On most commercial hedge trimmers the range of cutting bar (blade) lengths goes up to around 40”. Commercial trimmers tend to have larger gaps between blades. The purpose of this is not only to allow thicker twigs and branches to be cut safely, but also to make the machine more durable for the harder work a commercial machine has to do (as compared with a domestic hedge trimmer).
You will find that there is a choice of either, single-sided or double-sided blades. There are advantages to both. Firstly, with the single-sided blades, as the name suggests, only one side of the blade is sharp. This enables the cutter to be used with the cutting edge always moving away from the operator’s body with obvious safety benefits. However, the disadvantage is that the operator has to change position when cutting a hedge because the blade will only cut in one direction. This tends to give double sided blades the advantage in efficiency as hedges can be cut in arcs on either side of the body – although hedges should always be cut with the blade travelling in an upward arc so that the clippings fall away from the blade and do not become clogged in the teeth.
The average commercial hedge trimmer tends to have a cutting bar length of around 30” and either single, or double-sided blades according to the operator’s personal preference. Shorter blades are easier to use when more delicate trimming is required, (for example, on formal box hedging or topiary features). If cutting very tall hedges, a longer blade or perhaps a telescoping or long reach hedge trimmer will avoid having to climb ladders or cutting platforms to get the job done. Many of these trimmers have a rotating cutting bar head, enabling the cutter to operate at 90° to the handle to facilitate cutting the top of a tall hedge from the ground.
Most commercial petrol hedge trimmers weigh up to around 12 pounds but the way the machine is balanced can be more important than the actual weight when it comes to using it for long periods of time. Operators will be less tired and more productive when using a well-balanced machine so it is very important to choose the right petrol hedge trimmer not only from the point of view of getting the job done but also from the point of health and safety.