On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.

I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

I have the slightly longer cut one. If a branch will fit into the nip it
will cut through it - no question. I have never found a satisfactory
battery powered one (although I have burnt out a couple belonging to
relatives when cutting their hedges with supplied tools).

These days I bring my own. Nothing will stop a Bosch hedgetrimmer unless
you try to cut through steel rebar or wrought iron gates by accident.

I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
now-rapidly declining body.

Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
power of the one I have.

They can match the power give or take but only for at most 15 minutes
before recharge. Older ones the battery dies over winter. If you
recharge them whilst the battery is still mad hot then you seriously
shorten battery life (advice which came with the third party replacement
battery for our Dyson vacuum cleaner and they seem to be right - their
replacement battery has lasted much better than the OEM one).

You can expect to do 15 minutes hard work with it every 2 hours or so.
For me a mains powered one wins hands down every time provided that you
are disciplined about where the trailing flex goes and have mains.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown