Caveman_Nick Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 The ones in your yard. Since I can no longer pay Chavez to come and do it, I am looking to get a hedge trimmer. What do you use? Do you like it? Have hedge trimmer envy over what your neighbor has? Gas, electric or battery powered? I am leaning electric, but can be swayed. Although electric can be a pain, trimming the hedges is not a regular duty job. The ones in the yard, I mean. Stihl has expensive electrics. Black and Decker has cheap ones. Are expensive ones worth their price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 How much yard do you have? Unless its the size of a postage stamp, I would buy a gas trimmer. Cords get in the way, particularly with a hedge trimmer. Back in the day, I had an Echo that worked just fine. Now that I have a house again, I'll probably buy another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 How much yard do you have? Unless its the size of a postage stamp, I would buy a gas trimmer. Cords get in the way, particularly with a hedge trimmer. Back in the day, I had an Echo that worked just fine. Now that I have a house again, I'll probably buy another. I have a good amount of yard and a fair amount of Shrubbery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I've always used the manual hedge clippers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delicious_bass Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 How much yard do you have? Unless its the size of a postage stamp, I would buy a gas trimmer. Cords get in the way, particularly with a hedge trimmer. Back in the day, I had an Echo that worked just fine. Now that I have a house again, I'll probably buy another. I have a good amount of yard and a fair amount of Shrubbery! I would agree with Furd that gas is the way to go. I dont think you want to deal with dragging a cord around (particularly if you have a lot of trimming to do). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_gop_liars Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I've always used the manual hedge clippers. He said he can no longer afford Manuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 He said he can no longer afford Manuel. You really understand me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satelliteoflovegm Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 If I had it to start over I look strongly at the Stihl Kombi system. Of course depending on your personal abilities and needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 If I had it to start over I look strongly at the Stihl Kombi system. Of course depending on your personal abilities and needs. wurd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slambo Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) Unless you have shrubbery with very thin branches do not waste your time and money on electric trimmers. I have 2 gas trimmers. One is standard double sided normal blade length RedMax. I also have a 42" single sided Shindawa. If you want your hedges to have a professionally landscaped look, get gas powered trimmers. Stihl makes very high quality products. Edited October 27, 2011 by slambo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovers Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'd suggest the Echo power head with interchangable attachments. You can get the Josh Gordon whacker (line trimmer), hedge trimmer, and pole pruner. Other attachments are available. The Red Max multi tool is similar. Both are gas, two cycle power heads. The nice thing with both units is they give you extended reach... so fewer ladder moves. The other thing is once you buy 2 attachments, buying more saves a lot of money over dedicated machines without attachment interchangability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovers Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Unless you have shrubbery with very thin branches do not waste your time and money on electric trimmers. I have 2 gas trimmers. One is standard double sided normal blade length RedMax. I also have a 42" single sided Shindawa. If you want your hedges to have a profesionally landscaped look, get gas powered trimmers. Stihl makes very high quality products. Some electrics are good enough for some people, but each trimmer will have specs detailing what size branch tey can c. I have a heavy duty Husquavarna 36" that can cut up to 1 1/2 inches. Then I have a Red Max extended reach good for up to 1 inch cuts. There is a cheap B&D corded electric at Home depot that is fine for small properties. Do not even consider any battery operated machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerx Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Like others have said, it depends on the size of the shrubs branches and how many... I have a Ryobi Lithium battery-powered trimmer that does the job for my shrubs. No cord, and light enough that I can use one hand to reach those limbs in the back if necessary. The battery life fairly good unless I have to go into the thick bushes, then it has to work harder and drains the battery quicker. I still give it for most jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'd suggest the Echo power head with interchangable attachments. You can get the Josh Gordon whacker (line trimmer), hedge trimmer, and pole pruner. Other attachments are available. The Red Max multi tool is similar. Both are gas, two cycle power heads. The nice thing with both units is they give you extended reach... so fewer ladder moves. The other thing is once you buy 2 attachments, buying more saves a lot of money over dedicated machines without attachment interchangability. One concern I have about the interchangeable units is how weildy the hedge trimmer is. Seems like it would be tougher to use than a dedicated model. Any thoughts on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Trimming the hedges is a lady's job. I would demand the wife to do it, and make her buy her own tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Trimming the hedges is a lady's job. I would demand the wife to do it, and make her buy her own tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Trimming the hedges is a lady's job. I would demand the wife to do it, and make her buy her own tool. This! Unlike Spain's desire for bushes like Artis Gilmore's I prefer a more manageable patch, perhaps even shaved. She may use whatever tool she desires. I would follow Rover's advice on the outdoor shubbery, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I have an electric black & decker, 21" I believe. It's always been fine for my use. The new house has a hell of a lot of stuff that needs trimming and I just planted 20 hollies, so I'm going to be busy. I would upgrade to a gas trimmer but I don't see the benefit. It's just time consuming regardless of the trimmer, IMO. I have a sh*tload of small to medium sized trees and overgrown privets and whatnot that I need to take out, and for that I bought a Homelite electric chain saw, thinking I could save a few bucks. The thing literally fell apart in my hands after 5 minutes of using it. The chain flew off, along with the thing that sticks out that the chain rides on. That reminds me, I need to visit my neighbor in the hospital today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Corded yard tools are for homos and Matt770. NTTAWWT. I'd highly endorse the gas powered Stihl hedge trimmer. Things got a big set of balls and runs efficiently and reliably. I've had mine for almost 10 years and have never had a problem with it. It is a bit heavy, but for a bug guy like yourself you should have no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Corded yard tools are for homos and Matt770. NTTAWWT. I'd highly endorse the gas powered Stihl hedge trimmer. Things got a big set of balls and runs efficiently and reliably. I've had mine for almost 10 years and have never had a problem with it. It is a bit heavy, but for a bug guy like yourself you should have no problems. Don't get me wrong, if i were single I'd be out there with the biggest gas trimmer they make, with no shirt on, shades, demin cutoffs and work boots. Then just watch the soccer moms crashing into each other as they go jogging by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 The Stihl Kombisystem is one of the things I am looking at, as well as the Echo PAS. If I were buying individual tools then I will be looking at those company's hedge trimmer and edger tools. Enough feedback here to sway me off of electric. It was a momentary weakness (although let me tell you....the Stihl electric hedge trimmers are beefy). I just have to decide if it's worth the extra money to buy the multi-tool or not. Part of the decision is in the utility of the multi-tool hedge trimmer versus a traditional hedge trimmer (the traditional one seems like it would be easier to use), and also in that if I get the multi-tool I can get a pruner and an extension. And then I have to figure out what the costs are of each choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawks21 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I made the mistake a few years back of buying an electric Josh Gordon whacker on sale. I don't have too many mean looking areas, so I thought the little guy would get me by. Three 100 foot extension cords and three month-long repairs later, I realized I should have bit the bullet and got the big, burly gas whacker. Not sure that it correlates exactly with a trimmer, but it is kinda in the ballpark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Thanks for the help guys. I ended up going with the Stihl Kombisystem. The 90cc version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Thanks for the help guys. I ended up going with the Stihl Kombisystem. The 90cc version. if i could start over with the stuff i have ( its all Stihl) i would have done that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 if i could start over with the stuff i have ( its all Stihl) i would have done that. I was tempted to buy the most powerful model...it's only $70 more. I still might spend the extra dough and swap out what I am getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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