Trees, hedges and shrubs are the best decoration of the site. To control the growth of green spaces and create a beautiful landscape, a garden brush cutter is required. This device can be of different types. Tools differ in the principle of work, appearance and other characteristics. Many gardeners use a manual brush cutter, which is very convenient for home use. It will be discussed in the article.
What it is?
A brush cutter is also called a garden pruner. The device is intended for trimming branches, creating a crown of young trees, removing excess and dry shoots, forming a vine. Gardeners' reviews confirm that such a device is necessary to create a beautiful environment on your site.
Secateurs handle pruning multiple branches. Moreover, all human movements require muscular effort from him. Therefore, with such a tool it is better not to perform the formation of a hedge, but the device is just suitable for cutting short and voluminous bushes. Larger plantings are trimmed with brush cutters. They are equipped with long and massive blades. The tool is not only manual, but also driven by a drive.
Hand tools
If there are few plants on the site, a manual brush cutter is suitable. Its design and principle of operation correspond to ordinary scissors. The tool has handles that are necessary to increase the force exerted on the blades.
If there are several bushes on the site, a low hedge, then such a device would be the best choice. And in the presence of a large number of plants, it is desirable to purchase mechanized devices. Many gardeners prefer hand tools because they are practical. This is confirmed by numerous reviews.
Advantages and disadvantages
Manual brush cutter is in demand due to the following advantages:
- affordable price;
- light weight;
- compact sizes;
- noiselessness;
- can be used in any weather;
- no recharging and fuel needed.
Thanks to the advantages, many choose these devices. Reviews confirm that when buying a tool you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics.
Now we list the disadvantages of this device:
- physical force is required;
- working with the device for a long time is very difficult;
- it will not work to trim high hedges.
Power Tool Requirements
Manual mechanical brush cutter on the handles has non-slip fiberglass or rubber pads, which provides a comfortable grip. An important role is played by the material from which the cutters are made. They must be sharp to reduce stress when exposed to wood.
Compared to secateurs, the cutters are wavy, which protects the canvas from slipping. If the pruner is more suitable for processing each knot, then the scissors allow you to align the plane. Cutter lengths affect device performance.
Manual brush cutter, working on the basis of electric traction, faster to cope with the tasks. You don’t have to make a lot of effort. But there is a risk of damage to the wire and electric shock. Gasoline devices are noisy and create a gas exhaust. A manual telescopic brush cutter is considered one of the most convenient, since the handles of the device allow you to perform work in comfort. This is what the reviews indicate.
Types of mechanical hand-held devices
In garden shops, brush cutters 50 cm long and with scissors up to 25 cm are usually sold. Cutters have a wavy surface. But there are scissors with ratchets, with cutters, like secateurs. Manual brush cutter with telescopic handles are used for tall bushes. The best are tools from Gardena, Grinda, Raco. Garden shears are designed to trim thin branches that are less than 2 cm in diameter. There are devices with straight blades and a return spring that reduce stress, for example, Raco tools.
Garden accessories are sold with mechanical, cordless, electric, gasoline scissors. The most affordable option is considered mechanical. It is light in weight and easy to use. Cutters are made of reliable steel, remain sharp for a long time. If you need to handle tall trees, the handles can be lengthened.
Fiskars manual brush cutters are for sale. The device allows you to cut the grass without tilting. The angle of inclination is adjustable, adjustable in height. The blades can be rotated 90. There is a support from below and a lock to lock the scissors. The manufacturer guarantees performance for 25 years.
Mechanical Brigadier manual scissors-brush cutters have a wave-like sharpening. The plane clearance is set from the thickness of the twigs. Blades are made of hardened steel. They have shock absorbing stops and a self-opening mechanism. The device is necessary for work without heavy load, since the blade length is 15 cm. The tool weighs a little over 500 g. Thanks to the convenient handles, even women can do the work. Products of the above brands are appreciated by gardeners, which is confirmed by feedback on effective work.
Prices
The price of a manual brush cutter is low, while it may vary in stores. The cost starts from about 350 rubles. There are products for 700 and 1200 rubles. The price depends on the materials, size and design of the tool. But compared to other types of equipment, handheld devices are considered the most affordable. If you use the tools carefully, they will last a long time. This is also stated in the reviews.
Power tool
If the site is within 2-5 acres, then an electric brush cutter will do. The tool is equipped with a reliable and low noise mechanism. Its scope is limited by the length of the carrying wire. Therefore, in a large area, using the device is not very convenient. The power of the device is small - 400-700 watts, so the diameter of the branches should not be higher than 30 mm.
The tool should be operated carefully, taking breaks in hot weather to cool the engine. In rainy and damp weather, going out with him is not worth it, as there is a risk of electric shock.
Cordless tool
So that there is no binding to the outlet due to the wire, a cordless brush cutter is used. This device is lightweight and compact, low noise and easy to operate. Power is selected based on battery voltage. If it is high, then you can work with thick branches. For example, with a voltage of 14 volts, it will be possible to process branches with a thickness of up to 15 mm.
This device has a lithium-ion battery, it has a high capacity. Therefore, it will not need to be charged often, and also to control so that the duration does not become less than that recommended by the manufacturer. If the kit has 2 batteries, then this is considered a big advantage. Then you can work without recharging up to 2 hours.
Petrol devices
If you need high power (750-1200 watts), then a gas brush cutter is suitable. These are all-weather devices, mobile and productive. They can work with a branch thickness of up to 30 mm.
The minuses include:
- heavy weight;
- high price;
- noise and toxic exhaust;
- you need to use the fuel mixture.
Using a hand tool
You should not purchase the device until you have tested the convenience of the handle. It is important to remember the safety precautions for working with the tool. Do not cut branches thicker than indicated on this device. It will be more comfortable to work with a lightweight device.
If you need to trim the neglected thickets or trellises of wild grapes, it is advisable to start with a standard pruner. After all, trellises or concrete poles can get caught, which will damage expensive equipment. Devices with a small cutting blade are used to mow the lawn in hard-to-reach places.
The main purpose of the tool is to shape the overgrowth of bushes. It must be borne in mind that it is not suitable for selective thinning of tree crowns and fruiting shrubs - currants, gooseberries, raspberries. In this case, you need to select the sick, weak branches and remove them, and not cut everything. Careful use of the device will extend its service life.