Powerful cordless / electric hedge cutters - looking for pointers

[greenant88]

Hello,

 

Looking at these 4 which I gather are all the top of the line from each brand (minus the ones with the backpacks).

 

Husqvarna 522iHDR60           £579.00

Stihl HSA 130 R                      £522.00
Echo DHC-2800R                   £489.00
Ego HT6500E                         £269.00

 

When looking for the 'most powerful' cordless hedge cutter (for reshaping hedges and cutting past this years growth, or ~2cm thick branches) these four pop up as 'battery in the tool' picks.

 

I specifically was looking at the 'R' or robust versions over the 'T' trimmer for the slower gears and higher cutting power.

 

 

Reviews I gathered a bit:

 

-Husqvarna are highly positive all round - just perhaps softer metal on the blades. 

-Stihl for this model I read its very good perhaps not as well build as the Husq but perhaps nicer metal for the blades.

-Echo has all round great reviews and is bit cheaper but I couldn't read anything about the 'R' in its name and if it is intended to be for thicker stuff.

-Ego is well reviewed but not as high quality as the others, with a different point of balance with the handle on the top, good battery cases, significantly cheaper.

 

Does anyone have any experience with any of these for cutting thicker branches / reshaping etc?

 

Being quite new there are few youtube reviews and most people often show them on very light growth.

 

(I use my domestic greenworks 40v for everything 1 year growth and less, cordless over petrol as the hedgecutting workload is low and cordless has worked so far)

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

[Stere]

I like my makita 18v - though 2cm is abit much 15mm is more realistic

 

DUH601Z

 

They also have  a  new 40v range now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[greenant88]

Thank you. I really like that makita has loads of experience making cordless tools in general, and if the 40v range is brushless I think thats more powerful than my 40v brushed ?

 

Plus the batteries can be used for their other tools (the 40v range being much smaller than the 18v).

 

Ego seems to be good value but sounds like they have used cheaper parts in the past like bearings. I think I will just not do anything as thats the cheapest option, but I'll look into the Makita range for reviews.

 

Thank you.

 

Ps. Will also keep an eye on the Echo range as they seem to be quite well made with nice parts. But ~£800 is alot to spend on a hedge cutter.

[Canal Navvy]

On 09/10/2024 at 10:49, Stere said:

I like my makita 18v - though 2cm is abit much 15mm is more realistic

 

DUH601Z

 

They also have  a  new 40v range now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've got the same and have been hugely impressed with it 🙂

[Brushcutter]

I have the Husky 522ihd75 which is really good. Already in the Husky battery system so it made sense. Does a good job on shaping up tatty hedges. I wish I'd got the 60cm rather than the 70. I'm sure I will end up with the 60cm trimmer blade machine soon  i like the 5 position rear handle. The new 22 hedgecutters finally have proper scabbards. 

[AJStrees]

On 13/10/2024 at 17:42, Brushcutter said:

I have the Husky 522ihd75 which is really good. Already in the Husky battery system so it made sense. Does a good job on shaping up tatty hedges. I wish I'd got the 60cm rather than the 70. I'm sure I will end up with the 60cm trimmer blade machine soon  i like the 5 position rear handle. The new 22 hedgecutters finally have proper scabbards. 

why would you prefer the shorter bladed hedge cutter? Is it too heavy or too big? I only ask as most of the hedges I have to do are wider than 70cm so the longer the blade, the better for me. I was looking at buying the same machine, thus am curious. Cheers. 

[greenant88]

On 13/10/2024 at 17:42, Brushcutter said:

I have the Husky 522ihd75 which is really good. Already in the Husky battery system so it made sense. Does a good job on shaping up tatty hedges. I wish I'd got the 60cm rather than the 70. I'm sure I will end up with the 60cm trimmer blade machine soon  i like the 5 position rear handle. The new 22 hedgecutters finally have proper scabbards. 

Yeah I too am curious about the preference for the shorter version. I thought about getting a longer one so I wouldn't stoop so much to do low parts of the hedges sides, and the top because it always is wider when you're up there.

 

Only reason I'd get the shorter is i'd be lighter which is always nice is a tool.

 

(apparently on the topic : Echo 56v range has some people with problem batteries, so as well as the tools seem to be made eg nice bearings etc thats something to consider. The Husky 522ihd looks really good - realiable, parts accessable, good batteries I think. Pellenc tools looked really really good and fancy but I think only has backpack batteries which I am a bit unaccustomed to)

[monkeybusiness]

I’d avoid anything Husky battery driven - we have had problems with chargers and tools themselves, they are totally Micky Mouse. They make good petrol engined kit but I won’t spend another penny on their battery range. 
 

[Brushcutter]

Pro points of the 75 is cutting arc. The down side is the long blade on thicker stuff that it is a big wear on the end. I also find it's a bit  big for some hedges I do.