The Best hedgetrimmer

[Andy Collins]

I'm on the lookout for the very best double-sided hedgetrimmer currently on the market. By best I mean on all fronts. Best cut, best at holding a sharp edge, lowest vibrations etc. I dont want this to spiral downhill as a Stihl/husky/Robin debate, I want good honest experienced facts. Ftr, I currently use a Robin, which is very good except for vibes.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Only one answer. But keep it a secret cos no-one else knows how good they are.

 

Echo Tools

 

Oh, sorry experience and facts. Well Kioritz 2-cycle engines are the best built on the planet; 'phone Kevin at Radmore & Tucker to confirm that. Had my HC-2300 for 12 years and it craps all over anything else of the same age and hour-age.

Edited September 15, 2010 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[dave fox]

i use a sthil hs 81r on the farm hawthorn headgeing its great thick stuff and very economical on fuel

[chaffey]

HS81r. Had the 80's before and never had a problem and have had these for about 3 years and still going strong.

[Andy Collins]

Only one answer. But keep it a secret cos no-one else knows how good they are.

 

Echo Tools

 

Oh, sorry experience and facts. Well Kioritz 2-cycle engines are the best built on the planet; 'phone Kevin at Radmore & Tucker to confirm that. Had my HC-2300 for 12 years and it craps all over anything else of the same age and hour-age.

 

whats the balance like on them?

[MattyF]

I use the hs 81 hedge cutter not ideal for trimming if not sharp but it will go through the thicker stuff ! most of my work is reshaping not trimming so does not really answer your question andy but it has done miles of trimming and topary yearly,and i might be biased but it looks a hell of a of a better job than the land scrapers with there trimmers...only probs i have is its not as reliable as the hs 80 but the anti vibes are about 50% better! ... i do have a set of hs 80s still going strong 8 years old and have had a very hard life!!

[Steve Bullman]

ive always advised people against stihl hedgecutters. Mechanically they are sound, but they just dont cut nice. One of the companies i sub for recently bought they're latest offering so i decided to have a go with it to see if things had approved. unfortunately not. they do cut, but if you are looking for a quality finish they just arent good enough. i currently have a robin, which have always been good for leaving a quality finish. parts tend to wear on them however, and im not sure the vibrations are great. also have a tanaka, its a nice balanced and light hedgecutter to use...cut isnt quite as good as the robin though. the most robust hedgecutter i ever used was a komatsu. it went on and on, and it got a lot of abuse as i used it mostly doing roadside work, trashing down blackthorn regrowth etc. the blade system was the same used by robin so the cut was great. komatsu have moved on from that particular model and i havent tried their latest....its something im going to look at next week at the APF though

[Andy Collins]

I hear what you're saying Steve. The Robins cut is superb, but the vibes are an issue, the Tanaka is better than average, but the cut is never as crisp, and the fuel range is smaller. Vibes for me is an important issue, spending whole days power-trimming through miles of hedging knackers the hands, and the balance helps reduce fatigue. I did consider the new Stihls, but I've never used one that is a match for the Robins.

I just want the one Carlsberg would have made.....

[MattyF]

I say the same about there saws steve!!found the tanaka fell to bits but the robin and kawasaki ones i have used are have been great but very bad electrics... never tried a komatsu

[Mesterh]

What is it that makes the robins cut so nice?

 

Do you think its the blade speed or just the design/cutting angle?

 

Sorry I cant help with the OP question I have only ever bought the single sided hedge trimmers.