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Product: Tool: Cutting
Wood Whacker   (+2)  [vote for, against]
For woody cutting under 2" diam.

Road crews in certain areas affected by recession have been forced to lengthen the time between trimmings alongside highways, allowing denser brush to invade. Grass-type weeds are easily handled but when woody trees enter, weed whackers have no chance. They may scar it, but they usually just save it for a chainsaw crew. When the chainsaw crews come around (which is even more intermittent), the tree has grown to be maybe 3 inches thick, depending on the type of tree. Wanting to eliminate the tree, they get as close to the base as possible. They either run their chains into the dirt and/or rocks, damaging their chains, or they go to high. Leaving even 3 inches of tree stubble can dramatically increase the liability to those responsible for maintaining such roads. The sides of roads are more generally used as walkways for pedestrians as well as paths for cyclists. If they run into one of these stubs and trip, they could sue for some bucks, and someone could die from vehicle related incidents.

Allowing road crews that are dedicated to grass trimming, the ability to also trim such stubble down to the ground level would be in the best interest of both the road crews and those who use the sides of roads. They would not have to track and work together with chainsaw crews.

This weed whacker attachment, the Wood Whacker, would allow road crews this ability, allowing them to efficiently clear roadside brush within their more intermittent schedules. It would have a guard-attachment, like you see for protecting against projectiles, but it would also act as a sled, allowing the wood whacker to get as close to the ground as possible, without touching any dirt or rocks. It would contain a heavy cutting disc, geared down, to take on small trees no larger than 2" in diameter.

Far be it from me to suggest that this isn't an ingenious, earth-shattering and life-affirming example of the brilliance of the human mind when faced with a seemingly intractable problem, but this isn't an ingenious, earth- shattering and life-affirming example of the brilliance of the human mind when faced with a seemingly intractable problem. It's just a solution to a problem that many road crews might appreciate, if implemented.
-- twitch, Sep 23 2010

Brush Mower http://www.drpower....ld-Brush-Mower.aspx
[infidel, Sep 24 2010]

Stihl Clearing Saw http://www.stihlusa...rs/brush-clear.html
[infidel, Sep 24 2010]

Billygoat http://www.billygoa...e/intro.aspx?pid=18
[infidel, Sep 24 2010]

Illustration http://tinypic.com/r/2n7kspk/7
maybe this will help [twitch, Sep 24 2010]

Far be it from me to bun the cruel denial of a young sapling's dreams of arbority.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 23 2010


Even if it created countless fire hazards that threaten neighborhoods?
-- twitch, Sep 24 2010


I could use a little less description of existing methods of removing these trees and a little more of your idea for improvement on it, i.e., the idea itself.

Not saying you don't have one, just that I'm not clear what it is, how it's different, etc. I think this might be baked, but I can't really tell.
-- Boomershine, Sep 24 2010


//go to high// chance would be a good thing.
-- po, Sep 24 2010


long handle + heavy slow cutting disk = frisbee... but I've a sledge lawnmower on hold so [ ]
-- FlyingToaster, Sep 24 2010


It's called a brushcutter. They are quite common and many people even know they exist.

I think the local terminology is "widely known to exist".
-- infidel, Sep 24 2010


Our weed-wacker has a blade attachment for this purpose.
-- xandram, Sep 24 2010


I added a link. The wheeled brush mowers, yes I know about them, but they are not acceptable as they are not very mobile, and many times these small trees are growing on hillsides and in ditches.
-- twitch, Sep 24 2010


The Stihl one isn't a wheeled mower. This is not a novel idea. It's baked to a cinder and I'm giving you the opportunity to remove it before I tag it MFD, you clot.
-- infidel, Sep 24 2010


Where's the bottom attachment on the stihl to block it from hitting the ground?
-- twitch, Sep 25 2010


It's called the user.
-- infidel, Sep 25 2010


Aha! I've come up with a neat change to the idea! How about having the bottom guard retractable! It would be there when you need it, but when you need to use it, it pops in front, providing a nice shield from the ground (which will speed them up, because they need to be fast).
-- twitch, Sep 26 2010


I'm so glad this idea isn't about whacking wood, [twitch].
-- infidel, Sep 26 2010


(+) for the illustration. Good stuff [twitch]
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 26 2010



random, halfbakery