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Another John 29-04-2021 11:10 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
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 130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

John

Chris Green 29-04-2021 11:36 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In uk.d-i-y Another John wrote:

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.

Are cordless *really* lighter? In theory they should be heavier
because you're carrying the power supply around as well as the motor.

--
Chris Green
·

Richard[_9_] 30-04-2021 07:01 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
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'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.


Fix the rapidly declining body by ditching the gadgetry and use hedge
clippers. Great exercise for upper body.

;)

alan_m 30-04-2021 07:42 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 29/04/2021 22:36, Chris Green wrote:
In uk.d-i-y Another John wrote:

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.

Are cordless *really* lighter? In theory they should be heavier
because you're carrying the power supply around as well as the motor.


+1
For the same power and ability to cut the machine would weigh the same,
and then add the battery.

Perhaps lifting the trailing cord at the back of a corded machine makes
it unbalanced and the operator has to use more energy to level it off in
order to cut. Clipping the cord to clothing and having some slack in the
cord between the operator and clipper may make it seem less heavy.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Brian Gaff \(Sofa\) 30-04-2021 08:54 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
How would cordless be lighter? Surely it has batteries to wield as well as
the mechanism.
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Another John" wrote in message
...
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 130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

John




Brian Gaff \(Sofa\) 30-04-2021 08:56 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
And like most portable things Murphy's law will dictate that you will run
out of power in you last replaceable charged battery, just before you
finish, and then it will **** with rain for a week.
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Chris Green" wrote in message
...
In uk.d-i-y Another John wrote:

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.

Are cordless *really* lighter? In theory they should be heavier
because you're carrying the power supply around as well as the motor.

--
Chris Green




Harry Bloomfield, Esq. 30-04-2021 09:06 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
alan_m expressed precisely :
+1
For the same power and ability to cut the machine would weigh the same, and
then add the battery.


+1

I wonder if something between a cordless and a corded might be more
suitable, not that I have ever heard of one?

I have in mind a 12v lead-acid battery, in a portable box, with a flex
from battery to hedge cutter.

Jeff Layman[_2_] 30-04-2021 09:17 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
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'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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA


A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info he
https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029

This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/

One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
so lighter, motor to do the cutting.

--

Jeff

charles 30-04-2021 09:37 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In article ,
Harry Bloomfield wrote:
alan_m expressed precisely :
+1
For the same power and ability to cut the machine would weigh the same, and
then add the battery.


+1


I wonder if something between a cordless and a corded might be more
suitable, not that I have ever heard of one?


I have in mind a 12v lead-acid battery, in a portable box, with a flex
from battery to hedge cutter.


I can remember someone coming to cut our hedge equipped with a portable
generator.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

charles 30-04-2021 09:44 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:
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 130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA


A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info he
https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029


This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/


One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
so lighter, motor to do the cutting.


But you might not be able to reach across the top of the hedge if it's too
short. And, with a long blade you geta much neater cut - that's why the
pros use them.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

Martin Brown[_3_] 30-04-2021 09:49 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
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

Harry Bloomfield, Esq. 30-04-2021 11:09 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
After serious thinking Martin Brown wrote :
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.


Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
really have that much hedge.

NY[_2_] 30-04-2021 11:12 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
"Tim Streater" wrote in message
...
On 29 Apr 2021 at 22:10:51 BST, 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 」130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

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.


I dunno about extensive. It's lighter, yes, but the batteries run out and
not
only need charging, but they wear out too. Not cheap to replace. And it
didn't
have the required oomph of even a mains powered one. So I bought a corded
one.


We have Black & Decker chainsaw, hedge trimmer and strimmer. They all take
the same batteries, so I tend to use the batteries in succession for any
given task. The main delay with charging a battery that has just been used
is the delay of about 15-30 minutes while it cools down enough to accept
charge (the charger displays an "over temperature" light until it has cooled
enough, and then starts charging without manual intervention).

It's been very rare that I've used up all three batteries before the first
one has finished charging - the only time was when I was cutting a fallen
tree (about 18 inches diameter) into sections that were light enough to haul
onto the bank of the stream at the bottom of our garden!).


Cordless devices, especially hedge trimmer, are a great improvement over the
hassle of trying to keep the cable untangled and *away from the blade*.


Theo[_4_] 30-04-2021 11:24 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. wrote:
Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
really have that much hedge.


Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light 3-cell
(10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10 minutes of
runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and most of the
time is moving into position for the cut).

Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter wasn't
an option.

So I bought four of them (£25 each). That means I got four batteries and
four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that I
could use to power an inverter.

I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put it
on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for most
domestic jobs.

Theo

charles 30-04-2021 11:47 AM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In article , Theo
wrote:
In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. wrote:
Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
really have that much hedge.


Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light
3-cell (10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10
minutes of runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and
most of the time is moving into position for the cut).


Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter
wasn't an option.


So I bought four of them (25 each). That means I got four batteries and
four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that
I could use to power an inverter.



for my Ryobi kit, I have a charger that runs directly from a car battery


I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put
it on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for
most domestic jobs.


Theo


--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

newshound 30-04-2021 12:09 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
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'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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

John

If you go for a model with a decent sized battery, it might well be
heavier than a corded one. The local council contractors seem to use
strimmers and (I think) hedge trimmers with batteries in a backpack.

The most annoying thing with corded is that you have to take care not to
cut the lead. But then you need to take care anyway that you don't cut
yourself, or any fencing wire that is around. I've only cut one once in
about 25 years (no drama or danger with an ELCB).

Batteries are not cheap, and don't last forever (I have just skipped a
perfectly functional B&D hedge trimmer and chainsaw because their
obsolete batteries were dead).

I've standardised on Lidl for ad hoc cordless tools (I have Makita
drills). I have a chainsaw, a chainsaw on a pole, an angle grinder, and
a tyre pump and inflator that use their current 20 volt batteries. I'm
still using a corded hedge trimmer at home. I have a petrol one for
remote work but that is pretty heavy and tiring. I'd certainly consider
a Lidl trimmer if one came up. But I would not consider buying one if I
did not already have a collection of batteries and a charger.

Jeff Layman[_2_] 30-04-2021 12:12 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 10:54, Tim Streater wrote:
On 30 Apr 2021 at 08:17:46 BST, Jeff Layman wrote:

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'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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA


A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info he
https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029

This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/

One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
so lighter, motor to do the cutting.


How does that cope with a hedge that's flat-topped and a metre thick?


It takes a bit longer, that's all. I doubt there are any trimmers which
would cut a 100 cm wide hedge in one pass. Also, most hedges are more
than 150 cm high, so you've got to do multiple passes for a side cut
anyway.

--

Jeff

Jeff Layman[_2_] 30-04-2021 12:13 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 08:44, charles wrote:
In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:
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'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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA


A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info he
https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029


This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/


One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
so lighter, motor to do the cutting.


But you might not be able to reach across the top of the hedge if it's too
short. And, with a long blade you geta much neater cut - that's why the
pros use them.


You could give a trimmer with a 200 cm blade and I'd still get a wonky line!

--

Jeff

newshound 30-04-2021 12:15 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 10:24, Theo wrote:
In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. wrote:
Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
really have that much hedge.


Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light 3-cell
(10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10 minutes of
runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and most of the
time is moving into position for the cut).

Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter wasn't
an option.

So I bought four of them (£25 each). That means I got four batteries and
four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that I
could use to power an inverter.

I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put it
on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for most
domestic jobs.

Theo


The Lidl 10.8's seem wimpy to me for garden type jobs. If I was
following your strategy I would only put the first one on the charger
after I had emptied two, if you see what I mean, to avoid recharging
warm batteries.

NY[_2_] 30-04-2021 02:33 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
"newshound" wrote in message
o.uk...
The Lidl 10.8's seem wimpy to me for garden type jobs. If I was following
your strategy I would only put the first one on the charger after I had
emptied two, if you see what I mean, to avoid recharging warm batteries.


Most chargers/batteries seem to have sensors which won't let the battery
charge until it is cool enough. That means you can put each flat battery on
its charger as soon as you have finished with it, and forget about it. The
battery will initially give a "too warm" error, but it will start charging
as soon as it is happy, so you don't need to hang around and keep trying it
periodically to see if it is cool enough yet.


Andy Burns[_7_] 30-04-2021 02:34 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
Another John wrote:

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.


I have an 18V cordless hedge-trimmer, but have only owned it 18 months
and not really given it extensive use. For me a corded one was not an
option as I have no mains power where it is is used. I only remember it
complaining at trying to cut one branch that was too thick for it, and
it did "bind up" a bit on the stringy/fibrous vines of some wild hops
that was growing within the hedge.


Theo[_4_] 30-04-2021 02:36 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In uk.d-i-y NY wrote:
"newshound" wrote in message
o.uk...
The Lidl 10.8's seem wimpy to me for garden type jobs. If I was following
your strategy I would only put the first one on the charger after I had
emptied two, if you see what I mean, to avoid recharging warm batteries.


Most chargers/batteries seem to have sensors which won't let the battery
charge until it is cool enough. That means you can put each flat battery on
its charger as soon as you have finished with it, and forget about it. The
battery will initially give a "too warm" error, but it will start charging
as soon as it is happy, so you don't need to hang around and keep trying it
periodically to see if it is cool enough yet.


Not the Lidl chargers - or at least they will charge while warm, the BMS
might cut them out of their get dangerously hot.

I manually leave batteries to cool before putting them on the charger.

Theo

Andy Burns[_7_] 30-04-2021 02:37 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
Chris Green wrote:

Are cordless *really* lighter?


Modern brushless motors can be considerably smaller and lighter, yes
there is the battery weight and it might be cheaper and lighter to buy
e.g two 3Ah batteries rather than a single 6Ah battery.



Andy Burns[_7_] 30-04-2021 02:41 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
Tim Streater wrote:

It's not pumping out 600W, that's how it's lighter.


My 36V brushcutter/strimmer puts out 1kW, but that is a 36V tool.


Tim+[_3_] 30-04-2021 03:15 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
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 」130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

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.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

John


If you’re feeling flush Stihl do cordless tools that can be used a socking
great battery backpack. This would make the tool lighter and possibly less
tiring to use but you’d have to factor in the 5.5kg battery on your back.

https://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Produc...k-battery.aspx

Having said that, the lightest hedge trimmer they do that uses that battery
weighs 3.9 kg.

https://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Produc...e-trimmer.aspx

Tim


--
Please don't feed the trolls

williamwright 30-04-2021 03:17 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:

Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers?


The only good cordless garden tools run on petrol.

Bill

williamwright 30-04-2021 03:19 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
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.


There's nothing more tiring than an underpowered garden tool. So
cordless are out.

Bill

williamwright 30-04-2021 03:20 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 10:24, Theo wrote:
In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. wrote:
Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
really have that much hedge.


Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light 3-cell
(10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10 minutes of
runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and most of the
time is moving into position for the cut).

Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter wasn't
an option.

So I bought four of them (£25 each). That means I got four batteries and
four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that I
could use to power an inverter.

I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put it
on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for most
domestic jobs.

Theo

What a palaver

Bill

newshound 30-04-2021 03:54 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 14:17, williamwright wrote:
On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:

Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers?


The only good cordless garden tools run on petrol.

Bill


Have you actually tried a modern battery chainsaw, then? My Lidl one has
more than enough power for its 10 inch bar, as long as the chain is not
too blunt.

charles 30-04-2021 04:06 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In article ,
williamwright wrote:
On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:


Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers?


The only good cordless garden tools run on petrol.


Bill


I have both petrol & battery ones,. Modern battery ones seem quite good for
simple lawn edging.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

AJH[_2_] 30-04-2021 05:48 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 14:15, Tim+ wrote:
If you’re feeling flush Stihl do cordless tools that can be used a socking
great battery backpack. This would make the tool lighter and possibly less
tiring to use but you’d have to factor in the 5.5kg battery on your back.


I've used the brushcutter with the backpack battery and hardly noticed
the battery weight, the tool is then remarkably light so on footpath
maintenance I trim the path and sides with a 4 edge blade in it. It has
nowhere near as much power as a petrol strimmer but much lighter to use.
When volunteering we are only allowed 60 minutes trigger time and the
battery lasted two of us.

Many professionals are using cordless pole pruners and long reach hedge
cutters now. Similarly many climbers now use the small Stihl 160 and
carry up to 5 batteries to last the day. In overall performance this is
less faff then putting petrol in the saw, though of course you have to
top up with chain oil.

As with other tradesmen if the client has mains electric available
batteries are kept on charge during the day and I have yet to hear of
anyone being charged for the electricity.

Martin Brown[_3_] 30-04-2021 06:03 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 15:52, Tim Streater wrote:
On 30 Apr 2021 at 13:41:23 BST, Andy Burns wrote:

Tim Streater wrote:

It's not pumping out 600W, that's how it's lighter.


My 36V brushcutter/strimmer puts out 1kW, but that is a 36V tool.


So it draws 28 amps? Must get toasty.


The batteries do get noticeably hot. Too hot for me to touch.
That is also true for a Dyson vacuum cleaner in continuous heavy use.

An AA cell can source over 10A into a dead short.
A D cell can probably manage nearer 100A. It will get hot!

It is probably one reason why their batteries don't last...

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Andy Burns[_7_] 30-04-2021 10:34 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
Tim Streater wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

My 36V brushcutter/strimmer puts out 1kW


So it draws 28 amps? Must get toasty.


I think the 18650's are rated for 20A continuous, 30A peak, and I
suspect it'll take most at the point of stalling.


Another John 01-05-2021 03:35 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
OP here.

Thanks for a very useful discussion. I conclude that - horses for
courses - a cordless isn't the horse for my course [yet].

I do have a small (40cm) B&D cordless which is now about 5 years old.
With the enormous strides in battery and other electronic technologies,
I wondered if they now make a cordless which combines great power with
lighter weight. It seems that they don't.

Thanks a lot for all the opinions!

John


Postscript of dubious value:

My particular "course", as I said in the post, is that I do *a lot* of
hedges: I cut the hedges in three gardens (mine and two others); the
total length must be about 200 yards, counting two sides in a few cases;
the average height overall is over 6 feet. The hedges are [thinks]
cotoneaster, beech, hazel, [ivy], hawthorn, blackthorn, and the damned
holly (which must make up half the total: what a ******* that is to
trim, especially when you're half-way up a ladder).

Going up (and down) the ladder, is the worst thing, these days: joints
and legs.

All these hedges are very mature, and therefore have thicker branches to
cut at intervals, in different places. Hence, I chose a cutter which
has a wide tooth spacing - 26mm in this case. Even when the branch is
somewhat thicker (within reason), sawing at it with this trimmer will
deal with it.

As I said, it's a Bosch 55-26 - 55cm blade, 26mm tooth spacing. Also as
I said, it "blazes" through all this hedging. I only cut most of the
stuff once a year, but in my own garden I do some every growing month,
the rest just twice a year. (And always outside the nesting season of
course.)

From the discussion, my gut feeling was right: nothing compares to mains
power [coming into a powerful cutter].

Of course a 4-stroke petrol would be more powerful (and free of those
reels of cable), but my work nowhere near justifies that kind of cost.
Furthermo even a 4-stroke is noisy, but a 2-stroke is absolute hell -
for the user, and for the neighbours. I have never considered using a
petrol cutter.

williamwright 01-05-2021 06:54 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 30/04/2021 14:54, newshound wrote:
Have you actually tried a modern battery chainsaw, then?


Yes. A bag of shite when you're used to a good quality petrol machine.

Bill

williamwright 01-05-2021 06:57 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 01/05/2021 14:35, Another John wrote:
With the enormous strides in battery and other electronic technologies,


What enormous strides? The energy/weight figure for battery is still
light years behind petrol.

Bill

The Natural Philosopher[_2_] 01-05-2021 07:57 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 01/05/2021 17:54, williamwright wrote:
On 30/04/2021 14:54, newshound wrote:
Have you actually tried a modern battery chainsaw, then?


Yes. A bag of shite when you're used to a good quality petrol machine.

Bill

well yes.
My shoulders are aching from this afternoons efforts to chop up a 10
metre tall tree that fell over last year.
The thickest part of the trunk - that I have yet to tackle - is about 2'
diameter.

My little chainsaw - petrol - is having trouble with the 8" diameter
sections. I guess its around 1500W equivalent.

I was on for about a continuous hour today 1.5kwh.

The equivalent battery model is twice the price and has little more than
half an hour in the battery

and weighs only a little less.

--
It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.
Mark Twain



The Natural Philosopher[_2_] 01-05-2021 08:00 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 01/05/2021 17:57, williamwright wrote:
On 01/05/2021 14:35, Another John wrote:
With the enormous strides in battery and other electronic technologies,


What enormous strides? The energy/weight figure for battery is still
light years behind petrol.

Bill

No, not light years, about 50%, For the whole package. A neodymium based
brushless motor is a lot lighter than an equivalent 2 stroke. But the
final weight is really all about battery capacity. That means a cordless
is a winner for occasional consumer use, but is ****ing pointless if you
need to run the thing all day on a major bit of tree surgery


--
Truth welcomes investigation because truth knows investigation will lead
to converts. It is deception that uses all the other techniques.

The Natural Philosopher[_2_] 01-05-2021 08:04 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
On 01/05/2021 14:35, Another John wrote:
I wondered if they now make a cordless which combines great power with
lighter weight. It seems that they don't.

They do, but the price you pay is very short charge life. and its not a
lot lighter.



--
The biggest threat to humanity comes from socialism, which has utterly
diverted our attention away from what really matters to our existential
survival, to indulging in navel gazing and faux moral investigations
into what the world ought to be, whilst we fail utterly to deal with
what it actually is.


Nick Maclaren[_5_] 01-05-2021 08:04 PM

Thinking abut a cordless hedgetrimmer
 
In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

My little chainsaw - petrol - is having trouble with the 8" diameter
sections. I guess its around 1500W equivalent.


A decent bowsaw would have no trouble at all with such diameters,
unless the wood is yew or hawthorn, when anything would. Yes, it
would take some time and effort.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


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