Ryobi RY15702 Expand-It 8 in. Brush-Cutter Trimmer Attachment Review

I demonstrate the Expand-It 8 in. Brush-Cutter Trimmer Attachment and give my thoughts. So far I really like it.

[@119Agent]

I just got the 40v expand it with weed eater and blower attachments plus the 21" electric mower. I have about a 1/4 acre of brush between my yard and the lake behind my house and was looking at this attachment for clearing that out. Nothing too thick and I can use a saw for anything with a solid base but the weed eater just can't handle the rest. I was debating between getting this or paying someone with a commercial brush hog to come clear it out and I think this review has convinced me to that this attachment, even with the electric motor, will do the trick.

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

That brush cutter looks to be a nice investment. I wish we had one. I also wondered how well they worked. Great video!!!

[@MrCodeslinger]

Hey thanks for showing that off! The video was super helpful.

[@FernbarkFrist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tunedis95]

Thanks for sharing. I put a circular saw blade on mine. Only issue is, i get carried away. Really clean cuts all the way down to the roots.

[@ihadtomakethisup]

Thanks for your review. I just got the dual string trimmer and saw your review of it. Very useful! Now that I saw this review, I will probably get this as well!

[@FernbarkFrist]

+Robert Bowen If you have heavy stuff to trim, you will like it.

[@LarsLondian]

Thanks for Sharing, As you already know those wild huckleberry are everywhere at our Lake Property I use a large Stihl Clearing Saw to take them down. It basically uses a 10" Saw Blade & does a great job. I am definitely pleased to see the advancements in the electric equipment though. Take Care.

[@FernbarkFrist]

This brush cutter can't do huckleberries. I need a better blade like your Stihl has.

[@RandyM856]

I just got the brush cutter attachment today ..... it says in the manual you dont put the handle thats included IF the power head has its own handle...I cant wait to try it on a over grown spreading Forsythia

[@wildbill23c]

Your trimmer head is spinning because your trimmer engine's idle is too high. Turn the idle down a bit to take care of that problem. The attachment shouldn't be moving at all when the engine is at idle.

[@wildbill23c]

@Sargent D Wrong. A trimmer head should NOT be spinning at idle period. Go learn about these things before trying to tell people they're wrong.

[@brandgz]

Great video, I have the Ryobi 40v head and 3 other attachments, I like them a lot and I have a lot of work to do where the brush cutter attachment will be very handy. I will be picking one up at Home Depot today, your video sold me on it. Thanks.

[@CephusJones]

thanks so much for sharing this! exactly what I needed to know.

[@ChrisJohnson-ho1fh]

Well done video. I am debating cordless/gas as well as the attachment. The gas was better to cut through but I am going cordless. I will just balance patience with cordless versus the hassle of gas.

[@FernbarkFrist]

Thanks for the compliment. If you aren't in a rush to get something, both Milwaukee and Dewalt have commercial grade battery powered lawn equipment coming out next year. They look amazing. I expect the price tag will also be amazing.

[@wabuminifarm3437]

Nice review,, I have lived in my house for 5 years and every year I say I need to buy one of those :) ,,

[@FernbarkFrist]

Jason Brown It's crazy. If you look at it, you would say there is no way it would cut anything, but it does.

[@CalintzJerevinan546]

Gas is better for extremely thick brush. I have overgrown bushes that I cut down every month. Due to poison ivy and weeds. I love my Ryobi 2 cycle gas trimmer/brush cutter attachment. And I also have a Ryobi hedge trimmer and a John Deere bladed edger.

[@FernbarkFrist]

This is an old video. The new brushless electric models have some real zip.

[@MichaelMantion]

You can adjust your idle on your gas trimmer.

[@kirkthebeerslinger]

that is just tall grass in your ditch...regular string trimmer head would be faster and do a better job...the idea for a brush cutter is thistles, small saplings, reeds etc...to each their own

[@clawbennett]

How easy is it to change the blade if necessary? For instance, if I wanted to put on a different 8" blade on it, for example an 80 tooth Echo blade?

[@FernbarkFrist]

Casey Bennett Good question. I would like to try that but haven't. This unit is pretty small and I don't think an 8" blade will fit. I think you would have to get a different base piece.

[@kobusvanstaden794]

Excellent review

[@FernbarkFrist]

Thank you.

[@aikendrum1518]

hey, just a thought, but maybe safety glasses a good idea. I got eye damage from a line trimmer kicking up something into my eye that lead to two years of irritation and pain. Not fun.

[@FernbarkFrist]

You are 100 percent correct. I normally wear eye, hand, and foot protection.

[@Response166]

Good review! Nice machine.

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

Do you think your gas trimmers carb needs some adjusting? It doesn't sound to me like it revs up fast enough.

[@FernbarkFrist]

Yes

[@Brian-gx7yx]

I got a 5 pack of 8 inch 80 teeth carbide brush cutter and 2 10 inch 80 teeth carbide brush cutter to pruning trees, it will cut 2x4’s

[@FernbarkFrist]

Ok.

[@kingisrael1532]

wonder how the ditch would look if you run the push mower through it. probably cleaner?

[@12vLife]

I need to cut down rougly 60'x60'x5' of virgin grass and weeds in South Central Florida. Very soft sandy soil and lots of dried out plants and bushes. Wonder if a Roybi 40v can do it? Also, If sharp can it cut 1" thick hard pepper bushes which is the worst part of it. I have the Ryobi pole saw and was very impressed with what it can handle and how long the 5AH battery last. Worried about snakes and bees too in thick brush you can't see through. Doing it without heavy machinery will be crazy, but I have access and budget challenges. I am considering cutting and scaring and then spraying herbicide and coming back to dead weaker foliage in a month. Dumb question but wonder what the chances of a coyote or Florida panther coming up to me while I try do this work?

[@FernbarkFrist]

This unit is not going to get that job done. You will need a more aggressive brush cutter too.

[@rooster260]

You can spray that brush like you said as well. Use white vinegar if you care to be environmentally friendly but bleach or poison works.

[@rooster260]

And for goodness sakes watch out for the skunk ape. He's real, and if you hear those blood chilling screams he makes you drop your tools and run.

[@ravisriram6746]

I have wild rose bushes, thick briars, brambles and saplings. Will the 40V powerhead and brush cutter attachment do the job? I want to install a circular brush blade in addition, as I feel the three-pronged blade will not be adequate.

[@seandiggity1320]

The idle might be a little too high on the gas powered motor. The one I have, the blade stops spinning when I let go of the trigger.

[@FernbarkFrist]

I am sure you are correct.

[@Jacsar916]

are you still happy with the cutter?

[@FernbarkFrist]

Actually I am. I use it every couple of weeks to clear the ditch.

[@jeremyd7730]

Good video....informative...

[@FernbarkFrist]

Thanks!

[@slodown3670]

Many thanks

[@FernbarkFrist]

So nice of you

[@ScottieMacF]

Could I use this sideways and use it as a cultivator? I don't want to buy both if I don't have to.

[@FernbarkFrist]

+Michael Davis I don't think you would want to use it as a cultivator. It spins pretty fast, I think you would have stuff flying everywhere, although you can manually adjust the throttle on the power head. Plus it is really thin. It would take all day to mix the ground up, I would think.

[@55dpc]

Is the edger tool for cutting walkways straight? How long would a battery last

[@FernbarkFrist]

+David Chambers The edger tool works good. I think I get about 30 minutes using the attachment capable power head. Forty minutes with the trimmer/edger tool.

[@55dpc]

+Fernbark Frist Thax but the battery life is just too short.

[@FrankZinghini]

Nice Thanks !!

[@cody_janssen831]

I don’t like ryobi landscaping tools because like the trimmer I used once it just rips the grass out instead of actually cutting it

[@FernbarkFrist]

Great info. Thanks for watching a video about a product you don't like. Don't forget to like and subscribe.

[@jeffkalmar7871]

If the grass is really tall you'll get a better result by starting at the top and working your way down instead of diving right in at the bottom.

[@sumyunggui8750]

Doesn't look like it works as well as the circular saw toothed Forester blades do. It would probably cut more efficiently if you sharpened the blade on this. It's unfortunate that it doesn't come from the factory with an edge on it.

[@FernbarkFrist]

I am not sure sharpening this blade would be a good idea. It is pretty cheap metal, and would probably shatter and send high speed metal into your legs as soon as it hit a rock.

[@AppleBag1000]

need the 30cc unit

[@FernbarkFrist]

Why?

[@AppleBag1000]

@@FernbarkFrist I just picked one up, I have to say it's a beasts of a weed eater

[@AppleBag1000]

Where. Can I get that red blade at the end of the video

[@FernbarkFrist]

I went back and watched the video. I did not see a red blade.

[@Horishnyk]

Will it have enough to run a good circular saw style brushcutter blade on it for saplings and shit. I'm getting tired of these watered down reviews. I want the nitty gritty.

[@FernbarkFrist]

The problem is it doesn't have the fitting on it to attach one of those blades. I looked every where for one.

[@kingisrael1532]

your shoes were clean.lol

[@RigginTheRod010]

I don't like the electric because I feel like it'll run out of battery quickly

[@FernbarkFrist]

I can do my whole lawn with a new brushless model, and a 9 aH battery.

[@zach7548]

i hate ryobi (lowercase r)

[@FernbarkFrist]

+ZackMan86202 If they ask, I will let them know.

[@zach7548]

Fernbark Frist they'll hate me...lol