Brush Cutter Blades – What do I need to install one?

8th Feb 2023

We get asked this question almost every day “What do I need to be able to put a blade on my weed trimmer?” That could be a loaded question. There are few steps to take to figure out what you will need. Forester makes some of the most innovative blades on the market in many different styles and configurations. Each one of these have a specific use and application.

1) Can my weed whacker/trimmer actually accept a blade?

a. There are many different types of weed trimmers on the market today from Gas to Battery powered, different shaft options in each as well as different handle configurations (Loop or Bicycle). Historically brush cutter blades were reserved for Straight Shaft Gas Powered Weed Trimmers with the bicycle handle, but with some proper attachments a loop handle may accept one. Curved shafts were not designed to be able to accept a blade as they do not have a gear head at the bottom of the unit. That still stands for units being produced today but now there are a few battery units that can accept a blade as well. We recommend reading your owner’s manual or contacting the manufacturer of the weed trimmer to see if your specific model can accept a blade and what size diameter blade can it handle.

2) I have a battery powered weed trimmer, Can that accept a blade?

a. This could be a very tricky question. There are 2 different types of battery powered weed trimmers, one that has the electric motor on the top of the shaft similar to the gas units, and one with the motor at the bottom of the unit. As this product market is in the infancy stage, these units are constantly changing and evolving. It is best to find out from the owner’s manual or contacting the manufacturer of that weed trimmer to see if your unit accepts a brush cutter blade.

3) My trimmer can accept a blade, What do I need to install?

a. So, you have contacted the weed trimmer manufacturer and found out that your unit can accept a brush cutter blade. The next step is to see if you have the adapter to install a blade. Once you take your factory line head off of your unit, you will need an adapter kit to be able to install the blade properly. Each brand and model will have a specific way to adapt a blade properly to their weed trimmer. This usually consists of a Nut, Washer and some sort of adapter. Currently we offer a blade attachment kit for a specific set of Stihl units. If you do not have the blade attachment kit, you will need to purchase that from the manufacturer to get the right fitment.

4) I already have a blade installed and need a replacement blade, what size do I get?

a.Each unit will have a specific size diameter and arbor that fits perfectly on your shaft. We typically recommend matching the diameter of what came off of your unit already. Most homeowner units take up to 9” while some commercial units can accommodate a larger diameter. The arbor is specific to each unit and you cannot change that. If it's 1” or 20mm, you need to stick with that. If you are unsure please contact the manufacturer of the unit or read the owner’s manual to see what size blade your unit can handle.

5) Why are there different size arbors available?

a. Manufacturer's often offer different arbor sizes on their gear heads. There are many different sizes but the most popular ones on the market are 1” or 20mm. We do have some specific blades for either 1” or 20mm, but we also offer most of our 1” blades with a 20mm adapter to downsize that blade to the 20mm shaft. If you need a 20mm adapter for a 1” blade you currently have, you can find that here.

6) I want to buy a weed trimmer that can accept a specific blade, What should I do?

a. If you have a specific blade in mind such as our “Forester chainsaw tooth blade” and you want to buy a weed trimmer that can accept it, We recommend going to a dealer with the blade specifications and asking for a unit with that set of information. For example, this blade is a 9” blade with a 1” arbor but comes with a 20mm adapter. This is one of the most popular setups around and will be able to fit a bunch of weed trimmers, Just DON’T FORGET THE ADAPTER KIT!

There you have it, those are the specific questions you need to ask yourself if you want to be able to put a blade on a weed trimmer

We always recommend contacting the manufacturer of your weed trimmer before installing any type of blade on your weed trimmer to ensure a proper fit. Installing a blade on a trimmer can be a very dangerous tool, so proper safety is a must. Please ensure proper fitment, as well as wearing proper safety equipment. Always wear Safety glasses, gloves, leg protection, and other PPE. When finished using unit, its always best to cover the blade as they are sharp and cause injury even if the engine is not running.

Keep others a minimum of 50 feet away from the unit while in operation!