Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I was wondering if someone could help me please. I was recently given a Makita corded hedge trimmer, as my hedge (lonicera nitida ernest wilson) is mature enough for me to start using one. The only problem is that it does not cut any of the hedge, only bends some of the twigs. I suspect this has something to do with the blade, as I suspect the teeth might be too 'wide' apart (maybe more suitable to larger/thicker twigs) so instead of cutting the hedge it bends and bruises it. My question is, do I just get a 'tighter' blade to remedy the issue, or do I need to buy a new trimmer? If so, what do I look for? Any ideas on make or model, blade length etc? Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I dont know about the trimmer you have or the amount of hedge you need to cut. If its small any of the cheap trimmers will do even the electric ones are pretty good. I bought the still multi tools and engine as its a great combination for the hedge strimming and lopping. They seem pretty robust and not so expensive for what you get particularly if you have other work to do. There is an extension pole for it, which whilst a little cumbersome to use, is ideal for the hard to reach bits. I have 600m + of hedge but I get the farmer to do most of it leaving me just the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Thanks. It is only a small 100 meter hedge. The Makita I have is a corded electric one. I am not sure why it does not cut the hedge though, I am only guessing it is the fact that my hedge requires the trimmer to have the blade's teeth closer to one another in a tighter arrangement, as the target area consists of smaller twigs and instead of cutting them it is just bending them. But this is just a guess.... My hedge is made of this plant (lonicera nitida ernest wilson) and looks like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Looks a nice shrub. My trimmer will cut anything from grass to 2cm dia. There must be a gap between the front and rear blades on your Makita so rather than sliding past each other in a guillotine action the gap is allowing the plant to pass between the blades. I would have thought even if its blunt it should cut that hedge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 any hedgetrimmer would eat that hedge..........put a couple of pics up of your trimmer.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 'Only bends some of the twigs' did tickle me for some reason ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Lonicera nitida of whatever cultivar should only really be cut in the dormant season between November and March. If the hedge is badly overgrown it can be cut back very hard not just trimmed. As Ditchy says any decent hedge trimmer should cope with that hedge, or indeed any sharp shears, but do it at the right time of year for the best results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Ionicera Nitida if grown formally as a hedge requires two or three cuts in the growing season. Look for Stihl hs 45 on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 As said, any trimmer working correctly will cut that hedge. My only guess without seeing it is that there is too much play between the blades and the stems can slide between the blades rather than being scissored between the 2 cutting edges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Thank you for you replies. Here are some pictures of the actual hedge, and two of the trimmer (blade and motor). Any advice is welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 "only a small 100m hedge" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 "only a small 100m hedge" I do not know. compared to the 600m stated by someone else, I am only on 1/6th... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) As said, any trimmer working correctly will cut that hedge. My only guess without seeing it is that there is too much play between the blades and the stems can slide between the blades rather than being scissored between the 2 cutting edges Please take a look at he pictures I uploaded and let me know whether you think this is the case here. Ionicera Nitida if grown formally as a hedge requires two or three cuts in the growing season. Look for Stihl hs 45 on eBay. Indeed, I cut it 2-3 times and it comes back with a vengeance. To 'convince' it to grow to one direction I need to cut it drastically with my Fiscar sears. It is only now, that it has grown tall and think that I decided to use a trimmer. On Sunday I got annoyed and went back to my FIscars, but I do need to solve the mystery of the trimmer. It might be me that I lack the skill to cut it properly, but I just want to make sure that it is not the old trimmer first... Edited June 21, 2016 by Psyxologos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Nice looking hedge! Not sure if it's just the angle but the top teeth look like they are a lot shorter than the bottom, the stilhs I use are the same length top and bottom. It could be that yours is well used and has been sharpened a lot, badly or has been used a lot and the blades have opened up and gone loose, allowing the stems to pass between them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Nice looking hedge! Not sure if it's just the angle but the top teeth look like they are a lot shorter than the bottom, the stilhs I use are the same length top and bottom. It could be that yours is well used and has been sharpened a lot, badly or has been used a lot and the blades have opened up and gone loose, allowing the stems to pass between them No, not is not the angle. Indeed, the top teeth are shorter, and are the only ones that are sharp. The bottom ones are not sharpened. So, is there a point of buying another blade, or should I just go for a new trimmer altogether? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 looking at some images of other trimmers online, it looks like my blade is upside down. Could that be the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Try cutting the hedge doing a handstand See if that works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Try cutting the hedge doing a handstand See if that works. It worked! thanks for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 OK, an update. I put the same question on another forum and someone suggested I check the retaining screws were not too tight. I had a look and the retaining screws were indeed way too tight. I loosened them a fair bit (now the screws are fixed to the locking nut on the other side but not to the blade, whereas earlier it was all held together very tight) and it started cutting a little bit. I think I need to spend a bit more time and look into it properly, as I am in a bit of a hurry now. It looks though as this might have been the problem. I will then check the sharpness of the blade. Should it not be sharp, I take it I can buy a replacement, right? Does it need to be a Makita, or any generic blade will do? How do I determine this? Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Try cutting the hedge doing a handstand See if that works. dont be silly he just needs to start at the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 dont be silly he just needs to start at the bottom There's another thread, Is this what we are now reduced to??? already dealing with that problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) Slightly tilt the blade "leading edge" in toward the hedge! Almost like combing it! It should lift the softer brush into the blades! I have to do this with my dads hedge! He has the Flymo battery powered hedge cutter, and I swear by it! Cuts 50m of hedge, front back and top not a prob with charge left to do the back hedge too. Amazing thing! Battery goes round your waist, and the pole extends to reach 10 feet, and the head tilts to cut the high tops too Edited June 21, 2016 by Lord Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rst1990 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 the upper and lower blade should nearly touch each other approx 1mm gap, if the gap is too large it will just bend the leaves and not cut. Bit like a loose pair of scissors won't cut a thing but nip the screw up abit and alls good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) Thanks for all your posts. I had some time this afternoon and took the thing apart. I decreased it, mildly sanded and sharpened the teeth, worked on the holding screws and re-lubricated it. Things got a bit beter and it was cutting some branches. I got fed up with it so I popped down to Homebase and bought this. All I can say is wow! I finished the whole thing in ten minutes and then went looking for more hedges to cut. This thing is amazing... Edited June 21, 2016 by Psyxologos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbietherimmer Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Did you have it plugged on and switched on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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