I recently bought a new home, only to find that I probably got in over my head in terms of the property upkeep.
I basically put myself into a situation where I was going to need to buy some power tools that I had never used before and a hedge trimmer was one of the tools that I was going to need.
Once I started looking around for a good hedge trimmer, I realized that I was going to have to make some choices, here's what I learned about the different types.
Gas powered hedge trimmers are the most common type of hedge trimmers employed for serious yard work and commercial applications.
The sound of a gas powered model can often be equated to that of a chainsaw.
Gas powered hedge trimmers offer power and cordless operation, and are a good standard choice for any hedge trimming needs.
Another common type of hedge trimmer is an electric corded model.
These types of hedge trimmers don't use gas for operation and simply need to be plugged in.
This is a good choice for you if you don't mind dragging a cord around and appreciate the simplicity of operation and maintenance that an electric hedge trimmer can offer.
You will also find that these are the most affordable types of hedge trimmers.
One other type of hedge trimmer that is now becoming quite a bit more popular is the cordless battery operated models.
These offer the emissions-free operation of electric corded models, but you can use them without dragging a cord around.
Typical battery life is between thirty and sixty minutes.
One neat thing about a lot of the cordless battery powered models is that they can share batteries and chargers with other power tools from the same brand and line of products.
This can be a big plus, and money saver for people with multiple power tool requirements who like to stick to the same brands.
Of course, once you decide whether you want to get a gas powered, electric or cordless electric trimmer, you will need to also consider a few other things.
How long do you want the trimming blade to be? Most entry level hedge trimmers have about a 20 inch blade, but you can get blades are even up to 40 inches in length.
What type of blade will work best? Most trimmers have a double reciprocating blade, which is pretty standard these days.
Take a look at the blades on the trimmers that you are looking at as well, you'll see that some are more heavy duty in construction than others.
The more heavy duty models simply will be able to cut through thicker shrubs more easily.
Do you want a trimmer with extended reach? You'll want to probably look at a model that has a shaft or a pole extender, which will allow to you to reach the top of tall hedges or portions of trees.
Other features that you might want to keep an eye out for are rotating handles on either the front or back, vibration reduction features, easy starting features and even emissions direction to push exhaust away from you as you trim the hedges.
Hopefully I haven't overwhelmed you with all of this information, but this is pretty much the basics of what I learned before I made a purchase.
I basically put myself into a situation where I was going to need to buy some power tools that I had never used before and a hedge trimmer was one of the tools that I was going to need.
Once I started looking around for a good hedge trimmer, I realized that I was going to have to make some choices, here's what I learned about the different types.
Gas powered hedge trimmers are the most common type of hedge trimmers employed for serious yard work and commercial applications.
The sound of a gas powered model can often be equated to that of a chainsaw.
Gas powered hedge trimmers offer power and cordless operation, and are a good standard choice for any hedge trimming needs.
Another common type of hedge trimmer is an electric corded model.
These types of hedge trimmers don't use gas for operation and simply need to be plugged in.
This is a good choice for you if you don't mind dragging a cord around and appreciate the simplicity of operation and maintenance that an electric hedge trimmer can offer.
You will also find that these are the most affordable types of hedge trimmers.
One other type of hedge trimmer that is now becoming quite a bit more popular is the cordless battery operated models.
These offer the emissions-free operation of electric corded models, but you can use them without dragging a cord around.
Typical battery life is between thirty and sixty minutes.
One neat thing about a lot of the cordless battery powered models is that they can share batteries and chargers with other power tools from the same brand and line of products.
This can be a big plus, and money saver for people with multiple power tool requirements who like to stick to the same brands.
Of course, once you decide whether you want to get a gas powered, electric or cordless electric trimmer, you will need to also consider a few other things.
How long do you want the trimming blade to be? Most entry level hedge trimmers have about a 20 inch blade, but you can get blades are even up to 40 inches in length.
What type of blade will work best? Most trimmers have a double reciprocating blade, which is pretty standard these days.
Take a look at the blades on the trimmers that you are looking at as well, you'll see that some are more heavy duty in construction than others.
The more heavy duty models simply will be able to cut through thicker shrubs more easily.
Do you want a trimmer with extended reach? You'll want to probably look at a model that has a shaft or a pole extender, which will allow to you to reach the top of tall hedges or portions of trees.
Other features that you might want to keep an eye out for are rotating handles on either the front or back, vibration reduction features, easy starting features and even emissions direction to push exhaust away from you as you trim the hedges.
Hopefully I haven't overwhelmed you with all of this information, but this is pretty much the basics of what I learned before I made a purchase.
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