Clearing brush can be very tiring, but having the right equipment can make it a lot easier. This guide will help you determine which type of brush cutter is right for you, and provide helpful tips and information for getting the most out of a cutter.
Brush Cutter Success Largely depends on four key things:
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Considerations Before You Purchase a New or Used Skid Steer brush cutter
Spindle Quality
The spindle, also known as the bearing housing, is the most expensive and important performance part on a skid steer brush cutter attachment. Choosing a cutter with a thick, high-quality spindle is an absolute must when making a brush cutter purchase. Ask about the spindle material and diameter. Also, ask where the spindle was made to ensure you aren’t getting an inferior product. A forged spindle will be the strongest. A spindle shaft that has not been well maintained with proper lubrication will quickly wear out.
BRUSH CUTTER Blade DESIGN
There are two types of blades: updraft or flat. Updraft blades are like lawnmower blades; there is a bend in them to create lift for a cleaner cut in grass. Flat blades are better for cutting trees (like an ax) and are typically double sided for longer use. Blade thickness is of obvious importance, but an often overlooked detail is the length of the cutting surface. Oftentimes this is minimized to cut costs, which only makes cutting more inefficient.
Rocks, dirt, and other obstructions will dramatically increase the dulling of the blades. They will eventually need to be replaced, so ease of access and replacement cost are important to consider. Check the cost of replacement blade kits before buying and ask how to change the blades. Some do not have easy access and others weld the blade nut on, meaning a torch is required for replacement!
Safety Features
A skid steer brush cutter motor that features dynamic braking will safely stop the flywheel in about ten seconds. Without a braking system, the blades could keep spinning for minutes. Dynamic braking combined with pressure relief valves makes for a very reliable and low-maintenance drive system.
The brush cutter attachment should have a safety feature that prevents the cutter’s deck from going above the cab door. This keeps the cutter close to the ground and limits flying debris, which helps protect the operator.
Closed Front Deck Brush Cutters
Applications
The deck style MUST be matched to the type and size of material cut. If you’re mainly clearing grass, weeds, undergrowth, and small trees and saplings up to 4” in diameter, then a closed deck cutter is a great choice.
Advantages
A closed front brush cutter does not allow debris to escape the deck easily, which allows extremely efficient mulching. Leaves, limbs, and saplings are shredded into small chips and pieces, resulting in a smooth and managed appearance. Closed front brush cutters provide a better-looking and more consistent cut than open front brush cutters. Some feature a floating deck which works well on uneven terrain.
Types and Options
The best cutter will depend upon the conditions in which it’s going to be used. Here are the basic types of closed front brush cutters and common options.
Fixed vs. Floating Closed Deck Brush Cutters
Fixed Deck
A brush cutter attachment with a fixed deck is designed for use on relatively level surfaces. If used on uneven terrain, the operator may have to constantly adjust the loader arms to prevent scalping. A fixed, standard deck brush cutter will be less expensive than a floating deck brush cutter.
Floating Deck
The floating deck is designed for use on slopes or uneven terrain. It produces a cleaner cut by following the contour of the ground to reduce scalping and gouging.
In situations where the floating deck is not needed, it has the ability to easily lock into a fixed position. For example, the operator may want to lock the deck in very soft or wet ground to keep the cutter suspended above the ground or if pushing over many trees.
Additional Options
Depending on your needs, additional features can be well worth a look. Some common options are front casters/wheels and rear rollers to help keep the skid steer mower stable.
Rear Roller
A roller consists of a large, tubular weldment with bearings connected to the outside of the deck. A Rear Roller will compact chopped material and produce a better cut by preventing the back of the deck from gouging into the ground.
Swivel Casters/Wheels
Caster options provide support with pivoting solid steel wheels placed on both front corners of the brush mower. They help prevent the cutter from scalping and gouging, which results in a clean, consistent cut. 360° rotating swivel casters are better than fixed wheels because they make the brush cutter easier to maneuver from side-to-side.
Pairing Swivel Casters and a Rear Roller will help produce a better cut, a smoother ride, and further limit gouging/scalping. These options also provide extra value by minimizing wear on the underside of the brush cutter frame and skid shoes.
Open Front Deck Skid Steer Brush Cutters
Applications
Virnig open front cutters are designed to rough cut dense brush and trees up to 14” in diameter. These are better suited to tackle large areas of extremely tough brush with minimal impact on the property. If mainly cutting grass, an open front cutter is not the best choice, though it will work.
Advantages
An open front cutter is excellent for rough cutting trees and brush. It cuts debris without needing to push it over first. Brush exits the deck quickly, resulting in efficient cutting and less mulching. By tilting the front of the deck forward, small trees and stumps can be cut down to the ground to limit tree re-growth.
Types and Options
There are less options when it comes to open front brush cutters. The basic determining factor is how large the material is to be cut and how often the cutter will be used. An open front cutter with a larger flywheel, spindle, and motor will cut larger material and more efficiently, but also costs significantly more.
Skid Steer Flow Rate
You must know the flow rate of your skid steer and the minimum and maximum flow rate of the brush cutter motor. The flow rate is typically listed in gallons per minute (GPM).
To achieve optimal performance, the brush cutter’s flow rate should fall within the min/max range of the brush cutter motor. The motor is not designed to go over its maximum flow rate rating, and the warranty is likely void if it does. Picking a cutter with the correct motor will give a balance between blade tip speed and torque.
Flow rate examples:
- If you use a Standard Flow brush mower motor in High Flow, the motor will be over stressed. It may not fail immediately, but irreparable damage has likely occurred and eventually the motor will fail.
- If you use a High Flow brush mower on a Standard Flow skid steer, you won’t get adequate performance.
Skid Steer Operating Capacity
Always check the attachment’s recommended loader capacity to make sure your skid steer has the necessary operating capacity to effectively handle the skid steer brush mower.
Safely Operating and Maintaining Brush Cutters
For maximum safety, take the time to read and understand the brush cutter’s manual before operating. The key things are to keep bystanders at least 300 feet away from the cutter when it is being operated and have a shatterproof cab door on your skid steer.
Terrain changes can come up quickly. If you are unfamiliar with the terrain, be sure to walk around and see if there are any sudden drop-offs or soft, mushy areas. Also, look for rocks, wire, and other damaging debris before cutting.
Skid steers and brush cutters are very heavy. On dry ground weight is not a concern, but cutting on wet ground will likely cause the skid steer to lose traction and sink deep into the ground. This problem cannot be completely avoided, but traction can be increased by using a machine with tracks instead of tires. Also, work from dry areas into wet areas by facing the wet area. This way if the machine starts sinking you can still back up. If you’re working parallel along a wet area and the machine starts to sink, backing out likely isn’t going to be an option.
Virnig Brush Cutters
When it comes to skid steer brush cutters, it doesn’t get better than Virnig. Every cutter is designed and manufactured in Rice, Minnesota. With over 60 models to choose from, there’s a cutter for any brush clearing application.
Each cutter features a reinforced deck, premium motor and spindle, and a heavy-duty flywheel/blade combination. The unmatched design and durability along with a proactive customer support team means long-lasting performance.
Virnig Manufacturing offers nine different cutters:
Click on any product name to view its specs in full.
Virnig's Naming Series
For attachments with comparable counterparts, there are a variety of factors to determine the series. This includes steel thickness, amount of bracing, capacity, or simply the number of options to specialize the attachment.
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Mini skid steer attachments designed for peak performance and crafted to be the toughest in the market. Small but powerful, they embody Virnig quality. |
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Ideal for compact tractors and small skid steers with less than a 1,500 lb operating capacity. |
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Lighter-duty with minimal options for small to medium frame skid steers. Works well for homeowners and DIYers. |
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For medium to large frame skid steers. Though this is Virnig’s standard-duty line, the V50 Series often outperforms other brands’ heaviest skid steer attachments. |
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High-Performance attachments constructed for large frame skid steers. Ideal for commercial operations, they are designed to withstand years of tough jobs. |
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Virnig’s new attachment class with the best durability and performance; solely contains the Tree Disc Mulcher. As skid steers increase in size and jobs become more demanding, Virnig will continue to add to the V70 line-up. |
About Virnig
Located in the heart of Central Minnesota, Virnig Manufacturing has been designing and producing skid steer attachments since 1989. From engineering and cutting raw materials to machining, welding, and powder coat painting the finished product, all steps of the manufacturing process are done in-house.
Our skid steer attachments’ major components are manufactured with the latest technologies to yield a product that continually outperforms the competition. The product line is backed by a 1-year warranty and an on-going customer support system. Plus, Virnig carries over 40,000 attachment parts that are in stock and ready to ship the same day an order is received.