Open Association of Landscape Industries
Petrol multitools
My question is what people think about mulitools and ideas about replacements. I can't afford big money for replacements but was maybe thinking about a stihl motor as its a good brand name - and wondering whether the mulitools I have would fit. It's a hex shaft.
Or should I consider buying separate strimmer and hedge cutters? I do have electric ones but prefer the independence and also customers aren't always in to plug cables in. I only do domestic jobs at the moment.
As always your advice would be really appreciated. Thanks. Dave
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Busy Bee Garden Services Limited on -
We used to use multi heads when we started the business many years ago and we bought a shindaiwa unit/tools, many of them are still working today, I'd not recommend getting one not because they are rubbish but in getting the spare parts! We now moved on to separate tools and used petrol now as some of our sites would need a lot of cable to use electric on and I find the separate tool option easier.
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Thorne on -
I bought a ryobi combi set - engine, trimmer, hedge trimmer and an interesting hover mower attachment. Sorry to say I had no end of trouble with it - had three repairs/replacements from ryobi (sending it back each time and being without a machine) and in the end got a refund.
I think the idea is great if you're working on your own and you only need on engine - maybe the stihl kit is worth looking at? I've moved to stihl battery and petrol kit, and have never looked back.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd on -
Buy a long reach Stihl hedge trimmer and you can pop strimmer heads and chainsaw heads onto the end.
Your own tools almost certainly will not fit.
You probably need a chainsaw ticket to use the chainsaw head....
Steer clear of the Stihl Kombi tools as the vibrations are too high for lots of use.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Ashley on -
ive got the stihl kombi engine km100 r the strimmer cultivator and hedge cutter all going well after 6 years allthough the engine is getting a little tired its good for me because it saves a bit of space in the van
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Paul McNulty on -
It's always rotten starting out, as you have that eternal battle between affording decent gear, but being unable to work fast and efficiently with poor gear so you aren't earning enough.
The advice is always going to be buy the best, and avoid anything that's aimed at the domestic market. Unfortunately, a decent set-up, perhaps hedgecutter, blower and combi with strimmer and long-reach hedge cutter attachments, is going to be well over £1K.
One thing to do is always keep an eye on ebay locally, and get things when they pop up; I got an Etesia for £100 recently which is a great little bargain, but you need to be very careful with used pro gear as most people don't sell it whilst it's working well!
Also, find a decent local trade supplier and get freindly with them. It's surprising how much cheaper things can be trade, and you need to have a relationship with them so they prioritise you when you need a repair. That's my reason for rarely buying the cheapest deal online; it's always got a warrenty, but you'll be at the back of the queue if you didn't buy it from the local supplier and it breaks. Most importantly, he will have equipment coming in used and will be able to offer good deals, and it'll be checked and serviced. Again, you have to buy used when it's available, not expect there to be a bargain waiting when your old one breaks.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Thornton on -
When I did my CS 30/31last year I asked about pole pruners and was told that you don't need a cert as you are far enough away from the saw. Stihl vibration levels are a lot lower than Mitox....
Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd said:
You probably need a chainsaw ticket to use the chainsaw head....
Steer clear of the Stihl Kombi tools as the vibrations are too high for lots of use.
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Permalink Reply by Sue/Bayleaf's Traditional on -
Dave,
I have bought Stihl Independence tools, they come with an Ergo start which makes them very reliable and easy to start.
There are times when I have the hedge cutter, blower and strimmer out at the same time as I'm going from one tool to another and to keep swapping heads over would take time. Having said that I do remember that it was as much as I could afford to get these tools, but they're still going strong after 8 years with little maintenance, and I wouldn't change them only collect more.
You can get re-chargeable tools but you would be forever charging batteries, I laughed when a friend of mine started up and she brought her re-chargeable hedge cutter, we have done several jobs together and that little hedge cutter really saves the day when your arms have had enough or you want just to tidy something quickly, so much so that I'm thinking of getting one!
Avoid second hand, as they are either old tech of knackered, If you see the Council maintenance groundsmen they are all or mostly using Stihl tools, as you say you get what you pay for!
Sue
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Permalink Reply by John on -
There are two ways of looking at spending a lot
on a Stihl combi, If you just buy the hedgecutter/polesaw and
the extension bar, firstly it will last for many years and just as
importantly it will make you a lot of money. If you are doing a
lot of one off hedge jobs then they will be completed extremely quickly
and without a lot of straining, although using the carbon fibre extension
pole horizontally across the top of wide hedges will require some straining :)
but usually this is not for too long. And the use of this combination of tools
will always come in useful when working in the regular maintenance gardens,
and will secure your position as the garden maintenance service that people want
to have, as all the hedges and certain shrubs will always be neatly trimmed, and the
additional time available from the speed of this, will ensure that the rest of the garden
looks great. I would not attach a blower or a strimmer to the expensive
Stihl combi 130 if you can afford it, - but that is only my opinion.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on -
I've got a little Qualcast rechargeable hedge trimmer. Other half laughed when I bought it but I caught him using it the other day. It is so light and easy to use and I got 2 hours out of one charge the other day which I was happy with.
We have a stihl combi but I wish we'd bought separate because when there was an engine problem last week we had to use back up tools for everything. Fortunately fixed it for £25.
Sue/Bayleaf's Traditional said:
Dave,
I have bought Stihl Independence tools, they come with an Ergo start which makes them very reliable and easy to start.
There are times when I have the hedge cutter, blower and strimmer out at the same time as I'm going from one tool to another and to keep swapping heads over would take time. Having said that I do remember that it was as much as I could afford to get these tools, but they're still going strong after 8 years with little maintenance, and I wouldn't change them only collect more.
You can get re-chargeable tools but you would be forever charging batteries, I laughed when a friend of mine started up and she brought her re-chargeable hedge cutter, we have done several jobs together and that little hedge cutter really saves the day when your arms have had enough or you want just to tidy something quickly, so much so that I'm thinking of getting one!
Avoid second hand, as they are either old tech of knackered, If you see the Council maintenance groundsmen they are all or mostly using Stihl tools, as you say you get what you pay for!
Sue
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Permalink Reply by Richard Thornton on
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Why not? Its what its what they were designed for!
John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:I would not attach a blower or a strimmer to the expensive
Stihl combi 130 if you can afford it, - but that is only my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Geoffrey King North Yorkshire on -
I use ECHO combi tools, don't have a problem with vibrations
but bear in mind with pole pruners, how heavy they are, because of the head where the weight is, being away from your body, it can really make your left arm ache/hurt if you are right handed & vice versa.
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Permalink Reply by John on
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For an extra £122 I can have a separate leaf blower and strimmer,
therefore giving me more flexibilty and also saving the use of the
Kombi engine.
360 Kombi 360 190 hedge cutter 190 80 Extension shaft 180 pole saw Total 810 810 With 221 Leaf blower 119 attachment leaf blower separate 160 strimmer 140 attachment strimmer power tools Total 1191 1069 Extra cost £122.00
Richard Thornton said:Why not? Its what its what they were designed for!
John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:I would not attach a blower or a strimmer to the expensive
Stihl combi 130 if you can afford it, - but that is only my opinion.
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