutter blade. It works well on raspberry and multiflora rose. However, you are talking about alot more acreage than I'm doing. I just trim up the edges of a 600' lane. Sounds like you need something more robust.

 

I bought the pro series Stihl FS90 with the bike handle bar option, I've got a big slopped hill in the back that was over grown with thick thorned blackberry bush's / vines and other vegetation, the brush blade made quick work of it. It was pretty spendy around $400 out the door with trimmer line and brush blade, I would probably buy same unit but used off C/L if I was to do again

 

how about the stihl combi system ? by changing attachments you have a string trimmer , brush cutter ( you can save a few bucks and put a string trimmer head on the brush cutter shaft ) or chain saw pole saw , you can also use a pole extension for your shooting lanes if setting up tree stands. i have always preferred dedicated tools but this tool has been great

 

How is the power?

 

I do this same thing. "Edges of 600' lane" with a saw like blade on a bike handle Mac weed whacker

 

I have an Echo SRM-3500 brush-cutter that I bought used for $100 with two blade kits including blade safety shield and harness. Saw blade and heavy weed blade.
It has been an amazingly useful tool on my two acre residential property. Saves back breaking work and reduces time spent of brush and heavy weed maintenance.
No matter which one you buy, make sure it's the largest engine size that you can afford. Well worth the money.

 

I have a Stihl FS85 with the Kombi shaft that was given to me years ago that I really like. 95% of the time it's just used as a string trimmer, but I put a 3 blade brush cutter on it every now and then when I need to clear a path through the woods and it works great.

I don't believe Stihl makes the 2 stroke trimmers anymore but I've run their 4 mix trimmers quite a bit, and after you get used to them they're pretty nice as well. I'd go after one of them with a straight shaft, I don't think the Kombi unit is needed unless you're going to drop the coin for a few attachments.

 

The kombi and the polesaw wouldn't be bad either! Any one familiar with the husky variations of brush cutter/ weed Wacker?

 

i have no complaints i have the km 56 the smallest unit, but im very happy with it ,the pole saw on the extension works great ( im sure dex would win a race with his machine )power is like a trimmer . i also have a hl45 hedge trimmer that i plan to sell and if i do i will get the hedge attachment for the kombi unit .

 

I like my 066 with a 36" bar for a hedge trimmer! I can cut then clean off without having to get under them lol.

 

I use a Stihl FS110R with the string head and a blade. Best weedeater I ever had.

 

that's what I got to.. great unit power head is expensive 300 ish, but fits in car easy attachments are great little rotor tiller head great for ruts!

 

I also have an fs130. It has plenty of grunt. For a trimmer that size and up, definitely get one with handle bars. And get a face shield. Those strong trimmers/brush cutters can't really hurl a lot of debris at your face.

 

I think if you are going to be using a trimmer to cut brush a model with handlebars would be best.