When to Choose a Fixed Tree Shear
A fixed shear cuts at the angle the dipper presents it, with the blade running horizontally. That's all most clearance work needs: cutting stems at the base, clearing saplings and scrub, thinning plantations and cutting back boundaries and tracks. It's the simplest setup, with little to maintain, and it costs considerably less than a rotating shear of the same size.
If you'll be cutting a lot of leaning stems, working between trees, fences or buildings, or laying timber in neat lines, a rotating excavator tree shear lets you set the blade to any angle without moving the machine.
Side Bracket Options
Choose the mounting option when you order:
- Headstock only: the standard setup, with the blade running horizontally for cutting stems at the base.
- Headstock + single or double side bracket: welded-on side brackets let you also mount the shear with the blade running vertically rather than horizontally, which is ideal for de-limbing branches. Ask us which suits your machine and work.
Choosing the Right Size
Match the shear to your excavator's operating weight, then check the stems you'll be cutting against its capacity:
Never try to cut a stem thicker than the shear's rated capacity. If a lot of your trees are near the limit, step up a size if your machine can carry it.
Hydraulics and Fitment
A fixed tree shear is a single-service attachment. The ram runs off your excavator's double-acting hammer circuit, with a maximum working pressure of 320 bar, and there's no rotator supply to arrange.
Shears are supplied to fit your quick hitch or to pin straight on with removable pins. Our guide on how to measure an excavator for a new bucket shows the pin measurements we need, and they're the same for a shear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a fixed and a rotating tree shear?
A fixed shear cuts with the blade running horizontally, at the angle the dipper presents it. A rotating shear is the same shear with a bolt-on 360° hydraulic rotator, so the blade can be set to any angle. The rotator adds cost and needs a hydraulic supply of its own.
Do I need a side bracket?
Only if you want to de-limb. The headstock-only version cuts stems at the base. A side bracket lets you mount the shear with the blade running vertically, which is ideal for taking branches off cut stems.
What hydraulics does a fixed tree shear need?
A double-acting hammer circuit, with a maximum working pressure of 320 bar. Send us your hydraulic details if you're not sure what your machine has.
Can I use a fixed tree shear as a grab?
Yes. The jaw doubles as a hydraulic grab for moving cut timber, positioning poles and placing fence posts.
How do I use a tree shear safely?
Our guide on how to use an excavator tree shear covers sizing, felling rules, site set-up and cutting technique.
