My battery powered hedge trimmer (Ameican Gardener) crapped out on me yesterday; it got jammed on a holly branch and the motor burned out.

Is there such a thing as a commercial strength/quality battery powered trimmer? I have the attachment for my Echo PAS 260, but it's too long for many of the areas I work. The nice thing about the battery power unit is how quiet and light it is, downside is that it just doesn't have the strength for bigger shrubs (its fine on a boxwood, but the hollies can tie it up).

My gut says I'll probably go with a gas powered unit unless someone can point me to a really strong battery driven one. Any preferences? Ideally I need one strong enough to cut down the shrub roses in the spring (I've been using the Echo attachment for that as the battery powered unit couldn't come close to cutting the 1/2 to 3/4 inch stems).

I believe Stihl makes one and is suppose to be pretty good. I have the Stihl HS45 gas powered one and it does quite well for what I need done.

Stihl makes a number of hedge trimmers including one 18V and two corded electric. I personally like Stihl products, but have never used their short trimmers. I do have one of their longer pole trimmers with a reticulating head that I like. Link to their trimmers: http://www.stihlusa.com/hedgetrimmers/hedgetrimmer.html

Personally, I have never really been happy with any electric trimmers. They never seem to have enough power to do what I want. If you can afford it and don't mind the slight extra hassle, I would go with gas powered.

bernstem wrote:Stihl makes a number of hedge trimmers including one 18V and two corded electric. I personally like Stihl products, but have never used their short trimmers. I do have one of their longer pole trimmers with a reticulating head that I like. Link to their trimmers: http://www.stihlusa.com/hedgetrimmers/hedgetrimmer.html

Personally, I have never really been happy with any electric trimmers. They never seem to have enough power to do what I want. If you can afford it and don't mind the slight extra hassle, I would go with gas powered.

I'm going to check them out, the 18v model is tempting. Its nice to be able to drop the battery in and go, I've got to believe a Stihl professional rated product is going to be a lot tougher than the POS American Gardener one I had.

bernstem wrote:Stihl makes a number of hedge trimmers including one 18V and two corded electric. I personally like Stihl products, but have never used their short trimmers. I do have one of their longer pole trimmers with a reticulating head that I like. Link to their trimmers: http://www.stihlusa.com/hedgetrimmers/hedgetrimmer.html

Personally, I have never really been happy with any electric trimmers. They never seem to have enough power to do what I want. If you can afford it and don't mind the slight extra hassle, I would go with gas powered.

I was just looking at the trimmers again. Seems the cordless trimmer is 36V.

bernstem wrote:

bernstem wrote:Stihl makes a number of hedge trimmers including one 18V and two corded electric. I personally like Stihl products, but have never used their short trimmers. I do have one of their longer pole trimmers with a reticulating head that I like. Link to their trimmers: http://www.stihlusa.com/hedgetrimmers/hedgetrimmer.html

Personally, I have never really been happy with any electric trimmers. They never seem to have enough power to do what I want. If you can afford it and don't mind the slight extra hassle, I would go with gas powered.

I was just looking at the trimmers again. Seems the cordless trimmer is 36V.

Yep.

I spoke to my Stihl dealer, he said their cordless 36v trimmer is truly a game changer and works as well as the gas models, he said it is built for the professional user. The problem is the cost, the charger between $50 and 90 (slow vs. fast) and the batteries are anywhere from $130 to nearly $200. The trimmer itself is about $300, roughly the same as a gas model. The powerpacks can be used with Stihl's other tools, so if you go for all their cordless stuff then the cost isn't that bad.

He said he's only sold 2 as its very new. Both to homeowners and he said they are very pleased. I'm not sure I want to drop $500 for something for the cordless/battery aspect when I get a gas unit for around $300.

Depending on how often you need to use it {2x a season?} I would look into the possibility of renting a gas one instead of buying

HanLawn wrote:Depending on how often you need to use it {2x a season?} I would look into the possibility of renting a gas one instead of buying

I use it a lot more than that. At least 1x a month, and at the beginning of the season I'm using it for many hours/days on the close to 50 shrub roses and everything else. I've got more than twice as much sq. footage devoted to beds than lawn.

sounds like a purchase of a gas model makes sense under those conditions!

HanLawn wrote:sounds like a purchase of a gas model makes sense under those conditions!

That's what I'm leaning towards as I would probably want/need another battery pack. My Echo Trimmer attachment is too unwieldy for close-in work on the PAS.

I have the Echo HC150 gas hedge trimmer. It has plenty of power,but it is heavy,when working overhead.Even for a young beer drinker like myself!

http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Hedge-Trimmers/HC-150

I got the Stihl (forget the model, its in the garage). As KOG said, the gas ones are a bit heavy The Stihl battery one looked awesome but I couldn't justify that kind of $$. I'll be using it again this weekend and may use it this fall for perennial cutdown work.

simpson wrote:Gas one?

[ Post made via Android ]

Yes.

I think its this one:

Click here for more information

simpson wrote:Have you used it yet? I have seen good reviews on the black and decker battery ones. Ryobi has one at home depot as well. I have a gift card so I am going to get the battery one on the echo. All the reviews said the echo made top choice of fas trimmers even beat the sthil (that I can't believe )

[ Post made via Android ]

If you can get some good power/quality with the battery I would go for it. I have to cut back what seems like a hundred shrub roses in the early spring and need power.

I have used B&D products before and have a trimmer / edger that works good. The batteries are interchangeable on their other products (18 volt). I also have a trimmer that uses a lithium ion battery. That one seems to hold a charge longer.

I guess if you have black and decker products you can reason that it is just more batteries compatible with other products so it is a factor to consider.
Click here for more information
this was a lithium ion powered one that I was looking at fyi.