Gas vs Electric vs Cordless Power Hedge Trimmers
How to Choose the Best From Black & Decker, Stihl, Ryobi, Echo etc
Apr 19, 2009
Any proud homeowner with garden hedges needs a good hedge trimmer. Unlike manual shears, the low-effort cutting power of hedge trimmers makes it easy to trim evenly flat borders.
Popular brands include Black & Decker, Stihl, Ryobi, Echo, Groom, Homelite, Little Wonder, Poulan, Makita, Husqvarna, McCulloch and Bosch.
Hedge Trimmer Performance and Features
Hedge trimmers are specified by the length of their cutting bar. Cutting bar lengths range from 16 to 30 inches. Short trimmers are more maneuverable in tight corners. Long trimmers cut more quickly. A good compromise length is 20 to 24 inches.
Manufacturers claim anything from 3/8 to 3/4 inches as the maximum branch thickness that can be cut, with 1/2 inches being average. Actual performance depends on the hardness of the branches. Hard, wooden branches will be more difficult to cut compared to new green branches. Moving the hedge trimmer slowly gives it a better chance to cut thick branches.
Blades are normally carbon (non stainless) steel and should be kept oiled according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent rust. Some manufacturers offer stainless steel or titanium coated blades but this is rare.
Some trimmers require one or two trigger buttons to be pressed to keep the trimmer running. A lock-on button (always on) allows easier operation but is less safe.
Pole Trimmers
Pole trimmers are hedge trimmers that are attached to a short pole. This allows a longer reach but the leverage of the weight of the trimmer at the end of the pole makes it heavy. Pole trimmers are therefore suitable only for the strong.
Corded Electric Hedge Trimmers
Electric hedge trimmers are light and powerful, weighing from 5 to 10 pounds. For 120 volt versions, the current drawn ranges from 3 to 5 amps. This is well within the capacity of household electrical supplies and should not cause the circuit breaker to trip.
Advantages
- Light.
- Powerful.
- Cheap.
Disadvantages
- Power cord is inconvenient and limits deployment range.
- Accidentally cutting the power cord is a real possibility.
Cordless Hedge Trimmers
Cordless (rechargeable battery) trimmers are slightly less powerful than corded trimmers, and slightly heavier as well.
A more serious disadvantage is the limited run time, typically 30 to 60 minutes.
Advantage
- Convenient. No clumsy power cord.
Disadvantages
- Less powerful.
- Limited run time.
- Batteries are expensive and need to be replaced every few years.
Gas Hedge Trimmers
Advantages
- Powerful.
- Convenient. No clumsy power cord.
Disadvantages.
- Heavy, typically 10 to 12 pounds.
- Loud.
- High vibration can hurt hands after prolonged use.
- Can be difficult to start.
- Engine requires more maintenance.
The Best Hedge Trimmer
Choosing a hedge trimmer is a matter of balancing power, weight, cost and convenience. For homeowners who cannot decide, a corded electric hedge trimmer is a safe choice for the typical small suburban garden.
One alternative is to use an automotive jump-starter battery pack (with an inverter) to power a corded hedge trimmer. The battery pack should be checked to see if it can deliver the required watts.
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