I have a fence line that had a lot of vines growing up around it. They were the typical vines with thorns. Last year I blasted them with Remedy and they are all pretty much dead with the exception of a few places. I would now like to cut them off at the ground to clean it up so I can maintain the fence line better with a common herbicide. The fence is about half a mile long but I would say the vine has only covered up around half of it. The fence is too the county's ditch on the outside and so I can't get a lawn mower between the fence and the ditch.

I understand there are some big weed eaters that are actually labeled for small brush and woody plants. The individual vines are around the size of a pencil so not too thick at all. Can somebody that's had experience with this tell me what kind of weed eater to get and whether I need an additional attachment from what comes stock? I am familiar with the DR Trimmers and that would certainly work but they are heavy and awkward to use given that I will be working on an incline and that I have to go between the posts. Also, I know that in some places the bottom wire has fallen off the t-post and is in the grass so I have to be careful with whatever I used because of this as well.

My dad has a heavy duty trimmer that actually has a blade on it, that's probably what you're looking for. Sorry I don't know what brand it is, might be a Stihl or Echo. Used it before several time while trimming areas with small trees and heavy brush.

I have a gas powered Stihl that I can switch out the string for a blade. It will clear vines, brambles etc quickly. It will also cut small saplings but after a little bit of that I have to take a break. They are much heavier than what you have probably used before and using the strap is a must.

These have a harness so you are not holding the weight with your arms

I have this style and use it a lot.

http://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/brushcutters-and-clearing-saws/

What about one of these type big ass trimmers on wheels?

Agree with RFD.

http://m.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/professional-trimmers/fs130/

I have this one. It has a harness. It's heavy, but I have a couple of metal blades for it and there isn't anything I've buried it in that can bog it down. Even the heavy stihl string for it will cut saplings. I use it for my yard and my fence lines and it's always started easy and run well for me. There is simply no substitute for a powerful engine that can sling heavy line when it comes to heavy weeds and brush. 5' Johnson grass with blackberry vines is nothing.

I have the Stihl FS 130 as well. Absolutely crazy what it can go through. And you can go at it all day with the harness and it really doesn't wear you out that much. They are proud of them though, I think I paid a little over $500 for mine with the brush cutting head and a 12 pack of the 2 stroke oil mix.

Something like this, or google "brush cutter blade for trimmer" and a bunch of different options come up. Many of them look like rip saw blades.

I bought the Stihl for the same reason. Cleans fence well, switch to blade, cleans brush well (if you keep it out of the dirt).

I have an Echo SRM 410 which is a dedicated brush cutter (pic below)
It has the largest motor of its type which is why I went the dedicated unit route.
It will cut through 3" trees with a single pass. It will handle larger trees, but you have work on them.
I use it primarily to cut trails through pine plantation and I use it on vines, blackberry bramble, briers, yaupon and sweet gum saplings.
It is very heavy and loud and dangerous. It will wear you out in no time if you are using it for heavy brush. I use a forestry helmet when running mine.
It is also pretty much a 2 person job if you are clearing really thick stuff. Someone has to pull the cut brush away so you can access the un-cut stuff. This of course is even more dangerous.

If I had a do-over, I'd get the Stihl (or Echo) unit that is both a weed-eater, but can also accommodate a brush cutter head. That way for the money, you get two tools: a weed-eater for the house and yard and a brush cutter for the woods or farm. It is also lighter. I found that I dont need the power of a 43cc engine which just adds unnecessary weight.
I'd also look at renting a DR Brush mower. You may be able to mow under the bottom strand of the fence?
There are places that rent both brush cutters and brush mowers. I'd recommend renting before you buy.

Big CC Stihl with a brush cutter is the way to go here. Harness/strap if you have a LOT to do, but they are dang well balanced and will run for miles without getting "too" hot.

I have the Echo version of that. It is a beast. I have done a 400 foot fence line plus the right of way with it. I am working my way back on the long sides of the pasture now. The fence line was basically over grown with brambles, wild rose, and other assorted nasty stuff. The trimmer can handle it. String use varies with how hard you are beating it but it is easy to swap. I will say it will take down "other" things if you are not careful I have chopped a ceder fence post at the surface like it was butter.

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I have an extra cutting attachment for my Stihl KM with basically a skill saw blade on it. I use it to cut youpon that gets too thick. It is mean and will cut 2" saplings even on my 55 motor. You will have to be careful because you don't want to hit the blade on a T post.

I think they make a 130 KM but I would get a KM instead of a single use tool.

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Definitely get the KM. Very versatile tools.

I will add that I bought my Stihl in 2002. I still maintain my home and property with it and rarely pull more than three times to start it.

Thanks for this thread. I've got a new lot by my house that's too un-level to mow. I'm definitely going to pick up a blade attachment now for my stihl.

Pick up a pair of steel toed boots as well

I just checked the price of the Stihl 460 brush cutter. It is $1,100. Wow! I know Stihl is generally ore expensive that anything else, but I sure didn't expect it to be that much. I was hopeful I could get the cutter, a couple of blades and the shoulder harness for around $600. Maybe I will check on a rental. Anybody know of a place that rents the brush cutters around the Houston or El Campo areas?

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What about one of these type big ass trimmers on wheels?

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One of my roommates at A&M somehow got me on their list as being interested in buying a DR Trimmer/Mower and I got marketing crap from them for 10 years.

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I just checked the price of the Stihl 460 brush cutter. It is $1,100. Wow! I know Stihl is generally ore expensive that anything else, but I sure didn't expect it to be that much. I was hopeful I could get the cutter, a couple of blades and the shoulder harness for around $600. Maybe I will check on a rental. Anybody know of a place that rents the brush cutters around the Houston or El Campo areas?

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If in El Campo, I would check at Rioux (by HEB). I know they do equipment rentals and think I may have seen a brush cutter there

I'm sure there are lots of tool rental places in the Houston area that may have something similiar (Home Depot, United Rental, We Rent It, etc..)

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I just checked the price of the Stihl 460 brush cutter. It is $1,100. Wow! I know Stihl is generally ore expensive that anything else, but I sure didn't expect it to be that much. I was hopeful I could get the cutter, a couple of blades and the shoulder harness for around $600. Maybe I will check on a rental. Anybody know of a place that rents the brush cutters around the Houston or El Campo areas?

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The 460 is definitely over kill. That is more of a professional series brush cutter. I have the FS 130 and love it.having a non KM series and changing the head is a piece of cake going from string trimmer to brush saw blade. I would get two blades, one of the triangular ones for thicker weeds/lighter brush and they have one with jagged blades that are made for much thicker, harder woods. Make sure to get a spool of .105 plus string to clean up the remaining grass under the fence after you finish cutting everything out.

Rufneck,

I admire that you're wanting to get the right tool and do the job yourself. I'm the same way and have got a building full of tools (including a brush cutter) that I just 'couldn't live without' that I used once to do the job and that are now great dust collectors.

That said, let me float a 'Plan B' by you.

I found out the hard way that a $30 machete in the hands of a guy who knew what the hell he was doing could run circles around me and my high dollar brushcutter when clearing vines, brush, and small-to-mid sized trees from off of and around a fence line.

Ask your friends in the area for a recommendation on one of these 'professionals', or maybe ask down at the local feed store.

You've got a 1/2 mile of fence line. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get a couple of guys for $150/head to finish in on a Saturday. You'll need to throw in a case or two of cold beer as a sweetener, but do not, repeat do not, give up any of the beer until the job is completed to your satisfaction. I've made many, many mistakes in my life. I know these things.

Take the rest of the $1,100.00 you were considering spending on a Stihl, give $50 to your wife, and keep the rest in your pocket. Everybody wins. :-)

Since you'll maintain that fence line with herbicide, this should be a one-time deal. BTW, for fence lines, I use a homemade mixture of Glyphosate (Roundup) and Polaris (Imazapyr) so that it goes to bare ground and lasts all season. The Imazapyr is high, but it's effective. You'll see it listed as the secondary ingredient in the product 'RM43'. I mix mine with a little more imazapyr than they do. But, keep it away from anything you don't want injured or killed.

Have fun, friend.

Ribeye, thanks for the Plan B. I have owned this property for about 10 years now and finding day labor to help me maintain the property has been by far the biggest challenge. I've hired both immigrant labor and younger aged guys and it just hasn't worked out well even though I have paid them extremely well. So well, in fact that other land owners have accused me of ruining the labor market for them. I have just taken the approach that if I want a job done, I have to do it myself. That said, I recently did find somebody to help me with mowing and shredding services. This guy is an oil field service contractor and with the recent downturn he is looking for additional work. I just have to remind him now and then to not grab his oilfield rate sheet when he does the billing. If I bought a tool just for this job I would be able to use it in other areas. I have an area that is grown up with yaupons that I want to remove. I can also use it around corn feeders, under a deer stand and around my pond. I do think I will see if I can rent one for the job and consider buying one later. I will see if Riouxs has one but I don't think they do. I've rented equipment from them before but never have seen one of these brush cutters. They are a Stihl chain saw dealer though so I will check. I moved overseas earlier this year so even if I did buy one I would not be able to use it too much until I return to Texas anyway.

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I moved overseas earlier this year

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....but what about the Seacraft?

Yep, you want a straight shaft trimmer with a blade attachment. I have an echo. The blade kit was maybe $50. I use it to clear trails through blackberry/greenbrier/etc to get to my deer stands.

http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Pro-Attachment-Series

I have the 265 with the brush cutter and trimmer attachments. I have used it to cut through some serious brush and there is no lack of power