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hedge trimmer attachement versus gas hedge trimmer

17 years ago

I hate my BD hedgehog.

Want something that cuts bigger stuff and that doesn't have the cord hassle.

I have a craftsman 25cc string trimmer that takes attachments. Should i try an expand-it hedge attachement for it ($69) or shoudl I buy a weedeater 25cc gas trimmer for $139

Any suggestions?

I could use the extra reach of the attachemtn for the high stuff, but want somthing that cuts thicker stuff. Either would cut thicker branches than the electric, right?

-Ben

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Comments (4)

bambooo
17 years ago
I don't think you will find either choice to be adequate.
Look at Stihl, Tanaka, Red max for gas
Little wonder or AEG for electric
Or take lopping shears and remove the thicker woody parts and then use your hedge shears to remove the green soft parts.
adkinsca
17 years ago
I agree with bambooo here. If one of your main complaints against the electric trimmers you have is the diameter of branches it will cut, you would be disappointed with the low-end gas models.

I am not sure how the expand-it hedge trimmer attachment works, but to cut the thicker branches, you want to make sure that you have dual action cutting on the blades. The weedeater that you mentioned has one fixed blade, and one moving blade. This will limit the cutting thickness to a maximum of about 3/8". In other words, the Weedeater gas models will cut the same diameter branches that your current hedge-hogs will.

If you want the larger capacity, check out Echo, Tanaka, Stihl, Shindaiwa, etc. gas models. These models will however begin at around $250.

For what it is worth, I have a set of Homelite HT-22 (3/8" capacity variety) gas hedge trimmers. I really like the hand-held gas type for the ease of use and no electric cord. The 3/8" capacity is adequate for my use. The major down-side to the gas trimmers is they are significantly heavier than a set of electrics. Good luck.
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I have the older version of the Echo you're considering, and I can vouch for it. As with string trimmers, I think any of the good commercial-grade brands will satisfy you. OTOH, I started out homeowner life with a Craftsman (not sure what brand it really was) that was much cheaper, and it just plain sucked. The blades wouldn't open up enough to let leaves in, so anything with bigger leaves than a Boxwood wouldn't cut well at all. I'd say whichever feels best as you hold it and lift it to shoulder height would likely be your best bet. In a hedge trimmer, I would agree with weed_cutter that lighter is a big benefit.
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I don't know exactly the plant you want to trim. I do have a lot of Japanese Boxwood and both my small Echo HC151 and My short reach articulate hedge trimmer by Shindaiwa work just fine. Hedge trimmer are not very fast, it is not like hot knife going through butter!!! I find electric trimmer not that bad, just the cord you have to drag around. In fact I use a small Craftsman battery little trimmer to do final touch up. So I really don't know your expectation. Don't be fool if you look at some people hedging through a scrubs like butter, all depend on the kind of plant. YOu can make any hedge trimmer look good if you trim Cypress because it is thin and soft. If you trim plants with thick branches, it is going to take time. I know because the two I have is of top quality. Do you spray Fluid Film on the blades before trimming? This clean all the sipping off. I learn a big leason. Those stuff built up on the blade in just one or two cuts. It stuck between the blades and make the hedge trimmer cut really really bad. I almost dump my Echo away because of that. If you see any deposit on the side of the blade between the two blades, you need to clean it. Scrapping is not the answer. I use Fluid Film, others even have luck with WD-40. I stay with Fluid Film. You'll notice the blades get totally clean after 2 or 3 times spray and use.
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Either brand you list is fine for occasional use. We would all love to own a Stihl, etc., but the cost sometimes outweighs the benefit. Back to your question. I purchased the Weedeater because it is much lighter than the Troy-bilt, and as you stated the differences were few. I also liked saving $40. (Not to mention the almost $300 price for Stihl's smallest machine.) The Weedeater will be used for my companies maintenace jobs, and since I forsee having about 10 of those this year compared to over 200 design/build jobs. I decided to save on the trimmer, and invest in more install tools. I also trust weedeater, because I have one of their string-trimmers at home, and it has worked without problems for 5 years.
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Stihl, Echo and Redmax all make articulating extended reach hedge trimmers, some with a shaft as long as 59". They're all excellent brands. I imagine any of them would work well for you. I've got several Stihl products I'm happy with, but Echo has a good rep and has a 5 year warranty. Redmax is probably the most expensive of the three. I was sitting at a Jiffy Rip the other day eating a snack in my truck and was watching a landscaper trim the hedges along the road. He had an articulating Redmax. He was zipping through those hedges at a pretty fast clip. I caught him walking back to his truck on my way out and asked how he liked the Redmax hedge trimmers. He said they were the best ones he'd used. That's just what one guy told me, and I have no personal experience with gas trimmers of any kind, so take that for what its worth.
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hydroharold
17 years ago
I hate my BD HedgeHog also but for a different reason. I cannot keep the extension cord plugged into the "socket" on the tool. Cheap SOB's left off the pigtail and the vibration works the plug out... but I digress...

I used to have the hedge trimmer attachment for my Ryobi for doing forsythia. It worked adequately but I found it bulky to use for any period of time. It did cut well but when it got some 3/8" woody branches it wimped out... That's when I bought the BD... I have to work off a ladder and I can "one hand" the BD so I guess it's duct tape and a bungee until I find a better designed replacement. I don't worry so much about cords, I work off my generator in the tractor cart, but creeping well into geezerhood I worry more about weight held out at arms length! :)>
jimtnc
17 years ago
LOL, "geezerhood". Well I'm not creeping into geezerhood, I have arrived! I've been looking at these different makes also, and I think I'm going with the Echo SRM211sp
trimmer w/saw attachment, unless someone can talk me out of it (other than my wife, of course).

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