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Brush cutters are perfect for clearing dense undergrowth, overgrown weeds and grass, and small bushes. Lots of landscapers, farmers, and construction workers use brush cutters to simplify what usually is a daunting, time-consuming task. If youre looking for a brush cutter for sale online, or already own one, it never hurts to read or reacquaint yourself with tips and tricks that will help you make your working life easier.
1 - Wear comfortable clothes and protective gear
Dress comfortably for the long working day ahead, but also make sure to avoid loose clothes as they are more prone to being caught up in the moving gears, causing injuries. A bright-colored cotton shirt with long sleeves and a pair of sturdy work pants should do the job. Wear personal safety gear such as safety goggles, a respirator, anti-vibration work gloves, and steel-toed work boots. Take off all your jewelry.
2 - Read the manual
Read the operators manual before doing anything with your brush cutter. The operators manual should contain everything you need to know about the tool: technical specifications, operating instructions, safety precautions and other reminders. Read and understand everything before flicking on the switch. When lending the cutter to anyone, be sure to include the manual with it.
3 - Quick walkthrough
Do a quick inspection of the entire working area before cutting down the first blade of grass. Plan ahead your cutting style and check for any obstructions. There might be tree stumps, rocks or boulders, and trash that might impede your work and affect proper function of the brush cutter.
4 - Clear and mark
After the walkthrough, try to clear the site of obstruction such as garbage, boulders, and stumps that will make your work much more harder than it should be. Possible hindrances which cannot be removed should be marked by high-visibility tape or cloth so you would know how and when to work around it or avoid it altogether.
5 - Evacuate the work area
Clear the area of any and all people (especially children) and animals before starting clearing work on the site. Maintain a safety perimeter of at least 50 feet between you and the next person. Failure to do so and you might expose others to unnecessary danger. Immediately turn off the cutter if someone approaches you.
6 - Choose the day
It pays to check the weather forecast before starting work. Choose a dry day thats not too hot, with little to no possibility of rain or strong wind. If thats not possible, trust your judgment and stop working if its too uncomfortable or if storm clouds are on the horizon. Do not operate the brush cutter in wet conditions.
7 - Of sound mind and body
Do not attempt brush cutting if youre sick or tired or are intoxicated. Intoxication is not only limited to alcohol and drugs; do not operate a cutter if youve taken anything (such as over-the-counter cold medicine) that might impair your judgment, dexterity, and visual and auditory acuity.
8 - Slow and steady
Youll get the best results from brush cutting if you slow the machine down to let the blades do optimal cutting. Move too fast and your cutter will leave some grass barely cut and standing. Slow and steady is best. Do it right once and you dont have to do it a second time.
9 - Check the height
Heres a tip if youre clearing an area of brush for the first time: Use a higher cut. Then lower the cutting height on the second cut for a finer and closer shave.
10 - Take regular breaks
Youll be more productive taking regular breaks than cutting all the brush and weeds in one single go. Dont forget to drink liquids and rest if youre feeling tired. Not only youre doing your body a favor, youre decreasing the chances of you getting injured from overwork, exhaustion and other vibration-related exertions.
Postscript
Many of us purchase a brush cutter to aid in clearing yards and other large acreages of heavy growth. Clearing brush is tough work, and brush cutters can drastically reduce the time and effort exerted. But the amount of grass cut or time saved shouldnt be your priority. Safety trumps all, and everything else comes in second. Grass grows back (much to our chagrin), but injuries can last for a lifetime. Always exercise caution when using a brush cutter. Im not exaggerating when I say your life depends on it.
