Quick verdict
A tough fabric pouch that covers a 7 to 9 inch brush cutter blade on the machine or off it, keeping the teeth away from legs, truck seats and other tools and keeping rain and dirt off the steel so it does not rust between jobs. Brush blades are sharp enough to cut saplings and are usually stored bare. A larger size covers 10 to 12 inch blades. It is the kind of small item that prevents a hospital visit and costs almost nothing.
Strengths
- Covers a sharp brush blade in transport and storage
- Keeps rain and dirt off the blade to prevent rust
- Fits 7 to 9 inch blades; larger size for 10 to 12
- Stays on the machine or stores spare blades
- Tough fabric for a truck bed
Weaknesses
- Two sizes; measure the blade
- Fabric wears if blades are dropped in it with the teeth down
- No hard shell; a blade still has edges through cloth
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Blade Nobody Covers
A brush cutter blade is a steel disc with teeth that go through saplings, and after the job it leans in the shed or rides in the truck bed with the teeth bare. FORESTER’s cover is a heavy fabric sheath that slips over a 7 to 9 inch blade on the machine or off it, keeping the teeth away from people and the rain away from the steel.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how blade sheaths are used for clearing equipment generally. We have not used this cover ourselves.
Safety
The cover is the difference between a blade that brushes a shin in the shed and one that opens it. In a truck bed it saves the seats and the other tools. On a machine carried through a gate, it saves the gate post and the hand that holds it. Owners of clearing saws describe it as the cheapest piece of safety gear they own.
Rust
Brush blades rust fast with damp earth on the teeth, and a rusty blade cuts badly and throws. The cover keeps rain and dirt off between jobs; wipe the blade and oil it lightly first and it comes out of winter storage as it went in.
Fit
Two sizes: 7 to 9 inches for most brush and clearing blades, 10 to 12 for the big circular and chainsaw-tooth blades. Measure the blade across before ordering. The cover slips over the blade on the cutter head and pulls off before starting; spare blades store inside it on a shelf.
Material
Heavy fabric survives the truck bed and the shed floor for years. It is cloth, not armour; a dropped blade with the teeth down will eventually wear through, and a blade in a cover still has edges to be respected.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone who owns a brush cutter with a steel blade.
- Landscapers carrying blades in a truck.
- Owners of spare blades stored loose in a shed.
Common Owner Complaints
Ordering the wrong size. Measure the blade.
Technique Tips
Slip the cover on from the trailing edge of the blade with the machine off and the blade stopped, teeth pointing away from the hand. Fold the open edge under so it does not catch on the shed door. For spare blades, slide a square of cardboard between two blades in one cover so the teeth do not dull against each other.
Alternatives to Consider
A plastic blade guard clipped to the cutter head. A heavy cardboard sleeve, which lasts a season. The larger FORESTER cover for 10 to 12 inch blades.
Verdict
For a few dollars, this sheath keeps a brush blade from cutting anyone and from rusting in the shed. Measure the blade, slip it on after every job and pull it before starting.
Full specifications
FORESTER Brush Cutter Blade Cover and Holder Sheath for 7 to 9 Inch Blades FAQs
A brush blade has chisel or circular saw teeth sharp enough to cut a sapling, and it rides in a truck bed and leans in a shed where shins and hands pass. A cover stops the cut and keeps rust off the teeth.
Yes. Slip it over the blade on the cutter head for transport and storage, and pull it before starting.
Measure the blade diameter. Seven to nine inches covers most clearing and brush blades; chainsaw-tooth and large circular blades want the 10 to 12 inch cover.
It keeps rain and damp earth off. Wipe the blade and oil it lightly before covering for storage.
