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Replies

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  Mark October 15, 2009 at 10:28pm

  I have an ally Highstep Major with extension, soo far I have not come across a hedge I could not tackle, it's surprising how much adjustment can get gobbled up with dips and banks. I can move the Major around ok on it's own but with the extender attached it's a bit of a wrestling match ! Mine has been in constant use for a couple of years or more now and looks like it will keep on going for at least that again.
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  chris October 16, 2009 at 3:51pm

  Thanks for your very helpful tips, you have been a great help, I wll now be getting in touch with "Henchman"
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  The Perfumed Garden October 16, 2009 at 7:13pm

  We have the major with extention legs which we don't use too often, but they are worth having for the times we do. Don't bother with the wheels for manovering, they're a waste of time unless you have spaghetti arms ( which I'm sure you don't)
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  chris October 17, 2009 at 11:20am

  The Perfumed Garden said:

  We have the major with extention legs which we don't use too often, but they are worth having for the times we do. Don't bother with the wheels for manovering, they're a waste of time unless you have spaghetti arms ( which I'm sure you don't)
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  chris October 17, 2009 at 11:26am

  Thank you T.P.G. I have decided to go for the major, however I will take youre advice re the wheels.
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  chris October 17, 2009 at 4:33pm

  Thanks P.G. I am pleased that you are happy with the "Midi" I will give careful concidoration to your
  experiance- As Mark said that he found the "Major" was bit of a beast to manage one handed, my thanks to you all for your input,
  
  Pro Gard said:

  Just make sure its the right size for your averadge hedge, as I say youll find the extra height and weight of the major hinderance if your cutting averadge height stuff 6'-8'. For these the midi or senior are perfect. Major is perfect for hedges over about 8 or 9' IMO.
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  Kieran Ray October 17, 2009 at 10:34pm

  Surely for hedges of that height you can do them standing on the floor or a hop up?
  
  Pro Gard said:

  Just make sure its the right size for your averadge hedge, as I say youll find the extra height and weight of the major hinderance if your cutting averadge height stuff 6'-8'. For these the midi or senior are perfect. Major is perfect for hedges over about 8 or 9' IMO.
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  Kieran Ray October 18, 2009 at 12:00am

  Fair enough! I have never used one! Im same height and I just put hedge cutter at shoulder height and walk. Or I use long reach hedge cutter, maybe you can convert me Ill have to hire one and see. If needs be I have bandstands and boards, one of those many in 1 ladders,you know a frame, platform and what ever else you can do and a a frame thats extendable and also a triple extention type thing all in one. gets me by!
  
  Pro Gard said:

  Kieran,
  
  Not if they are more than about 20" wide, the ground slopes, ground is soft, the hedge long or a high quality accurate level cut important.
  
  I always like to work raised up and a bit above the hedge top, holding a machine level at shoulder height is unn necessarily fatiguing and you can struggle to reach all the way across (I'm average height 5'10")
  
  Hop ups great for painting and decorating or plastering etc were you are on level ground but awful on soft or sloping ground. IMO the same is true for step ladders.
  
  Once you have used something like a henchman you will never go back to swing back steps, the perfectly level wide platform makes for very productive non fatiguing work.
  
  This summer with the henchman and stihl HT 86 T and HL75 I cut and cleard up 220m of 5' high 5' wide annual cut beech hedge in three hours (working steadily with several coffee breaks), the ground has a significant slope on it so it would have been farr slower and not particularly safe on steps. I wasn't fatigued at all either despite it being about 22oc.
  
  On anything barr the smallest jobs or tight areas the henchman is a brilliant bit of kit and a money maker via increased productivity, add the safety factor and its easily worth the investment and from the quality of the manufacture will see me out!!
  
  
  Kieran Ray said:

  Surely for hedges of that height you can do them standing on the floor or a hop up?
  
  Pro Gard said:

  Just make sure its the right size for your averadge hedge, as I say youll find the extra height and weight of the major hinderance if your cutting averadge height stuff 6'-8'. For these the midi or senior are perfect. Major is perfect for hedges over about 8 or 9' IMO.
• PRO

  Phil Voice October 18, 2009 at 9:52am

  This previous Henchman review page is worth a read too.
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  Graeme @ BGS October 18, 2009 at 9:53am

  With reference to traffic cones..............
  
  Be mindful of using these as technically this may fall foul of the law. I agree that for most urban / rural situations it would be highly unlikely that some jobs worth would make a formal complaint.
  
  I believe that as soon as you put a cone / sign etc on the highway you technically come under the
  “Set-up and supervise traffic management” unit 02 (signing, lighting and guarding) rules.
  
  In this day and age of where there is a blame etc. if you caused an accident and do not have the correct number of signs / cones etc and qualified to lay these out you could be in big trouble.
  
  As stated earlier quiet residential roads etc. and the time you will be there it shouldn’t really matter too much but I would urge you to seek clarification if considering coning off a small section of an A road.
  
  Perhaps our tree surgeons on this site could throw more light / guidance on this matter.