Rental Solution: Tackle tall brush with flail brush cutters
Flail brush cutters can mulch heavy growth with less effort and labor
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| Orec’s Cyclone flail knives rotate from top to bottom, working in tandem to chop grass into fine clippings without any grass left standing. |
by Brett Masker
Many people think that all brush cutters are pretty much alike. That’s not so. There are different kinds of brush cutters and each type has their own features and benefits.
Brush cutter/mowers come in walk-behind, string-type and ride-on models. Even among walk-behind brush cutters, there are different kinds, like rotary brush mowers and flail brush mowers.
Rotary brush cutters resemble beefed-up walk-behind lawn mowers, using a single blade that is rectangular in shape and is sharpened at the edges. This blade is fixed to a spindle and rotates parallel to the ground. Rotary brush cutters often do a great job of quickly cutting weeds and tall grass.
In contrast, flail mowers use rows of flail blades attached to a rotating drum. As the drum rotates, the blades swing vertically so they pick up the brush, tear and chew it up, then discharge the mulched material.
Each type has its place
Flail brush cutters are excellent for chopping up and mulching brush. This mulching returns the nutrients to the soil. The thorough cutting and mulching action means the area won’t have to be cut as often.
Overall, the flail mower makes a nicer cut than a rotary mower and it can cut tall grass, vines and stalks. The rotation of the flail mower knives pull brush into the unit, making it easier to cut vines such as blackberries and ivy. For comparison, a rotary mower must first get the deck on top of the brush before it can cut it. A flail mower is the better piece of equipment for tackling an area that is overrun with thick brush or vines. Although a flail mower may move slower over material, users don’t need to come back with a rotary deck to finish the job because there won’t be any grass or brush left standing.
Conversely, if you are looking to cut an area of tall grass quickly, a rotary brush cutter may be the better choice. Rotary mowers may be a little faster than flail mowers for cutting areas of tall grass; and they are lighter than flail mowers, making them easier to transport.
Orec models
Orec has developed both types of brush cutters. The rotary Orec SH72 Samurai walk-behind brush cutter and the Orec AHRC662 Cyclone flail mower are built to meet specific cutting jobs.
The Samurai has a wider cutting width (27.5 inches) than competitive models, so it helps users get the job finished faster. It also has a differential lock that will help it get through bumpy ground and remain stable while mowing side slopes. Its front wheel makes it is easier to maneuver around obstacles and makes it possible to raise or lower the cutting depth to match the terrain and final cutting height.
The Cyclone flail mower is rather unique; there are very few walk-behind flail mowers offered in the United States. Unlike a rotary or sickle mower, the flail mower’s blades will mulch almost anything, returning the nutrients to the soil. This mulching action makes it much easier to mow the area the next time.
The Cyclone flail mower is available in tracked or wheeled options. The tracked model features a brake steering clutch that makes turning the machine effortless. The tracks also provide greater traction and stability on slopes and eliminate the problem of flat tires.
With a well-built and tough transmission, reinforced deck and steel-reinforced tracks, the Cyclone tracked flail mower can take on all kinds of brush.
The wheeled flail mower offers the same great cut and allows the machine to free-wheel. The 7-inch lugged tires are sturdy and can be filled with foam without worry about damaging the machine.
Orec’s AHRC662 Cyclone flail mower effectively clears brush and mulches it. As a walk-behind flail brush mower, it can take down tall grass, weeds, brambles and even small saplings. Its 38 blades will effectively chew up and mulch the brush in one cutting pass. It has an easy-to-use blade-height adjustment system.
Rental center benefits
For rental centers, there are some distinct advantages to carrying one or more flail mowers in the rental fleet. Once a customer uses the flail mower, they will very likely become advocates for it. Customers will be happier with the end result and will find they won’t be as tired after mowing a large area. Their word-of-mouth endorsement of the flail mower will likely bring in more rental business.
The units are easy to maintain. Tracks eliminate flat-tire worries, and filling wheeled units with foam also eliminates the need to fix flats. The flail blades are reversible, which means longer life between blade replacements.
Several rental houses have been able to increase the rental rates on these units because of the quality and speed of cut. With increased customer satisfaction, higher rental rates makes ROI faster.
Brett Masker is Orec America’s business development manager.
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