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Petr51488
03-10-2009, 12:04 AM
After buying my extended pole hedge trimmer a few years back from stihl i've noticed that its very tough to get a nicely sculpted shrub. After reading on the stihl website i noticed that the pole hedge trimmers are made for heavy pruning and "rejuvination", which means thick shrubs. I've used it for everything and worked great, except when i go to do small, nice shrubs. I looked at the non pole ones and noticed that they make two models.

"For increased blade speed specially designed for trimming applications, go with the "T" model. For heavy pruning and rejuvenation, the "R" model is right for you."

Has anyone had both the extended pole trimmers and the regular ones? I really hope if i do buy one they'll cut like some of the nice shrubs i've seen around here. All the shrubs i cut people tell me they look great but i think otherwise. Their not crisp and smooth. One guy around here uses an extended on like mine, but echo and does fantastic work. Anyone?
White Gardens
03-10-2009, 02:02 AM
I've got the R attachment and I can get an excellent cut only when the blades are fairly new, and after one sharpening.

With evergreens, I have to use a rake or leaf blower to lift the straglers back up and clip them off again to get that perfect cut.

Otherwise I have no problems with my woody shrubs.
topsites
03-10-2009, 04:24 AM
I only use the attachment or extended reach trimmers when it's a bush I can't reach all around with the regular trimmers,
I don't think those things are made for constant or long-term trimming even thou you can use it that way.

But if you want maneuverability, which is what you need for figure sculpting, then extended reach
and larger trimmers are not the answer because they are too heavy, the problem is weight.

I use the HS-45, and as much as I thought that puny homeowner's model wouldn't last but so long,
I bought mine something like 7 years ago and it was then and still is today my main hedge trimming machine.
I think I paid 240 for it, not sure what they cost today but that was some of the better money spent.
2brothersyardcare
03-10-2009, 08:50 AM
i bought a hs-45 in the fall used a few times but i whanted to get it. i paid 309 but that was with tax i think. plush the thing is awsome
G.A.Palmer
03-10-2009, 08:56 AM
Those extended pole trimmers are more of a luxury tool. I use a redmax ht2200 model w/22'' double sided blades and they work good for me...if you keep the blades sharp you can tighten up any shrub to your desired shape. I think I am gonna buy a pair of stihl's to see how they do...if you cant get the shrub to look like u want it to w/the pole trimmers...grab a ladder and do it w/your hand held trimmers. good luck
ProTouch Groundscapes
03-10-2009, 09:43 AM
my hs45 has the "T" designated bar and all the shrub work ive done looks pretty good, i dont do sculpting b/c no one around here would want to pay for such a thing, or more likely they would expect it for the same price as a basic trim.
Petr51488
03-10-2009, 10:36 AM
my hs45 has the "T" designated bar and all the shrub work ive done looks pretty good, i dont do sculpting b/c no one around here would want to pay for such a thing, or more likely they would expect it for the same price as a basic trim.

When i say sculpting i dont mean a mickey mouse shrub but rather a tall pointed, or even square evergreen. the 81t and the 86t are roughly the same price but one has a single sided blade. IS there a difference between the two?
topsites
03-10-2009, 12:45 PM
When i say sculpting i dont mean a mickey mouse shrub but rather a tall pointed, or even square evergreen. the 81t and the 86t are roughly the same price but one has a single sided blade. IS there a difference between the two?

I don't do that kind of fancy sculpting either, thou I did think you had wanted to.
But even to get it just round or square I use the HS-45...
I can do it with the attachment on my FS-85 trimmer but it's awful heavy and it wears me out in short time,
so I only use that when I can't reach it with the regular machine and I don't feel like pulling the ladder (as much
if not more so because I didn't bring it with me LOL).

But definitely a two-sided blade, so you can use the trimmer coming and going
and upside down but basically whichever way, that makes life a whole lot easier.
Petr51488
03-10-2009, 02:33 PM
I don't do that kind of fancy sculpting either, thou I did think you had wanted to.
But even to get it just round or square I use the HS-45...
I can do it with the attachment on my FS-85 trimmer but it's awful heavy and it wears me out in short time,
so I only use that when I can't reach it with the regular machine and I don't feel like pulling the ladder (as much
if not more so because I didn't bring it with me LOL).

But definitely a two-sided blade, so you can use the trimmer coming and going
and upside down but basically whichever way, that makes life a whole lot easier.

Thanks, i didn't know if the single sided blade maybe gave it a better cut because it specifically said sculpting on the hs86t. I think i might buy one. The pole trimmer i'll use for the rough cut stuff that i use it alot for, and this handheld for the more better looking shrubs that have been cut every year. I get alot of jobs for heavy hedge trimmings and then use the same tool on the nice shrubs and i think that affects it.
Please_Be_Green
03-10-2009, 02:39 PM
When i say sculpting i dont mean a mickey mouse shrub but rather a tall pointed, or even square evergreen. the 81t and the 86t are roughly the same price but one has a single sided blade. IS there a difference between the two?

I've only got a crappy hundred year old electric trimmer to compare it too.. but I picked up and trimmed with an 81T this weekend.. and boy did I have fun using that sucker. Easily cut through 1/4" and made the job effortless...
Granted I plopped down $512 for that sucker though it should of done the job by itself, but I'll never again dread trimming.
Petr51488
03-10-2009, 02:48 PM
I've only got a crappy hundred year old electric trimmer to compare it too.. but I picked up and trimmed with an 81T this weekend.. and boy did I have fun using that sucker. Easily cut through 1/4" and made the job effortless...
Granted I plopped down $512 for that sucker though it should of done the job by itself, but I'll never again dread trimming.

Hah, i remember back in the day when i used an electric hedge trimmer with a generator lol. Oh the days... Anyways, i don't mind spending the money if i know it will give me the results i want. I use my pole hedge trimmers for everything. It's made me ALOT of money.
Please_Be_Green
03-10-2009, 02:56 PM
Anyways, i don't mind spending the money if i know it will give me the results i want.

I'm the same way... I'll spend the money if it's going to save me time & aggravation.. but I have to wonder sometimes why the hell I don't just hire someone with all the money I spend... I figure I'll break even in about 10 years;-) ... however, I'll be 10 years older and won't want to do it any longer and then have to hire someone anyway. I do enjoy doing my own work and being the "most talked about lawn on the block".
Petr51488
03-11-2009, 11:14 PM
Anyone else?
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