Dear All
I purchased an ex-demo Pro 46 PHTS (with Honda GC engine) on the Etesia open day and I wanted to let everyone know how I have got on with it.
It was delivered on Monday and I started using it on Tuesday morning. The weather was wet and the grass was soaking. I cut approximately 1 acre in 2 and a half hours, the grass was long (cut 2 weeks previously) and I cut it short. I used it for about 6 hours in all yesterday.
The Etesia did not let me down with its collection and the quality of cut was amazing. Far better than my Harrier 48's and my Honda 535 Pro (both roller).
By comparison I have been using a Harrier 48 today (in the dry) and the cut by comparison is poor and it was disapointing not to have the grass box completely filled.
I will keep people posted as to how it performs over the next few weeks/months but I may well be converted!
-Nick
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Replies
great mowers although heavy, still no stripes for that classic english lawn though :(
Rob - I wouldn't say heavy - they are however more managable for one person to lift in and out of a van.
Whilst I agree that you can't beat the finish of a Hayter for that classic look but how many lawns actually want it every cut and particularly at the start of the season and for those that have been fed?
This time of year by using the Etesia's I am saving 25% of my time due to less stopping for emptying a half full box off the Hayter and spending far less time tidying up.
I reckon the Etesia's will be used on 80% of our lawns until the end of May which in effects gives me about one day free per week for other work that would normally be scheduled for later in the year or weekends. Or toying with charging a premium for striped lawns :-)
However the biggest bonus is clean hands! You know what it is like unblocking the roller mowers in damp, wet conditions - my hands have never been so clean :-)
Chris,
Whilst the Etesia will never (well nearly) match the finish of a Hayter or similar given idea cutting conditions the finish if however excellent and the pick up out of this world.
They really come into their own when the conditions are wet or damp or for those cuts that you wouldn't want a Hayter going over. A very useful machine to have in your tool kit and the pay back for me was is under two days.
Yesterday afyernoon as an example I charged £50 for an ad hoc clients 1st cut. Same time last year I had to strim the lawns, rake, cut with the box off and then rake again and give final mow. Took just over the hour and I know it was cheap. Yesterday I did the same in one cut with the Etesia and took 35 minutes - Job done!
I think the Etesia brand is one of the industries 'best kept secrets'.
The wise, old clever contractors use and love them. We have a 'few' of them (Honda's vari-speed & B&S push).
To those who haven't used them - yes they are relatively expensive but the performance far outweighes the cost.
I've given up justifying them. We just know they work. If you're unsure speak to someone who has one, or go find a dealer and ask for a demo.
The debate on which mower is best will go on for ever, but we've settled on a brand/model that services 80-90% of our commercial cuts.
You can get 'stripes' buy modifying the small rubber deflection strip that sits along the rear edge of the mower. We've been experimenting. We can get the grass to 'lay' down more, but obviously not as good as a heavy roller. Cetainly good enough for commercials
It is very much horses for courses. You need a collection of different mowers to cover all lawn types etc. but this year most of my non commercial clients will have the Etesia's unless they are 1st rate lux lawns or ideal conditions for the Hayter to be used.
Hayters stayed in the vans all day today and no complaints from any householders or the operators :-) In fact we made excellent progress I scheduled on five additional mow jobs this afternoon - Approx. an additional £150 income than budgeted and less pressures on the schedules for Friday and next week.
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