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Brush cutter question???

CCW13

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I'm sorry to keep starting new threads but I don't find answers to these questions. Now that I finally decided on what machine and got it delivered the search for a brush cutter starts. Would it be a waste to put a standard flow cutter on it since it has high flow available? I'm liking what I see and read about the Blue Diamond brush cutter which only requires 16gpm. It would cut probably anything I need and it is very reasonably priced compared especially to high flow units. I'm open to opinions, thanks.

Here is a link to the cutter I'm considering.

http://www.bluediamondattachments.com/open-front-brush-cutter/
 

lantraxco

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Pressure times flow equals horsepower, if you think it will do the job, go for it. What is your standard and high flow GPM specs, at what pressures? I don't see a pressure spec for the cutter....
 

Twisted

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I'd go with the high flow unless you have a good reason not to.
If I remember right, 1 GPM @ 1500 PSI takes 1 HP. High flow makes sense.
 

lantraxco

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I'd go with the high flow unless you have a good reason not to.
If I remember right, 1 GPM @ 1500 PSI takes 1 HP. High flow makes sense.

Close enough depending on pump efficiency... but you also gotta leave some ponies to move the machine which depends on the soil underfoot and the slopes you're working and also work the boom and tilt functions . The OP has not as yet elucidated us (at least in this thread, I did not go looking for others) as to what make and model machine he has and what flows and pressures might be available at the aux lines. All things being equal including price, if the machine has the horsepower to handle it and the motor is upsized for more torque to power through material, then yeah a high flow unit does make sense. Blue diamond says they have high flow units available and I doubt there's much difference in price, or there shouldn't be. On the other hand, if you don't need absolute maximum productivity the low flow unit may work just fine and put less strain on the system and let everything run cooler.

Might be a good idea to just make a call to BD and ask their engineers for an opinion. :my2c
 

CCW13

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Thank you all. I plan on calling Blue Diamond and asking, it was just too late yesterday. Oh and whatever I get will be going on a Kubota SVL95-2
 

CCW13

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Thank you all. I plan on calling Blue Diamond and asking, it was just too late yesterday. Oh and whatever I get will be going on a Kubota SVL95-2

I quoted my own post because I couldn't figure out how to edit it. I hadn't had my coffee this morning and was totally thinking about the other company I was going to call today or Monday (Ammbusher). I actually have already called Blue Diamond and talked to them and they recommended just going with standard flow over high flow because their standard flow cutters work so well. It also saves around 1k or more. I dont' have the figures in front of me. If the standard flow will do everything i need and keep everything running cooler it seems like sometime to think about. Plus their price is good.
 

JNB

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CC, as I mentioned before I've heard good things about brush cutters from CID. http://cidattachments.com/products/brush-cutters They have quite a few options including piston motors. I know that everyone wants the biggest and baddest, but even a good low flow cutter will do a nice job if it's matched to the machine's flow. I've done a lot of cutting with both the low flow (cheap) Brush Buster and much more expensive Bradco. Both are rentals, so they're subjected to a lot of abuse. They both cut about the same and even thicker material than advertised, but the use of thinner steel on the Brush Buster showed up quick. Lots of welding and bracing to keep it going. It's still in service and still works, but it looks like it fell off of Fred Sanford's truck.
 

CCW13

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CC, as I mentioned before I've heard good things about brush cutters from CID. http://cidattachments.com/products/brush-cutters They have quite a few options including piston motors. I know that everyone wants the biggest and baddest, but even a good low flow cutter will do a nice job if it's matched to the machine's flow. I've done a lot of cutting with both the low flow (cheap) Brush Buster and much more expensive Bradco. Both are rentals, so they're subjected to a lot of abuse. They both cut about the same and even thicker material than advertised, but the use of thinner steel on the Brush Buster showed up quick. Lots of welding and bracing to keep it going. It's still in service and still works, but it looks like it fell off of Fred Sanford's truck.

Thanks I'll check them out.
 

Todd v.

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Personally, from what I've seen Diamond (not blue diamond) makes the best brush mower. I bought one a little over a month ago and have nothi g but good things to say about it after I fixed an issue with the motor coming lose. Diamond was easy to work with. They are just much better built and engineered than any kf the others I looked into. The Diamond excels at productivity and the finished product over other mowers I tried and they are built to last. The Bradco units look pretty nice as well but I couldn't work out a demo.

I also have a CID mower and I think they are the best by far at their price point. It has done me well with no real issues other than a few repairs on the deck.
 

CCW13

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Personally, from what I've seen Diamond (not blue diamond) makes the best brush mower. I bought one a little over a month ago and have nothi g but good things to say about it after I fixed an issue with the motor coming lose. Diamond was easy to work with. They are just much better built and engineered than any kf the others I looked into. The Diamond excels at productivity and the finished product over other mowers I tried and they are built to last. The Bradco units look pretty nice as well but I couldn't work out a demo.

I also have a CID mower and I think they are the best by far at their price point. It has done me well with no real issues other than a few repairs on the deck.

Are you using high flow or standard?
 

Todd v.

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Hi flow, 30 GPM @ 3500 psi on a 75 hp machine. After running a mower of mulcher on a hi flo machine you will never want to be without it.
 

willie59

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Of course it depends on what you're cutting, but a good quality brand mower will typically serve ones needs just fine with a low flow unit, especially if the unit has a good motor on it. Most good brand mowers will have some form of either gearoller or piston motor which delivers plenty of torque to do the job with a low flow machine. But if you're cutting really thick tall grass, or cutting a lot of trees, the high flow unit will do a better job of chewing through it without slowing down, and if it does slow down, the recovery time will be quicker when you back off. It really has as much to do with what you're cutting as does anything in design and build.
 

CCW13

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Of course it depends on what you're cutting, but a good quality brand mower will typically serve ones needs just fine with a low flow unit, especially if the unit has a good motor on it. Most good brand mowers will have some form of either gearoller or piston motor which delivers plenty of torque to do the job with a low flow machine. But if you're cutting really thick tall grass, or cutting a lot of trees, the high flow unit will do a better job of chewing through it without slowing down, and if it does slow down, the recovery time will be quicker when you back off. It really has as much to do with what you're cutting as does anything in design and build.

Thank you. I see you have blue diamond linked in your sig. Do you work for them? The two times I've spoken to them on the phone they've been very nice and helpful.
 

willie59

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Well, yes and no, Blue Diamond and ATCO Equipment are two companies that share the same owner, so that would be the yes part, but since they're a separate part of a parent company, that would be the no part, I work on machines, don't have dealings with the attachments per se, but I have the link in my sig because ultimately they're a part of the company I work for. Does that make sense. :)
 

pafarmer

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Slightly confused here, Blue Diamond and Diamond are two separate entities with two completely different products in terms of brush cutting/ mulching. What one are you considering to run CCW ?

High flow cutting heads are always better, bigger RPM's and quicker recovery times on the attachment itself. both very important things to consider when running a mulcher. You Kubota 95 flows a a good amount of GPM, that's why you paid for high flow. I would always lean towards the high flow attachments if your machine is spec'ed to run it efficiently and effectively
 

CCW13

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Well, yes and no, Blue Diamond and ATCO Equipment are two companies that share the same owner, so that would be the yes part, but since they're a separate part of a parent company, that would be the no part, I work on machines, don't have dealings with the attachments per se, but I have the link in my sig because ultimately they're a part of the company I work for. Does that make sense. :)

I think I got it lol. Thank you.

Slightly confused here, Blue Diamond and Diamond are two separate entities with two completely different products in terms of brush cutting/ mulching. What one are you considering to run CCW ?

High flow cutting heads are always better, bigger RPM's and quicker recovery times on the attachment itself. both very important things to consider when running a mulcher. You Kubota 95 flows a a good amount of GPM, that's why you paid for high flow. I would always lean towards the high flow attachments if your machine is spec'ed to run it efficiently and effectively

All good points. Thank you
 

Todd v.

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Slightly confused here, Blue Diamond and Diamond are two separate entities with two completely different products in terms of brush cutting/ mulching. What one are you considering to run CCW ?

High flow cutting heads are always better, bigger RPM's and quicker recovery times on the attachment itself. both very important things to consider when running a mulcher. You Kubota 95 flows a a good amount of GPM, that's why you paid for high flow. I would always lean towards the high flow attachments if your machine is spec'ed to run it efficiently and effectively
Yes, Diamond and Blue Diamond are two separate companies.

http://diamondmowers.com

http://www.bluediamondattachments.com/attachment-category/skid-steer-brush-cutters/
 

HRPServicesTX

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I'd definitely look into diamondmowers.com I've been looking into thier stuff a while now and seems to be one of the best for brush mowers. High flow should def be considered....but the flip side is if your machine is down and need a rental....what's the availability of a rental having high flow, vs standard flow. And that might play a roll in what you decide, but if you can source a rental easily with high flow for the unlikely event of your machine in the shop, choose high flow.
 

CCW13

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I'd definitely look into diamondmowers.com I've been looking into thier stuff a while now and seems to be one of the best for brush mowers. High flow should def be considered....but the flip side is if your machine is down and need a rental....what's the availability of a rental having high flow, vs standard flow. And that might play a roll in what you decide, but if you can source a rental easily with high flow for the unlikely event of your machine in the shop, choose high flow.

This is just for personal use so I can go without it if need be. It would be inconvenient but I wouldn't be losing money or making a client mad. So here's a question for you all....say you have mower A and mower B which are identical mowers but the high flow is 1000 more or so. This is just for personal use and will be used for tall grass and weeds and occasional clearing. Would the extra money for the high flow be worth it? Or save the 1k and put it towards a grapple lol?
 
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