I have been thinking of getting a finger type head for doing trim work around rocky outcrops and pavement. But for general cutting, I don't think I can ever go back to string after what happened yesterday...

Just the most satisfying brush cutting experience ever. Like if the head had a lightsaber attached to it.

Darren --- Great point about the visibility. Mark agrees with you.

Eric --- I went over and checked out your brush blade. We considered getting one like that, but instead opted to get one that looks more like a throwing star. Once Mark gets tired of the polycut attachment (or needs to cut saplings, which is what our metal blade is really for), we'll give it a shot. We decided against the blade that looks like a circular saw because the guy in the store said it was really for saplings more than an inch in diameter and that the blade doesn't do as well for smaller trees and heavy weeds. But your experience seems to be to the contrary!

We used to have a (electric) trimmer with one of them plastic strings. One of the things that always struck me is why they used a thin plastic stiong instead of e.g. a steel wire. Since steel is much heavier than plastic, you'd probable need two steel wires on opposing side of the shaft so they balance each other out.

My guess is that steel wires would do a lot more damage if they accidentily encountered somewthing more solid like e.g. human flesh!

I've been using table- and bandsaws for years, and have a healthy respect for the power of a saw-blade. Attaching a circular-saw-type blade to a weedcutter could result in very dangerous situations; a saw can give quite a kick when it catches on something.

The safety issue is an excellent point, and is probably why the plastic strings are so widespread. On the other hand, if you're willing to think of your weed eater the way you think of a chainsaw, then it seems like these metal attachments are very helpful.

I'll be interested to hear whether the saw-like blades kick like a saw. Maybe Eric from Japan can chime in since he loved his so much?

I've had a bad experience with scythes. I was given one that was too big for me, and unsurprisingly it was very difficult to cut with. One of these days, I'll probably try again, but I'm going to wait until I'm able to talk to an expert in person and really fit one to my short stature.

That said, I find it hard to believe that a scythe could cut through what Mark's been weed whacking --- saplings up to an inch in diameter, full size poke plants three inches in diameter, the weeds under the edges of the mulch in our garden beds, etc. Sometimes, I think, the judicious use of gas is worth it. He's probably used less than half a gallon all week, and the farm is looking much better!

Pozole --- I'm glad we don't have Himalayan blackberries here --- they sound terrible. Of course, we do have lots of Japanese honeysuckle that twines around everything and can't even be weedeaten out --- you really have to go after it with hand tools and lots of ripping.

Although Mark likes these fingers, I think he prefers the ninja blade for tough applications, and string for edging.