Brush Cutter / String Trimmer

A brush cutter is a hand-held petrol-engine implement carried on a shoulder harness, with a rotating blade or nylon string head at the far end of a tubular shaft. It is widely used in Indian smallholdings for inter-row weed control, bund and field-border cleaning, orchard floor management and inter-cultivation in sugarcane and plantation crops.

Function

A small two- or four-stroke engine drives a flexible shaft that rotates the cutting head. Steel three-tooth blades cut woody weeds; eight-tooth blades cut tall grass; nylon string lines cut soft herbage close to walls and stumps without damaging trunks.

Design and specifications

The STIHL FS series is widely sold in India. The FS 120 is a 40.2 cc, 1.8 HP two-stroke with an anti-vibration handle. The FS 230 uses a 30.1 cc engine with a 40 cm cutting width. Heavy-duty models include the FS 400/410 (42.7 cc, 50 cm cut) and the FS 450/460 (44.3 cc, 55 cm cut). The 4-MIX variant is a hybrid four-stroke design that runs on a petrol-oil mix and is lighter and lower-maintenance than a conventional four-stroke.

Operation

The operator sweeps the cutting head in arcs across the working face. Personal protective equipment - safety goggles, long trousers, closed footwear and ear protection - is essential because of debris ejection and noise. The unit is preferred over a Power Weeder for narrow bunds, slopes and around standing trees.

Subsidy and adoption

Brush cutters are listed under SMAM plant-protection and inter-cultivation equipment and qualify for subsidy when purchased from a registered dealer (Agri Machinery Dealer Ecosystem). Adoption is high in coffee, tea, coconut, rubber, areca, banana and chilli systems.

References

FS 120 Petrol Brushcutter. STIHL India.
FS 230 Petrol Brushcutter. STIHL India.