Which to choose: classic or multifunction brushcutter?

Brushcutters are a very versatile tool for cutting grass in the garden, as well as for clearing away tall grass, shoots, shrubs, brambles, brushwood and reeds and other undergrowth in the countryside. Besides using them for finishing edges, they are essential in confined spaces where lawnmowers cannot reach or on tricky terrain, i.e., with inclines, undulations or numerous obstacles (trees, flower beds, garden furniture...) and so on.

Generally speaking, choosing the right brushcutter depends primarily on the vegetation you will be working on, the characteristics of the working environment and its surface area. So, which brushcutter is best? It depends: today we will compare the brushcutter with standard shaft against the multifunction or combination brushcutter. Then we will provide an overview of the different brushcutters based on the type of power unit (petrol or electric, with the latter category encompassing both corded and battery-powered models).

Standard vs multifunction brushcutter

Let's now focus on the brushcutter’s construction type, the most familiar being the classic shaft brushcutter, consisting of:

• Engine or motor: powered by fuel, by electricity via a cable connected to a mains socket, or by battery.

• Rigid shaft: transfers the engine’s rotation via the internal drive shaft to the cutting device, causing it to turn.

• Cutting device: depending on the vegetation you are working on, you can attach a line head with various types of cutting line, or alternatively blades and discs of different shapes.

One particular type of shaft brushcutter is the multifunction brushcutter. In this case, the shaft isn’t a single tube that runs from the engine to the cutting device: under the handle you will find a quick coupling to detach the end part of the shaft. Using the same coupling you can then mount specialised attachments – and, if necessary, an extension – to convert the brushcutter into different gardening tools. This means that, in practice, with a single tool you can carry out several jobs, such as cutting grass, thinning hedges and pruning trees or shrubs.

Oleo-Mac offers you different petrol engine multifunction brushcutters: the BCH 250 D with 1.2 hp power for leisure use, or the BC 241 D and BC 300 D, with 1.2 and 1.5 hp of power respectively, for intensive use. The leisure model is a 3-in-1 product: you can pair it with brushcutter, hedgetrimmer and pruner attachments, purchasing either the entire set or just the attachments you prefer. Also available is an extension rod, which is particularly useful for working overhead, using the brushcutter as a hedgetrimmer and pruner. The models for intensive use are 4-in-1 tools: in addition to the brushcutter attachment, they are supplied with hedgetrimmer, pruner and blower attachments, as well as the extension rod of course.

For more demanding jobs we also recommend the new Oleo-Mac multifunction 56V battery-powered brushcutter, namely the BCi 530 D with 1.34 hp equivalent power, which was designed for professional gardeners. This is also a 4-in-1 tool that can be purchased either as a complete kit with all the attachments, or just the motor body and the applications you think you will need the most.

When is it better to choose a multifunction brushcutter over a standard one? The multifunction version can be a good compromise when you have limited space in which to keep all your gardening tools. It’s also an excellent solution if you are working in multiple locations besides your own garden and need to easily transport your tools. For example, if you have a plot of land outside the city, a second home, or you are lending a hand to your parents/children, you can simply load the multifunction brushcutter and its attachments into the boot of your car. We also suggest the multifunction brushcutter if you prefer making a single, more economical purchase instead of investing in several single-function tools, and also as a first purchase if you are just starting to take care of your garden.

Types of brushcutters based on power source

Now that we’ve highlighted the particular features of multifunction models, which you can use as a brushcutter, hedgetrimmer, pruner and more, let's return to the general topic of brushcutters. The most important criteria for selecting one – the vegetation to be cut, the work environment and its surface area – depend on what job you need the machine for, which must be consistent with the power output. For tougher vegetation, more complex situations and longer working times, you need a higher-performance brushcutter with a higher output, so the type of power source is a key consideration. Another differentiating factor is the cutting element – line head, blade or disc – which must be suitable for the vegetation you are working on and proportionate to the machine’s power rating. By the way, here you can find our articles on choosing line heads and the differences between cutting line and discs.

Electric brushcutters are ideal for finishing edges and cutting grass if you have a small to medium-sized garden with a mains socket nearby. Their advantages are quiet operation and light weight, which make them comfortable to use (and suitable for built-up neighbourhoods).

Battery-powered brushcutters are certainly convenient: you don’t have the encumbrance of a power cable, there are no exhaust fumes or noise, you can start them at the push of a button, and maintenance is quick and easy, plus you don't need to handle fuel. Great strides have been made in battery technology and this is evident in the latest generation of gardening tools: the 56V Oleo-Mac professional battery range, gives you an effective alternative to petrol engine models of similar class. This applies both to the BCi 530 D battery-powered multifunction brushcutter and to the classic battery-powered shaft brushcutter models BCi 530 S and BCi 530 T, respectively with single and double handgrip (by the way, here you can find out which handgrip is better).

Petrol engine brushcutters have no cable, no running time limitations and come with a wide range of power ratings: the Oleo-Mac catalogue includes lightweight, medium-power and professional brushcutters. In addition to standard, rigid shaft brushcutters and multifunction models, among the most powerful petrol engine models are backpack/shoulder models with a flexible rather than rigid shaft, which are highly suitable for working on slopes.

While we’re on the subject, here is a video summary of how use a petrol engine brushcutter correctly, from preparation and starting to operation and cleaning.