[Shop-talk] Extension cord length vs. wire gauge

Wed Oct 31 15:54:41 MDT 2018

Scott - Understand your situation.  I live in the smallest cheapest 
house that was also a foreclosure on a nice street in an upscale area.  
I make it a point to at least keep the street part of the lot fair.  All 
my neighbors "have people" to maintain their property.

Have you thought about adding an outlet near the shrubbery?  If it is 
all generally in one area, that might make it easier to get away with a 
single extension cord.  With this option, you likely get the option of 
renting a trencher.  If for some reason you want to dig the trench 
yourself, trenching shovels are much nicer because the trench is 
narrower than a regular shovel.  As an added bonus, you would then have 
an outside outlet in that area of the property for other uses.

You've had a mixture of responses, so yes, you could just try it.  I 
have a bunch of trees and bought the HF electric pole chain saw (great 
product, especially for about $65).  I didn't want to be bothered with 
batteries on a product I only use a few times a year. Near the house I 
use a 100' 14 gauge extension cord.  Further away, I use a 12 gauge 100' 
cord from the house then the 14 gauge to the saw.  This works fine.  I 
don't notice the saw slowing down. Anything further and it is the manual 
pole saw.

My parents switched from an electric hedge trimmer to a battery one the 
second time my mom cut the bright orange cord.  It worked for them as 
long as they could work, then they took a break for the battery to 
charge.  I used it briefly and it seemed comparable to my better 
electric one for the short use.

You could also look at a gas string trimmer type tool that lets you swap 
the trimmer and use the power head for a hedge trimmer attachment.  I'm 
on my third gas string trimmer and the current Echo one is far superior 
to the Homelite and Ryobi ones I had first.  The disadvantage to this 
setup is the hedge trimmer will be much heavier.

Your other option it to "have people" come in a few times a year to do 
the trimming.  I did this for brush clearing my first two years on the 
property and will do it again shortly for bigger stuff that doesn't fit 
in my 4" wood chipper.  As a bonus, the wife is happy when the "people" 
come in for the big stuff that I'm slow to get done.

Brian

On 10/31/2018 9:48 AM, Scott Hall wrote:
> It's a hedge-trimmer.
>
> A goddamned hedge trimmer for the the goddamned hedges.
>
> I went and bought a house with...shrubbery. It's a nice house and I 
> like it. In a neighborhood. A nice one. With neighbors. Kinda rich 
> ones, with yard people that keep their yards looking _very_ nice.
>
> I am having more than a little difficulty with the idea that I own a 
> house with shrubs that need to be maintained. I mean, I saw them when 
> I looked at the house, butt I guess it didn't register. And as much as 
> anything else, I don't want the neighbors to think I'm bringing down 
> their neighborhood. I already bought this as a foreclosure and they're 
> all kind of acting like I saved that end of the street from an ogre.
>
> This is actually kind of a thing for me. I used to race motorcycles 
> all weekend. People that "have people" make my ass twitch a little 
> bit. I got a guy for stuff back home--they have...staff. One guy's 
> watch cost more than my house, I think. I'm not sure I belong here, no 
> matter how much money I make. I don't want to own any "hedges". At 
> least not the plant kind.
>
> But I like this house, on this lot, and I'd like to be a good 
> neighbor, and they're nice folks and probably don't deserve me 
> bringing down their property values. And how much this is getting to 
> me is ALSO getting to me.
>
> But anyway, I need a f*ck#ng hedge trimmer for these hedges and some 
> sort of cover plant that I like along the driveway. He called it 
> honeysuckle.
>
> I dislike the idea of even owning a *hedge trimmer* enough that I 
> don't want to spend any coin on it. I'd buy the gas version and slap 
> an expansion chamber on it and get my rocks off that way, but (also 
> problematic for me) the grown up in my head is noting that might be a 
> pointless waste of money. These things need to be cut twice a year, 
> max, I'd bet...and I don't envision myself becoming the sort of person 
> that schools sculpts and topiary.
>
> Anyway, thanks for the suggestion Eric. I'll see if I can get a hedge 
> trimmer for that setup.
>
> Convince me about battery life. I swore off cordless tools after going 
> all-in on Milwaukee 18v kit twenty years ago and having the batteries 
> last a few months each. I have this whole ecosystem of useless tools 
> because I got tired of spending $60 a pop for new packs. On sale.
>
> How long are those lasting you? How frequently do you charge them? Can 
> they sit for months and still hold a charge when used again or do I 
> have to baby them?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott
>
> On Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 12:11 PM <eric at megageek.com 
> <mailto:eric at megageek.com> wrote:
>
>     OK, I hate to be 'that guy' but have you looked at this...
>
>     https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBVCQ4W/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
>
>
>     A little pricey, BUT it is an excuse to buy a tool, AND you can
>     use it for a lot of other things.  I have this model and I run a
>     firewood farm.  My jaw dropped the first time I use this thing.
>
>     It is a beast, the batteries do last long.  The kerf is very
>     narrow, so I think that is why the performance is so great.
>
>     Arguments for...
>
>     -It's way safer than a gas powered unit
>     -You do not need to worry about extension cords (if you are making
>     this augment to an SO, also add "Honey, if I accidentally nick the
>     wire with the chainsaw, I might get electrocuted.  You don't want
>     that, do you?)*
>     -Instead of being 'ashamed' of the electric saw, you get to
>     proclaim this awesomeness
>     -the batteries are compatible with other Dewalt items, SO there is
>     possible more tool goodness to come.
>     -Did I mention bragging rights?
>     -You can even use to it trim wood to use in projects, like if you
>     make bowls, carvings or pens on a lathe (I do use this for it.)
>     -You can use it inside if you need to do demo/home repair
>     -It's Dewalt, so that is cool
>
>     Just some food for thought.
>
>     *= I'm a 47 year old bachelor.  I do not know anything about long
>     term marriages,so this may not work.  YMMV.
>
>
>     Sent from my Commodore 64 on a 2400 Baud Modem.
>     Tech Viper
>     "Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a
>     rational being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your
>     territory." Ralph Waldo Emerson
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