Power equipment requirements vary greatly according to the equipment owner, use, needs, the size and type of the their place and its geographical location. Some pieces of mechanical equipment are of great value almost anywhere while others are much more specialized in their uses.
Rotary Mowers
Few power tools are more useful to make short work in the landscape than the rotary mower.
Most rotary type mowers consist of a framework with handlebars, direct drive motor, a one-piece blade and wheels. For sheer simplicity it is difficult to equal. Small rotary mowers are seldom self-propelled. The blade alone is driven by the motor but using a rotary mower for the first time is a pleasant surprise. The stuff you are mowing just disappears into tiny bits.
The rotary will mow high as well as low grass, weeds and very small saplings. It will even mow large saplings if they can be bent so the knife below the shield will reach them. One of the better rotary mowers has a leaf-grinding attachment which is the best thing of its kind to come to my attention. Where leaves are a problem this is “it.”
Maintenance costs on rotary mowers are low because of their simplicity, since the blade may be removed and sharpened with a file or grinding wheel by the owner.
Safety habits are important. Never work on or adjust any machine while its motor is running. When working on the blade of a rotary mower take one extra precaution-disconnect the ignition cable at the spark plug. It is not a bad idea to do this when storing the machine between jobs, too.
The popular manufacturers of rotary type mowers are: Toro, Honda, John Deere, Snapper, Yard Man and Murray
Hedge Trimmers
The average person, called upon to trim a hedge by hand, finds the work arduous and distasteful. Therefore the power hedge trimmer. Not only does it make the work easier but faster. And, to cut back the new growth alone is not the whole story. The cutting should be clean. Laceration and tearing of the bark should not exist.
This brings us to the questions of design, size, and weight of machine. Power hedge trimmers come in a wide variety of designs, such as reciprocating, chain-tooth and rotary cut. Where any of these embody proper shearing with the ability to keep doing so, the results must be desirable. The rotary trimmers have an advantage over most conventional trimmers in that they cut both left and right. This is important where there is a lot of work to be done, since the operator doesn’t have to keep changing sides to trim in opposite directions.
The angles at which the cutters are ground have an important bearing on how clean a cut is made. Also, improper sharpening later can impair the effectiveness of any trimmer you select. In most cases the cutting surfaces pass over a series of teeth or opposing edges. Together they cut. Therefore, it is necessary that they remain in close contact with one another. Any tendency to part is sure to produce unsatisfactory results. Adjustment should also be possible to compensate for wear and the trimmer should also have adequate power to cut the heavier branches occasionally encountered.
Likewise, the trimmer should be balanced and provided with handles to permit easy operation in all positions, vertical and horizontal, without fatigue. The size and weight depend upon the kind of work to be done, tae amount and the ability of the user to handle the machine. Diecast parts are sometimes used to reduce weight but avoid them in parts subject to heavy wear.
The user with a short hedge near an electrical outlet need have little worry about “line voltage drop” which takes place when an electrical tool is used at too great a distance from the source of power for the size of the extension cord. When “drop” occurs the input of energy into the motor is not sufficient for the motor to develop its rated horsepower and may overheat or even burn out the motor. For small homes with a distance to cover a gas powered hedge trimmer is the best and most flexible solution.
Electric trimmers are regularly furnished in sizes ranging from 12 inches to 24 inches. The size depends upon your needs but try to buy a brand of known standing from a reputable dealer. In any case, be more concerned with inner construction than outward appearance and look for lack of vibration.
Sprayers
For years power sprayers were familiar equipment with commercial growers. Today, however, the sprayer finds still more uses such as the control of weeds, crabgrass and other vegetation, thinning fruit, defoliating nursery stock, etc. The power sprayer market offers almost unlimited types and sizes. A person interested merely in weed control would presumably buy a less expensive sprayer than one with fruit trees, because of their low need for such high pressure to reach their plants. Where there is much tree or orchard work a sprayer capable of developing a 200-pound pressure is advisable.
As an attachment, the sprayer is not yet common. But, when using a small backpack for weed control or lawn areas try to equip it with a drift shield for the protection of desired flowers and shrubs. For spraying shrubbery and small fruit trees sprayer with a wand and a generous length of hose. Agitation can be a issue depending on the type of spray material which can “settle” to the bottom of the tank.
In closing, let me suggest always trying out mechanical equipment to see if it fits your needs and the importance of buying from a servicing dealer.
