Shindaiwa B450

Delicate and Fragile – The B450 certainly looks like it should be tough, the body of the brushcutter is all metal construction and everything has a solid feel to it. But ... the head supplied with the B450 is a weak and flimsy thing that cannot tolerate any sort of impact. As soon as it hits anything, the head flies apart shooting the internal guides and springs everywhere.

I previously owned a Shihl FS200 for 10 years, which would cut grass, weeds and Lantana on our property with ease.

The problem with the B450 is that it cannot even be used on long grass ... if there is a small rock or twig in among the grass, the head will fly apart on contact.

I've discussed with the dealer (The Mower Place in Brisbane), but they're not interested. The most infamous comment from the Mower Place was that "I was using it wrong". They were unable to clairfy how the use of the B450 differs from a Stihl.

There is only one head that will fit the B450, so there are no alternatives. I'm now on the third head, and they're all the same.

The only thing this "Brushcutter" can be used for reliably is lawn edging, but I could have bought a cheap whipper snipper for that.

I've now purchased a Stihl FS240 as a replacement brushcutter, and it is brilliant.

Don't consider using the B450 for anything heavier than light trimming work. As a brushcutter, it is useless. All metal construction, seems to be built to last Weak and flimsy head means it cannot be used as a brushcutter