Saw blade bushes

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I remember the day a filipino deck hand asked me to make a reducing bush for a 10" carbide tipped saw blade.

So I did, but was later horrified to see the blade mounted in a guardless 9" angle grinder 'for chipping rust and paint off the deck, sir'.

Needless to say the blade was removed, the adaptor thrown over the side of the ship, the guard put back on the grinder and everybody survived.

Reminds me the time a Filipino deck hand asked me to make a saw blade adaptor. He gave me the sizes and I knocked it up quickly then went to see what he was cutting...

A 10 carbide tipped saw blade on a 9" angle grinder, with the guard removed...... "for chipping paint and rust off the deck sir".

Needless to say, I ruined his day.

The problem with thread necromancy is you forget what you've already posted.

Though that story stuck in my mind first time around.

 

[James1979]

I wouldn't use one of those for clearing; they don't cut through thick stems (thin trunks) on broom and brambles. Best are the tri-blades or the ultimate, mulching blades.

https://www.amazon.com/295507-0-Universal-Mulching-Brushcutter-Husqvarna/dp/B00RZH1EYC

Having read the whole thing to find it’s a resurrected thread, if the OP is cutting brash and brambles what you really want is a flail head for a brush cutter.

It mulches as it cuts and is loads better than blades on stuff that’s likely to get stringy and wound round the head of the machine.

They just batter everything in their path. Brogio is the make you want.

FFS Do NOT replace the chains with high tensile chain. It’s malleable chain for a reason. I know someone who’s employee did and when it hit a rock it shattered. No one died but lots of rude words exchanged.

Anyway. Here:

So good they’re banned https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/brush-cutters.htm

When we were in Europe guys I know bought them via resellers in the US or Asia.

Now we aren’t you can get them from the makers in Italy I believe.

 

[6ply]

This thread is very interesting.

Didnt know you could get blades for a strimmer

A whole new world of scary

Before I registered TCT I assumed one like this..

I used it on a bank several years ago, cutting back brambles. The blade hit a short length of old barbed wire hidden in undergrowth. The wire hit me harder than ANYTHING I've ever been hit by before. Jeeeeezzzzzzzz!

 

[Bornfree]

Having read the whole thing to find it’s a resurrected thread, if the OP is cutting brash and brambles what you really want is a flail head for a brush cutter.

It mulches as it cuts and is loads better than blades on stuff that’s likely to get stringy and wound round the head of the machine.

They just batter everything in their path. Brogio is the make you want.

FFS Do NOT replace the chains with high tensile chain. It’s malleable chain for a reason. I know someone who’s employee did and when it hit a rock it shattered. No one died but lots of rude words exchanged.

Anyway. Here:
View attachment 377611


So good they’re banned https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/brush-cutters.htm

When we were in Europe guys I know bought them via resellers in the US or Asia.

Now we aren’t you can get them from the makers in Italy I believe.

Couple of lengths of chainsaw chain would do a grand job

 

[James1979]

Couple of lengths of chainsaw chain would do a grand job

You go first…..

 

[pedrobedro]

You go first…..

Just hold my beer then

 

[Morrisman]

The problem with thread necromancy is you forget what you've already posted.

Though that story stuck in my mind first time around.

It's not like it's an ancient thread revisited..... I really should put a breathalyser on my keyboard.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

It's not like it's an ancient thread revisited..... I really should put a breathalyser on my keyboard.

I only remembered because it's a memorable story. Had to check or it would have bugged me.

 

[Agrismith]

Having read the whole thing to find it’s a resurrected thread, if the OP is cutting brash and brambles what you really want is a flail head for a brush cutter.

It mulches as it cuts and is loads better than blades on stuff that’s likely to get stringy and wound round the head of the machine.

They just batter everything in their path. Brogio is the make you want.

FFS Do NOT replace the chains with high tensile chain. It’s malleable chain for a reason. I know someone who’s employee did and when it hit a rock it shattered. No one died but lots of rude words exchanged.

Anyway. Here:
View attachment 377611


So good they’re banned https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/brush-cutters.htm

When we were in Europe guys I know bought them via resellers in the US or Asia.

Now we aren’t you can get them from the makers in Italy I believe.

Your mate might not have died but people have. They banned by hse in this country. Obviously for private use they can't really stop you but if something goes wrong having imported something banned I don't think it will end very well

 

[James1979]

Your mate might not have died but people have. They banned by hse in this country. Obviously for private use they can't really stop you but if something goes wrong having imported something banned I don't think it will end very well

Because they’re thick, largely.

If you use the chains they’re supplied with then they just bend and wear and eventually part company but no more or less worse than hitting barb wire or a glass bottle etc. When they used to be available the lads who ran them never really changed them. They lasted a long time and if they came off it was a non event. The original’proper’ ones use malleable chain for that reason

The hardened security chains people replace them with ‘to save money’ explode as they’re hardened and don’t react well to rocks etc.

Some of it wasn’t down to operator error. Just bad choice of equipment. You can buy the Chinese versions with unknown chain and even chainsaw chain on. That is unbelievably stupid.

 

[Agrismith]

Because they’re thick, largely.

If you use the chains they’re supplied with then they just bend and wear and eventually part company but no more or less worse than hitting barb wire or a glass bottle etc. When they used to be available the lads who ran them never really changed them. They lasted a long time and if they came off it was a non event. The original’proper’ ones use malleable chain for that reason

The hardened security chains people replace them with ‘to save money’ explode as they’re hardened and don’t react well to rocks etc.

Some of it wasn’t down to operator error. Just bad choice of equipment. You can buy the Chinese versions with unknown chain and even chainsaw chain on. That is unbelievably stupid.

From memory it wasn't replacement chain that had been fitted. It was the original and just wore down till it broke. It didn't kill the operator but a colleague. Hit him in the head. This is one of those thing that it's never going to hurt the operator/owner as much as it will hurt other people. As it will hit the operators shins. Whereas it can obviously be fatal to passers by.
I have no problem with people hurting themselves but I do think it should draw the line at damaging other people

 

[James1979]

I have no problem with people hurting themselves but I do think it should draw the line at damaging other people

Ditto.

It’s donkeys years since I did a brush cutter course but I’m sure the safe distance to others is quite a bit? More forwards than sideways if I remember?

I know life isn’t always textbook but sometimes the operator/ employer has to take responsibility for these things rather than the blanket ban mentality which i cannot stand.

It’s a sort of known secret in forestry industry (or was when I used to fix arb kit) that a lot of the EU decisions are tabled by the Germans and Stihl is one of the big employers and contributors in Germany. Sort of the VAG of the tree world! Makes you wonder how much is driven by Stihl wanting or not wanting a certain result.

 

[MattF]

I really should put a breathalyser on my keyboard.

You may as well just ask Woz for a permanent post ban. Same effect.

 

[Agrismith]

Ditto.

It’s donkeys years since I did a brush cutter course but I’m sure the safe distance to others is quite a bit? More forwards than sideways if I remember?

I know life isn’t always textbook but sometimes the operator/ employer has to take responsibility for these things rather than the blanket ban mentality which i cannot stand.

It’s a sort of known secret in forestry industry (or was when I used to fix arb kit) that a lot of the EU decisions are tabled by the Germans and Stihl is one of the big employers and contributors in Germany. Sort of the VAG of the tree world! Makes you wonder how much is driven by Stihl wanting or not wanting a certain result.

I don't think it was an eu thing.
I think it was our hse. I seem to remember reading the safety alert but can't remember all the details.
And it's ok with something where it is monitored. Lorries have mots, cranes have loler and so on but this is definitely something that is sure to be neglected.
Hse don't ban everything that is involved in am accident so there must have been decent reasoning to it.