Type
— Bush cutter. In this case, classic hedge trimmers are devices that are equipped only with bush attachments (see "Attachments") and do not have long rods like those used in pole saws (see below). In full accordance with the name, they are designed to work with shrubs — both individual plants and hedges. They are available in various power and power options.
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For bushes/grass. This type includes compact battery-powered devices that have relatively low power and are not designed for difficult working conditions. Usually they are able to work with two types of nozzles — for bushes and for grass (see below) — however, not all models are regularly equipped with both nozzles. Anyway, tools of this type are intended more for decorative processing of vegetation than for serious garden work; this is due to both low power and limited battery life (for more details on both points, see below).
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Altitude cutter. As the name implies, this type of machine is designed to work at high heights from the ground, for example, to trim the branches of fruit trees. Their main distinguishing feature is their long length, which is usually ensured by the presence of a characteristic rod in the design. Thanks to this, you can easily reach most branches, even on a fairly tall tree (or to the edge of a tall hedge), without once again resorting to ladders or other similar devices. Most often, pole saws are equipped wit
...h saw blades (see "Nozzles"), however, there are options with nozzles for bushes.Attachments
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For bushes. Nozzle designed for cutting branches of small thickness, characteristic of most shrubs. The general principle of operation of such a device is similar to clippers: there are two sets of teeth located close to each other, one of them is stationary, and the second moves back and forth at high speed during operation. As a result, each pair of movable and fixed teeth works in the manner of scissors, cutting leaves and branches that have fallen under the blades. The nozzle itself looks like a web stretched forward, on both sides of which the teeth are located; this allows you to move it in any direction during operation — to the right or left, depending on the situation. It should be noted that bush nozzles are able to cope with branches up to 2-3 cm (depending on engine power), but they are still not designed for use as full-fledged saws.
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For grass. Attachments for cutting grass and leaves. Like bush (see above), two rows of teeth are used; and in general, a brush cutter with such a nozzle looks like an enlarged clipper, only not for hair, but for grass. At the same time, it is worth noting that it is not able to replace a full-fledged lawn mower: the cutting width most often does not exceed 20 cm, and the devices themselves are usually small battery models (see "Power") and are not structurally designed to work with large areas. Their main purpose is the decorative processing of small flo
...wer beds, as well as edges that a conventional lawn mower cannot reach.
— Saw blade. Such nozzles are very similar to the working element of a chain saw: an elongated rounded base (tyre), along the edge of which cutting teeth move during operation. They are designed to cut thick branches that ordinary bush attachments (see above) cannot handle, and are used primarily in pole cutters (see "Type").Stroke frequency
The frequency of movement of the teeth in bush or grass attachments (see "Tips"). The design of most of these tools is such that for one revolution of the engine, the teeth make one complete cycle of movement back and forth; therefore, the stroke rate is usually determined by the speed of rotation of the engine and is indicated in revolutions per minute.
It is believed that the quality of the tool’s work largely depends on this parameter: the more often the stroke, the cleaner the cut will be. Ratings up to 2200 rpm are usually typical for entry-level devices, up to 2800 rpm are average, and advanced models can have speeds of 3400 rpm and even higher.
Battery
Features of a complete set of a cordless hedge trimmer. Most of the devices out of the box have
one battery. But there are models that are equipped with a replaceable battery (
2 batteries included). This solution allows you to extend the time of work with the device by replacing a discharged battery with a charged one. And
the absence of a battery in the kit will be appropriate if you buy a brush cutter, for which a universal battery from other brand devices is suitable. Or you yourself want to choose a model with the required capacity. And for low-power devices there is
a built-in battery.
Noise level
Approximate noise level produced by the hedge trimmer in normal operation. This parameter allows you to evaluate how comfortable it will be to work with the tool: the lower the noise level, the less discomfort it causes for the operator and others, and the lower the likelihood that special hearing protection will be needed during operation. At the same time, note that loud noise is an inevitable side effect of high power — it would be too expensive and difficult to make a powerful and low-noise tool. In addition, this figure is only approximate. Firstly, different manufacturers may indicate it differently: for idling, for full speed, for half power, etc. Secondly, the actual volume of work may also differ from the claimed one due to the peculiarities of a particular situation: for example, working with thick branches leads to an increase in the load on the engine, which can also affect the noise level.
Another specific point is that the decibel used to measure this indicator is a non-linear value: an increase of 1 dB corresponds to an increase of 1.26 times, 3 dB — 2 times, etc. Therefore, to assess the loudness of work, it is easiest to use comparative tables. Here is one of the simplified versions of such a table for the range in which most modern hedge trimmers work:
65 dB — loud conversation at a distance of a metre;
70 dB — loud conversation of several people at the same distance;
75 dB — shout from the same distance;
80 dB — the ringin...g of a mechanical alarm clock, a loud cry at a distance of 1 m;
85 dB — loud screams at a distance of 1 m;
90 dB — heavy truck or freight car at a distance of 7 m;
95 dB — subway car at a distance of 7 m;
100 dB — noisy industrial shop.
