Comparing Brush Cutter Attachments for Your Skid Steer or Compact Track Loader

Wanting to clear a large amount of underbrush in a small amount of time? Look no further than the brush cutter attachment, also known as a rotary cutter. These are designed to quickly cut down thick grass, weeds, brush and even small trees. But they’re not all the same. Multiple styles are available, varying widely in capacity and features. Here’s a quick rundown of what to look for in an attachment for your skid steer or compact track loader.

1. Capacity

When shopping for a brush cutter attachment, one of the most noticeable differences is cutting capacity. Lighter-duty attachments may only have a capacity of several inches. The highest rated ones can cut material up to 10 inches in diameter.

Keep in mind that brush cutters are only intended to cut 10-inch trees intermittently. These attachments can work all day in four-inch material and less, but bigger trees can be more intensive. If dealing with a lot of larger-diameter trees, a person may want to consider purchasing a drum mulcher instead. Also known as mulching heads or forestry mulchers, drum mulchers are better suited for larger material and harder woods, while creating finer particle sizes, but they do cost more.

One other thing to consider is that even if a person doesn’t think a full 10-inch cutting capacity is needed at the time of purchase, it may be worth sizing up for the future. After putting a brush cutter to use, it’s easy to start thinking of doing more work with it than initially anticipated.

2. Cutting Disc

Brush cutter attachments may have either a triangle- or a round-shaped disc. What matters more is the type of blades they have. Most are equipped with either three or four blades. Generally speaking, four blades can do more work in one disc revolution than three. The blades are designed to pivot when hitting something solid to prevent damage to the machine. But there’s also a lot of variation in the types of blades used.

The most basic attachments on the market use hardened steel blades. The highest-capacity brush cutters, however, often use beveled knives that perform like an ax to take down larger-diameter trees more efficiently.

Another characteristic that varies between attachments is the ability to grind material. Some brush cutters have carbide teeth on the underside of the disc for added versatility. These teeth allow operators to grind stumps and brush to the ground after initially cutting them with the blades, resulting in a cleaner jobsite.

3. Motor

Brush cutting attachments can be powered by multiple sizes and types of hydraulic motors, including gear motors, gerotor motors, radial piston motors and others. While opinions may differ from one operator to another, many prefer radial piston motors for vegetation management work, due to their reputation for reliability and amount of torque they provide. In fact, the highest-capacity brush cutters on the market usually come with a large radial piston motor.

Torque is highly important for brush cutter performance, as it allows the disc to get up to speed and recover faster. If, for instance, the cutting disc slows down when hitting large material, then more torque allows it to get back to full RPM quicker, helping operators be more productive.

Regardless of motor type, a helpful feature to have is a pressure gauge that’s mounted on the attachment and visible from the cab. This allows operators to keep an eye on the workload, so they know how hard the motor is working. It helps to maximize productivity, while preventing heat related issues caused by pushing the motor too hard.

4. Floating Door

Another feature that is worth considering on a brush cutter attachment is a floating door. As the attachment is pushed into a tree, hinges allow this door at the front of the unit to open up, exposing the knives for better cutting performance.

Not all attachments offer this feature, however, and ones that do may have different designs. For instance, on some units when the door is fully opened, it becomes solid to act as a tree pusher. Operators will likely find this added versatility to be helpful when getting into small trees.

5. Support

The last thing to consider is less visible, but it’s no less important. The service behind a piece of equipment is a key part of achieving success with a brush cutter. This is true with all vegetation management attachments, which are often subjected to demanding work in tough conditions.

Although many brush cutters on the market today are built for durability, breakdowns can happen. When they do, having access to quality parts and service can be invaluable for minimizing downtime with fewer headaches along the way. Because of this, it’s worth considering equipment purchases from reputable manufacturers with good dealer networks.

Furthermore, consider the warranty offered by the manufacturer, as it can provide additional peace of mind. One year is the standard warranty on most brush cutters, but some have a two-year warranty for extra protection.

Choosing the right brush cutter attachment ultimately comes down to matching the tool’s capabilities with the type of work you need to accomplish. Capacity, blade design, motor, performance features and manufacturer support all play critical roles in productivity and long-term value. And, while lighter-duty options may be sufficient for smaller jobs, investing in higher-capacity attachments can open the door to more demanding applications down the road. After weighing all these factors, you can finally cut to the chase and start selecting the best unit to meet your needs.

Shannon McComas is the vice president of sales and marketing at Loftness.