Renegade brush blade and Echo trimmer conversion kit installation - review 

Your reviews are really getting to be top notch. This is the best one yet. Great camera work and sound quality, not to mention your explanations and opinion on the gear. You don't rush through the details of exactly how to put it all together and use it like so many other reviewers tend to do sometimes. I have a big growth of blackberry canes in my backyard that needs something like this. Thanks!

I’ve been using these blades for over a year, they are a beast! I cut huge Texas purple sage, mesquite, acacia and several other tough nasty SW Texas brush. Wellllllll worth the money. I use them on my Stihl KM130R

I see these type conversions and have to actually smile. I was installing carbine tip saw blades on my string trimmers back a few decades ago. And everyone that seen me use it was amazed to see how well I could clear out underbrush with ease. I cleared walking trails to my hunting stands very quickly...

I've done this kind of work for years. I use a bigger machine, an Echo 410U. When I cut brush like that, I cut smaller pieces out. More like trimming the bush at first. I might use three or more cuts for one of those stalks. This makes it more likely that the brush will lay flat on the ground and I won't have a debris field to trip over or have to move around.. Also, I am working at making a slot in the brush where I can cut from three sides. I also have learned how to effectively turn the blade to cut from various angles as well as learn to backcut.

That Renegade blade is no joke!!! After watching this video I ordered one and finally got to use it this past weekend. One of the first things I tried it on was a small tree about 4" base and the blade went thru it like it was butter! Also I used it on the new Ryobi 40v trimmer and it was still a beast! Thanks for the video!

4:01 Those aren't "handles"; those are safety bars that'll hit your thigh and prevent the trimmer from slicing your ankle or legs in the event of a kick-back. It needs to be installed in the direction the blade is going. You installed your blade to move clockwise, but the safety bar was installed for a counterclockwise movement of the blade. So, you've counteracted the purpose of the the safety bar and made it easier for the blade to slice right through your ankles. If you want more steering control, then install brush cutter trigger-handles. 4:22 The harness connector works by taking weight off the arms and placing it on your legs via the shoulders.

Happy to see this get posted. I did similar a few years ago, but I put my edger blade on weed eater. Making one of these type items gives you one heck of a universal trimmer. I also did mine to cut small trees along fenceline. Great post Pete B

Id just like to mention that these blades are awesome!!....The teeth do chip fairly easily but the blade will still cut through a lot. Mine had several chipped teeth after the first few hours of use and i thought it sucked at first. Then i noticed that it was still cutting pretty well. Now I've probably got roughly 4 or 5 hours on the blade and still going strong. Worth the 20 bucks in my opinion just don't bang it into rocks all day long and it'll last a while. I haven't tried this exact blade i was using the regular silver one with the smaller teeth for cutting thicker stuff. Ill be buying another renegade blade or two this spring for sure.

Hey guys, y'all love that stihl and all, I went for a change and my Tanaka is freaking AMAZING, not advertising or anything, just letting you know it can handle sooo much abuse and still fire up instantly and still kick some more ass....just giving a heads up, you will not be disappointed!

Remedy herbicide (from Tractor Supply) will prevent the small trees from coming back and taking over. It only takes an application once a year to keep it free of small trees and brush. It also kills poison ivy and oak. Great job!

I have about 600' of road bank to mow every 3 weeks or so. I have been running a saw blade on my brush cutter for over 15 years. When working on a slope, work from side to side or bottom to top. You never want to work from the top down. Much to easy to fall forwards towards the blade.

Hey Pete, the harness is designed to prevent cutting off your own leg, not just to support the weight of the trimmer.

I looked at getting the kit, but was afraid my srm225 wouldn't have enough power, thanks for the video, now I know it'll work.

You should approach your cut with the blade slowly. Hard impacts not only cause a lot of stress on your blade teeth but also can cause excessive amount of torsion stress on your long drive shaft. Excessive amount of torsion stress may cause shaft to break. The blade is relatively easy to replace but a broken shaft is much more difficult to replace.

Great job. I feel confident I can do this. I am taking out a chain-link fence row of garbage brush. I finally got permission from neighbor to attack it on both sides. What's left I am torching to the ground. Bleach, Vinger, Water and salt mixture. This fall after another burn. I will drop rock salt to let it sink in all winter. (Salt the earth.)

I use the Renegade blades they cut great especially if what you are cutting is entangled in vines.

Pete, Thank you for this video. I bought a renegade before I realized I was going to need additional parts. We've been getting a lot of rain this year and stuff grows really fast here in Texas. Sometimes you need a brush blade just to be able to see the back fence.

Nice kit, but I bought my PAS 225 with the brush cutter shaft to start with so I can change quick between string and blade. Cheapest ripping blade from Lowes cuts stuff up to 1" even when dull as a butter knife. As a volunteer I maintain hiking trails in National Forest here in AL. Run saw blade going one way while carrying string shaft on my backpack. Then clean up with string trimner on way back. By the way, blade needs less constant power than string anyway since it cuts small stuff at half throttle fine.

Very good video, as others have said. I agree with the commenter who noted the usefulness of a rented field mower (billy goat, DR, etc). Also when going through tall weeds, I’ve found that moving across the tops of weeds in a downward “Z” pattern reduces the stalks to mulch instead of having a layer of stalks left behind if you just cut once across the base. Takes longer, but decays significantly faster. Also, makes you REALLY appreciate that screen face protector..until the first time you spit without lifting it! A

I use a blade often with my Red Max trimmer. I use it for guinea grass that can be challenging when using a .155 sting. The best blade I've used so far is one made in japan. but it's pricey at $80 per blade. Now i salt that blade up and use the cheaper blades I find on Amazon.Just be careful when using a blade because it slices through heavy saplings like butter and if it gets ahold of you legs, it'll be the same results...slice through your legs like butter. Use a set of chainsaw chaps when using a blade on your weed trimmer. For heavy brush that can't be accessed with a brush cutter/mower, the blade works the best.

Thanks so much for this video. I bought the kit and cleared 2 acres of property with so much ease.

These blades work great, it's your biceps, elbows, back, neck, knees that can't keep up. I love my 30HP New Holland.

Pete that part you're calling a handle is not a handle but a anti-kick back device meant to be used against you thigh as a brace when the blade kicks back...at least that's what it's meant for. I just bought an Echo 2620 and this blade kit, right now I'm looking for a blade that will be used for blackberries and trying to decide which blade to use. Oregon makes a mulching (2 blade) but it's too big to use with a guard but that blade not only cuts it mulches also that blade isn't available in the USA, I wish it was smaller as it's around 12.5"

That's a great set up man, it worked fantastic I'll try that myself

Just accessed your conversion for my renegade/echo conversion. Finally will get to transform the same type of foliage. 👍

Im pretty sure the steel bar is a safe guard to hold to trimmer in place with your leg, not another handle So it doesn't kick in and loose control

Great demo . I installed a similar blade to my Echo SRM225 ,no kits,the thing ate Thru a half acre of tough Jamaican low bush in short order even after losing more the half of the carbide tips. Works for me.

Great now I finally understood how to mount a disc on my own trimmer.

I bought 2 carbide tipped blades made specifically for this application on Amazon. I had the brush cutter attachment for my RYOBI full crank trimmer. Work great!

I wanted one of these kits but was worried about it voiding my Echo warranty. So I talked to my dealer and found out that not only does it not void the warranty but in fact Echo sells their branded kits for them. My Echo weed trimmer was 4 years old so I bought a new 225 for trimming my grass and put the kit on my old trimmer. I have not bought a Renegade blade yet so I will use the factory blade until I get the new one.

not bad, been using those blades for a year or two with mine and they do great, I have one of the chainsaw toothed ones and it sucks on my smaller string trimmer but they work amazing on a bigger brush cutter. Had a neighbor give me a chinese 63cc 3hp brush cutter that needed fuel lines replaced and once i got it up and running with the chainsaw blades its almost unstoppable, downside is its very heavy

I just bought the Red which you were using and the Silver for pasture trees that are thicker. I have not used them yet. I use a four cornered blade a lot for grass, big weeds briars and small brush.. I use a string head that I cut two pieces of walk behind mower precut line and put in it . I cut the precut into three pieces. That makes them the correct length. Lasts a good while. Like you said it is a pain to be buckled up to that when you need to set it down right quick and pull the brush out of the way. That is the way it is with a one man show. Looking forward to trying mine out. Thanks for the videos.

If you have the money, get a brush cutter with a bicycle handle. I have a SRM 400U by Echo. The newer model is the 410U. I have used it exclusively for cutting brush and small trees up to 6" in diameter for years on my farm. Probably used it over a couple hundred hours. Much better control especially if you role the left handle of the brush cutter back so that it rests on your hip. Next, learn how to back cut. You will find back cutting will be your preferred method of cutting saplings and the final preferred cut when cutting larger trees. Of course it depends on your position to the tree.

My uncle used a blade on his weed eater a year ago and it worked great

You know Pete, if all things fail you could always go back to using a scythe. Great instruction video! Learnt a lot about technical names. I'd be checking the tightness of the screws and general condition of the apparatus before every use! Those blades are lethal. Take care! Glad to see that you do.

I installed the conversion kit on my Echo String Trimmer and it works well. Like you Pete B., I found myself unhooking it from the harness because it is too restricting. Also I noticed you only used the handle that cam with your Echo device and not the new handle. I am doing the same thing. I cannot use the extended handle as well.

That red blade has done absolutely everything I’ve asked of it!

I could be wrong but I think the instructions say to put the green washer on the shaft first

You will find that certain weed trimmers require that you replace the whole trimmer head on the end of the shaft because the original head isn't heavy duty and will wear out quick when using a metal blade. My trimmer is one that the whole head has to be switched.

I was glad, when you cut off the country and western background music. If you had other music, I did not notice. I grade your video 10 out of a 10. I loved the detail you had thought out. I subscribed.

I’ve used this similar combination years ago on a different weed eater combination. So I know it works great.

My Stihlch also uses a 17mm or 3/4" as well😉

Looks much better. Nice review and assembly video.

I didn't think Echo was still in business. They make awesome equipment.

I saw Renegades featured on an episode of PROJECT FARM once. Except I don't have an Echo, mine is a Stihlch.

I'm a fan of Wrangler star home steading so this floats my boat

I used a 12 inch blade it works GR8 needs to make some modifications on the head but it wasn't much.

I remember a dude in the 80's bring a weed whacker to the welding shop and he mounted a skill saw blade, looked good until he started it, gave it a big rev and the momentum of the blade wrung the driveshaft cable and broke it. I'm guessing this blade is drilled for that reason.

for the stihl the manual says that handle is actually supposed to prevent kickback. I guess the idea is that itll hit your leg before the blade does. looking to pick up one of these blades soon they put in some serious work!

Good job Pete. The driveway looks a whole lot better now.

These are some great advice and some "be aware of" items that should be not over- looked. Safety first guys! Anyway, after installing these saw table style blades, my neighbors and I came up with a fun game. First you have to getr your hands on some of those old fashioned metal lawn darts that they took off the market due to some bull of too many brain traumas during game play.. But I digress, the way you play is by throwing the lawn darts as close to your opponent as you can all the while both of you are "tree stem wacking" with the new blades. The one that wins is the one that drives the other to the hospitasl. It's a good game but even a better game once you put away a couple cases of beer.

That thing doesn't mess around, great job!

Winter time is the best time to cut when you have a lot of vines.. lol but you probably new that already.. good video.

I love my power tools as much as the next guy but lets not underestimate the power of a modern curved blade pruning saw! One stroke cuts most bush the size of your thumb and you would be amazed how efficiently you can clear bush the size of your wrist. It's quite enough to hear the birds while you work or hold a meaningful conversation with your help and truly an efficient tool. I'll often put down my chainsaw and reach for my pruning saw instead when trimming up the bottom of trees or clearing overgrowth. To get into tight places with a chainsaw you have to make multiple cuts and you'll destroy your blade making a flush cut at the ground.. You can fit a pruning saw most anywhere your arm will reach, one cut at the base and your ready to mow! Just my two cents, if your merely trying to clean up some old growth, sort of a once in a long while thing, no since spending $100 on new kit. I could of had that entire fence line cleared before you got back from the store... Not to say a tool like this blade attachment wouldn't be useful to a business who does this sort of thing on a regular bases, I think it has its place... Would be interesting to see a counter rotating version to help with the kickback.

Excellent!... this word defines this good hearted man. Thank you for sharing.

I have this Renegade blade ,Best money I ever spent, Works suberbly.

I didn't get the renegade blade, but one simular and oh my lord it made quick work of any undergrowth we HAD along our fence lines. But I have since ordered a few of the 9" renegade blades now that I have a budget increase.

random youtube recommendation but ok ill watch it

Each to his own way. I would have gone with a battery-operated chain saw for the bushes, used a weed eater near the fence. and a jungle knife for the vines. enjoyed your video. (Mississippi gulf coast)

Very nice. Easy to understand too. Wish my teachers were that good. Thank you for sharing.

Great video vines have been horrendous here in Florida.

Awesome..... this will work perfect for my bamboo that's growing on my property out of control !!! 👍👍👍

The "standard steel" blade can easily be resharpened with a flat mill file. The long screws are for the handle, not the shield.

The Forester is the #1 in my opinion because it works just as well as this if not better but it also can be sharpened.

Good video how to; noticed you gave up on that side handle too... Thanks... just a thought, used a rope around the brush you're cutting and pull it from the other direction (loop it around from the opposite side) pull, step on the rope and cut brush lower than the rope... repeat...

I have the chain saw blade kind and you're right it doesn't work that well. I'll have to try this one. Thanks

Thanks for posting this up, it helped make a buying decision for me, which I did buy! ;)

I want to see that in the nex horror movie

Haha, sounds like he's swordfighting the trees

That blade did the job. Pete, if that is those green vines with thorns, you'll need to treat them to prevent them from coming back.

Saved me half a day figuring this out, thank you for the knowledge

i just ordered the whole kit and soon i will be ready to Rock thanks for the video

Be sure you're old dog stays home or you'll have to rename him "Tripod"!

I went and got my conversion kit today, Now I need to get the blade.

I would recommend renting a bush hog or a mulcher for the weekend just so you do not have to clean anything up after cutting down. Just one man's opinion.

If i remember correctly those gear box bolts are t27. But t25 works fine most of the time.

Idek why I’m watching this I hired someone to cut my lawn

Didn't notice but while he was at it I would have taken everything to ground/dirt level so he could mow over it. Just a thought.

I just put a blade on my weed whacked but I cut 3 inch or more brush at an angle to prevent pinching.

That is a really nice modification for big brush jobs. Thanks for sharing 👍

Wow. Really good video. I have the SRM-225. I've been wondering if my model could be retrofitted. this video really answered that for me. Going to your affiliate links now.

Id probably start the cuts closer to the stump, unless you like buying new blades or have a use for the smaller chunks

Been using blades on my 21 cc Echo since the '70s, back when only choices were 8- and 80-tooth steel. On brushcutters I much prefer 10" and 12" blades, besides 9" w/chainsaw cutters- one of those will have you grinning mowing down woody crap. Real easy sharpening too.

Definitely need a swamper to pull brush out of the way.

I need that! My driveway is almost like yours I'm going to winding the drive to make snow plowing better.

ya hey, definitely install the cotter pin, you do not want a blade coming off at 7k rpm's , that would definitely leave a mark! the black handle is not a handle, it is a bucking bar (safety stop in case the blade pinches and the cutter head comes back towards you) the bar is suppose to hit your hip and stop the cutterhead from traveling any closer to you. same with the harness, it is suppose to stop the machine from getting away if the blade pinches and yanks the tool out of your hands. I believe both safety devices are osha requirements. need gloves and long sleeve shirt. briars and poison ivy can hide in there. I hit the like button. thanks.

I bought a $15 machete and it does the job just fine

I like this video a lot, took me half a day to find a useful video like this. Anyway, what do you think this blade with the forester brush cutter 20 tooth 9"? Thanks in advance

Wow there would have been an accident my way I saw you video and found I needed that pin also notice if I use the long neck piece it wasn’t going to work thank you so much for sharing. I have an echo blade and notice you installed a different one what is the company name for that red blade. And thank you again

The torx size is actually T27 but T25 is very close.

Nice video Pete. I have a Stihl and do the same thing. Looked as if mine is a little easier to convert from weedeater to brushcutter but yours did a great job for sure. Take care

ProjectFarm did a comparison on many types of blades. thanks for your video as well. Im headed down the same path . I have some bamboo to tackle. I think a Saw type blade is best for my application. The baby bamboo is very soft and the adult bamboo is hard as heck.

Thanks for the video, Houston here

Sweet video. I have some trees and brush to the equivalent of what you were cutting, and I didn't want to ruin my chainsaw blade cutting them at ground level, with angled stubs at that. Looks like my SRM 225 will be getting that temporary makeover. I had to go back through the video to confirm that I did not once see you use the adapted handle. LOL.

Hands down the best thing to use instead of weedeater string are bicycle spokes....ive used 2 spokes on my trimmer up to 3 months and i dont mean just grass i mean brush and all. Dangerous? Sure but no more dangerous than saw blades or pieces of chainsaw blade as long as you gear up safely...and ive tried em all hands down bicycle spokes work great and above all THEY LAST...i just drilled tiny holes to thread the spoke through and they already have a large head on the end but very imoortant that you cut them at the same length, i make em a quarter inch shy of hitting the line cutter blade on the guard....youll never use anything else YOU WONT HAVE TO!!!

Looks like its worth the $$ just to keep my hands away from anywhere a copperhead might be...

Great video and thorough explanation.

Thank you sir, great video and explanation

You talk about and list both 8 and 9 inch blades. I'm not clear on which one is best or is each one for the 2 different trimmers? Does it matter what size I get? Sorry if I missed it. Thanks in advance.

I've been using a carbide table saw blade for over 20 years. Not the same blade. You just have to be careful to be sure it's center and it will stay tight and center on the arbor, Then tame your jungle!