Have had an Echo one for years and put hundreds of hours on it. Very solid and reliable.You won't be disappointed if you get one.
gypsyguy,
Jan 12, 7:16am
Anyone else tried those cheap multi head 4 in 1 trimmers from this site! Those Chinese ones that come with weed trimmer, brush cutter, hedge trimmer, chainsaw head, extension bit. I have a fair amount of hedge, and large trees, and an overgrown bank that leads down to the beach, wondering if this one tool could cope with it all. Fairly irregular use, maybe once a month or so.
geoff_m,
Jan 15, 6:47pm
I bought one a few weeks ago (sale id=542706550). So far I have only used the hedge trimmer for half an hour to trim some trees on my father's place. It worked well and I will have to put the other bits together and try them. A couple of issues: The instructions are really poorly printed and the pictures are almost illegible. It is pretty straight forward to assemble with some common sense and re-reading the Chinglish instructions carefully. The other one is on mine the loop handle is really loose and must be missing a bit (like a 3-5mm gap between the handle and pole). This isn't standard on the other ones I have seen, so as I say something must be missing. Some decent assembly pictures would make in easier to sort out. Due to other commitments over Xmas, I haven't gone through it yet to see what is missing. Overall, it seems to do the business, and cheaper than hiring one for a couple of days. I got it to do my high hedge at home, and it will be much easier and safer than hanging off a ladder. At this stage, I would recommend it. I don't expect longevity will match a Stihl, but it will be fine for home use, and some of those small Chinese engines can last surprisingly well. Geoff
kenw1,
Jan 15, 6:51pm
Got a Stihl electric unit, and it is marvellous, just need a long power lead, or its too far I use the Gene, it does anything plus a bit more.
gypsyguy,
Jan 16, 8:49am
Thanks Geoff, they're good value for what they can do. I was a bit worried about Chinese engines, then my nephew popped in on his chinese scooter, which has been perfectly reliable, so. I think i'll check out these trimmers and go halves with my old man. Thanks again.
nerak,
Jan 18, 2:02pm
If you won't be using it very often, hiring one might be an answer.
mkbooks,
Jan 18, 6:07pm
Cheaper to get someone in to do it in the long run-they take the waste material away too
wron,
Dec 15, 5:06pm
Anyone used / own one! I have a long bush drive with quite a few branches growing across the middle that need removing - a furniture truck was unwilling to make it up recently for fear of damaging the high part. I wouldn't be using it on a regular basis, quite a few branches now but only now and then after that including trees stretching up beneath the power lines. I see Stihl have a good rebate on at the moment but they're still really really expensive (choice of 4 engines, $950 for the most powerful for just the motor, then the saw and an extension pole which would be free with the rebates) but is it worth going for this sort of quality! I have an Echo leaf blower which seems really well made - not priced the pole ones yet, and there's a heap of really cheap combo ones here on TM. What do you think! I hate hard to start machines! Thanks.
whiteroses,
Dec 15, 7:16pm
If you want a serious no fuss built like like a tank pole pruner , Echo makes a great model with the Echo PPT 265 ES . It comes standard with a chainsaw for around $1350 And if later you want to add to it , there is a 1.5 metre extension for the chainsaw that can be added & a hedgetrimmer attachment . I'm a commercial guy with 21 years experience & by the feedback on Arborist sites this is an awesome piece of gear . On the other hand you could hire one
redhead96,
Dec 15, 8:24pm
You can get cheaper models as in Black n Decker for less than $200 from Mitre 10.
sb6,
Dec 16, 4:43am
The cheaper ones on here are great. We are on a lifestyle block & got one to try thinking they would be cheap & nasty. Have trimmed & chainsawed everything with it.
merrigj,
Dec 16, 8:23am
I have the cordless one with was arround $200 no probs and safe to use.
pauldw,
Dec 16, 8:37am
A manual pruning saw like a Bahco on a pole is easier to use than you might think.
ang_ck,
Dec 16, 12:28pm
Have you tried holding one up at a sixty degree angle! I tried it with a pole extender. It is not light weight. I change my mind very quickly.
wron,
Dec 16, 1:08pm
Which saw are you talking about ang_ck! sb6, which one did you get and how easy is it to start and how thick a branch does it easily manage! Does it have an extension bit for a longer reach! Whiteroses, the Echo sounds ideal but too expensive to justify, hadn't thought of hiring though. Will try a few places like hirepool. Merrigj, how much grunt! How long is the pole and how thick a branch can it manage! Thanks to all who replied!
ang_ck,
Dec 16, 5:24pm
wron, I tried the Stihl pole trimmer. My advice is for you to goto the Stihl shop and ask them to mount the extension pole and the trimmer together. Then try lifting it up and at angle. It is like lifting weights in the gym. LOL.
wron,
Dec 16, 9:11pm
Good idea, thanks.
dunwoody,
Dec 17, 7:20am
I use the cheapest, lightest, cleanest, simplest easiest, quietest, quickest saw possible a 5mtre aluminium pole bolted into the handle of a very sharp pruning saw. just lift it up and rest it on the branch, ast hick as you like, and just saw away. Simple,the biggest problem is the sawdust falling in your eyes
pauldw,
Dec 17, 9:22am
Then the branch falling on your head :D. I use an old extending pool cleaner pole to reach 7.5 - 8 m. You just have to avoid getting the blade pinched in the cut as the saw cuts on the pull stroke and there isn't much push available.
redhead96,
Dec 17, 12:41pm
the dust won't get in if you wear safety glasses
jbedford,
Dec 17, 5:31pm
I just hire one from the hire centre when I need to do some pruning. That way you get to use a good quality one and it costs bugger all.
wron,
Dec 21, 7:02pm
merrigj, I saw the B and D battery ones at Mitre10, said on box they can cut a 17cm diameter branch, bit more that $200, closer to $250 from memory. Do they cut slowly or areasonable speed! How long before recharging! I noticed the batteriery is the modern no memory type.
wron,
Dec 21, 7:22pm
Just read some reviews on Amazon, nearly 300 there, mostly 4 or 5 stars. Very interestinghas a 14 foot reach! Will go and have another lookat the unit before deciding. Saw a nice Echo unit at Grasslands - they do a multi tool range similar to the Stihl but 4 times the price of the battery one.
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