I hate pruning shrubs ! So what hedge trimmer should I get

[Dan1944]

I find my self in need of a professional hedge trimmer, due to increasing requests from my customers. I need something that will do a good job in the least amount of time. I am looking at a Sthil HS 80 with a 30" blade or an Echo HC 180. I have both Sthil and Echo equipment and like them both. My nearest dealers (important to me) are Sthil (1 mile) and Echo (10 miles). My Sthil dealer is top notch and will bend over backward to make it right for his customers. Gee maybe I answered my own question ?. Well any way, what are your suggestions and or comments.

[mtdman]

That stihl is pretty damned heavy though, and a pain in the butt for higher stuff. Some guys here recommend getting the stihl attachment for the fs85 weed wacker for hedge trimming for higher and overhead stuff.

Me, I am considering going back to electric trimmers because of the weight issue. I dunno.

:D

[GLAN]

Redmax


Any of them sell Redmax?

[Turfdude]

Redmax are fairly heavier than others, but they are by far the best IMHO!!

[bobbygedd]

i have the redmax wacker with all the attachments. they do a great job, i can make a boxwood look like donald duck in like 28 minutes. they are very heavy though

[Mike Bradbury]

and have him/her show you how to prune! And how to know WHICH plants to use hedge trimmers on, and which to NOT use hedge trimmers on.
Then worry about which hedge trimmer to buy.

[xpnd]

In addition to what Mike said, always charge enough to have a smile on your face on jobs you dislike. Remember if the job is easy or the equipment is cheap to make the job easy, the clients would be doing it themselves. Shrubs are hard work, do not sell that portion of your service as a loss leader just to get the account.

[GLAN]

Originally posted by Mike Bradbury
and have him/her show you how to prune! And how to know WHICH plants to use hedge trimmers on, and which to NOT use hedge trimmers on.
Then worry about which hedge trimmer to buy.


Mike

that's true, however. Any tool in the hands of skilled professionals will do.

Ourselves, we use power hedge trimmers for everything. Speed is critical. I can't trim spirals or pom-poms with one of those big and scissors. Seen people do it, much more time is needed and in the end both of ours look the same.

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally posted by GLAN
Mike

that's true, however. Any tool in the hands of skilled professionals will do.

NOT

Ourselves, we use power hedge trimmers for everything. Speed is critical. I can't trim spirals or pom-poms with one of those big and scissors. Seen people do it, much more time is needed and in the end both of ours look the same.

BS

Not to slam you personally but if you REALLY think you can prune everything with trimmers and look the same - you haven't got a clue.

[GLAN]

Originally posted by Mike Bradbury
BS

Not to slam you personally but if you REALLY think you can prune everything with trimmers and look the same - you haven't got a clue.


Now I see what happens in here. It's the litteral word. Now I understand I have to be more carefull.

We do prune everything with power clippers.
There are some exceptions where selectively prunning with hand clippers is necessary. Do you need examples?

We are not doing pom-poms or spirals by hand...............don't have that kind of time to waste. Yes, doing them with power clippers or by hand they look the same.

If you think otherwise, how is that?
Is not the end result that both methods are going for?
Why spend the extra time by hand?

[QuadRacer041]

Originally posted by mtdmaster
That stihl is pretty damned heavy though, and a pain in the butt for higher stuff. Some guys here recommend getting the stihl attachment for the fs85 weed wacker for hedge trimming for higher and overhead stuff.

Me, I am considering going back to electric trimmers because of the weight issue. I dunno.

:D

i have 2 little wonders that are rea new for sale.
1 double sided and 1 sigle sided.
let me know if your inrested, i can get pics.
i switch over to stihl gas hedge trimmers, and i love em.

[QuadRacer041]

the little wonder on the left as well as another not pictured are for sale.

[Dan1944]

Well I made my decision today, I compared both the Sthil and the Echo trimmers in person and got the Sthil HS 80 with 30" blade, just did my first hedge with it. Wow, it was like my first ride and cut in my Hustler Z after a Cub LT. I'm 6' 4" and weigh in at 235 lb. The Sthil actually feels lite weight to me. maybe I will change my mind about hedge trimming now. I called a customer who was after me to trim a 100 ft long Viburnum 6 ' hedge. It is scheduled for Monday and will pay for 1/4 the cost of my trimmer and break it in to boot!.