What (or Which) pole hedge cutter?

[ten0rman]

I've been involved in sporadic hedge & tree cutting using a standard mains powered hedge cutter and reaching up as far as I can. I'm now starting to lop the tops off, using a ladder (precariously balanced against the hedge/trees) and various hand tools as the hedge cutter seems a bit too heavy for safe use up a ladder.

In today's DT, there is an advert for a telescopic electric hedge trimmer, however on reading the reviews on Amazon, it seems that a common complaint is that this type of hedge trimmer is somewhat heavy, awkward to hold, and unbalanced when used at full length. Which has caused me to look at battery power.

I've found a report, by the DT surprisingly, or perhaps not surprising, but they are suggesting that the Gtech, Flymo & Ryobi will be satisfactory. I've looked at the Gtech HT20 and discovered that there is also an optional branch cutter attachment as well which could very well be a useful idea especially as one of the branches I've already cut was a good 30mm diameter.

I have to admit that after 45mins of looking my single brain cell is going round in circles, so I'd like thoughts and comments about this project, eg, mains or battery, branch cutter or not, Gtech, Flymo , Ryobi or whoever, etc.

FWIW, I'm in my mid 70's, and nowhere near as strong as I used to be. Also balance isn't the best, probably since I had the vestibular system disabled to stop vertigo associated with Menieres. And finally, I'm only looking at cutting it every two or three years, although I suppose with a decent tool I could consider a yearly short back and sides trim.

MTIA,

ten0rman

[Howard]

I bought an extending mains electric hedgecutter from Screwfix very similar to
http://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister- ... _container

This is a powerful cutter for a very reasonable price. However, you are right to consider how tiring it is to use this type of tool. I can only use it for an hour or so to cut the higher part of a hedge and cutting the top at right angles is very tiring.

I have used a friend's rechargeable cutter and whilst the battery does act as a counterweight, I found it even heavier and less powerful than my mains model.

Hope this is helpful

regards

Howard

[supremetwo]

I've been involved in sporadic hedge & tree cutting using a standard mains powered hedge cutter and reaching up as far as I can. I'm now starting to lop the tops off, using a ladder (precariously balanced against the hedge/trees) and various hand tools as the hedge cutter seems a bit too heavy for safe use up a ladder. ten0rman

I have two boundaries of laurel hedge and I've never seen them grow so much from the wet till end of May and the sun since.

I use a couple of No 3 builder's trestles with two stout planks g-clamped on top and at that height, my pole extension is not usually needed.

[ReformedCharacter]

I've been involved in sporadic hedge & tree cutting using a standard mains powered hedge cutter and reaching up as far as I can. I'm now starting to lop the tops off, using a ladder (precariously balanced against the hedge/trees) and various hand tools as the hedge cutter seems a bit too heavy for safe use up a ladder.

In today's DT, there is an advert for a telescopic electric hedge trimmer, however on reading the reviews on Amazon, it seems that a common complaint is that this type of hedge trimmer is somewhat heavy, awkward to hold, and unbalanced when used at full length. Which has caused me to look at battery power.

I've found a report, by the DT surprisingly, or perhaps not surprising, but they are suggesting that the Gtech, Flymo & Ryobi will be satisfactory. I've looked at the Gtech HT20 and discovered that there is also an optional branch cutter attachment as well which could very well be a useful idea especially as one of the branches I've already cut was a good 30mm diameter.

I have to admit that after 45mins of looking my single brain cell is going round in circles, so I'd like thoughts and comments about this project, eg, mains or battery, branch cutter or not, Gtech, Flymo , Ryobi or whoever, etc.

FWIW, I'm in my mid 70's, and nowhere near as strong as I used to be. Also balance isn't the best, probably since I had the vestibular system disabled to stop vertigo associated with Menieres. And finally, I'm only looking at cutting it every two or three years, although I suppose with a decent tool I could consider a yearly short back and sides trim.

MTIA,

ten0rman

I have a Stihl:

https://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Products/ ... LE-71.aspx

It's a mains model and works well. However, despite being reasonably fit (and the marketing image showing a lightly built young woman effortlessly hedge-trimming) I do find it too heavy and a bit of a struggle, so I wouldn't recommend it to you. Equivalent battery models would (I assume) be heavier. Annoyingly I cannot see a weight in the specifications for the trimmer. Stay safe!

RC

[TheMotorcycleBoy]

I have petrol powered regular hedge trimmers, chainsaws, strimmers etc. and I can't add anything about pole cutter or leccy equipment in general.

But what I would saw is that all our equipment is second hand and made by STIHL. STIHL may well be a lot more expensive, but the quality is (for the petrol stuff, at least) fantastic. You get what you pay for! We've got 15+ year old stihl stuff still going strong, and a plus point is anything ever is needed spares wise, they are easily sourced.

I know one or two work colleagues, who thought they'd go the cheap route with ryobi or whatever stuff, eventually come to regret it, only to end up with the STIHL kit after all.

Matt

[supremetwo]

I have petrol powered regular hedge trimmers, chainsaws, strimmers etc. and I can't add anything about pole cutter or leccy equipment in general.

But what I would saw is that all our equipment is second hand and made by STIHL. STIHL may well be a lot more expensive, but the quality is (for the petrol stuff, at least) fantastic. You get what you pay for! We've got 15+ year old stihl stuff still going strong, and a plus point is anything ever is needed spares wise, they are easily sourced.

I know one or two work colleagues, who thought they'd go the cheap route with ryobi or whatever stuff, eventually come to regret it, only to end up with the STIHL kit after all.

Matt

OTOH, I have a STIHL HS45 hedgecutter that was given to me due to poor slow running.
Earlier models had all the adjustments but this version has a non-adjustable carb, presumably to save money.
When I looked into replacing the carb, I found that genuine Stihl spares were expensive = £60 for a carb.

My Tanaka starts first time.

[TheMotorcycleBoy]

I have petrol powered regular hedge trimmers, chainsaws, strimmers etc. and I can't add anything about pole cutter or leccy equipment in general.

But what I would saw is that all our equipment is second hand and made by STIHL. STIHL may well be a lot more expensive, but the quality is (for the petrol stuff, at least) fantastic. You get what you pay for! We've got 15+ year old stihl stuff still going strong, and a plus point is anything ever is needed spares wise, they are easily sourced.

I know one or two work colleagues, who thought they'd go the cheap route with ryobi or whatever stuff, eventually come to regret it, only to end up with the STIHL kit after all.

Matt

OTOH, I have a STIHL HS45 hedgecutter that was given to me due to poor slow running.
Earlier models had all the adjustments but this version has a non-adjustable carb, presumably to save money.
When I looked into replacing the carb, I found that genuine Stihl spares were expensive = £60 for a carb.

My Tanaka starts first time.

Yes, there's lots of issues surrounding carburation. FWIW, in my spare time I service the stihl kit of the local tree surgery firm, so I have a lot of experience with both mending and purchasing OEM and AM carbs. I recently serviced a HS45! That one did come with an adjustable carb...but it varies (sometimes) on the exact model run....and the manufacturers these days are trying to cater for people who will get into more trouble by giving them access to adjustments.

Yes, sometimes the cheaper brands do work well. But it really depends on the workloads and expectation you have on the kit, and regards these brands, and I'd be surprised if you get the same reliability and lifetime as you would from the brand I mentioned.

BTW, I'm not a stihl salesman! I was just telling the OP what I know.

Matt

[ten0rman]

Many thanks for the replies. I'm now having different thoughts.

Cheers,

ten0rman