Flail Mower Flail or Rotary Cutter

Fundy · May 15, 2020

I知 torn between a rotary cutter and a flail mower to clear and maintain 9 acres. The area is currently overgrown with some light brush in small patches. Once I make the initial cut over time a small section will be maintained with a ride on mower and the remainder will be 途ough cut as required.
I realize the flail mower will give me a finer cut but having trouble with the additional cost and maintenance of the flail mower, anyone that has been in the same situation and can make any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Yes I know this topic has been beat to death but would like some help from anyone that has already gone through this recently :drink:

Hay Dude · May 15, 2020

Is safety (thrown cuttings) an issue? Rotary will throw a little more. Chains will minimize that.
Maintenance probably won’t be an issue with the flail for YOU, since you’re not using it every day or in a commercial operation like I am. I don’t think the maintenance is all that bad on a flail unless you try to overload it or cut rocks with it.
Rotary mower is rougher & tougher and more forgiving if youre in rocks, mounds of dirt or stumps.

Alien · May 16, 2020

In 4 years I have sharpened my flail blades twice. I am a bit fussy. I have hit plenty of grounded stumps and sticks etc and find the flail hammers pretty tough. They excel on grass and do a beautiful finish job. With what is in your photo, probably a slasher would be more suited although I have cut stuff similar. (lantana bushes and saplings)
A full set of hammers for mine is around $200 but I am nowhere near replacing them after 4 years. Y Blades on a flail may be more suited to that scrub.

BrokenTrack · May 16, 2020

I use both: a bushog for my farm needs, and a flail mower for mowing the sides of the road.

Well: I will just come out and say it: the flail mower is better than sex.

Okay, maybe a bit overstated, but you get my point; the flail mower is the better option.

I am rebuilding my bushog now, but just because it makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars and do so. When I need to fully replace it, I will get a flail mower.

As a side note: I think the hammer knives are better, but I run Y knives on mine. I can sharpen them about 4 times before they are so bad they can no longer be sharpened, BUT keep in mind, I am operating in the harshest mowing conditions possible.

Peter 315 · May 16, 2020

BrokenTrack said:
I use both: a bushog for my farm needs, and a flail mower for mowing the sides of the road.

Well: I will just come out and say it: the flail mower is better than sex.

Okay, maybe a bit overstated, but you get my point; the flail mower is the better option.

I am rebuilding my bushog now, but just because it makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars and do so. When I need to fully replace it, I will get a flail mower.

As a side note: I think the hammer knives are better, but I run Y knives on mine. I can sharpen them about 4 times before they are so bad they can no longer be sharpened, BUT keep in mind, I am operating in the harshest mowing conditions possible.

Ya in the northeast the rocks grow faster then the grass.....LOL

Alien · May 16, 2020

Certainly the flail mulches the cuttings a lot better and does'nt leave windrows in its' wake like a rotary. I have friends with rotary cutters and they are jealous of my flail.

BRMyers · May 16, 2020

Around our area, you would be hard press to find a flail mower. Everyone in these parts uses rotary mowers of various sizes.

Fundy · May 16, 2020

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

the old grind · May 16, 2020

Another vote for flail with hammers. Blackberries 1" or so diameter look better when mowed to 1" tall.

Last Fall I 'mowed' a 1 ac food plot that looked like the owner's first pass with a rotary should be baled before I began.

After my second pass I wondered where the clippings went. I check belt tension and hit three grease fittings before each use.

The hammers cut grass by our mailboxes & ditch as cleanly as my ZTR, but I have much more range of cutting height with the flail.

Just don't back up with the mower 'down' and 'spinning'. DAMHIK.