Field-to-Forum Product Reviews

[Tanaka]

#1 - THT-210S Hedge Trimmer

#2 - TBC-245PF Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter

#3 - TBC-340PF Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter

#4 - TBC-2501 Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter

#5 - TBC-2501T Extended Shaft Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter

#6 - TBC-230 Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter (From TURF Magazine)

#7 - TIA-350S One-man Auger

#8 - TLE-600 Edger (From TURF Magazine)

#9 - THB-2510 Handheld Blower

#10 - TBC-280 Grass Trimmer / Brushcutter

#11 - TBC-260PFL Extended Reach Grass Trimmer

#12 - HTD-2530PF Hedge Trimmer

#13 - TED-262DH Dual Handle Planting Drill

[Tanaka]

Hello my name is Mike Dirks. I’m the owner of Dirks Lawn Care. We are a small lawn and landscape maintenance company in Sterling, Illinois. We have been in business since 1998 and serve a variety of customers from commercial to residential.

We tested the Tanaka THT-210S hedge trimmer for approximately four hours on a variety of shrubbery including barberry, Japanese yew, and dogwood. We also demoed the THT-210S on approximately 200 feet (five hours) of hedge rows, all with very favorable results.

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best), here’s how I would rate the THT-210S:

Balance 9
Power 10
Fuel efficiency 9
Easy of starting 10
Ease of use 10
Noise Level 10
Accuracy of cut 10
Safety features 10
Overall reliability 10
Manual/instructions 4
Quick lock handle system 10

Our company mainly has used John Deere, Echo, and Husqvarna two-stroke equipment. In comparison to those brands, the thing I like most about the Tanaka THT-210s is how lightweight it is.

It’s about 1 to 1.5 lbs. lighter than the Husqvarna and Echo hedge trimmers, even though their comparable bar lengths only range between 20 and 24 inches (Note: THT-210S blades are 26"). The noise level seemed a bit lower than most of the other brands that I have used and we all know that this is a big deal these days.

Overall, I would rate the THT-210S as one of the best hedge trimmers that I have used/demoed. The best feature is the quick lock handle system.
No matter which direction or position I was trimming, it still felt comfortable. I never felt that I was lacking any power while using this hedger. The THT-210S would cut through everything I could throw at it.

My biggest complaint is the manual. I would like to see a manual written for each specific hedge trimmer model number, but that is my only complaint.

Forum Moderator Notes:
Thanks Mike - great job! Your Tanaka care package is on the way. Also, thanks for the photo, however Tanaka always encourages the use of proper safety equipment including eye protection and gloves.

If you are like Mike, and don't have a Tanaka dealer nearby, give us a call at 1-888-4TANAKA if you are interested in purchasing the THT-210S. We will find the most cost effective way to deliver it to you.

[Tanaka]

Moderator Notes: The TBC-245PF features Tanaka's PureFire low emission two-stroke engine which is EPA Phase 2 and C.A.R.B Tier II compliant. It is primarily sold in California, but the rest of the country will start to see more engines powered by PureFire in the next several years.

My name is Shawn McGuirt and I am the owner of PROScapes Lawn Care in Dallas Georgia. We have been in business since 1994 and service residential and commercial accounts of all sizes and types.

I tested the Tanaka TBC-245PF Trimmer for approximately 8 hours in different trimming environments. I used the trimmer on bed edging, curb edging, and driveway and sidewalk edging.

On a scale of 1-10 rating here is how I rate the trimmer:

Balance – 8
Power – 9
Fuel Efficiency – 10
Ease of starting – 10
Ease of use – 7
Noise level – 8
Accuracy of cut – 9
Safety Features – 9
Overall reliability – 9
Manual / Instructions – 5
Weight – 10

I primarily use Stihl products and when comparing the TBC-245PF to my FS-80 there was no comparison, the Tanaka TBC-245PF was by far lighter and easier on the back. It was so much lighter that it took a few minutes to get used to. That feature alone can make all the difference in the world when servicing several properties a day.

I found that the string head was problematic in the beginning and kept jamming or knotting the line which required the disassembly of the head and re-wrapping the trimmer line. I replaced with a different .095 trimmer line and the problem went away.

The manual needs some work. Even if you broke the manual up into front of manual in English the rest in other languages or something. It just made it hard to find the areas I needed to read. I do like the part listings/schematics which help when buying a replacement part.

Overall a great trimmer! Lightweight and powerful, I would recommend the TBC-245PF to anyone.


Thanks Shawn - Nice job! For your time, we are sending you a Tanaka care package as well as the opportunity to purchase the unit a discounted rate.
-MW

[Tanaka]

Briefly introduce yourself and your company
Coastal Greenscapes. Our company was founded in 1997 out of the need for a high quality landscape maintenance service. Our motto is “If there is time to do it over then there is time to do it right.” Since that time we grew to 3.7 million dollars in revenue. In December of 2004 we sold most of the business with the idea of semi-retiring. However after a few months the bug had bitten again and we are once again a full service landscape company.

Describe the test environments and the number of hours you used the product in each environment.
The Tanaka was put into service on May 29th. Since that time it has become the most popular trimmer in our assortment. It is the first trimmer anyone grabs.

It has seen 5 plus hours of run time each day since then. We are in the coastal region and most of our accounts are within 5 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean air (salty air) is very harsh on equipment, normally cutting the life of the equipment in half. The Tanaka has not exhibited any of the normal corrosion that we see with our other trimmers. Additionally, the throttle seems to give you more control with trimming over sand and thus reduces the number of “holes” in your legs from sand pelting them.


Rate the following on a scale of 1-10, (10= Outstanding, 1=poorest):
Weight - 10

Balance - 10

Power - 10

Fuel efficiency - 7

Ease of starting - 8 (2 pulls always)

Ease of use - 9

Noise level - 10

Accuracy of cut - 9 (much better with square .105 line)

Safety features - 5

Overall reliability - 9

Manual / instructions - Did not receive

Other
First. It is an awesome trimmer. I have to say that given its performance I would switch from Stihl. There are 3 things that I would suggest changing.

1. The gas cap needs some sort of chain/plastic/string to hold it onto the unit so the cap doesn't get lost when filling it. Everyone else has them.

2. The start lock on the handle needs to be on the other side of the handle. When trimming you can accidentally bump it with your leg and the gas is locked on at 2/3rd open throttle. It is just way to easy to hit. If it was on the other side or bottom it would be safer.

3. The head could use a little more capacity.

Compare the unit against other brands you have used
We use John Deere XT140’s and Stihl FS85’s. In my opinion as well as the other people who have used this trimmer we would switch over to Tanka’s exclusively should the two of three issues mentioned above be corrected. That being the Gas cap and the start lock location. The trimmer is hands down better then anything else we have used.

Moderator Notes:
Excellent job Brian! Thanks for staying on me to get the trimmer sent out to you. Photos of the unit in use are on the way.

For Brian's time, he will receive a Tanaka "care package" plus he will be given the opportunity to purchase the unit at a discount.

[Tanaka]

My name is Matt Farrell. I am the owner of Farrell Lawn Care & Management LLC, a small lawn care and maintenance company in Fairfax, Virginia. Farrell Lawn Care was created in 2002 and services residential and small commercial properties.

We used the TBC-2501 string trimmer for 12-15 hours in the past two weeks. The trimmer was used for a variety of tasks from trimming our weekly accounts to clearing out roadside ditches with 12”+ grass and weeds.

Rate the following on a scale of 1-10, (10= Outstanding, 1=poorest):

Weight -8
Balance -8
Power -9
Fuel efficiency -8
Easy of starting -8
Ease of use -9
Noise level -10
Accuracy of cut -9
Safety features -10
Overall reliability -8
Manual / instructions -6

Other:
A gas cap with a cord should be standard.
The carburetor needs adjustable high and low speed jets (Moderator Note: C.A.R.B / EPA outlawed adjustable carbs over a decade ago).
The cutting head was quick, easy to load, and jam free.

Compare the unit against other brands you have used:
Our other sting trimmers are the Echo SRM-230 and Stihl FS-85. The Tanaka held its own quite well compared to the Srm-230 and FS-85’s. The weight and balance of the Tanaka was slightly better than the Stihl’s. The Tanaka was a little heavier than the Echo but the balance was also better with the Tanaka. All three brands were the same for basic light maintenance on our weekly accounts. The Tanaka clearly out performed the Echo SRM-230 clearing tall grass and weeds. It was a close call with the FS-85’s, both machines would cut as fast as you can feed them.

Overall, the TBC-2501 is a very capable trimmer. Both of us feel that this is a high quality machine and will be a welcome substitute for our aging FS-85s’. The main factor weighing against our conversion to Tanaka is the lack of dealers in our area. We would switch over to Tanaka products without hesitation if there was more dealer support.

We were also fortunate to test Tanaka Quiet Line. This line outperforms and is significantly quieter than the other brands we use (Echo Crossfire, J-Thomas premium round, and Stihl trimmer line). The most notable aspect of this line is that it wears much slower than others we have used.

[Tanaka]

1. Briefly introduce yourself and your company.

Hi, my name is Kevin Rochester. I am the owner of Mower For Less Lawn Service, located in Warren, MI. We are a small company servicing residential properties almost exclusively. My company was formed in 2003, and has been steadily growing since. We now provide a wide range of services to our customers including lawn care, hedge trimming, aeration, dethatching, as well as pressure washing and snow plowing.

2. Describe the test environments and the number of hours you used the product in each environment.

We tested the Tanaka TBC-2501T which features a 70” drive shaft, 5” semi-auto cutting head, and padded “D” handle. We used the Tanaka TBC-2501T in various residential environments including: trimming along fences (wood and chain link); buildings (brick, vinyl sided, aluminum sided, wood sided, and block); and various bed borders and curb edging. In two weeks, we have logged a total of 20 hours on the Tanaka trimmer.

3. Rate the following on a scale of 1-10, (10 = Outstanding, 1 = poorest):

Weight 9
Balance 8
Power 8
Fuel efficiency 6
Ease of starting 10
Ease of use 10
Noise level 10
Accuracy of cut 10
Safety features 9
Overall reliability 10
Manual / instructions 5

4. Compare the unit against other brands you have used.

We currently use Shindaiwa T230 and T231 trimmers. The Tanaka is easier to start cold, and very easy to restart warm (2 pulls cold, 1 pull warm). It is a very smooth pull, with less effort required than on the Shindaiwa’s.

Overall peak-power is a near tie with the Shindaiwa’s, but it seems to lack some of the mid-range punch that the Shindaiwa’s have. The bump head is a nice design overall, but could use a slightly weaker spring so that a little less effort to bump-feed is required. It otherwise performed flawlessly, was very easy to re-string, and did not give any jamming problems.

I did not like the choke design. It sticks out too far to the rear of the air filter, and is right in the line of pull with the starter cord. It is not padded either, and seems to be a finger injury waiting to happen. Shindaiwa, RedMax, and Stihl all use chokes that are more out of the way or completely flush with the air cleaner housing. Functionally the choke was fine.

The balance was about as good as could be expected for this long of a unit, but could probably be improved slightly with a taller handle that could be placed further down the pole shaft. Fuel efficiency was not too good. Whether that is a product of having such a long trimmer shaft creating extra drag, or just the nature of the engine I am not sure. The Tanaka’s fuel tank capacity of 16.9 fl.oz. would last for about 1 hour of trimming time, compared to the Shindaiwa T231’s slightly larger tank capacity of 22.7 fl.oz, but run time of nearly 2 hours. I would at least like to see a larger tank on the Tanaka to help combat such frequent refuels throughout the day. I would also like to see a more translucent fuel tank. In low light or high glare situations it is very difficult to see the level of fuel in the tank. The oil I use gives the gas a blue tint, so the contrast with the orange tank is very poor. The clear or nearly clear tanks on the Shindaiwa’s are significantly easier to see.

5. Provide summary and recommendation information.

This is definitely a niche market trimmer. Its longer length is not for everyone, but for those who need it, it fills a much needed gap and does it admirably. At my 5’10” height, I feel I have to hold the trimmer up past my shoulders to use it, but at 6’ 6” my helper can stand straight and looks comfortable using it.

To my knowledge there are no other extra long commercial grade straight shaft trimmers to even compete with this unit. For that fact alone I commend Tanaka for stepping up to the plate to fill a gap in the market that no-one else has addressed on a commercial level.

The longer length was no problem while transporting, and fit securely on my existing trimmer racks. The longer length does become a consideration when trimming in close areas, or near obstructions or cars. That’s not a complaint, as the length is required for the purpose of the trimmer, but only a warning to consider.

There is plenty of power for normal everyday trimming, and even enough grunt for mild overgrowth and mini-jungles. The cutter on the trimmer guard seems to struggle with cutting my .095 line, and is my only complaint with an otherwise excellent guard. The manual is overburdened with 6 languages all printed side by side. It really needs to be separated into 6 different sections, one for each language. A lot of clarity is lost searching for ‘your’ language.

Overall this is a great trimmer, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who transitions from a basketball career into landscaping.

6. Other comments

I originally had the need for this trimmer after hiring a helper that was 6’ 6” tall. My regular stable of trimmers were all too short for him to use comfortably. I tried researching options to make things easier on him, and came across Mark Woodling of Tanaka.

Mark offered to make this special prototype and allow us to test it within hours of hearing my need for such a product. The speed at which Tanaka developed a workable solution to my problem was amazing. My helper and I are truly thankful for the team over at Tanaka that made this all happen as fast as it did.

Actions like these go a long way towards customer goodwill, and surely will earn them repeat business in the future. Our hats are off to the fine folks at Tanaka, they definitely deserve it.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Rochester, Owner
Mower For Less Lawn Service
Kevin@mowerforless.com

Moderator Notes:
Thanks Kevin! Very thorough. Kevin has informed me that pics are on the way of his 6'6" crew member using the standard trimmer and the long trimmer. Should be interesting.

Also, if you are interested in purchasing the trimmer, please contact me. We are still finalizing the configuration and other details as well.

-MW

[Tanaka]

Click here (http://www.tanaka-usa.com/pdf/fieldtest.pdf) to view the PDF file.

-MW

[Tanaka]

Briefly introduce yourself and your company
My name is Barry Nicholson, owner of Lawn Pro in Athens, Alabama. We are a full service lawn and landscape company, servicing mainly residential properties.

Describe the test environments and the number of hours you used the product in each environment.
We received the auger at the end of the landscape season in December. We did get to use it the first time on a small install, consisting of installing plants in existing beds (2 hrs).

In February, we began the 2006 season and used the auger throughout the day (6 hrs). Actual runtime was low due to the efficiency of the auger.

The first install was pretty straightforward. Install plants in existing beds. The beds had great soil, so the auger had no problem digging to the needed depth.

Our second install consisted of creating new beds to dress up the home for sale. Soil was red clay and rock. This is where the Pengo bit was useful (more aggressive auger bit).

This little auger packs a punch. We were able to install 30 plants in close to 30 minutes with one man digging and two men installing.

Although the eight-inch bit is the largest Tanaka offers (for use with a one-man powerhead), we were able to ream the holes to make them large enough for the 3-gallon plants. The eight-inch bit is perfect for one-gallon plants though.

We can't wait to get some smaller bits for pansy and tulip installs. Throw your shovels and post hole diggers away. (Well, keep your shovels for cleanout, but forget about digging holes with them)

Rate the following on a scale of 1-10, (10= Outstanding, 1=poorest):
Weight - 8
Balance - 10
Power - 9
Fuel efficiency - 10
Ease of starting - 10
Ease of use - 10
Noise level - 9
Safety features - 6
Overall reliability - 10
Manual / instructions - 8

Other Comments
The guys love this little auger. They even tried it with two men holding it and it worked great. It has good power, but could use just a bit more. We had to clean the bit a few times, as the clay had a bad habit of sticking (common down here).

The handle design is perfect. It wraps the engine and offers great protection during transport as well as offers a nice height for the operator. We didn't have any problems with the unit and we bought it as a result.

Compare the unit against other brands you have used
We had been using the Echo auger, but most everyone agreed that the handle design on the Echo lacks a great deal compared to the Tanaka. Also, the Echo has always been a bit difficult to start when cold.

Not so with the Tanaka. It was snowing when we were installing the plants and the Tanaka always fired right up.

If you want to save time, money, and a lot of backaches, give this auger a try on your next install.

Provide summary and recommendation information
In short, this little auger is one heck of an investment. I haven't purchased Tanaka before, but I now have found my local dealer and will be paying them a visit.

If their other products are built like this, I'm switching. We were all very impressed and one of the guys is asking to borrow it for his personal use already.

This is one piece of equipment with a variety of uses. From plant holes to fence posts to deck posts to tree staking. If you need a hole dug in the 8-10" diameter, the Tanaka auger is the tool to use.

[Tanaka]

From the April 2006 issue of TURF Magazine. Thanks to Bill White from Impact Landscaping.

-MW

[johnap104]

Hello, my name is John and I recently ordered a TLE-600 power edger. I am a homeowner and was looking for a good quality power edger. I looked at many brands of power edgers on the internet. I came across this website by accident and found it to be very helpful in making my decision. Many professional lawn care people suggested the Tanaka edger. Some would say I am crazy to spend the amount I did for homeowner use. I am hoping to try it out next week for the first time. My dealer was excellant. He was very professional and has excellant product knowlege. He has been wanting to sell one of these for some time. He is hoping to use me as a reference if I like the edger. If this edger is what they say it is, I will be back to purchase a straight shaft weed trimmer. I currently use a curved shaft echo weed trimmer and a Stihl blower. Who knows, maybe the blower will need replacing too. It's kind of weird that you guys have been around for more than 20 years and I am just now finding out about you in Western WI. Everything around here is Stihl or Echo. If this edger works well, I will be spreading the word about Tanaka in western WI and SE MN.

[Tanaka]

Wow! That's great!

Who is your dealer?

-MW

[johnap104]

Dan and Jeffs Repair. 405 South 1st. St, Caledoinia, MN 55921

[Tanaka]

Hello, my name is Ron Lavigne. I'm the owner of Ron's Lawncare in Southern Maine. Recently, I had the opportunity to field test a Tanaka THB-2510 hand held blower. I used this blower for about 3 weeks. The test time included the tail-end of my mowing season and continued into fall cleanups. I was pleasantly surprised with the performances of this unit. It worked extremely well for blowing driveways and cleaning out mulch beds.

1. Weight: 10
The unit has a great power to weight ratio. It is lighter than other less powerful hand-held I own.

2. Balance: 9
I found the balance to be good, and it was really comfortable to use.

3. Power: 8
Great power for a hand held unit.

4. Fuel efficiency: 7
Very fuel efficient, also it has a large fuel tank. The only problem I found is the size and angle of the filler neck. With the new gas cans, it's hard to fill without spilling fuel.

5. Ease of starting: 10
This is possibly the best starting 2 stroke engine I've ever had. During some of the cleanups it was cold in the morning. It started on the first or second pull every time. Once started it was ready to use. I didn't have to fiddle with the choke to keep it running.

6. Ease of use: 5
I did have some issues with accessibility to the primer bulb. It's a little tight to get your finger in there. This unit really needs a throttle lock so you don't have to hold the trigger all the time.

7. Noise level: 9
Nice and quiet.

8. Overall reliability: 6
Although I didn't have a major issue, I think the plastic is on the brittle side. I did knock it off the fender of my trailer (about 3' high) and the air filter housing cracked. Also the blower tubes fit together kind of sloppy and they are made of a thinner plastic than I'm used to.

Overall, the THB 2510 is a good blower. There are some unique features on this unit. I personally like the length of the blower tubes, the overall quiet operation, and the ability of the machine to start in run on the coldest of days.

The Tanaka unit feels so natural. The fan tip seems to blow the leaves out of the beds without displacing the mulch.

The THV-200 vacuum attachment was also included in the field test. It works as effectively as any other portable vacuum. It was durable and reduced leaf volume fairly The only drawback with the kit, was the complexity of converting from blower to vacuum requiring the use of tools. Also, the fact that it lacked a trigger lock made it cumbersome to operate.

In conclusion, the blower did such a good job separating leaves form the mulch that the vacuum kit didn't get much use. I wish there was a dealer network in the northeast, because if there was I would be a proud owner of the Tanaka THB 2510 blower.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to test your product, and help make my job easier.
Sincerely,
Ron E. Lavigne

[Tanaka]

NEW! TBC-280 Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter (Available Feb. 2007)
27 cc, 1.4 h.p. Tanaka 2-stroke
12.2 lbs.
5" Tap head
1 yr commercial warranty

Hello my name is PJ Binder and I run PJ BINDER Landscaping Contractor LLC. in southeast Pennsylvania. I have been in the lawn care business for over 15 years and I do full service landscape maintenance.

I ran the trimmer in residential lawns doing normal trimming with a maintenance crew for over a month in hot 90 degree plus weather and in cold 32 degree weather at my own home with flawless performance. I also did some heavier weed clearing with great results.

Rate the following on a scale of 1-10 (10 =outstanding 1=poorest)

1. Weight - 10
Was nice and light - easy to run all day.

2. Balance - 10
Well-balanced. I like the hoop handle - it made edging a snap.

3. Power - 10
Nice power band throughout, however it seemed to vibrate at mid throttle some?

4. Fuel efficiency – 10
It would run for a long time with the big tank.

5. Ease of starting - 10
Fired right up out of the box and keep starting on the first or second pull even when cold.

6. Ease of use - 8
It was easy to show someone how to start it. The starter cord is a little short and the trimmer head is hard to open.

7. Noise level - 9
It was nice and quiet for a 2 stroke machine. I liked the easy access to the spark arrester screen - easy to service, good job on that.

8. Accuracy of cut - 10
I liked the quality of cut I could get at half throttle and full also. And in the tall wet grass it would leave a nice finished cut on the first pass.

9. Safety features - 10
I liked the trimmer guard a lot. I could leave it on and still trim around rocks and poles with ease. The muffler guard is nice, however it was slightly broken in shipping so I wonder how long it would last with a maintenance crew not caring how they smash it up. I also like the lack of the extra operator presence control that Echo has added to their trimmers on the handle.

10. Overall reliability - 10
It never let us down, however I would like to see how it holds up after a year of hard use.

11. Manual instructions - 10
They get to the point and I see it is in many languages for all to use.

The field test is nice, but it is only used for a short amount of time. How are the machines doing after a year of hard use with a maintenance crew? At first I hated the head, (reminded me of the green machine heads I used when I started) being that I was used to the Echo head I had been using for 15 years. I hated the spring and dropped it a bunch of times, but I have gotten the hang of it and it’s ok. It is hard to open to refill.

I like the warm up button on the throttle - it’s nice on the cold mornings. It gets bumped on against my leg. Don’t like that. Button on the other side of trigger would fix that.

The trimmer guard is a real winner. I take them all off the Echo’s, but with the Tanaka guard, I can still trim around rocks and tight spots and have the knife to keep the string cut to length. (Which is nice when a new guy is learning how to trim). I never got any complaints about it.

The starter rope is a little short - I pull it to the end on most starts and I have short arms. The power seems to be plenty and it’s nice and light. I also like that the spark arrester screen is easy to get to and clean when needed. I hate the air filter or should I say lack of one. (Moderator Note: Echo uses a paper style air filter. Tanaka and others use a foam type filter).

I also don’t like the fact you can’t adjust the carburetor. On the Echo’s the Welch plugs can be removed and you can tune the machine to weather conditions and wear so I don’t have to pay the dealer for a service call at 65 bucks an hour to turn a screw. That is the biggest reason that I have not switched to another brand is the fact you can’t adjust the carburetor. Your machine may be different in the long run but I see no adjustment and that worries me. (Moderator Note: Due to E.P.A. emissions regulations, carburetors have not been adjustable since 1997).

I showed your machine to some of my friends in the lawn care industry all of which run Echo and they all liked your machine however some of them have never heard of Tanaka and even asked me if it was some kind of new company. I have heard of your company in the past due to your Edger but have never really given your trimmers a second thought due to lack of marketing or dealers in my area.

I did do a dealer search in my area and found RJ Power and I see suburban in Delaware also sells your machines. I never took notice to your trimmers when I was in their store as they push Echo as do most other dealers I have gone into. I spoke with other contractors in my area and we all buy the same manufacturer of machines - Echo. From saws for the tree crew and trimmers and blowers they all use Echo. I also always buy Echo for over 15 years it’s always been Echo. I really like your trimmer and I see you have many attachments for your split shaft trimmers which compare to the Echo system I have. Your saw lineup is lacking but I see you have a nice looking climbing saw the TCS-3401 and your back pack blowers doesn’t even come close to what the echo’s put out at least form the info printed in there and your brochures real world might be different (Moderator Note: Compare at pipe – not housing).

I have been using hand held power equipment since before it came with any kind of safety equipment like the best thing ever invented the chain brake. And I have seen all the equipment get better and better over the years from ease of use to better noise and air cleanliness ratings however with the cost of some of the new machines out there it is hard to make a choice solely on the look and color of a new machine.

When it comes to buying a new string trimmer for a crew to use it comes down to the cost period, how much will it cost to for a trimmer in the 25cc range because the trimmer only has a life expectancy of a year. The crews smash the heck out of them with the constant in and out of the trimmer racks and being dropped on the ground I know the Echo’s we have been using just don’t hold up so I don’t like spending to much money on a trimmer with such a short life span. That is why I jumped on this field test to see how your machine would do. The main thing I am seeing it is often cheaper sometimes to scrap a machine at least with the Echo’s rather then fix it due to the high cost of parts and labor at the local dealers.

It was a pleasure to run your TBC-280 and a pleasure to deal with Mark Woodling and I would recommend this trimmer to anyone in my industry. I hope to get the chance to see your other equipment in action in the future.

Thank you,
PJ Binder

[Tanaka]

My name is Ryan Randall. I own Accu-cut Lawn Care in Chattanooga, TN. My company operates within two states and seven counties. We service customers ranging from fast food chains, municipal parks, baseball and multi-use complexes, to residential properties. I have been in business for eight years.

Being 6' 3" tall, I was very happy to demo Tanaka's TBC-260PFL extended reach trimmer. Having miles of fence line and ditches to maintain weekly, I found myself having a sore back pretty much all of last year...Not to mention the seven miles of guardrail that my company trims monthly during the cutting season!

The problem was that the short shafts on my Shindaiwa 270 trimmers did not allow me to get into a comfortable position while I was working for extended periods of time. That's where the TBC-260PFL comes into its own.

The 71" shaft allows taller people to be in the perfect trimming position: Back straight, left arm pointing down at 45 degrees, right arm comfortable. I was able to trim the fence lines of eight baseball fields inside-and-out without any difficulty or the usual lower back stiffness. The trimmer's extra length was also very good for keeping the operator clean.

One super-nice feature of this machine was its ditch and hillside trimming ability. I maintain one park that has a three-to-six foot ditch that is one mile long. I did half of it with the 260PFL...piece of cake. The other half was done with a Shindaiwa 270. Wow, I wanted to put that Shindy back on the rack after about 1 minute!

I think that Tanaka's entry will benefit short and tall people alike for this kind of duty! The 25 cc PureFire engine performed flawlessly during my 30 hours of demonstration.

Operators can expect about two hours of use on a tank of gas. The engine stayed nice and cool which was good because the design of the machine puts the operator's right forearm on top of the engine cover in some situations.

Starting the machine was easy and predictable. Cold, two pulls and you are off to the races. The only downside to this machine I could find was the balance point. The extended length of the shaft brings the center of gravity to the loop handle. I think it would be a little better to operate if the cg was closer to the throttle.

But that is just user preference. All-in-all, I think the Tanaka TBC-260PFL is a great machine that would benefit ANY operator. I plan on buying a couple of them!

[Tanaka]

1. Briefly introduce yourself and your company.

My Name is David Precht & I’m the owner of Frontier Lawn & Landscape, we’re located in Venice, FL. Our company services Florida residential & commercial properties from Nokomis to Rotonda. My company was formed in late 2003, and it has been busier each year since. We now provide a wide range of services to our customers including lawn care, hedge trimming, fertilizing, pressure washing, and we sub-out pest control.

2. Describe the test environments and the number of hours you used the product in each environment.

We tested the Tanaka HTD-2530PF hedge trimmer which features 30” double-sided, dual reciprocating blades. We used the HTD-2530PF on various residential & commercial properties in different beds and hedges. In two weeks, we have used it a total of 15 hours (Residential properties 6 hours & commercial properties 9 hours).

3. Rate the following on a scale of 1-10, (10 = Outstanding, 1 = poorest):

Weight - 9
Balance - 9
Power - 10
Fuel efficiency - 9
Ease of starting - 9
Ease of use - 10
Noise level - 10
Accuracy of cut - 10
Safety features - 10
Overall reliability - 10
Manual / instructions - 4

4. Compare the unit against other brands you have used.

We currently use the Echo HC-160. The Tanaka is easier to start cold, and to restart hot. It is a very smooth pull, with less effort required than on the Echo.

The Tanaka beat the Echo hands down, but the Tanaka (11.2 oz) has slightly less fuel capacity than the Echo (16.9 oz). The Tanaka is a nice design overall, but it could use a larger fuel tank so that you can work more with less fuel fill-ups. It otherwise performed flawlessly.

The balance was about as good as could be expected for 30” blades. The fuel efficiency was good, for the fuel tank capacity of 11.2 oz. I would also like to see a clearer fuel tank, it is very difficult to see the level of fuel in the tank (Note: All Tanaka fuel tanks are now see-through).

5. Provide summary and recommendation information.

This is definitely a great hedge trimmer. Its longer length is for everyone who needs to get the job done faster with fewer hours on the job. The longer length was no problem while transporting, and fit securely on existing racks. The longer length gets the job down a little faster then with a 24” blade.

There is plenty of power for normal everyday growth, and even enough grunt for overgrowth and mini-trees. The manual is overburdened with different languages all printed side by side. It really needs to be separated into different sections, one for each language. A lot of time is lost searching for ‘your’ language. (Note: This problem has been corrected).

Overall this is a great trimmer, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who needs a larger hedge trimmer.

6. Other comments

I would buy 3-4 of these if I had the need for more then 1 hedge trimmer. When I tried looking for a new hedge trimmer for a future purchase to freshen up my equipment I came across Tanaka’s post for field testing the HTD-2530PF. No other local dealer would let any type of handheld equipment out for field testing. The speed at which Tanaka developed a workable solution to my problem was amazing. My helper and I are truly thankful for the team over at Tanaka that made this happen as fast as it did.

Treating potential customers like this goes towards great customer satisfaction, and surely will earn them repeat business.

Thanks of the Field Test,
Frontier Lawn & Landscape
David Precht- Owner
www.frontierlawn.biz

[Tanaka]

By Kate Butler
Labour of Love Landscaping
Glover, Vermont

Wowie-zowie, this is one ZIPPY piece of equipment!! But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. First the intro …..
I’m a small (5 person) design/build/maintain firm specializing in perennial plantings. We do it all, including stone work and other sorts of terraforming, but perennials are my first love. Being Zone 3A in Northeastern Vermont (we call it the Northeast Kingdom) means that it’s possible have snow and/or frozen ground anytime from late September to late April. Generally, we begin client work in mid-May and wrap up for the season by mid-November. It makes for an intense plus or minus 6 months and, after 20 plus years if it, one learns to REALLY appreciate those tools and techniques that allow work to be accomplished more quickly and efficiently.

To that end I was very much looking forward to giving the Tanaka TED-262DH dual handle bulb planter a ‘test drive’. Now it’s time: wowie-zowie, this is one ZIPPY piece of equipment. I’ve got to tell you – I could not believe how quick this machine is. I’ve used drill-type planters with a HD ½” drill. Worked just fine, but dragging that 100’ cord around (to say nothing of the voltage drop) just wasn’t all that fast. The same planting using the Tanaka 262-DH took (literally) ½ the time. The comparison was 1 bushel of daffodils planted with an electric drill and another bushel of daffs planted with the Tanaka-262. The remaining bushels were planted with the Tanaka. It was a no-brainer.

Then I tried digging in some really difficult soils – stony, clay, compacted road gravel. We have lots of underground stone in this part of the country; ranging from pebbles to boulders. There are also areas of pure clay that are incredibly dense. Shovel digging is (putting it in clean language) challenging. This unit powered through everything I tried it on. Occasionally there were problems backing it out (sometimes the auger would hang up on a large root). I never could locate the locking switch that (when engaged) was supposed to make it possible to “unwind” the unit out of any hole. Wherever that switch is, it needs to be better marked on the machine. The instruction manual clearly shows it, but I couldn’t find it. I would be willing to pay extra for ‘reverse’ rather than spending time manually backing out of a hole. (Moderator’s Note: The DH drill does not have a reversing lever. Only the TED-262R does.)

While considering soil types, we did a lot of dividing and lining out of daylilies hemerocallis) in the most dreadful of clay. This ‘soil’ is the sort that a person could throw pots from. The digging is hard work and breaking up of the clods to backfill any planting is equally hard work. Spell that s – l – o - w. We used the bulb planter to first dig the hole straight down, then, with a bit of side-to-side action, enlarged the hole enough to accommodate what would normally go into a 7” diameter pot (nursery 400). Backfilling was a breezed because the auger brought up small clumps of clay instead of the clipboard-sized clumps dug with a shovel.

Every 10 holes took less than a minute to dig and approximately 4 minutes to divide and plant. We were doing this with 4 people: one to dig the ‘parent’ clump, one to divide that clump, one to dig the holes, and one to plant ‘em. 10 plants in the ground in less than 5 minutes from a single HUGE clump is plenty fast work. We lined out over 1000 daylilies in this fashion. My daylily field has never looked so good.

The machine is very well-balanced and, because of this, really easy to start. A quick couple of pushes on the primer bulb, choke open, and it started EVERY time on the first or second pull. Because of its clutch it can be started standing up and in place – wherever you want to use it. The auger won’t begin to turn until the trigger is engaged - no bending, no drop starting. Yes-ssss!!!

I found the choke lever to be inconvenient – it’s in an easy-to-see spot, but (more than once – I know, my bad) I managed to snag my thumb on it when pulling the starter cord. Repositioning it ¼ turn to the right on the housing would make this a non-issue.

While on he subject of ergonomics, I would like to say that, for me (personally) the handles were well-proportioned. I think that someone with larger hands might not agree – particularly while wearing gloves. And gloves are a necessity – forget all the PC about PPE – one NEEDS gloves to keep knuckles unscorched.

The biggest problem that I had was not being able to keep the auger tight enough in the chuck. I would’ve preferred a chuck key with more leveraging ability. My hands are plenty strong, but I had problems tightening the chuck key enough to keep the auger from pulling out (in a hole) or falling out (between holes).

For me, the most useful auger size was the 3” x 24”. I can see where the available shorter augers could be especially useful for plantings in terraced areas where you would stand on a lower level to dig and plant the level above. The shorter ones could also be useful to be able to dig to specific depths. Taller folks might prefer an even longer shaft to keep from doing so much bending.

I can see this rig being amazingly useful to plant young trees (grown in those tubular bags). I was also able to plant much larger stock by digging 3 or 4 contiguous holes a bit deeper than necessary. Even with digging multiple holes, it was still faster than shovel planting – particularly in the clay. OK, it weighs more than a shovel, but it’s actually easier to use in many instances. Especially in soils where the shovel-dug earth comes out in huge clumps, the smaller pieces dug by the 262-DH cut backfilling time by more than half.

I really liked this unit: it’s useful for so much more than just bulbs. I planted a few thousand bulbs with it, a thousand 4”- 6” hemerocallis, and an assortment of other, larger stock. It was up to every task I set it to. Bravo, Tanaka, you have a keeper.

Thanks Kate - Nice Job!
-MW

[Tanaka]

Wow! We just hit 20,000 views for the Field-to-Forum Reviews. Thanks to all the ls.com reviewers who took the time to write such thorough and honest reviews.

Let me know how we can improve these field tests and/or what products you would like to see reviewed next.

-MW

[TwoAlaskans]

Thank you for providing this review info. It was helpful. We have a larger Stihl trimmer and are now in the market for a lighter weight trimmer that is easy to start. What's your best recommendation considering these features? I had first become interested in your products after reading the reviews on Amazon.com for your TBC-225 which were overwhelming positive (unusual for this type of equipment as it seems everyone has something to complain about).

Also, we live in Montague, CA which is just below the Oregon border. Where would our nearest dealer be?

Thanks!

[MarthaT]

I have learned so much because of the reviews, thanks!

[Tanaka]

Thank you for providing this review info. It was helpful. We have a larger Stihl trimmer and are now in the market for a lighter weight trimmer that is easy to start. What's your best recommendation considering these features? I had first become interested in your products after reading the reviews on Amazon.com for your TBC-225 which were overwhelming positive (unusual for this type of equipment as it seems everyone has something to complain about).

Also, we live in Montague, CA which is just below the Oregon border. Where would our nearest dealer be?

Thanks!

Hi-
I would recommend the Tanaka TBC-280PF (27cc). To locate your nearest dealer, go to tanakapowerequipment.com and click on Dealer Locator.

Thanks for your support.

-MW

[mshane]

Product reviews typically include a variety of insights onto how the product is used, how effective it is, as well as high and low points of the form and function.
product reviews on line (http://stanseproductreview.eproduct-review.com)

[dboyd351]

Thank you for providing this review info. It was helpful. We have a larger Stihl trimmer and are now in the market for a lighter weight trimmer that is easy to start. What's your best recommendation considering these features? I had first become interested in your products after reading the reviews on Amazon.com for your TBC-225 which were overwhelming positive (unusual for this type of equipment as it seems everyone has something to complain about).

Also, we live in Montague, CA which is just below the Oregon border. Where would our nearest dealer be?

Thanks!

Two Alaskans, I recently bought the Tanaka TCG22EASSLP. It is only 21cc, but it is plenty powerful for my needs. It starts easily, is VERY lightweight, well balenced, and is a joy to use. You can read the rave reviews it gets on Amazon.com, too. Finally, it is a very good deal at $190 on Amazon. It is supposed to come with a $40 rebate, too, but I've been waiting since September for my rebate to come in!!!:(:(