I have 100 ft of Leyland Cypress about 10 ft tall at my house, along street. I pull my pickup truck along side twice a year. They look good but not near perfect. I use a regular gas powered hedge trimmer. I gotta get one of these pole trimmers. Thanks for the tips! I also lean a step ladder for the back side, you were right can't reach.
Man I know the feeling. I used to get put on the Hedge Trimming jobs at the company I was working on. I left them and started my own company doing hedge trimming charging what I know I'm worth. Now I enjoy hedge trimming a lot more because I can see results, make clients smile and wallet happy.
*On ebay there's a guy in the UK that sells a red kombi bolt and nut system that actually holds the attachments firmly. I bought one for my km130 kombi a year ago and never had a problem with the poles slipping out or twisting ever since. I reckon you could make your own, the thick wide washers are the most important parts because they help spread the clamping force to hold tighter.*
How are them shoulders after that haha i love those days. That's like a foot and a half you took off I'm guessing. People do not realize the hard work and effort that goes into shrubs and bushes.
@@keith-kalfas that's awesome. Thanks. I have followed your videos for 4 years now.i have learned everything i can pretty much from you. Things are taking off this 3rd year for me.i just had to jump. And thanks for all the books and speakers you suggest. Four years of that will change your life.your great man.keep it up
I take two ladders and lay a 2x10 between the ladders and use it as a walk board. Then just keep moving one ladder down at the time that way I can get about 10' before moving ladder.
Hedges suck! customers always think im overcharging them when I quote the prices. I use the same Kombi unit with the 130 head. its a beast! I have a large hedge like that at a bank to take care of. I have to do both sides and keep the back side off the ac units for the building. its tough. gotta get in there without damaging anything. I also found that using the adjustable head is great for rounding things off. Just like you said...I do the sides and roud out the top all from the ground. Then its time to get up on the ladder and do the exact method your using. Extension, cut in front of ya, move ladder and get the back cut as you go. Two cuts with one direction of travel (regarding the ladder). its a tough deal though!
Maaaan, I had the same ladder. Unfortunately I was dumping debris and had the ladder in the trailer. I took it out and sat it on bagged lawn clippings.... Yep, left it there. Went back within the hr and it was long gone.
I trim a lot of bushes, I noticed the metal extension has more positive reviews then the carbon fiber extension on Stihl's website (also the carbon fiber one has a lot of negative reviews) So I went with the metal extension and figured it was probably such a small extension poll I wouldn't notice the weight difference. Thankfully God blessed me with being quite strong as I don't have any issues throwing it around!!!
Your definitely 100 percent right Keeping that long extension and working it back and forth love your videos man been watching them for a good time and man ur improvements over the years are incredible keep making the videos I just started my own business and you tube channel thanks God bless I'm learning alot from you
Definitely feeling the pain, as I have done so many hedges with the trimmer extensions and they get very heavy, wish I never did start as I sit here now with severe nerve damage in my hands from the excessive vibrations
Was thinking of investing in the Kombi system this year, but I’m not feeling so sure given that weight is an issue. I don’t have a partner to trade off with.
Depends on your average ticket price per job. Mines $1k. With a 30% profit margin. So I'll drive 7 miles. What's yours. I made a video about it here. th-cam.com/video/dWnHF0SeOv8/w-d-xo.html
Keith where is your orchard ladder? Why are you using that thin ladder? Don't you like the orchard ladder? Ive been saving to buy one but I'm worried it may not be that good because you are not using it. Cheers
It seems like Stihl could come up with a better system. The current kombi design is brilliant for the ability to swap out different attachments for multi purpose jobs. I absolutely love mine. I think all shafts should be carbon fiber on every tool. It's worth the extra money. I also think they could incorporate magnets for a better locking mechanism.
Complain all you want about the ladder but at least you can complain and you are not lying on your back hoping help comes by. I consider ladders the nature of the beast And if I don't feel that I can get the ladder set safely I will pass on the job. I have done that before when the ground is so uneven or there are stones in the way that can not be moved. Also I know you are going to see our friend Daniel M this week. I am less than an hour away from Daniel. Are you able to meet for coffee or something after you leave and head to see our other friend Stanley? If you drive straight north into Wisconsin you will drive right by my house.
Also I am looking to be going to work between 2-3am this morning due to snow. I am hoping to get a little nap in lol but I am just happy for a payday. So I will be around all night. And with this nice weather I was mowing on Christmas and Santa's sleigh hit a tree and I had to climb the tree to remove a 12" widow maker from the canopy.
I made the mistake of buying the cheaper extension and not carbon fiber and its heavy as hell. I find it easier to get up on the ladder with the top at about face level and hold it over my head.
My legs, back, shoulders, arms and neck hurts just watching this video. Hedge trimming large bushes/shrubs like this always looks like an "easy" job you can just "knock out" real quick. But once you start doing it, every single move you make and everything you do feels like a non-stop steady work-out. Then, once you're 1-2 hours in the job and you realize you're not even half way done, you start wondering why you agreed to do the job 🤣
Makes sense the Dealer I went to sold me an underpowered powerhead that he said would run great no issues, no way in hell could it handle 2 extensions. It can barely run with one extension.
You think it's in. Start cutting strip the drive shaft. Thought you had a three leg arborist ladder Keith. I only cut once then trim every ten weeks during the growing season. Sick of wrecking my kit for jokers. Ego multi tool is decent as a long reach dog.
Mate I really like the Ego stuff for maintenance. I've got the mower, multi tool, carbon extension, pole saw and hedge cutter attachment. Short reach trimmers. Short reach 2 speed cutters which are pretty beast. And the blower. I'm running 2 2.5 amp batteries a 4&5 amp. Ego is better than Milwaukee dog. I got myself a minor Eliet shredder and I'm going crush 2020. Merry Christmas and happy New year Mr Kalfas.
Also, I can't lie brother, it hurts to watch you sculpt and prune Japanese maples with hedge trimmers. I get it. "What the customer wants". Just painful to see.
Plastic bags, soda cans, carbon monoxide, etc... were all horrible creatures. If I focused more on trimming the Japanese maple tree right, "and figuring out how to get the customer to pay for all that" then I might have never created all the videos that helped and served thousands. Damned if I do, damned if I dont" But I see it as a sacrifice, because once I start trimming the maple tree right.... then I'll be getting shit for not wearing the right shoes. Then once I'm perfect... then nobody will want to watch my videos anymore because I'll be a such a tightass
Rookies always mow first. Rookies always use a 2meter² tarp to try catch all debris from 20meter long hedges. Rookies always hack holes in hedges. Rookies always spend every moment they can trying to waste time by fuckin around with somethin like a ladder...even after saying he has six extension's. If only you new what efficiency means buddy.
I have 100 ft of Leyland Cypress about 10 ft tall at my house, along street. I pull my pickup truck along side twice a year. They look good but not near perfect. I use a regular gas powered hedge trimmer. I gotta get one of these pole trimmers. Thanks for the tips!
I also lean a step ladder for the back side, you were right can't reach.
Yes exactly haha. We used to pull ky old truck on the lawn and trim the hedges like that too. lol
Keith you are the perfect balance of entertainment and great info. I always look forward to your next video.
Thank you sir.
Those perfect blue sky, no humidity days are what I live for.
Man I know the feeling. I used to get put on the Hedge Trimming jobs at the company I was working on.
I left them and started my own company doing hedge trimming charging what I know I'm worth.
Now I enjoy hedge trimming a lot more because I can see results, make clients smile and wallet happy.
*On ebay there's a guy in the UK that sells a red kombi bolt and nut system that actually holds the attachments firmly. I bought one for my km130 kombi a year ago and never had a problem with the poles slipping out or twisting ever since. I reckon you could make your own, the thick wide washers are the most important parts because they help spread the clamping force to hold tighter.*
How are them shoulders after that haha i love those days. That's like a foot and a half you took off I'm guessing. People do not realize the hard work and effort that goes into shrubs and bushes.
Yea bro. Its brutal.
@@keith-kalfas that's awesome. Thanks. I have followed your videos for 4 years now.i have learned everything i can pretty much from you. Things are taking off this 3rd year for me.i just had to jump. And thanks for all the books and speakers you suggest. Four years of that will change your life.your great man.keep it up
my husband just rolls his eyes at me when i come in sweating. It looks so easy!
I take two ladders and lay a 2x10 between the ladders and use it as a walk board. Then just keep moving one ladder down at the time that way I can get about 10' before moving ladder.
I was thinking same thing but an actual scaffold. I think the 2x10 makes much better sense.
@@chancecooper9246 yea I have used this concept for years works good and it's quick. I would like to have an orchard ladder though.
Hedges suck! customers always think im overcharging them when I quote the prices. I use the same Kombi unit with the 130 head. its a beast! I have a large hedge like that at a bank to take care of. I have to do both sides and keep the back side off the ac units for the building. its tough. gotta get in there without damaging anything. I also found that using the adjustable head is great for rounding things off. Just like you said...I do the sides and roud out the top all from the ground. Then its time to get up on the ladder and do the exact method your using. Extension, cut in front of ya, move ladder and get the back cut as you go. Two cuts with one direction of travel (regarding the ladder). its a tough deal though!
Maaaan, I had the same ladder. Unfortunately I was dumping debris and had the ladder in the trailer. I took it out and sat it on bagged lawn clippings....
Yep, left it there.
Went back within the hr and it was long gone.
I trim a lot of bushes, I noticed the metal extension has more positive reviews then the carbon fiber extension on Stihl's website (also the carbon fiber one has a lot of negative reviews) So I went with the metal extension and figured it was probably such a small extension poll I wouldn't notice the weight difference. Thankfully God blessed me with being quite strong as I don't have any issues throwing it around!!!
Your definitely 100 percent right Keeping that long extension and working it back and forth love your videos man been watching them for a good time and man ur improvements over the years are incredible keep making the videos I just started my own business and you tube channel thanks God bless I'm learning alot from you
Thank you very much.
Trimming tall hedges is the best arm and shoulder workout you could ever get,it is really hard work,
It's insane. I almost permanently injured my shoulders.
@@keith-kalfas Probably without proper training or strength this work may do more harm than good for health.
@@keith-kalfasWould a battery hedge trimmer instead of a petrol hedge trimmer help to solve this issue?
Definitely feeling the pain, as I have done so many hedges with the trimmer extensions and they get very heavy, wish I never did start as I sit here now with severe nerve damage in my hands from the excessive vibrations
My friend I'm sorry. Yep.
Wow! im so sorry to hear this. I wear thick leather gloves to stop it, and thank god i only have my own yard. Blessings.
Nice weather for the end of December 😂😂😂
Epically in Michigan
That’s a job big job 100% I learned really quick, how demanding shrubs can be.
Good stuff Keith !
Surprised you didn't use the orchard ladder.
Noticed you having balance problems with that ladder we use a arbor ladder balance is never a problem. Safety first right? Lol
Was thinking of investing in the Kombi system this year, but I’m not feeling so sure given that weight is an issue. I don’t have a partner to trade off with.
How far should I drive to get to a customer. What is your service distance
Depends on your average ticket price per job.
Mines $1k. With a 30% profit margin. So I'll drive 7 miles.
What's yours.
I made a video about it here. th-cam.com/video/dWnHF0SeOv8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks Keith
Do you do, like, full designs/re-designs?
Why not use like a fifty foot scaffold like painters use? You could literally walk right across it and trim bushes
Try the hasegawa tripod ladders!
Aha. You're right
@@keith-kalfas just got a 10 foot and I love it. So much safer. No wobble at all.
Heck, now I’m thinking about it, why not use stilts like drywall guys use lol. That’s actually not a bad idea lol
Shrub Master 🦹♂️
Keith where is your orchard ladder? Why are you using that thin ladder? Don't you like the orchard ladder? Ive been saving to buy one but I'm worried it may not be that good because you are not using it.
Cheers
You wore me out.....I don't know about your pole trimmer. But my pole saw always wears me out. 🏴☠️
Good stuff, man!
It seems like Stihl could come up with a better system. The current kombi design is brilliant for the ability to swap out different attachments for multi purpose jobs. I absolutely love mine.
I think all shafts should be carbon fiber on every tool. It's worth the extra money. I also think they could incorporate magnets for a better locking mechanism.
That's genius. But yea. I'm sick if the KOMBI. Too heavy
@@keith-kalfas make the whole thing carbon fiber.
Better yet, design a drone with hedge trimmers 🤣😂
That is a big bush man! good job and good info!
Complain all you want about the ladder but at least you can complain and you are not lying on your back hoping help comes by. I consider ladders the nature of the beast
And if I don't feel that I can get the ladder set safely I will pass on the job. I have done that before when the ground is so uneven or there are stones in the way that can not be moved. Also I know you are going to see our friend Daniel M this week. I am less than an hour away from Daniel. Are you able to meet for coffee or something after you leave and head to see our other friend Stanley? If you drive straight north into Wisconsin you will drive right by my house.
Also I am looking to be going to work between 2-3am this morning due to snow. I am hoping to get a little nap in lol but I am just happy for a payday. So I will be around all night. And with this nice weather I was mowing on Christmas and Santa's sleigh hit a tree and I had to climb the tree to remove a 12" widow maker from the canopy.
That robot hedge trimmer dancing move made me laugh so hard :D
Is the Echo PAS system a more reliable interchangable system than the Kombi?
I made the mistake of buying the cheaper extension and not carbon fiber and its heavy as hell. I find it easier to get up on the ladder with the top at about face level and hold it over my head.
Haha I know. Its ridiculous
I dont go up latter can i tell customers that
My legs, back, shoulders, arms and neck hurts just watching this video.
Hedge trimming large bushes/shrubs like this always looks like an "easy" job you can just "knock out" real quick. But once you start doing it, every single move you make and everything you do feels like a non-stop steady work-out. Then, once you're 1-2 hours in the job and you realize you're not even half way done, you start wondering why you agreed to do the job 🤣
Great video! What do you uses for aa power-head on the Kombi?
I dono. It's the biggest one though.
Makes sense the Dealer I went to sold me an underpowered powerhead that he said would run great no issues, no way in hell could it handle 2 extensions. It can barely run with one extension.
My neck hurts just watching this.
Do your shoulders, ears and lungs a favor and get an hla85. Nice video.
Ooh what's that? Electric?
@@keith-kalfas Yeah stihl telescopic battery. 3.3m extended so maybe not as long as the combi + 2 extensions.
You think it's in. Start cutting strip the drive shaft. Thought you had a three leg arborist ladder Keith. I only cut once then trim every ten weeks during the growing season. Sick of wrecking my kit for jokers. Ego multi tool is decent as a long reach dog.
Nice. I gotta check that out
Mate I really like the Ego stuff for maintenance. I've got the mower, multi tool, carbon extension, pole saw and hedge cutter attachment. Short reach trimmers. Short reach 2 speed cutters which are pretty beast. And the blower. I'm running 2 2.5 amp batteries a 4&5 amp. Ego is better than Milwaukee dog. I got myself a minor Eliet shredder and I'm going crush 2020. Merry Christmas and happy New year Mr Kalfas.
Honda tried buy them out but it didn't happen. There's a warehouse full of unsold Ego honda mk 1 equipment.
I cut loads of lingstrum aka privit. Cut it tight once. Trim regular. Easy money
Trimming Ninja.
Only helpful tip of video is at 11:55
Yeah holding those out are a pain in the ass, but you just get used to it and move efficiently
GYROSCOPING. whats up Falkas
Haha yes
Lingstrum aka privit
Also, I can't lie brother, it hurts to watch you sculpt and prune Japanese maples with hedge trimmers. I get it. "What the customer wants". Just painful to see.
Plastic bags, soda cans, carbon monoxide, etc... were all horrible creatures.
If I focused more on trimming the Japanese maple tree right,
"and figuring out how to get the customer to pay for all that"
then I might have never created all the videos that helped and served thousands.
Damned if I do, damned if I dont"
But I see it as a sacrifice, because once I start trimming the maple tree right.... then I'll be getting shit for not wearing the right shoes.
Then once I'm perfect... then nobody will want to watch my videos anymore because I'll be a such a tightass
I found another stilt hedge trimming video for you. th-cam.com/video/mpFs0JSJfTM/w-d-xo.html
Real landscaping business owners buy jet packs and trim that 💩 in the air... Ladders are soool 20th century. Mehmehmehmehmehhh...😆
Lol.
Rookies always mow first.
Rookies always use a 2meter² tarp to try catch all debris from 20meter long hedges.
Rookies always hack holes in hedges.
Rookies always spend every moment they can trying to waste time by fuckin around with somethin like a ladder...even after saying he has six extension's.
If only you new what efficiency means buddy.
no.2 LOL