A rotary cutter is a great thing for farmers or people with a lot of land to own. It’s more heavy duty and powerful than a regular lawn mower.
A rotary cutter attaches to the back of your tractor and is meant to cut heavy brush. This can include thick pasture grass, tall weeds, and other rough plants.
Rotary cutters are typically used to help clear large areas of land. Farmers like to use them on their pastures and fields to ready them for their crops. They are also often used for other heavy duty tasks, such as clearing construction site areas.
There are many factors to consider when deciding which rotary cutter to get. That’s why Blain’s Farm & Fleet is here to show you everything you should keep in mind when looking for a rotary cutter.
You’ll need a rotary cutter if you want to clear thick brush and vegetation from your land that your regular mower just can’t handle.
If you have a large area of land that needs to be cleared, it’s a good idea to get a rotary cutter. Otherwise, you’d end up putting in a lot of extra time and energy to get rid of heavy plant material that the rotary cutter could’ve mowed in a fraction of the time.
Keep in mind that rotary cutters have to be attached to a tractor. So if you don’t already own or don’t plan on getting a tractor, a rotary cutter wouldn’t work for you.
Rotary cutters come in many different sizes, so you’ll want to make sure you get the one that’s right for you. When choosing the right size, there are two things to consider: your tractor’s width and horsepower.
You want the rotary cutter to be at least a little wider than your tractor is from tire to tire. If it’s not, parts of the grass that your tractor goes over won’t get cut.
When it comes to horsepower (HP), you’ll want to make sure the rotary cutter’s rating is never higher than your tractor’s. Ideally, they should either have the same horsepower rating, or the rotary cutter can have up to 10 HP less than your tractor.
For example, if your tractor has a 60 HP rating, then your rotary cutter’s should be between 50 and 60 HP.
Because rotary cutters have to be attached to a tractor, you’ll want to make sure the one you’re purchasing will actually connect to your tractor. Most of them hook to the three-point hitch on a tractor. If your tractor doesn’t have this, you’ll have to get a conversion kit in order for them to connect.
Not all rotary cutters are built the same. Some models are more heavy-duty than others. If you’re thinking about getting one, first consider what you would mainly be using it for.
If you plan on using it just to cut fields or light brush, you might be okay getting a lighter-duty model. However, if you are going to be cutting thick vegetation, such as cornstalks, you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re getting a more heavy-duty model.
When selecting a rotary cutter, it’s very important that you pick one that’s good quality and durable. It should have a rugged frame that’s made of a strong, long-lasting material, quick-change blades, and a smooth slope deck.
The smooth slope deck is important because it will ensure grass, plants, dirt, and other materials won’t collect on the top of your cutter.
Another important factor to consider when buying a rotary cutter is price. Rotary cutters come in a wide range of different prices. Ultimately, you’re more likely to get a better quality product when you go with a more expensive one.
Cheaper rotary cutters are more likely to have problems, need repairs more often, and typically won’t last as long. If you invest in a more quality one, it may actually end up saving you money in the long run because it’s more likely to last a long time.
A final thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t be using only a rotary cutter if you want clean, manicured grass.
The rotary cutter is great at getting rid of tall, thick plants. However, it won’t give your lawn as close or as clean of a cut as a regular mower would. Instead, you should start with the rotary cutter, and then end with a finish mower.
For more articles like this one, see our Lawn Care Blog.
