What Is a Nylon Cutter?
Nylon cutters are cutters used in place of metal cutters.
They are mainly used by attaching them to the end of mowers. The long, thin cord-shaped nylon cutters are rotated at high speed to cut the grass while beating it like a whip.
Uses of Nylon Cutters
Nylon cutters are mainly used for mowing in areas where mowing with a metal blade would be dangerous. Specifically, they are used near concrete walls and iron fences, and in areas with many stones.
Nylon cutters can be used safely in places where mowing with metal blades is dangerous.
Features of Nylon Cutters
Advantages
1. High Safety
One of the advantages of a nylon cutter is that even if they hit something other than grass, they are unlikely to cause serious damage or injury. With a metal blade, if it hits a stone or concrete, not only is the object hit damaged, but debris often flies off, causing human casualties.
Therefore, if you want to cut grass near a wall or in a stony area, using nylon cutters will improve safety.
2. No Need to Worry About Kickback
Kickback is a phenomenon that occurs when a metal-blade mower or chainsaw is used and the machine is suddenly bounced away with strong force due to the strength of the driving force. It is very difficult for the user to react at that moment and avoid the danger, and in some cases, it can result in amputation of body parts or even life-threatening danger.
By using nylon cutters, the user can concentrate on his/her work without worrying about kickback.
3. No Worry About Blade Spillage
Nylon cutters cut grass by a rotating cord, so there is no risk of blade spillage. With metal blades, maintenance such as sharpening the blade regularly is necessary to maintain sharpness. Spilled blades can also cause accidents.
Nylon cutters do not have such concerns and need to be replaced only when they are cut or worn out.
Disadvantages
1. Dangerous When Hitting Hard Objects
Although nylon cutters are safe, they are not without risks. For example, if the nylon cutter comes in contact with a pebble or other object, the object may fly apart with great force. Although nylon cutters are safer than metal blades, it is important to keep in mind that they can be risky depending on how they are used.
2. Sharpness Is Inferior to That of Metal Blades.
The sharpness of nylon cutters is inferior to that of metal blades. For this reason, nylon cutters are not suitable for mowing on hard plants such as silver grass. When working in mountains or forests with many hard plants, metal blades are more useful.
3. Frequent Maintenance Is Necessary
Frequent maintenance is essential when using nylon cutters. Neglecting maintenance can cause damage to the engine and its surrounding parts, so it is necessary to pay more attention to maintenance than is required for metal blades.
Specifically, it is important to inspect the cutter frequently after use, clean around the engine, and avoid stretching the nylon cord longer than necessary.
Types of Nylon Cutters
1. Shape
Nylon cutters are classified into four types according to their shapes: round, square, saw, and spiral. The round shape is the most common and offers superior durability and safety.
Square nylon cutters have corners and are therefore more sharp than round nylon cutters. The saw-type is shaped like a saw and has a very good cutting performance. The spiral-type is characterized by its quiet operation in addition to its good cutting performance.
2. Installation Method
Nylon cutters can be classified into two types depending on how they are attached: insert type and feed type. The plug-in type is used by inserting the nylon cutter into the reel. While it is lightweight and easy to carry, it requires more frequent replacement.
The reel with the nylon cutters wound around it is set on the main body of the machine. When the reel is worn out, a new set of nylon cutters can be taken out from the reel. Therefore, the frequency of replacement can be reduced. The disadvantage of this type is that it is rather heavy because unused nylon cutters are stored in the main body.
How to Select Nylon Cutters
Nylon cutters differ in the advantages that can be expected depending on the shape and the way they are installed. For example, a round shape is recommended when durability is important, and a saw shape when sharpness is important.
Also, if the distance to be carried by hand is long, the lightweight plug-in type is recommended, but on the other hand, it has the disadvantage of being replaced more frequently. It is important to understand the characteristics of each type and choose the type that best suits your purpose.