BrushMaster® Frequently Asked Questions:
BrushMaster BM80-88D
Beautification - magic
Higher prevention - miracle
What does the BrushMaster® do better than other machines?
The 88” front mount, triple blade, rotary deck clears everything in its path, up to 4” in diameter, making this machine perfect for right of ways, parks, trails, survey lines, wildland-urban interface areas and the removal of brush for fire protection. This approach meets the environmental demands of protecting the larger trees for possible retention. It preserves the root structures of brush and trees preventing erosion and mudslides. Wildlife is attracted to and thrives in the new growth.
What are the typical uses for the BrushMaster®?
Clearing Land for Appearance and habitat improvement:
- Land clearing for residential and commercial development
- Lot clearing
- Clearing paths for recreational use, including parks and campgrounds
- Right of way vegetation control
- Survey, fence and utility line cutting
- Railroad line-of-site clearing
- Clearing brush for
- improved hunting conditions
- tree farming
- cattle ranching
- pine straw harvesting
Clearing for Fire Protection:
- Wildland-Urban Interface – clearing back from residences and businesses
- Cutting fuel breaks
- Pre-fire suppression and initial fire attacks
- Brush Removal/Fuel Reduction – clearing brush from land to reduce or eliminate fires
Will the BrushMaster® work on slopes?
The BrushMaster® works on slopes up to 32°. The machine has a very low center of gravity and a powerful 80 HP Cummins liquid cooled diesel engine. It also features dual hydro-static transmissions that power a skid steer system that is so necessary for efficient slope mowing.
How fast will the BrushMaster® clear an acre of land?
The BrushMaster® will clear typical forest land at 1 1/4 acres per hour. Competitive machines take up to five times this amount of time to clear the same forest land. Kut Kwick has performed actual tests proving that the BrushMaster® can outperform the competition in clearing a typical acre of forest land. While it took the BrushMaster® only one hour to clear 1 1/4 acres of land, the competitive track machine took over an hour for just 1/4 of an acre.
What are the costs of blade replacement?
The BrushMaster's® three blades cost a total of $100 to sharpen and a total of $300 to replace, including labor. The drum or flail type cutters on competitive machines cost $2,500, plus labor, to replace and usually require six hours or longer to sharpen. With the BrushMaster®, the cutters with six blade ends can be sharpened in minutes and replaced on the machine by maintenance personnel.
What is the advantage of Zero Turn Radius?
The BrushMaster® offers “Zero Turn Radius” (ZTR), allowing for maneuverability around trees. Track machines and machines with steering wheels cannot cut around trees or other restrictive areas. These machines have to “box” around trees, leaving these areas uncut and very unappealing. When track or steering wheel machines come to a tree, a post, or any kind of object, they have to drive straight by it - stop - reverse - then drive by again; a total of four times to get around the object. This type of equipment cannot cut close to the object, so the area must be hand cut or left “scraggly” looking. The BrushMaster®’s “zero turn radius” capability allows it to circle a 4” tree - cutting everything within inches of the tree. There is no other design that compares with the BrushMaster®’s efficiency when operating around restrictive areas, where maneuverability is required.
What size trees will the BrushMaster® clear?
The BrushMaster® cuts down trees up to 4” in diameter, rolling them as the limbs are cut off and mulched. The tree trunks are left flat on the ground where they quickly deteriorate or for ease in removal. Other machine manufacturers claim that they can cut through trees greater than 4”, and up to 10”. However, they do not comment about the fact that it is the most inefficient method of cutting down a tree. To cut a large tree into chips with a flail or drum machines can take hours. It is far less costly to cut down large trees with chain saws and then remove them for lumber, pulp wood, fencing, or dispose of them by burning. Another efficient disposal method is using large commercial chippers that prepare the chips to be used by landscapers for mulch.
Why is it important to leave trees 4” and larger when clearing land?
Trees 4” in diameter and larger take years to produce. In most environments, trees are irreplaceable. They are necessary for the existence of animals and birds, as well as for the beauty of nature that we all desire. The BrushMaster® protects larger trees for possible retention.
The BrushMaster® leaves the desirable trees that are 4” or greater in diameter. Doing so complies with the requirements of many environmental regulations and the desires of most people that are developing land. The trees 4” or greater in diameter are left so that a decision may be made about which trees to retain.
How do casters prevent scalping?
The BrushMaster® has an out front cutter that is supported by casters. The casters are positioned to prevent scalping. Other types of machines have cutters with skids at the outer extremities of a drum. These skids are one inch below the drum. The problem encountered with this design is that the ground is rarely level and the machine will be cutting dirt almost continuously. Blades on drum cutters must be sharpened or replaced frequently. Casters are much more effective at preventing the cutters from digging into the ground.
How safe is the BrushMaster® for the operator if bees attack?
When used in areas where yellow jackets or wasps are prevalent, the BrushMaster® should be equipped with the optional, preventative screens, or enclosed and air conditioned. The BrushMaster® is safer for the operator in emergency situations - due to the position of the operator at the rear extremity of the machine. Some other types of machines have the operator located down in the interior of the machine. In this case, the operator can only get out by coming forward and over the cutter deck, next to the cutters, which is very dangerous – especially in stressful situations where the cutters may still be running. If yellow jackets or wasps attack the operator in this type of equipment, he is trapped inside.
The BrushMaster® has an optional fully enclosed cab on the air conditioned version. The BrushMaster® is also available with optional insect prevention screens to keep yellow jackets and wasps out, at a lower price than the air conditioning option.
Why is the BrushMaster® an environmentally friendly machine?
Most machines damage the root structure of brush and trees during their operation. Machines with tracks tear the roots. Heavy equipment crushes the roots. Burning damages the roots. Plowing destroys the roots.
The BrushMaster® cuts the growth off just above the ground leaving the root structure alive and vigorously healthy. The healthy roots stop mudslides. Removing the brush allows both birds and animals to get to the ground to feed.
revised 5/23/06