Hi everyone,
I am looking for some guidance, recommendations and comments on a machine to cut rough grass areas, too large to strim, but which might only get cut 2-4 times a year. I have a few of these; some are banks, others are orchards, verges, young tree plantations etc but they are mostly 'clean'....I can be reasonably confident there are no surprises in the long grass. I used to use an Etesia 56cm RKEB which had no difficulty with this sort of work, but after 16 years if I do put her back on the road (Blade Brake), I shall keep her for the easier jobs.
Generally I can wait for dry conditions to tackle these jobs although impatience is probably why I am stuck at the moment..6 hours of sunshine (Thurs 5th July!) is definitely not enough drying for an 18-24" meadow. Self propelled is a must and I am looking for 20" minimum width of cut and a reasonably high cut, 3" say, as on long grass you gain an extra 2" or so anyway.
So, heavy but occasional use...at a reasonable price. Any comments on 'Rough Cutter Mowers', such as the Dori EP50, which at £600 is top of my budget range, but if it does the job well might be better than spending the same on a sacrificial mid to low budget wide traditional wheeled mower such as the Toro etc.
Any comments or experience on these machines (eg http://www.sgm-uk.com/dori-ep50-3-wheeled-rough-grasscutter.html) or recommendations for other machines to do this sort of work would be appreciated.
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Replies
Without a doubt a used Scag/Ferris type machine. 32-36 inch, will make easy work of it and come in very handy for lots of other jobs too.
If your only doing it 2-4 times a year why not just hire out an Etesia Attila, they are brilliant machines for long grass and cope well on steep slopes.
An Attila would be great for some of the jobs and would give as good a finish as I am seeking, but I am really looking for something in between a hand held strimmer and a ride on like the Attila, which I can throw (gently) in the van and use at will; hiring out a machine, which I am happy to do when necessary, would be less flexible for these jobs.
I know its not a mower but what about a wheeled strimmer I used a three wheel strimmer to clear about an acre of very high grass, did it in no time, it was pretty effortless and you could probably get one for half your budget new.
The one I had, could be loaded with tipple strimmer cords.
Yep, that's why everyone uses them. 48" twin wheel would be the prefered choice.
Dan Frazer Gardening said:
Here's a third vote for a Scag type machine....
I have a Toro Proline 36" (basically a Scag with Toro badges), I used it the other day to do some grass cutting on a very overgrown lawn and do some 'ground clearance' for a new customer in Surfleet, Lincs - it was more than capable of the job.
I acquired the machine last year with a Briggs 12 hp engine that had a very heavy knock and smoking badly, so I fitted a Kawasaki engine from a rotted out Countax ride on - hence the additional battery box attached to the rear as this machine was originally recoil start but there was no provision for this on the Kawasaki engine.
Thanks for the advice, but I am looking for something smaller. A wheeled strimmer would do the job, but not self-propelled as far as I can see, so I might as well strim in usual way, although they do seem to have the power to effectively use a heavier cord. The Dori EP50 looks as though it should do the job, but I am wondering if anybody has any knowledge of them or similar 3 wheeled mowers.
Meanwhile I have dusted off an old scythe...anybody know anything about peening?
Yes, it's tricky. There are videos on youtube which are very helpful. If you can get a scythe working well it's a fantastic tool. At least, so I imagine. I hope to get there one day. I'm sure that you are joking, but for some jobs I'd say a well used scythe can be hard to beat. And much nicer to use.
the wheeled strimmer I used had very thick strimmer cord with triangular points all along it, very heavey duty and did a great job.
Only down side was it did throw the cord every so ofen so you had to stop and reload.
Yesterday we went to a client who has a lot of rough areas we cut down once a year as the wife likes the natural look in part of the garden, they let us borrow there rough cutter which is a Billy Goat Outback Brushcutter, cuts grass down which is waist high no problem and also useful on parts of their land where bracken and gorse need chopping back.
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