permaculture

[mIEKAL aND <dtv@mwt.net>]

On Wednesday, October 30, 2002, at 10:08  AM, Loren Davidson 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>
> >
> > 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.

Ive a DR 6 hp weed trimmer & I wish I could say as many good things 
about it as loren.  Ive had mine for 2 years, & it breaks down 
endlessly, tho its all things that are pretty easy to fix, it becomes 
quite time consuming to have to be taking it apart all of the time.  in 
two years its broken 3 belts, 3 recoil cords, had to replace hex screws 
which hold the hub assembled to the drive train.  It does have a 
circular chain saw blade which Ive never tried that might work good on 
brush, but I havent tried it.  mIEKAL