Manual brush cutter: tool selection criteria

The main types and their purpose

Manual

This tool, aka hedge trimmer, is advisable to use if there are few green plants in the garden. In appearance, such a device looks like a large pruner. The blades reach a length of 25 cm, there are no special differences in the dimensions of the handles.

Electric

An electrically driven hedge trimmer can have a variety of powers, but usually it does not exceed 1000 watts. The number of revolutions in 60 seconds varies from 1300 to 4000. These parameters unambiguously indicate the high performance of the device. The natural result of an increase in the number of revolutions is an accelerated movement of the blades. Therefore, they manage to more accurately maintain the cut line.

The device of the electric brush cutter is close to the gasoline counterpart, but there is no chain. A pair of parallel knives do their job at the expense of reciprocating movements.

Network-driven devices are lighter than ICE devices. They are also noticeably more efficient, and vibrate less, and do not create toxic exhaust during operation. But the wire is inconvenient for most garden work, in addition, often the network units have unsatisfactory low power.

Rechargeable

The developers of such devices say they were able to solve the problem with the wires. This is true, but other difficulties arise in return. So, it becomes necessary to constantly charge the battery, which is not very good for professional equipment that has to work for many hours in a row. Breaks after 20-40 minutes complicate the work significantly.

In addition, batteries add from 1 to 1.5 kg to the device weight, which makes them less convenient for working at heights.

Petrol

A mower with an internal combustion engine can be significantly more powerful than an electric machine. It has the mobility of a cordless hedge trimmer, but at the same time lasts much longer on a single "charge". It is not for nothing that such equipment is preferred to buy when it is necessary to process shrubs in a park or in a public garden. But we must remember that gasoline machines are heavy and deserve careful handling. Not everyone can manage them, because it requires technical literacy.

A mounted hedgecutter is no longer a hand tool, but an attachment added to a tractor or other serious machine. The base can be both road tractors and hydraulic excavators with both wheeled and crawler tracks.

Brush cutters on a bar with active working bodies are widely used if you need to trim bushes growing along asphalt, concreted or covered with compacted soil paths.

Best cordless brush cutters

They are convenient, but not always practical, since not all models can boast of working without recharging for more than 30 minutes. But we found such tools and included them in this rating.

Gardena ErgoCut 48-Li

This brushcutter deserves attention if only because of its autonomy, independence from the power grid. Therefore, it is very convenient to put things in order in the garden with it, no cables are needed. With its help, the hedge will always be neatly trimmed due to the knife turning 90 degrees. The presence of the handle makes the procedure comfortable. The battery works without recharging for about an hour, which allows you to process a large number of bushes at a time. But the girls will have a hard time, because this power tool weighs more than 3 kg.

Dignity

Ergonomic shape;
Doesn't make noise;
Long and sharp knives.

disadvantages

Dimensions;
The weight;
Price.

Equipped with the Gardena ErgoCut 48-Li with a long handle, it helps to change the position of the tool in space and thus achieve the most aesthetic appearance of the hedge.

Bosch ASB 10.8 Li

In our rating, this is already the second best brush cutter that does not require special knowledge and is easy to use. The clippers are powered by a battery powerful enough to cut continuously for 100 minutes. From the convenient "chips" should be noted the notification of the end of the charge and a simple replacement of knives. At the set price, the buyer receives 3 different attachments, one of which is designed for grass, although, according to reviews, alas, it only copes with its task with a stretch.

Dignity

Soft grip;
Long work without recharging;
Good sharpening of knives;
Fast charge in 3 hours;
Removable knives.

disadvantages

Cannot be used to mow grass;
Only a small nozzle is convenient, the rest are not practical.

Electric brush cutters: rating of the best models

The use of electric hedge trimmers is advisable if the distance from the power supply to the area to be treated does not exceed 30 m - this is the maximum length for the cords of electrical appliances. If the distance is longer, it will be necessary to use an extension cord, which significantly reduces the level of operational safety.

In addition, the very possibility of electric shock creates a potential hazard in the use of the device. Its power is an order of magnitude less than that of a gasoline analogue. The work is complicated by a long cord. When using an electrical device, you can get tangled in the wires.

Electric hedge trimmers are quiet, lightweight and versatile

At the same time, electrical appliances have a number of advantages. Their advantages, in comparison with the gasoline counterpart, are that there is no need to purchase fuel and lubricants and regular inspections, as well as a lower cost. They are environmentally friendly, lightweight, versatile, powerful and quiet. The list of the most popular models includes hedge trimmers of the Italian company Alpina, American Black & Decker, German AL-KO, Metabo and Bosch.

One of the most popular models is the Bosch AHS 45-16 electric brushcutter. The tool is designed for pruning bushes, with its help it is easy to give the hedge the desired shape. Electric motor power - 450 W. The length of the tire is 42 cm, the gap between the knives is 16 mm, the number of revolutions is 3400 per minute. The device is quite compact, its weight is only 2.9 kg.

How to choose?

Even a cursory acquaintance with the market for hedge trimmers shows that it is full of many different versions. But you can still make the right choice if you consider the basic principles.

In a domestic environment (garden, cottage), there are enough devices with a capacity of up to 500 W (with an electric drive) and 700 W (if an internal combustion engine is installed).
It should be borne in mind that the length of the cutting part of the tool is directly related to the required power of the installation. If you need to cut only small bushes, 20 cm long blades are enough.But in order to be guaranteed to cope with any bushes, you need to choose products with knives from 40 to 50 cm long.
If the hedge trimmer makes a double-sided cut, you can straighten the line, trim the corners. This tool allows you to work faster.
The lightest models are equipped with electric motors, the gasoline drive is always heavier.

The limiting thickness of the branches removed is determined by the distance between the knives or teeth.
It is useful to have a corner that collects cut branches. He will not allow even one of them to fall outside the border of the site.
As for the handle, it is worth choosing options with a built-in pivot mechanism and an anti-slip coating.
Of course, you should carefully study the reviews about the model you like before buying.

For an overview of Stihl hedge trimmers, see the next video.

Peculiarities

An electric garden hedgecutter for a summer residence has a lot of advantages, but it is not worth buying such an assistant in a hurry, since it must meet certain requirements so that you will not be disappointed in the purchase later. Unlike power tools, gasoline or cordless models in this category boast great power and high performance.At the same time, they do not create much noise during operation and open up new opportunities for the user.

The only drawback of using purely electrical techniques is attachment to the source of energy. If necessary, the gardener can use an extension cord to increase the mobility of the hedge trimmer in his own area. Moreover, manufacturers have already provided for a long power cord that stretches up to 30 meters.

These hedge trimmers are lightweight and have a well thought-out convenient design.

Before buying a product, you should pay attention not only to the technical characteristics, but also to the capabilities of the unit.

Buy a cordless hedgecutter: which model is better

The principle of operation of cordless hedge trimmers is an autonomous battery, which must be recharged periodically. The tool is used in cases where shrubs are far from the mains or the hedge is small.

Cordless hedge trimmers may not be able to handle thick branches or large volumes of work. The device must be constantly recharged, approximately every 40 minutes. If the knife blades are heavily loaded, recharging may be required after 20 minutes of operation.

Bosch batteries charge quickly and last a long time

Therefore, this hedge trimmer is best suited for cutting 2 cm thick branches. Telescopic hedge trimmers with folding arms are best for cutting tall stands. With their help, you can even cut off shoots with a height of 3 m.

The best among these models are the Bosch and Gardena cordless hedge trimmers from Germany, as well as the Japanese counterparts Hitachi and Ryobi.

Bosch cordless hedge trimmers are cordless hedge and shrub cutters. Most models have a removable lithium-ion battery pack that takes just under an hour to charge. The tools have an anti-lock braking system for trouble-free operation. These are lightweight and compact designs that work for quite a long time. Moreover, they practically do not affect human fatigue. The cutting system, thanks to the special teeth at the front of the knife, allows you to quickly remove branches up to 25 mm thick.

Device and principle of operation

The handmade brush cutter is very simple. It differs little from ordinary scissors, except that sometimes electric and gasoline drives are used in its design. But there are more powerful machines of the same kind that can handle even small forest.

They are used:

when laying railways;
in road construction;
for the formation of clearings in the forest;
to facilitate reclamation work;
with snow retention and in some other cases.

The working body can be made according to a passive or active scheme. In the first case, mainly wedge dumps are used.

Active working parts can be:

knives like those found on lawn mowers;
milling cutter;
saw;
spinning discs ending in knives;
knife-like elements fixed by flexible ties.

The choice of a particular option has a lot to do with how difficult it will be to cut the bushes. So, even the relatively low energy consumption of active hedge trimmers is greatly overshadowed by their insufficient efficiency when clearing thick bushes.

The basic structure of passive brushcutters includes, in addition to the working body:

frame of universal type;
dismountable head;
the system that controls the working part;
sharpening element;
enclosing contour.

The blade of a passive brush cutter is formed by welding. This metal structure on the right and left is always sheathed in sheet steel. The cutting of plants itself takes place with the help of knives located below. The dump brings down cut trees and bushes. Of course, the quality of knife sharpening is of great importance, it has to be repeated every 150-180 minutes.

Some of the hedge trimmers are equipped with hydraulic blade lifters. The abrasive element then receives energy from the gear unit.In the case of a vertical block design, this problem is solved by a combination of V-belt drives and flexible shafts.

How to choose?

Choosing a hedge trimmer in a huge assortment can seem like a daunting task. In order not to be disappointed in the purchase, you should take into account the technical characteristics, namely: the power, the materials used, the length of the blades. Design and color don't always play a fundamental role, but ergonomics do. The longer the knives of the tool, the more possibilities the user has, who can realize his wildest fantasies. Without using a stepladder, it is possible to reach high branches and form a perfect crown

The buyer should definitely pay attention to the safety of the tool used. It is better to purchase the product on the case of which there is protection against accidental start-up, and there is also a button that allows you to urgently turn off the device, even if it is jammed

The power of the hedge trimmer determines the performance that can be achieved when working with the tool. Power of 0.4-0.5 kW is quite enough to cultivate a private garden on a standard personal plot.

A lot of attention is also paid to the material from which the blade is made. It is desirable that the upper part is made of steel, and the lower one is made of metal, which has the ability to self-sharpen. Moreover, the blades can be:

one-sided;
bilateral.

The quality of the cut depends on such an indicator as the frequency of the knife stroke. The larger it is, the more accurate the cut is.

The blades can move in different ways. If both blades move, then they are mutually cutting, and when one is stationary, then this is a one-way device. If we talk about convenience, then, of course, mutually cutting is much better, since such an assembly requires less effort from the user. One-way ones create a strong vibration, so many people note discomfort during use - fatigue quickly comes to their hands.

For an overview of the BOSCH AHS 45-16 electric brush cutter, see the following video.

Scope of the brush cutter

Hedge trimmers, or as they are called in Europe, hedge trimmers, are a blessing for people in the landscape. They relieve the owners of summer cottages from aching hands and joint pain after working with scissors. In addition, manual results cannot be achieved like with a brush cutter. With it, you can get to the most inaccessible places without the need to constantly drag a ladder with you. Hedge trimmers can trim straight and curly trims, maintain a strict geometry and tidy up any flower garden. Their field of application is quite wide, but in terms of their functionality, these devices are divided into three main

electrical;
gasoline;
cordless or rechargeable.

Electric brush cutters

The advantages of electric brush cutters:

Cheaper than battery or gasoline;
Lighter and more convenient, for which women prefer them;
Allows you to work on a telescopic rod without stress;
Creates reduced vibration during operation.

Disadvantages of electric brush cutters:

Requires constant access to mains power;
You have to regularly correct the cord;
It is easy to accidentally cut the cable and get an electrical shock;
Most models have a 1.5 cm cutoff limit.

Electric trimmers, despite their light weight, are characterized by increased power. They are useful in most gardens where the length of the supplied cable allows you to reach every corner. You can also use a safe extension cord, but everything should be within reasonable limits. Too large a wire will cause a voltage drop and, as a result, the device motor can burn out from constant overloads. It is good for them to process the crowns of trees with young shoots, the tops of the thuja - all those objects where there are no thick rigid branches. It is very convenient if the bushes to be treated are in a small space, then you do not have to constantly drag and straighten the cable.

Cordless brush cutters

Benefits of the cordless hedge trimmer:

Full autonomy;
Convenience and ease of use.

Disadvantages of a cordless hedge trimmer:

Can be an expensive solution;
An additional second battery may be needed to complete the bulk work;
Batteries are often unreliable.

Cordless trimmers give their owners more freedom of action: you can cut hedges near roads, streams, far from home and not worry about the cable and electrical safety. Modern cordless brushcutters with more powerful 36V batteries compete with petrol trimmers. The charge of a regular battery lasts for 20 minutes, while larger ones allow you to work up to an hour. The best ones recharge in 60 minutes. Therefore, it makes sense to buy two batteries at once. You can work on one, and recharge the second immediately.

Gasoline brush cutters

The advantages of a petrol hedge trimmer:

Due to the increased power, it copes better with branches with a diameter of more than 4 cm;
They can handle large areas faster;
Due to the autonomy, you can cut the bushes anywhere.

Disadvantages of a gasoline brush cutter:

Increased weight - from 5 kg or more;
Noise and vibration are its inevitable companions;
Starting the engine can be difficult;
The presence of toxic gasoline exhaust into the atmosphere.

This version of the hedge trimmer has practically no restrictions. True, with him it is difficult to reach inaccessible places and work with outstretched arms. His prerogative is large volumes of work, cutting thick branches, processing remote areas of the garden, where there is no access to electricity. But he also needs his own power source - a can of gasoline and clean oil for two-stroke engines. Moreover, the cleaner the gasoline and the better the oil, the longer the gasoline trimmer will be able to perform its work without fail.

Electric hedgecutter BOSCH AHS 45-16

Review, test, feedback and operation of the electric hedgecutter BOSCH AHS 45-16. Learn more about the product and buy ...

Best Electric Brush Cutters

These are the second most popular and cheapest models, which will be appropriate in a small area located near a building powered by electricity.

Black & Decker GT 4245

The release of these electric scissors was clearly a success for the Chinese manufacturer, since the tool can be disassembled instantly in stores. The high demand for it, as the reviews show, is associated with the average cost and good technical characteristics, which is only worth the ability to cut grass, branches of bushes and even small trees. The excellent results of the hedge trimmer are not surprising, because in one minute it makes 1960 strokes with a power of 450 W and a cutting edge length of 45 cm.

Dignity

Ease of operation;
Protection against accidental activation;
Fits comfortably in the hands;
High power.

disadvantages

Lack of speed regulator;
Weight is over average.

In one pass, the device can remove branches up to 2.5 cm in diameter, which makes it possible to dispense with pruners and other similar products. But its power supply is carried out from the network, and this can cause certain inconveniences.

Bosch AHS 65-34

This is ideal for those who are not used to saving money on their garden, since the tool is expensive. But this price is fully justified by a powerful 700 W electric motor and a knife system with the function of not only cutting, but also sawing. This is what gives it the status of a premium model and ensures that everything from the bush will be cut quickly and without discomfort to the hands. The manufacturer Bosch is learning from its mistakes, and made this product lighter than the previous one, it weighs 3.8 kg, although there is still room to move.

Dignity

High rpm;
High power;
Small distance between knives;
Soft grip handle;
Tiring work;
The tines easily handle branches up to 3.8 cm in diameter.

disadvantages

Not found.

Table: comparison of characteristics

Model	Power, W / Power supply
Einhell Bavaria BEH 5041	• Power, W: 500 • Power source: Network • Bus length, mm: 450 • Weight, kg: 2.2 • Price, rub: 1992
SPITZ HTLD01B-610	• Power, W: 520 • Power source: Network • Bus length, mm: 610 • Weight, kg: 2.5 • Price, rub: 2353
Gardena accucut	• Power, W: - • Power source: Battery • Bus length, mm: 120 • Weight, kg: 0.56 • Price, rub: 3236
Black & Decker BEHT251	• Power, W: 450 • Power source: Network • Bus length, mm: 500 • Weight, kg: 2.16 • Price, rub: 4481
Bosch AHS 45-16	• Power, W: 420 • Power source: Network • Bus length, mm: 450 • Weight, kg: 2.5 • Price, rub: 5427
Flexo Trim FHS 1545	• Power, W: 500 • Power source: Network • Bus length, mm: 180 • Weight, kg: 1.9 • Price, rub: 6846
Bosch Isio 3 for bushes	• Power, W: - • Power source: Battery • Bus length, mm: 110 • Weight, kg: 0.55 • Price, rub: 6850
Bosch ASB 10.8 Li	• Power, W: - • Power source: Battery • Bus length, mm: 200 • Weight, kg: 0.9 • Price, rub: 8561
Gardena EasyCut Li-40	• Power, W: - • Power source: Battery • Bus length, mm: 400 • Weight, kg: 2.1 • Price, rub: 9335
Gardena ComfortCut Li-18/60	• Power, W: - • Power source: Battery • Bus length, mm: 600 • Weight, kg: 2.6 • Price, rub: 14787

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Output

Working with a brush cutter

Using the best hedge trimmers from the rating presented will help create beautiful flower beds on the garden plot, give a curly volume to bushes and fruit trees. Rechargeable models do not require dependence on electricity, and network models have a higher power. The proposed units will bring pleasure to use and greatly facilitate the work of gardeners.