Finish mower vs rotary mower

[kurtw]

I have a 2 acre newly seeded pasture with a few trees and a 3 acre pasture with some rough ground and lots of trees/palmettos to mow around. There may also be some small 1-2" branches laying around in the 3 acre pasture. I need to mow both. I have used a bush hog before. It works but not a clean cut and tends to scalp a lot when doing lots of turning. Someone suggested a finishing mower - it sounds like a good idea for the 2 acres but I am concerned about maneuverability in tight spaces and durability. I am sure it can't take the punishment of a bush hog. But what about the occasional palmetto/tree limg that I hit. I don't want to buy both mowers
Thanks
Kurt

 

[billbill1]

Kurt, think of the finish mower as a big lawn mower with the same type of blades. Rocks and solid objects are going to nick the blades causing them to become dull. The rough cut mower cuts with a solid bar that does more ripping than cutting, thus no damage to the bar. I wouldn't want to use my finish mower in the pasture if it were me.

 

[Soundguy]

Like Bill said. Don't runt he finish mower ovewr anything you wouldn't run your lawnmower over.

also.. if your rotary is scalping on turns.. get some stabilizer chains for it!

Soundguy

 

[HRS]

Kurt, I think you already have your answer. You don't like the rough cut of the rotary cutter. Go with the one that will give you the look you are after. The finishing mower is like a large lawn mower deck, but some are a heck of a lot heavier. The blades are propelled by a belt, so if something were to get wedged, its not going to hurt anything. Even a rotary cuter should have its blade sharpened. Go get yourself an grinding/sharpening wheel/motor that you can mount to a bench of some sort. I keep my mower blades nice and sharp with mine. Rocks don't worry me. Sharpen as needed, and when the blades wear out, go get some more. I too mow 3 acres in a pasture that I use as a campground. I want the grass/weed cut close like a lawn there. Snakes need to be easily seen. I don't use the rotary cutter there. Now down in the field where I just want the brush and weeds knocked down and I don't really care about the lumps and clumps, I use the rotary there all the time. Go with the one that will give you the look you are after.

 

[_RaT_]

If its never been cut, I agree that a brush mower is better, it will help you find all the hidden obstacles and hopefully not hurt the mower in the process. If that is not the case, I'll post pictures tommorrow of just what my 84" finish mower can cut. My brush mower had nothing on it in terms of ability to cut tall or dense grass, nothing an ordinary mower could touch. I much prefer my finish mower now that all the boards, rocks, limbs etc. have been found. The edge of my Woods 80" brush mower blades were definitely do for replacement after that first year of cutting. After three year with my finish mower cutting the same grass as my bush hog, the belt is still like new, I'm on my second set of blades.

 

[_RaT_]

Here is what my 84" finish mower cut today. My ride on snapper will not cut this.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here is what my 84" finish mower cut today. My ride on snapper will not cut this.)</font>
I think it's horrible of you to have cut the legs off that little man in the picture. However, I'm surprised that your snapper wouldn't have cut them off though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
John