If you are new to cordless hedge trimmers, there are a few things you need to know about them before making a purchasing decision. This guide will help you learn everything about cordless hedge trimmers.
Features to look for in Hedge Trimmer
Blade length
The blade is the combination of a fixed bar with short sharpened teeth including the one with longer teeth. A long blade enables you to cut more with each sweep.
However, if the blade is too long, it may mean the hedge trimmer gets heavier which may make it harder for you to maneuver with the trimmer. It is therefore important that you strike a balance between the blade length and trimmer weight that will make your work easier.
Teeth spacing
Depending on the size of stems you intend to cut regularly, this is also another important consideration. The wider the teeth, the bigger the stem your trimmer can cut.
However, this needs to be matched with a bigger motor to deliver enough power to cut through thicker branches cleanly. Most standard trimmers have a teeth spacing of up to 20mm.
This is usually good enough for typical garden hedges. Avoid using a hedge trimmer to cut branches thicker than 1 cm as the cut won’t be clean enough and may let disease in.
Tip protector
Some blades feature a short bar on the top. This bar acts as a protector to prevent damage to the blade in case you knock it against solid objects such as rocks.
Catcher plates
This is an additional accessory usually a piece of metal or plastic that attaches to the length of the blade to sweep away cuttings. It comes in handy when cutting hedge tops as it allows you to move quickly by getting rid of the trimmings on your way as you cut.
Hand guard
This is an essential feature as it protects your fingers from coming into contact with the blade teeth when you are using the hedge trimmer. Additionally, it prevents the trimmings from getting around your hands while you cut. This is very useful especially if you are cutting around prickly hedges.
Blade guard
A blade guard offers protection to the blade when storing or carrying it. The blade guard prevents dirt and dust from blunting the cutting teeth. Furthermore, the blade guard is an excellent way of protecting yourself and your clothing from the blade’s sharp teeth.
Wraparound front handle
If you want to switch easily from cutting sides to hedge tops, then you need a trimmer with a wraparound front handle that features a running ON switch around the length of the handle. Some trimmer models feature 3 ON switches which are not only highly responsive but also easy to use and make trimming much easier.
A rotating rear handle
Just like a wraparound front handle makes it easy from trimming horizontally to vertically and vice versa, a rotating handle does the same job. However, although a rotating rear handle is a very useful feature, you can only expect to find it in more expensive models.
Although the above features apply to all types of trimmers, there are some specific features that apply to cordless hedge trimmers. Cordless hedge trimmers are the most common types and the most efficient trimmers available presently.
Features you should look for in cordless hedge trimmers include;
Battery type
There are 2 main types of batteries you are likely to find in a cordless trimmer; lithium-ion and Ni-Cad batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have little self-discharge and have higher capacity and higher voltages than Ni-Cad batteries making them increasingly popular than the Ni-Cad batteries.
Voltage
High voltage batteries allow your trimmer to run for longer with even more cutting power. This is one factor that is making lithium ion batteries more popular with cordless hedge trimmers as they come with 56V or 72V batteries.
Moreover, high voltage batteries give your trimmer more power to cut even thicker branches cleanly.
Cutting time
The running time for most cordless hedge trimmers is around 30 mins. This is usually sufficient to cut through up to 40m2 of hedge. There are however newer models that can run up to 1 hour giving you more coverage. This is also a consideration you need to look at depending on the size of your hedge.
Charging time
If you have several hedges that can’t be covered with a single charge, then you will need to look at the recharge times. Some batteries have a recharge time of as little as 1 hour which can be efficient if you need to cover more ground without having to wait for several hours for your battery to be recharged.
Spare batteries
You can also choose to have spare batteries for your trimmer. Spare batteries help you avoid the downtime when you need to cover more ground. Additionally, you can choose to use interchangeable batteries that can be switched between a range of garden tools making them economical for use.
However, if you need to use interchangeable batteries, it will limit the choices you have for your cordless hedge trimmer.
Battery indicator
A battery indicator allows you to know how much charge is still left in your battery. This helps you plan your work and know when you will take a break to allow your battery to recharge.
Weight
Compared to gas powered hedge trimmers, cordless hedge trimmers are a little bit lighter. They can weigh anywhere between 2kgs to 3.5 kgs. Their weight affects how they can be maneuverable and is therefore another important consideration you need to take into mind when choosing a cordless trimmer for your hedges.