How to sharpen T Flails?

[Selectamatic]

Your considered opinions please...

I've started with a new hedge cutter, this time fitted with T Flails, rather than boots, which im used to.

Rightly or wrongly, I like to sharpen my flails, and am wondering how to go about it with these?

Grind away the bottom surface?

Grind the shoulder of the T, as if they were a boot?

Another idea?

Thanks folks!

 

[milkloss]

Lower the head onto a nice flat bit of concrete?

 

[milkloss]

On a serious note though: I gather T flails wear more on the leading edge, especially if sharpened, and this causes the trailing edge to drag. Does anyone twist the flails round as a matter of course to even wear?

 

[Courier]

How about adding a run of hard surface weld on the back of the edge you wish to keep sharp and make them self sharpening ?

 

[kill]

On a serious note though: I gather T flails wear more on the leading edge, especially if sharpened, and this causes the trailing edge to drag. Does anyone twist the flails round as a matter of course to even wear?

When I was running on T flails I’d always turn them around at least once a season to reduce the backlash from the none cutting edge and once done you get a brilliant new cutting edge and it doesn’t actually take that long to turn them with a decent windy gun.

Now I’d only run competition flails as they just cut so much cleaner

 

[feilding]

T Flails last a LOT longer if never sharpened, I just use a flap wheel just to take out any nicks, but very light use of flap wheel. if the metal gets hot the flail is wrecked as it makes it soft. and you have to keep sharpening, why grind metal off and shorten the life of flail.
when I started brushing in 2004, at an open day at McConnel having lunch with a lot of contractors at a table of ten people, some with 40 yrs experience cutting hedges they told me never sharpen flails unless damaged. I think it was good advice now.

 

[Badshot]

I run the head in opposite directions for hedge and dyke banks.
It keeps the hedge side sharp from hitting the ground.

 

[feilding]

I run the head in opposite directions for hedge and dyke banks.
It keeps the hedge side sharp from hitting the ground.

I do the same. Up cutting for hedges, and down cutting for grass cutting

 

[johnflimston]

I do the same. Up cutting for hedges, and down cutting for grass cutting

When I bought a hedge cutter from weavings he told me down for hedges up for grass?

 

[Sharpy]

When I bought a hedge cutter from weavings he told me down for hedges up for grass?

McConnell picture on machine says up for hedges and down for grass.

 

[ARW]

Sharpen the top side of a t flail then turn when the back side is bruising the hedge after a clean cut. Never liked t flails, always hold a lot of grass and don’t leave the best finish, they also don’t mulch very well.

 

[Flat 10]

Sharpen the top side of a t flail then turn when the back side is bruising the hedge after a clean cut. Never liked t flails, always hold a lot of grass and don’t leave the best finish, they also don’t mulch very well.

What’s your preferred flail?

 

[milkloss]

When I bought a hedge cutter from weavings he told me down for hedges up for grass?

take the front hood off, swing them down and telewag poles are fair game. Not a nice finish though because it cuts and slams the twigs into the hedge Whole rather than mulching them.

 

[ARW]

What’s your preferred flail?

We like competition flails
And we can’t get away without sharpening, there lots of dykes round here so the flails take some damage at times and hedgecutting with blunt flails is a waste of time

 

[oakleaf]

My workload is roughly one third cut annually,
one third every second year and one third is 3,4 or even 5 year growth.
T flails are the only choice in this situation. They get nicks taken out with a flap wheel thats all.
Would comp flails take on two year growth?

 

[davidroberts30]

My workload is roughly one third cut annually,
one third every second year and one third is 3,4 or even 5 year growth.
T flails are the only choice in this situation. They get nicks taken out with a flap wheel thats all.
Would comp flails take on two year growth?

yes easy

 

[Fendt820]

What flails would people recommend for lots off bigger stuff. Find the t flails chip lots never sharpen them at all. Maybe I should. Thanks.