permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 10:08 AM 10/30/02 -0800, you wrote:
> At 12:59 PM 10/30/02 -0800, Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:
>
> > Subject: Do you mind forwarding this one for me?
> > Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 10:15:41 -0500
> > From: Allan Balliett <igg@igg.com>

There is a machine called a brush wrench, basically a long lever and 
fulcrum with a gripping jaw that lets one tear out brush by the roots 
rather than just cut it off.  Works great.  I tend to agree with the notion 
that for serious work having the bigger machine is probably worth it.  I'm 
a big fan of steel blades for these cutters as well, really improves the 
cutting power over plastic or string, esp if kept sharp.  I have a large 
Huskavarna with the low vibration feature and like it.  heavy tractor 
mounted rototillers may be able to knock out young brush as well, might be 
able to hire it done for a fraction of the cost of a new cutter.
M

> > I have to clear a lot of land a lot more often than I really would
> > like to. This year I'm looking at redeeming a 1acre biodynamic garden
> > that's been neglected and fallow for 3 years. (Viva le fertility!
> > Viva le Gobo!!) and spruce up a neglected 3 acre rock outcropping
> > pasture.
> >
> > I'm looking at getting a new brush cutter. After the recommendations
> > in the recent whole earth, I'm looking at the Shindaiwa B450
> > (45ccs/18lb unit), I'm wondering if I should save money and get the
> > cheaper 35cc unit. More than that, I'm wondering what the rest of you
> > are using.
>
> I'm using a DR 8 HP brush mower.  It's self-propelled, has large wheels, 
> and is good for anything up to about 1" in diameter.  It's made by Country 
> Home Products.  I don't have the URL handy, but I'm sure Google has 
> them.  I've been using it for about a half-dozen years and really enjoy 
> it.  If I had it to do over again, I'd get a bigger one rather than a 
> smaller one.  The DR mowers are built to be easily serviceable, but don't 
> need much servicing - they're built out of heavy-gauge steel, etc.  The 
> newer ones have balloon tires with some serious tread rather than the 
> roughly 24" hard rubber tires of mine.
>
> The main disadvantage I've found is with brush that overhangs toward me - 
> it's challenging to get the brush mower in to where the trunks meet the 
> ground.  Other than that, it's a highly-useful, time-saving tool.  I think 
> it's worth the petrochemicals I need to keep it running.
>
> In my adventures with power tools, I have seldom found any advantage in 
> buying something smaller rather than larger.  When I do, I always end up 
> needing the larger one for something, and sometimes find that having 
> multiple sizes is really the best solution.  For example, I moved from an 
> 18" to a 20" chainsaw, with about 50% more power, and am much happier with 
> it.  For small stuff I have a 14" electric chainsaw that works well.
>
> I have 40 acres, 1-2 of which I'm actually doing something with.  On that 
> 1-2 acres I have various kinds of brush, scrub oak, poison oak, and 
> blackberry, as well as grasses of various sorts.  Two passes a year at the 
> right times keep the star thistle manageable and allow other things to 
> succeed it.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Loren
>
> Loren Davidson        Earth steward, healer, singer/songwriter
> loren@farwalker.com   http://www.earthspring.org/loren/
> AIM: loren334     ICQ: 65291610
> Loren's music pages: http://www.lorendavidson.com
> "I'm getting this image in my head of a little soybean running around 
> screaming, 'People!  Tofu is made out of people!'" - Torg
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Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM