How long do brush cutters last?

Brush cutters are handy gardening tools that offer power, versatility, and efficiency? But how long do brush cutters last? I took a look at their lifespans to see whether they are worth buying.

Brush cutters are mostly sold with two or three-year warranties and, like with anything else, more expensive models offer more durability, and it depends on how frequently you use them. Brush cutters also require regular maintenance, which extends their lifespans. 

Brush cutters look very similar to line trimmers but can cut through thick vegetation while reaching places that lawnmowers can’t. They offer convenience, are easy to use, and are typically durable and reliable machines if adequately maintained. 

Brush Cutter Lifespans

Depending on which brand of brush cutters you’re buying, the warranty will last for two or three years.

Their metal blades allow them to operate for significantly longer than a line trimmer, which will typically only come with a 12-month warranty. Lawnmowers, in contrast, usually have at least a three-year warranty.

Unlike line trimmers, brush cutter blades last far longer because they’re not made out of nylon; they’re made out of metal.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Brush Cutters

Brush cutters bring a lot to the table in terms of durability, convenience, power, and versatility, but they do have some drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you’d do well to invest in brush cutters to create a perfectly trimmed garden.

Brush cutters are more powerful than line trimmers due to their metal blades. They can cut through thick weeds, plant stems, and even small tree trucks. They turn trimming hedges into easy labor, allowing you to cut more precise edges and sculpt your garden’s vegetation into the perfect shapes.

Brush cutters can reach places that lawnmowers can’t. So, because you can pick brush cutters up to any height and cut at vertical or diagonal angles, you’re able to achieve a lot more than you can with that bulky one-dimensional artifact from a time when gardening wasn’t so easy.

Brush cutters last longer. Again, this depends on how frequently you use and maintain them, but brush cutters will last twice as long as line trimmers and a little less than a lawnmower. That means the expense will end up paying off in the long term, considering that a brush cutter can do the same job as both.

Brush cutters are more expensive and will set you back around $300, while a string trimmer would only cost a bit more than $100, depending on the brand. However, keep in mind that your brush cutters will last twice as long, if not more and that you’re replacing strings more frequently than blades (albeit blades are more expensive as well). Lawnmowers also cost about half as much as brush cutters.

Maintenance isn’t cheap either. Your brush cutters have several components that could require replacing after long-term use. Spark plugs, air filters, fuel, carburetors, and solenoids can degrade over time and, of course, at $15-$25 a pop, you have to replace the blades when they start to become worn.

Brush cutters can be a hazard as well if you don’t take the necessary precautions. The fast-moving blades, especially when cutting through thick vegetation, can send all kinds of debris in your direction or to people nearby.

Maintenance

Before you even start using your brush cutters, ask yourself if you’re using the right brush cutter. Often, you may buy a smaller model that’s best used for lighter jobs, like grass or hedge cutting, until your neighbor shows up and asks to borrow it for a much heavier task. Politely refuse and be sure that you’re always using the suitable brush cutter, per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Before doing any work with your brush cutter, you should also inspect the area to ensure no hidden objects could be hazardous and either damage your blades or cause an injury. Even the smallest objects can do a lot of damage and shorten your brush cutters’ lifespan.

You also need to inspect the brush cutter itself before you make use of it. Blades need to be checked after every few hours of use and, as your brush cutters take stress over time, you need to check that all bolts are tight, that the oil is changed regularly. If your brush cutters feel unstable in any way, take them to your nearest home maintenance store just to make sure they’re in working order.

You also need to be consistent while cutting and not push your brush cutters too hard when you use them. Ensure that it isn’t overheating because these are all sure-fire ways to damage your blades and, worse, your brusher cutter’s motor.

Once you see that your blades have been worn down, you need to replace them immediately because further use will damage other parts of the machine as a whole, and it won’t be as easy to use.

How To Use Brush Cutters

Brush cutters come in many variations, using different power sources such as gas, fuel, batteries, and electricity. You first need to familiarize yourself with the working mechanisms, including how it’s fueled, how to start the motor, where to trim/cut vegetation, what techniques can be used to do a fast, efficient technique, such as mowing, trimming, weeding, and scything.

Mowing involves using your brush cutter to trim a large area or small patches of grass in the garden. By holding the brush cutters upright and walking in consistent directions, you can replicate the process that you’re used to carrying out with your lawnmower. 

On the other hand, Trimming is beneficial when used around trees, other above-ground vegetation, and the edges of your grass. Finish your trees and provide them with some extra breathing room by holding your brush cutter up to the tree at about a 30-degree angle to cut it.

Weeding is a less conventional technique where you can start showing off the versatility of a brush cutter by slowly cutting weeds out lightly at an angle to avoid the typical mess that comes with the territory of manual weeding. Scything is the method used for cutting larger vegetation. It’s best reserved for more potent, petrol-run brush cutters. Holding the machine at a suitable angle, work by cutting squares out of the vegetation (a scything motion) from left to right until you’ve reached your desired look. It’s a somewhat, long complicated process but yields excellent results when done right.

Important Safety Considerations

Before you go and buy yourself brand new brush cutters, you simply cannot ignore the fact that these are powerful tools carrying countless risks if proper safety protocols aren’t followed, and you don’t exercise caution. 

The harness that comes with your brush cutters must be worn at all times, and you’re playing with fire if you use a brush cutter without handlebars. These features allow you to maintain proper control over the brush cutters, which is essential, given the devastation that their blades can cause.

Furthermore, safety goggles, thick trousers, gloves, and gardening boots should always be worn when handling brush cutters because they can and will hit you with debris. And don’t use brush cutters within 50 feet (15m) of other people.

Conclusion

Brush cutters are a helpful gardening tool that can make all the difference in the world when maintaining your garden conveniently, efficiently, and even at a lower cost. They offer durability and only need to be replaced every second or third year. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not even a competition. You should throw out that lawnmower and those line trimmers and spend the money on something that can do both instead. It’s a no-brainer.

Sources

Advantages & Disadvantages of Brush Cutter Machines | SF Gate
10 Best Brush Cutters in 2021 | Best Of Machinery
Why Your Brush Cutter Won’t Start, and What to Do About It | Dengarden
Types of Brush Cutter Blades | Brush Destructor
Brush Cutter Vs String Trimmer: Differences Explained | Healthy HandymenHelpful hints for Brush Cutter use and maintenance | Blue Diamond Attachments
A Guide On How To Use Brush Cutter [Properly And Safely] | EdoPlant