Chain saw / hedge trimmer hybrid.

[Reg]

What the title says.
Hedge trimmers "aren't big enough" for a lot of heavy overgrowth, brush, etc.
Chain saws grab and whip it.

What I am wish-dreaming for is something like a hedge trimmer set of fingers that bolts onto a chainsaw bar.
It would catch the thick springy stuff and stop it from whipping while the chain cuts it.
Does this exist ? For a good/fair price ?

{cc my patent attorney, just in case this doesn't exist (yet) - this is the original art}

 

[gwdixon]

Several kinds are available.

chainsaw hedge trimmer attachment - Google Search

 

[smstonypoint]

it seems to me that brush cutters from Stihl, Husqvarna, etc. equipped with saw blades (e.g. Trimmer & Brushcutter Cutting Heads and Blades | STIHL USA) are designed for that task.

Steve

 

[Midniteoyl]

What you are looking for is a 'Clip-n-Trim' for chainsaws (not the haircut kit ): Amazon.com: Clip-N-Trim 2": Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[kirkawilson]

And here is one of the early patents. If you scroll down the page to "Referenced By", you can see many more. Patent US3815229 - Hedge trimmer attachment for a chain saw - Google Patents

 

[jmc]

Looks like you have to drill the bar to mount it.

My neighbor was building a chainsaw based sawmill and couldn't drill a half inch hole thru his Huskavarna(sp) bar with a hand held drill. We did it in my mill and that steel was pretty tough. I did use a Chinese drill rather than one of my good ones but you could still tell. Maybe the consumer grade bars are easier to drill?

 

[Midniteoyl]

Looks like you have to drill the bar to mount it.

My neighbor was building a chainsaw based sawmill and couldn't drill a half inch hole thru his Huskavarna(sp) bar with a hand held drill. We did it in my mill and that steel was pretty tough. I did use a Chinese drill rather than one of my good ones but you could still tell. Maybe the consumer grade bars are easier to drill?

Depends on the bar.. many already have a hole towards the tip that can be used, and the rear is held on by the 2 bar bolts.

http://www.chainsawsdirect.com/product-images/FT280-72_10282_225.jpg

 

[Reg]

Depends on the bar.. many already have a hole towards the tip that can be used, and the rear is held on by the 2 bar bolts.

http://www.chainsawsdirect.com/product-images/FT280-72_10282_225.jpg

A good example being my 28 inch Husky bar, it has an "almost hole", i.e. punch out the little disk to create a hole.
Some people may try to drill this out, I wouldn't

Bahh, now I'm obsessing over a Granberg Alaskan mill - my xp390 is 88cc., so that could drive a 36 inch mill with no sweat.
Then there is the 2100 that hasn't been run in years, maybe I'll resurrect that to go on the other end

 

[ScoutmasterRick]

I have the Granberg Clip-N-Trim (Chainsaw Brush Attachments | Granberg International), and have used it on a few occasions. It works for hedge/brush trimming, but the finish will not be quite as clean as a true hedge trimmer. On the other hand it will cut any limb/branch that will fit between the "fingers".



It doesn't require any drilling or modification of the bar or chain.

 

[crazyal]

Have you thought about a string trimmer? I know several brands offer a hedge trimmer attachment for them. I borrow a friends Sthil for the rare chances when I need one. Anything that doesn't fit between the teeth I use my trimmer with the saw blade attached.

 

[bjorn773]

it seems to me that brush cutters from Stihl, Husqvarna, etc. equipped with saw blades (e.g. Trimmer & Brushcutter Cutting Heads and Blades | STIHL USA) are designed for that task.

Steve

I have a Stihl Kombi with a brush blade in it... I regularly take down honeysuckle and buckthorn with it up to about 2" diameter... best part is I don't have to bend over to do it. The Stihl brand blade is extremely durable, even when occasionally hitting dirt.

 

[bjorn773]

I also have the Power Scythe attachment, but that is for tall weeds, not brush. The string trimmer head with a brush blade works the best. Gotta have a pretty powerful string trimmer to handle it though.