Brushcutters & Grass Trimmers: MILWAUKEE

The main difference between grass trimmers and brush cutters is the level of work they can perform.

Grass trimmers typically feature a cutting head of nylon line or plastic blades and are designed for trimming grass and light weeds.

Brush cutters are typically more powerful and are generally capable of cutting thicker weeds, dense vegetation and undergrowth. Instead of using trimmer line, brushcutters may use blades to help tackle the more demanding work.

Although these definitions are helpful, it's important to understand they're not universally shared. The term "brush cutter" is sometimes used to describe any machine that has a straight shaft, regardless of power of intended use.

Our advice when choosing which machine to buy is to first identify what kind of work you will be doing, as this will help you choose the right machine for you.

A brush cutter is used to cut areas of thick weeds and undergrowth where using a walk behind or ride-on mower isn’t suitable.

Brush cutters can vary from entry level cutters for homeowner use, right through to very powerful machines for use by professionals in commercial applications.

The metal blades on a brush cutter, sometimes described as grass blades, are designed for cutting course grass and fleshy weeds but are not suitable for thick woody stems.

A grass trimmer is used to trim back light weeds and grass, typically in a domestic environment. They’re commonly used to tidy around lawn edges and small areas of grass.

The first thing is to understand the type of work you need to do and the frequency that you will do it, and this will point you towards what kind of machine you will need to buy.

For light weeds and grass trimming you should opt for a grass trimmer which has a head of nylon line or plastic blades, whereas if you’re cutting back dense growth you should opt for a brush cutter with a metal cutting blade.

One misconception is that the larger diameter nylon line you fit, the better your machine will cut through vegetation. Before switching to a larger diameter line, it's important to find out the compatibility with your machine to ensure you don't cause damage to your engine or motor.

There are two main handle types, loop and cowhorn (sometimes called bike handle). Loop handles require you to hold the weight of the brush cutter with your arms, whereas cowhorn handled cutters are typically supplied with a harness which holds the weight of the cutter. The cowhorn handles are then used to control the angle and direction of the cutter.

You may find certain high end machines being called clearing saws. These are designed for tackling the most challenging undergrowth, but many of these are supplied with a nylon cutting head.

As with all garden machinery, the power source is also a consideration. If you’re comfortable using and maintaining a petrol engine you could opt for a petrol cutter, or choose a cordless option which will be quieter to run. If choosing cordless, it’s a good idea to make sure the battery you buy provides a sufficient run time to complete the work you need to do.

Some machines have interchangeable heads in order for them to be suitable for cutting different types of materials. If you're planning to change the head, before buying a replacement, please consider whether you also need to fit a different guard. Mid-range machines usually have a combi-guard, which can be altered to suit the cutting head or blade in use.