Hedge Trimming - a dangerous occupation

So, getting back from holiday and being in a 'can-do' frame of mind, I decided to set about our front hedge. It's been a while since I cut it back (possibly 2 years!) so there was a lot to come off. It took me about an hour and a half to get about half-way, with a crappy old Challenge 40cm wired hedge-trimmer, and at this point, Mrs Smudger brought me out a drink and informed me she was going to pick up the progeny from nursery. By this time the recycling bin was pretty full up and my 'can-do' attitude was waining. So I had a drink, then resumed. I was cutting one bit thinking 'that cable's a bit close to the blade'. And the next thing I know, there's a bit of a flash and a pop, and I've gone through the cable. No shock felt, just mild alarm. So that puts an end to that day's trimming. Oh, shame.

Anyway, I get myself to Bunnings and get a new Ryobi battery-operated one, as the missus won't allow me a wired one any more - something about my life insurance not being enough to make her rich once the mortgage is paid off. Something which cost me a fair bit over the price of another bog-standard, no-name device.

And I have to say, these things are a wonder. I finished off the rest of the hedge in about 20 minutes, and the longer reach and it's got a ridge up the middle of the blades so all the debris gets guided off, instead of going in your face/hair/back. I'm now considering going and trimming all the hedges around my way, just to get to use it some more.

The downside is, no matter how good your trimmer, you still have to pick up all the tiny bits that fall to the floor.

Interesting.

What voltage are the batteries?

I'd been contemplating a new strimmer, but it needs to be relatively heavy duty. Currently, I'm using a friend's 2-stroke petrol jobbie, but I had wondered about modern battery variants.

It's 18v, and you can get different Ah ratings according to your needs. They even have Lawnmowers that run off the batteries! You can get them with or without the batteries, so that if you've got nothing, you get a kit with 1 or two batteries plus a charger, that's cheaper that buying them separately.

Good point - batteries run across all devices from that manufacturer
Bad point - batteries only run across devices from that manufacturer

The guy in Bunnings recommended that if you're going in, you get your battery with your garden set, as these tend to have higher Ah ratings, then any additional tools you get will have use of the higher Ah batteries. The DIY tools tend to come with 1.3 or 1.5 Ah batteries.

Top advice - I'm in the market myself.
I didn't know Bunnings was in the UK though. Do you get a sausage sandwich ?

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Originally Posted by Smudger

Bad point - batteries only run across devices from that manufacturer

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I'd take corporate and government concern for the environment a lot more seriously if they were to agree to let someone like the ISO design a universal battery mount. And similarly a lot of other 'things' could use international standards but for interchangability and maintainability.

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Originally Posted by Phage

Top advice - I'm in the market myself.
I didn't know Bunnings was in the UK though. Do you get a sausage sandwich ?

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They've only got 2 at the moment, both in St Albans for some reason, but they are converting Homebase stores to the new brand, so stock/prices should be the same across both. The Sausage 'Sizzle' was available, but I didn't partake as I'd not long had breakfast

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Originally Posted by kompukare

I'd take corporate and government concern for the environment a lot more seriously if they were to agree to let someone like the ISO design a universal battery mount. And similarly a lot of other 'things' could use international standards but for interchangability and maintainability.

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This is a good point, some go with the 'pointy bit sticking up' approach, and others go for the 'slidey' kind. My Makita drill set only has Ni-cD batteries, and also has a sticky-up bit, but I checked and they're both different sizes.

And strangely, Makita's new Li-ion batteries are the slidey sort, so you can't just upgrade your Ni-cD battery with a Li-ion one, cos they're different fittings. Which is what got me looking at the Ryobi sets in the first place.

Easiest way to pickup all the trimmings is to use a tarpaulin, run it along the bottom of the hedge so that all the bits fall in, then just roll it up and empty into the bin. Ideally use a tarp long enough for your hedge.

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Originally Posted by Smudger

This is a good point, some go with the 'pointy bit sticking up' approach, and others go for the 'slidey' kind. My Makita drill set only has Ni-cD batteries, and also has a sticky-up bit, but I checked and they're both different sizes.

And strangely, Makita's new Li-ion batteries are the slidey sort, so you can't just upgrade your Ni-cD battery with a Li-ion one, cos they're different fittings. Which is what got me looking at the Ryobi sets in the first place.

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Check for adapters to use the different battery types with Makita, I did find some to allow an upgrade for my drill from NiCad to Li-Ion.

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Originally Posted by Flibb

Easiest way to pickup all the trimmings is to use a tarpaulin, run it along the bottom of the hedge so that all the bits fall in, then just roll it up and empty into the bin. Ideally use a tarp long enough for your hedge.

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I used an old pair of curtains. Our hedge is about 30ft long though, so never going to find anything long enough to go under the whole hedge. Then had to get into the bin and jump up and down so I could fit more in...

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Originally Posted by Flibb

Check for adapters to use the different battery types with Makita, I did find some to allow an upgrade for my drill from NiCad to Li-Ion.

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Thanks, I'll take a look. Only thing is, the battery alone for Makita was about £80. Could get a new drill for that. Seems a waste, as there's nothing wrong with the drill itself, just the battery's gotten old and lost its oomph.

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Originally Posted by Smudger

Thanks, I'll take a look. Only thing is, the battery alone for Makita was about £80. Could get a new drill for that. Seems a waste, as there's nothing wrong with the drill itself, just the battery's gotten old and lost its oomph.

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Have used the NiCad OEM ones from amazon, think they are around £20 . Couple of years of weekly use and still going strong.

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Originally Posted by Smudger

I used an old pair of curtains. Our hedge is about 30ft long though, so never going to find anything long enough to go under the whole hedge. Then had to get into the bin and jump up and down so I could fit more in...

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http://www.screwfix.com/p/harris-tas...50m-x-2m/19574 Or if you want something a bit more robust they go up to 24 foot - http://www.screwfix.com/c/decorating...uctlength=24__

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Originally Posted by Flibb

Have used the NiCad OEM ones from amazon, think they are around £20 . Couple of years of weekly use and still going strong.

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I was hoping they did a Li-ion battery that fits where the ni-cd one used to, my use of the drill is so infrequent that whenever I go to use it, the batteries have both died. Basically, I'm trying to find an excuse to buy some shiny new man-tools, but my use case prevents that. I don't use it enough for the battery to still be charged, therefore I don't really need a new shiny tool where the battery doesn't die (anywhere near as quickly) when not in use. And it only takes about 10 minutes to charge the batteries I've got...

That's not a bad price for something that will save hours of time.

?

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Originally Posted by Smudger

I was hoping they did a Li-ion battery that fits where the ni-cd one used to, my use of the drill is so infrequent that whenever I go to use it, the batteries have both died. Basically, I'm trying to find an excuse to buy some shiny new man-tools, but my use case prevents that. I don't use it enough for the battery to still be charged, therefore I don't really need a new shiny tool where the battery doesn't die (anywhere near as quickly) when not in use. And it only takes about 10 minutes to charge the batteries I've got...

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Li-ion chargers are different to NiCd so it's no doubt in part due to safety considerations. Incorrectly charged or worse, damaged LiIons can result in some VERY impressive fires. And on e those fires start, they're all but impossible to put out until "fuel" runs out.

Of course, I was expecting to have to get a new charger as well. So even more reason to go with a drill and driver set, plus 2 batteries (li-ion) and charger, for £140-ish. It's just I can't justify that for putting up 1 or 2 curtain rails a year...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO9M90fdZDA

the ONLY way to trim a hedge using a simple and very safe chainsaw

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Originally Posted by Smudger

I was hoping they did a Li-ion battery that fits where the ni-cd one used to, my use of the drill is so infrequent that whenever I go to use it, the batteries have both died.

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Yeah, got rid of a perfectly good drill because the batteries were always flat and stopped holding charge for more than a couple of minutes use. Was just a Worx drill but it was 18V and had enough puff to get through everything I needed. Went for an Erbauer 18V Li-Ion one from Screwfix, not as good at the actual drilling but the batteries stay charged and it's lighter.

Re hedge trimmer, again from Screwfix, picked up the 'Titan' cordless hedge and grass trimmers. They don't appear to sell them anymore but it's handy having two batteries. 18V Li-ion jobs again. Not going to get through a trunk but I was surprised how much hedge I did manage to hack through with it.

I was tempted by the strimmer (Ryobi) as well, but I've already got two perfectly good (wired) ones that I got in a Flymo package. It was cheaper to get the lawnmower and strimmer together than just the mower. So when the mower broke, I got another pack, and now have 2 strimmers. Not sure if I can come up with a safe fighting game to play with them...

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Originally Posted by Smudger

Of course, I was expecting to have to get a new charger as well. So even more reason to go with a drill and driver set, plus 2 batteries (li-ion) and charger, for £140-ish. It's just I can't justify that for putting up 1 or 2 curtain rails a year...

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Seems expensive. I went with one of these, which oddly was cheaper with two batteries than one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Cordl...dp/B00L3XK06C/

It takes the same battery as my hedge trimmer, so I have three now.

Annoyingly I thought the Bosch garden strimmer was a bit rubbish, so got a Qualcast branded one (Homebase really) for that. 18V, different battery and charger. I think the companies are seeing this like a land-grab to get customers to buy into their battery "standard".

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Originally Posted by jimbouk

Yeah, got rid of a perfectly good drill because the batteries were always flat and stopped holding charge for more than a couple of minutes use.

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I have an old 12V ni-cad drill kicking around. Just in case I ever get to wire it up to an old car battery and use it to drive a go kart or something, I am holding onto it. Two speed gearbox, variable speed control & bags of torque, seems a waste not to drive *something* with it :D

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Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix

I have an old 12V ni-cad drill kicking around. Just in case I ever get to wire it up to an old car battery and use it to drive a go kart or something, I am holding onto it. Two speed gearbox, variable speed control & bags of torque, seems a waste not to drive *something* with it :D

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Haha I'm not sure I ever actually binned mine or whether it's just in the shed gathering dust. I'm sure it could be used by someone for something at some point in the future...

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Originally Posted by jimbouk

Haha I'm not sure I ever actually binned mine or whether it's just in the shed gathering dust. I'm sure it could be used by someone for something at some point in the future...

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I suspect back-driving the drill gearbox would be a Bad Thing so I would have to chain drive through a freewheel.

I think something like the old Sinclair C5 made using modern compact motors and a slide on 18V li-ion battery pack would be neat.

I have the hammer drill, driver and a dust buster mini vacuum from the One range, been umming and ahhh over the impact driver...

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Originally Posted by Zak33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO9M90fdZDA

the ONLY way to trim a hedge using a simple and very safe chainsaw

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Hey, I didn't give permission for you to film me.

Don't you dare release the one of me toasting my cheese on toast with a flamethrower. How was I supposed to know you stored petrol in that shed, anyway? The trees will grow back. Eventually.

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Originally Posted by Saracen

Hey, I didn't give permission for you to film me.

Don't you dare release the one of me toasting my cheese on toast with a flamethrower. How was I supposed to know you stored petrol in that shed, anyway? The trees will grow back. Eventually.

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The eyebrows, and first few layers of skin may be a different story...

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Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix

Seems expensive. I went with one of these, which oddly was cheaper with two batteries than one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Cordl...dp/B00L3XK06C/

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I think it's £78 for the Ryobi Combi drill on its own, with 2 batteries. The Bosch equivalent of the combi/impact driver pack I was going to go for would be this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Cordl...+impact+driver

so a few quid either way. I did get some birthday money, not sure what to spend it on...