Garden Powertools tested and reviewed by Fred In The Shed

Power Tools For Gardening

The latest and best tried and tested by Fred-in-the-shed

Electric Hedge Trimmers, Shredders, Grass trimmers, Chainsaws and Blowers tested and reviewed

( I don't feature petrol equipment as I am not an expert in them)

Updated 19th January 2012

Under testing new Worx 24v Cordless Mower

CEL DM20 Self Propelled Cordless Mower

And New Gardena 18v Cordless chainsaw

See My New Page - Fred's Top 10 Practical Gifts

this tv advertised mower has many new features including silent cut, mulching and extended battery duration

click here for my new page on cordless mowers

LATEST TOOLS UNDER TESTING

18v Cordless hedge trimmers

Cordless garden tools offer significant safety and convenience advantages over corded tools. However hedge-trimmers "take a lot of stick" and need a lot of power, which is hard to supply from a small battery - until now - with the new Lithium Ion Batteries

Bosch launched new hedge trimmers in 2008 using Li-in technology and I tested and compared the smaller model with the Ryobi 18v model.

The Ryobi CHT 1850 has been around a few years now and is a no frills machine and part of a range of cordless tools . The 18v ni-cad battery is widely used and reliable, it has a 430mm blade with a 10mm cutting capacity. In 2009 Ryobi introduced Li-ion batteries as an option and this takes the 18v one plus tools into a different league.

If you want a cordless hedge trimmer for thicker, or less well kept hedges the new Bosch models are better and will cut up to 15mm thick stems. They are longer than the Ryobi, have a 2 year warranty and anti stall technology.

There are 2 blade lengths and as with all Bosch hedge trimmers the blades are top quality and super sharp with good steel that is diamond ground.

The Bosch AHS 48 Li is long enough for most people and represents the best value so is the cordless hedge-trimmer I recommend the most.

Use the text links below to see the Bosch AHS 52li

click here for more details on the latest and best cordless electric hedge trimmers

The Bosch models come in 2 lengths and both have 18v Li-ion batteries

Check price of Bosch AHS 52 Li model

Ryobi 18v Cordless Hedge Trimmer

This no frills hedge trimmer has been around for a few years now and is part of the brilliant Ryobi plus one range of cordless power tools.

There are over 20 tools in this range including trimmers, n drills, saws, sanders, vacuum cleaners, torches and more. The hedge trimmer and all the other tools can be powered from either a standard battery or the latest lightweight Li-ion batteries. This is the most flexible system around and the tools can be purchased with chargers and batteries or without (naked).

The hedge trimmer is what I can a no -nonsense tool that will do the job and is easy to use. If you don't already have any Ryobi one + tools and need to buy the battery and charge then initially it works out more expensive than buying the Bosch hedge trimmer. However if you plan on using more cordless power tools then this is where you will save money and space by not having to buy more chargers and batteries.

Although I am generally a fan of Bosch tools I think they made a mistake by not making their batteries more compatible with their own tools. This has opened a window for companies like Ryobi to enter the market and give consumers what they want. Well done Ryobi! one of my pet hates is having a shed full of chargers and loads of expensive batteries sitting around idle and degenerating.

50min run time and 3 hour charging

The new Bosch AHS48 Li cordless hedge trimmer being tested on a very overgrown mixed hedge.

A longer version with 52cm blade is also available

AHS52 - price approx £99

The Ryobi 18c Hedge trimmer is also available with Li-ion batteries

(the same battery also powers a brilliant shear/shrubber)

LATEST TOOLS UNDER TESTING

July 2011

18v Cordless hedge trimmer

18v cordless grass trimmer

both with Li-ion Batteries

mail me for details

sold individually with batteries, naked, or as a pair

Eye protection and lubrication will make your hedge trimming easier and safer

See My New Page - Fred's Top 10 Practical Gifts

Latest Cordless Hedge trimmer - Bosch AHS 54 -20 Li with 36v battery!

This hedge trimmer is the first of a new breed of garden tools powered by high powered batteries designed to offer a serious alternative to mains electric and even petrol machinery.

As the laws on fuel immersions tighten up we will see more battery powered mowers, trimmers and chainsaws appearing. Bosch have made a head start in this with a range of all 3 of the above mentioned tools that are powered by one, interchangeable 36v Lithium ion battery.

I have used this battery for around 4 years in a mower and it is impressive. This new hedgetrimmer has the usual top quality Bosch blades and combined with the innovative battery it really is a tool I rate highly. When used to cut my larger bay tree is actually cut through branches i would usually use secateurs or loppers on!

With the battery fitted it is quite a large and heavy tool so this is not one for old ladies, feeble men and anyone with a back problem etc,

Sadly , although the Bosch aHS54-20 Li is an brilliant product Bosch refuse to sell it alone without batteries so anyone who already owns Bosch 36v kit will find this expensive to buy.

Check Price of Bosch 36v hedgetrimmer at Tooled Up

click here for more details on the latest and best cordless electric hedge trimmers

(including the Bosch 36v cordless hedge trimmer)

This battery powered hedge trimmer uses the latest Li-ion technology to offer a viable alternative to a mains powered tool

The sample I tried cut through anything that fitted between its teeth!

Long reach -Cordless Hedge Trimmers

As long as your hedge is not in a confined space then a long handled hedge trimmer is a much better tool to use. These machines are growing in popularity and come in a range of sizes, petrol and electric and now battery powered.

I have tested the Gtech HT, Black and Decker, Gardena and Makita Cordless telescopic Hedge-trimmers. The drawback with this type of tool is the weight of the head so only consider the longest ones if you are very strong.

I am currently testing the

Flymo Sabre Cut 24v Cordless System

This multi tool system uses a powerful but heavy lead acid battery that you carry via shoulder strap to keep the tool as light as possible.

There are 3 tools available which are the hedge trimmer, grass trimmer and a blower.

Black and Decker also make a hedge trimmer attachment for their 18V long reach range but this was one tool we found too heavy and unwieldy to use.

If you want a long reach hedge trimmer for large hedges my recommendation is the Flymo sabre cut and for smaller hedges the new Gtech HT05. The Black and Decker 18v system is not so good for hedge trimming but does have a good little chainsaw attachment.

Buy Flymo Sabre trim grass trimmer attachment from a fredshed partner

The grass trimmer and hedge trimmer are good, I wouldn't recommend the blower

For more details and to check prices on the Flymo Sabre cut click here.

The Flymo Sabre cut with the hedge trimmer attachment.

some users found the 24v battery pack heavy to wear around the waist.

However the grass trimmer was very good and the hedge trimmer better than the B&D one.

Best Garden Vacuums/Leaf Blowers

After several years of testing I have decided that I don't really like garden vacs- They are noisy, cover you in dust and a pain in the **** to store. Also it is common for people to suck up stones and trash the blade that does the shredding.

They also work better on blow than suck as wet leaves stick to the ground. Contractors do use blowers and blow material onto a sheet in a corner. This is more practical and dedicated blowers are very simple and reliable machines.

I declare the electric garden shredder vac to be a triumph of marketing over practicality. However if you really want one please use the link below where you will see a range of them from a reliable Fredshed recommended retailer

AL-KO Hurricane Blower Vac

One quality machine I tried was the AL-KO Hurricane 2400. It was the least annoying and most effective of the electric garden shredder vacs.

As with most other blower vacs it has a roller on the front to take the weight.

The AL-KO 2400 Hurricane shredder/vac has been in production for several years costs about £90 and is well backed up for spare parts.

click for prices of blowers and garden vacs

18v Cordless Leaf blowers

Cordless Sweepers

Some years back I tested the Black & Decker 18v cordless leaf blower and was very disappointed. Whilst the idea was good the product was a bit ahead of its time and let down by an poor NiCad battery.

Luckily technology has moved on and Makita of Japan have just launched this amazingly small but powerful leaf blower using its latest 18v Lithium-ion battery with its unbeatable 3 amp hour capacity.

Initial tests show a run time of about 20 minutes compared to about 5 from the old B&D GW180.

This vast improvement in performance comes at a price. The Makita blower costs around £50 but this does not include a battery or charger. The Makita BUB182Z blower forms part of a range of over 20 18v professional quality power tools and Makita assume this will be purchased by customers who already have the battery and charger from their drills, saws, and grinders etc.

If you are a gardener and want the best cordless powertools then there is the 18v cordless chainsaw that runs from the same battery too.

Petrol Leaf Blowers

These are a similar weight to electric versions but have more power. If you are confident with starting 2 stroke engines then I would rather recommend a petrol machine. Like the electric ones the budget versions mostly use a second tube that has to be switched over for the vacuuming function.

The McCullogh 25cc petrol blower vac and Ryobi RBV26 are well priced and have encouraging reader reviews,

compare price of Ryobi petrol blower/vac with another retailer

Electric Lawn Rakers and Scarifiers

To keep your lawn well drained and cleared of "thatch" build up I recommend using a powered lawnraker. (also known as an electric scarifier).

Doing this job by hand is for the super-fit, super-skint or totally insane!

Sadly, like grass trimmers there are a lot of poorly designed and made models available.

The Black and Decker GD200GB had been around for a long time and is a cheap and cheerful workhorse for lawnraking. It has been replaced by the GD300 with a 600w motor. Bosch made a similar and slightly better built model called the AMR32F lawn raker. It has now been replaced by two 900watt models. One has tines the other has metal blades and will rip your lawn apart.

If you have a large lawn you will need a more powerful lawn aerator. The budget price 400w electric ones are not up to the job and will take ages to cover the distance, or burn out under the strain. There are better and more expensive machines for larger lawns but at £70 these cheapie lawmakers I tested were adequate for use once a year on small lawns

TOP TIP - don't set blades too deep or use on hard dry lawns - this may burn out your motor!

Another option is the Qualcast Classic range of Cylinder mowers that come in petrol or electric versions and have the innovative QX scarifier cassette system. I have used the system and although it is a bit of a pain to fit it does work well.

I am currently testing the new Draper 1300W raker/scarifier which comes with 2 interchangeable cylinders, one with wire blades for raking and the other with fixed metal blades for deeper aerating. I am also testing the Bosch ALR 900 electric lawnraker and have used the Flymo model.

All of the above machines have their pros and cons, all could and should be improved. A common problem with them all is the limited range of height adjustment and small collection boxes. On average I like the Flymo best - for small- medium lawns and usage.

Other good makes of heavier duty lawn rakers are

AL-KO and Wolf Garten

Please use my links or mail me if you need help choosing an electric lawn-raker

See different makes and heavy duty lawn scarifiers

Bosch 900w and Draper 45544 1300w Lawnraker

compare price of the Flymo Lawnraker 340

check price of Bosch ALR900 at B&Q

click to see a large range of heavier duty lawn scarifiers

Electric Garden Shredders

Garden shredders are one of my favourite tools. Gone are the days of smoky bonfires, neighbours complaining of smelly washing, dusty cars and burned down homes. I now longer disguise my car as a mobile forest and spend hours in a queue waiting to see the waste of an entire city. Instead I sit happily beside a shiny machine feeding in branches and receiving bags of woodchip mulch that I USED TO PAY ££££,S FOR. Shredders are lovely, the equipment industry knows this and has flooded the market with domestic shredders. Many unfortunately are rubbish.

I have tested the following shredders

AL-KO SP5000 Silent shredder, AL-KO Powerslider2500R shredder, Atco 1800 Quiet shredder, Bosch AXT 180 Rapid Shredder, Bosch AXT200 Rapid Shredder, Bosch AXT2000 HP Silent Shredder, Bosch AXT2000 Rapid Shredder, Bosch AXT2200 Rapid Shredder ,Bosch AXT2200HP Quiet Shredder , Bosch AXT25D , Bosch AXT 23 TC, Black & Decker GA 1600e shredder, Draper 1800w and 2400W Shredders, JCB GSB 1800 Shredder, Makita DSH201 Shredder, Powerdevil shredder. Ryobi ESR2400. Flymo Pac-a-shred. Wolf Shredder.

my readers have also provided good feedback on the

Aldi 2500w, Ryobi RGS 1500 Shredder, MTD 115E shredder, Viking GE35L shredder, VikingGE103 and GE250 shredders.

Top Tip - Always wear goggles and gloves when using garden shredders. If you really want a poke in the eye let me know and I will see what I can do.

The Lux Optical glasses are the ones I use and superb value for money

Some of the many garden shredders that I have extensively tested during the last 8 years.

Quiet Shredders - Crushing cog or Spiral screw mechanism?

My recommended crushing type (silent or quiet) shredder is the Bosch AXT 25D. This machine is the most heavy duty and durable of the Bosch machines.

It uses cogs to crush the branches into chunks rather than chippings. it is more robust than the old Bosch AXT2000HP machine that used a spiral cutter.

for more details or to send me feedback on your shredder mail me - fred@fredshed.com

check shredder prices at garden4less.co.uk

The Three Shredders

You've probably heard of the Three Tenors! well they are boring compared to the Three Shredders I tested in my "shread to shread" showdown!

Bosch (Atco) Makita (Brill), and JCB and Draper did the job, (in different ways). Let me know if you have a shredder that works well and we can tell the world.

I have also tested many more shredders that I would not allow in my shed and sourced hundreds of shredders for my readers who supply me with feedback on performance and longevity..

There are 2 basic types of electric shredder, cutting (spinning blade) and crushing (cog or spiral screw) shredders. There are pros and cons of each depending on what you want to achieve. To add to the confusion Bosch have now launched a "turbine cutter"!

My favourite "silent" shredder is the Bosch AXT25D

The Bosch AXT2000HP quiet shredder the spiral cutter is less robust than the cog cutters and has been discontinued.

Cheapest Garden Shredders

(Impact or Spinning Blade type)

As these machines are simple and easy to make the can be very cheap and can be good at dealing with softer material.

Some of these cheap shredders are still total rubbish and should be avoided. The cheapest ones have one blade like a razor blade and underpowered motors.

In 2004 Bosch introduced the AXT "RAPID" impact shredders to compete with the budget shredders. These machines can take soft foliage as well as woody branches and have double (reversible) blades similar to a rotary lawnmower.. However some of my readers reported rapid blade wear and in response Bosch have designed some new blades which are laser cut in Switzerland and should be much better.

If you are thinking of buying a cheap shredder or want to tell me about a bad one please e-mail me at

fred@fredshed.com and I will recommend the shredder for your needs

Product News - the Bosch AXT180 and AXT200 have been upgraded to NEW BOSCH AXT2000 RAPID and AXT2200 RAPID

WITH MORE POWER AND IMPROVED SWISS MADE BLADE

The Bosch rapid shredders are great but are noisy and hard work to feed compared to a self feeding quiet shredder. However if you have a smallish garden or infrequent use they are an ideal option for a good price.

A typical cheap impact or spinning blade shredder

This one has one (reversible) razor blade type cutter. The Bosch AXT rapid shredders have 2 cutting blades on the end of a lawnmower style cutting bar.

The most complained about products reported to fredshed are cheap brands of garden shredders and bendy stainless steel garden forks.

Do yourself and the planet a favour and avoid these largely Chinese made products. Mail me if you need help sourcing good quality long lasting garden power tools.

Bosch AXT RAPID Shredders

Winner of the 2007 Golden Shed Award

(and then Which best buy)

click for Bosch shredder collection bag

Upgrade your Bosch Rapid Shredder with the new laser cut blade made in Switzerland

lasts up to 70% longer, double sided, reverse it when one side becomes blunt

STILL WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SHREDDERS ?

Click here for my page dedicated to BOSCH GARDEN SHREDDERS

also links to Bosch Shredder parts

and repair tips!

See My New Page - Fred's Top 10 Practical Gifts

Best Mains Powered Electric Hedge trimmers

If you are buying a mains powered electric hedge trimmer then it is likely that you have a large hedge so go for one with plenty of power and a long blade if you have the strength to hold it.. More important is the quality of the blade since this is a machine that is going to take a lot of stick!

Don't be tempted by really cheap hedge trimmers, you will most likely be wasting your money as the blades will soon go blunt and fail to cut or damage your stems.

Best Mains Electric Hedge Trimmer

For the money I think the most impressive mains electric hedge trimmer I have tested is the Bosch AHS 48-16. This is a real, no nonsense workhorse that has been in production many years either as Bosch or Qualcast.

This well made machine has precision ground 48cm blades and a 420w motor, 16mm blade spacing, that cuts even thick stems with ease.

A good alternative is the excellent Bosch AHS 63 which has ta stonking 63cm top quality blade and some really good customer reviews. If you want a normal size, no nonsense reliable hedge trimmer with quality blades at a low price then the Bosch AHS 48-16 is the one I recommend.

The AHS 50-16 has a bigger motor and longer blade

Gardengroom safety Hedge Trimmer

Trim, Vac and Shred in one go!

Many accidents happen with electric hedge trimmers, either by cutting fingers or electrocution from cutting the cable. About 7 year ago I met an Inventor called Graham Wilson who had a solution - he designed a hedge trimmer with a concealed rotary blade. Another advantage of this design is that the blade would cut and shred the clippings and then blow them into a bag.

Over the years my testing concluded that the Garden Groom is not the best hedge trimmer for everyone but as a specialist product it works very well. It is definitely the safest and the only one that collects and shreds the trimmings- thus saving you a lot of clear up time.

The Garden Groom works best on well maintained hedges that are not too wide. It is fairly heavy and the collecting box fills quickly. However it is now supplied in 2 sizes and with a tube and large collecting bag which works well if you have space beside your hedge.

Inventor Graham Wilson showing me the original version 7 years ago

This is the Garden Groom Midi, there is also a higher performance model known as the Garden Groom Pro

If you found my advice helpful you can support my work by returning to this page and using my links when purchasing your secateurs. Also any products bought from Amazon using the links below will produce a small commission that helps cover my hosting costs. thanks, Fred

PLEASE CONTINUE ON THIS PAGE OR CLICK BELOW FOR MORE SPECIALISED PAGES

garden shredders lawn tools new products mowers C ordless hedgetrimmers r obot mower s

pruning tools watering equipment

Best electric grass trimmer?

Cordless grass trimmers tested and reviewed

use the link below for my new page

(click here for cordless grass trimmers)

After testing most of the popular makes of electric trimmer I was very disappointed. Many were either uncomfortable to use or had ridiculously complicated nylon line dispensers that were very hard to replace. Most of the battery powered ones just don't have the umph to run more than a few minutes on the longer grass.

I know of at least 2 people who became so frustrated that they smashed their trimmers against a wall and threw them away!

Another annoying thing about electric grass trimmers is the cable - that's why I much prefer the battery powered cordless grass trimmers.

Luckily Li-ion batteries have improved the performance of these cordless tools and they are now worth looking at.

The new cordless trimmers from Bosch have a wheel that supports the weight of the machine and the handles and shafts are adjustable in every way to make the tools easier to use.

Under testing

New Bosch 14.4v Lithium Ion grass trimmer

Also 18v model!

Like the Gtech trimmer these models also have telescopic handle, rotating head, and uses plastic blades. They are heavier and the small but powerful Li-Ion batteries have to be taken out to re-charge which gives you the option of longer running times if you get another battery.

Also as mentioned above, when the battery eventually dies you can buy another and not have to throw away a decent tool, and charger.

A new development for Bosch is that the battery from these gardening products is also used in some DIY tools like drills. Previously Bosch garden and DIY used different batteries which annoyed me immensely.

The Bosch ART 23LI and ART 26Li trimmers use the same battery as the one in the

Bosch AHS 48 Li and AHS 52 Li hedge trimmers

These products should run for approx 50 mins on one charrge

Battery Powered Cordless Chainsaws

The same 18 v battery can be used to power this hand held chainsaw as several other Black & Decker powertools. It is well balanced and uses a good quality Oregon chain which is automatically lubricated by a built in oil reservoir

A petrol or mains powered chainsaw is a scary and potentially dangerous tool to use but this is much more user friendly and perfectly adequate for small jobs.

Check price of black&decker 18v chainsaw

This easy to handle powered saw is ideal for cutting up old branches to make logs for wood burning stoves.

Use your garden waste as valuable fuel - don't use fuel to dump it!

A spare battery is around £40 but you can buy a drill battery and charger for almost the same!

Click here to see my special page dedicated to cordless chainsaws

Gardena ACCU CST2018 Li 18v cordless chainsaw!

click here for prices and info for Bosch Electric chainsaws from a Fredshed recommended discount supplier

buy spare chains for Ryobi and B & Q branded chainsaws

The well designed Black and Decker 18 cordless chainsaw. It has an oil reservoir and good safety features.

I have also tested the more expensive Makita cordless chainsaws

The Makita saws have better batteries but shorter cutting bars and are considerably more expensive.

If you do a lot of chain-sawing a reasonable option would be to buy the long handled AND the normal Black& Decker chainsaws and have 2 batteries and chargers. BUT.. now there is the new Gardena cordless chainsaw! (see below)

Click here to see my special page dedicated to cordless chainsaws

Mains Powered Grass Trimmers

Black & Decker Strimmers

Black and Decker GL690 Grass Trimmer

Black & Decker Strimmers -

One of the most powerful electric trimmers available was the Black & Decker GL690 Strimmer, which has a 630w motor. As with other higher spec machines it has full adjustment and can be used to trim the top or sides of your lawn.

An interesting feature with the GL690 is that is has two different and interchangeable cutting cassette systems. One conventional spool of nylon and then a "heavy duty" clip in blade like a big nylon cats whisker. Overall, due to the vast number of models with different spool and line systems and constant changes I do not like to recommend Black & Decker strimmers. For this product I am happier recoemneding Bosch as they keep the models going for longer and don't use as many different parts.

see more electric trimmers from a Fredshed recommended supplier

DID YOU NOW?

The word "Strimmer" belongs to Black and Decker. If you call any other make of grass trimmer a "strimmer" you could be sued!

When it comes to Strimmers B&D have gone through more models than Peter Stringfellow. So please don't ask me about spares or repairs as I just cant keep up with all the numbers!

Many retailers and websites want to sell you the Grass Trimmer - but can't be bothered to sell the line and spools you will need to continue using it.

buy trimmer spool for Draper, Ryobi and Bosch Grass Trimmers

Wolf Garten Grass Trimmers

The Wolf Trimmer featured here is the Wolf GT845. it is mains powered and uses a twin line spool called a GTF8.

These German made trimmers are very good quality and a good option to the B&D ones if your budget allows.

My heavy old B&D Strimmer ( above)

Black & Decker Trimmer Spares

Black and Decker trimmers use 3 types of nylon cutting systems. Manual for the older and low spec models and reflex for later models.

The large machines like the GL680 GL685 and GL690 use the Reflex plus system which has the option of the heavy duty "cats whisker" type blade.

I quite like the cats whisker blades as they are easier to fit. Personally I hate nylon trimmer spools as I have wasted many hours trying to fit or fix them. I have also wasted many hours gazing at a rack of plastic spools and lines in B&Q wondering which one to buy!

If you have a Black & Decker Strimmer the most likely spools you will need are the ones below, click for specific model details.

Black & Decker A6481 and A 6441 spools, and best value 50 metre line !

Buy the cats Whisker heavy duty line for the Black & Decker GL680 GL685 and GL690 Trimmers

click here to buy nylon spool for the GL680/685/690 Trimmers

Alternative to Nylon Grass Trimmers

New Product - 2 Tools in 1

Grass and shrub trimming!

The Bosch ISIO can be converted from a grass shear to a small shrub trimmer in seconds and is surprisingly efficient. I also like the drop in charger base and metal tin that the tool comes in.

Running time is very good thanks to the Li-ion batteries and I get 20 minutes use which included some woody shrub material. The softer the material you cut the longer the battery will last between re-charges.The Bosch Isio comes in 2 versions. The shrub cutting version and the grass cutting version., and a kit with both blades.

A goodt accessory is the telescopic handle which makes the Isio easy to use without bending. The handle has wheels and also allows the Isio to be turned on its side to cut vertical edges.

Use my links below to find the best deal, which is usually the 2 bladed kit with the handle included.

Buy Isio kit with telescopic handle

compare price of Isio kit with another fredshed partner

Replacement blades are available for the Bosch Isio and I believe this tool and it's spares will be available for many years, unlike the cheaper copies from discount chains and mail order catalogues.

Buy Isio telescopic handle as accessory

check prices and info for Wolf Accu shear range

Telescopic handle and wheels.

Buy Isio telescopic handle as accessory

Best pressure washers

Under testing, new Bosch Aquatak clic with easy retractable hose

and powerlead!

Decent pressure washers used to cost a fortune. They started off life as industrial machines and then were scaled down for mass market consumption

More recently bargain models have flooded the market. Many are complete rubbish and break down, usually by leaking from failed plastic parts. Another common problem is pumps that don't turn off when you let go of the trigger- this causes the motors to burn out.

I have found pressure washers, (along with garden vacs) to be the most fragile of all consumer electrical products and suggest extra caution and research when making a purchase.

The tough hoses that come with pressure washers have to be one of the most annoying items ever made. If you can afford it do get a machine with on board hose storage as this will save you a lot of work, swearing and make storing the machine much easier.

Karcher - The brand leader in Pressure washers

As Karcher specialise in powered cleaning products you should get a well researched and reliable tool and not just a "me too copy from the far East .

Many of my readers use Karcher pressure washers and the feedback has been very good.

I have used Karcher pressure washers and have also tested 3 Bosch models extensively.

For cleaning patios both makes produce an enclosed "hovering cover" device that prevents splashback and speeds up cleaning. These devices only fit their own brand pressure washers. I have tested the Bosch model and don't recommend it as it is one of the very few products made by Bosch that is not durable enough to be recommended on Fredshed. My main reason for this is that the nozzle heads are not replaceable and I don't like products that cannot be easily serviced or repaired. I can recommend the Boscch Aquatak 115plus so if you have one of these and want to a patio cleaning device then buy an adapter and a Karcher T racer as it is better than the Bosch patio cleaner.

New Bosch Aquatak Clic 125

This top end model has some new features that make it easier to use and store. Primarily the on board hose storage and self rewinding electric cable.

The other good feature is that the spray lance has 5 settings that are accessed by twisting the end. Most other pressure washers require you to remove and replace each nozzle type which can be a real pain. Mail me for my latest test results and help choosing a pressure washer for your needs.

This is my patio after using the Bosch Aqautak 115plus. I was amazed to discover its real colour. The tool is very therapeutic to use (especially on a hot sunny day). It comes with a range of accessories and a car washing brush. The Roto nozzle is the best for cleaning slabs and the work shown above took less than a minute.

This is my neighbour Annette with cleaning her land rover with a Karcher pressure washer. Karcher are a German company and the recognised brand leader in pressure washers - but are they really the best?

check price on the Bosch Aquatak 115 plus

Nilfisk specialise in industrial pressure washers and make some good value domestic models.

Top Tips This Month

Buy Seeds and Plants Online

Garden centres have huge overheads and consequently are relatively expensive places to buy plants compared to the internet.

You do have the advantage of being able to see the plants first but this is often outweighed by the fact you will likely come home with some other expensive tat you didn't really want - like candles, pickled walnuts and a plastic eagle owl.

Use the links below to check the price of plants and seeds from my partner sites. These people are the best on the net and have to be well organised to retain their reputation.

It will all be delivered to your door, well packaged and ready for planting!"

Click here to find, plants, trees and shrubs to buy online

find any flower seed online

click to buy any vegetable seed online

SAVE THE PLANET AND KEEP FIT

BUY A RAKE - NOT A GARDEN VAC!

The humble lawn rake has been around for hundreds of years and using it will give you some healthy exercise without the noise and dust of a powered machine.

IF YOU FIND THIS PAGE USEFUL PLEASE CONSIDER RETURNING AND USING MY LINKS WHEN MAKING YOUR PURCHASE AS THIS HELPS TO PAY FOR MY WORK AND THE COST OF RUNNING THIS SITE.

If you found my site helpful or want to look for other tools or products please use the searchbox or links below as any purchases will create a small commission that helps fund my site and work. Thank you.

IF YOU FOUND THIS PAGE USEFUL PLEASE CONSIDER USING MY LINKS WHEN MAKING YOUR PURCHASE AS THIS HELPS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF RUNNING MY SITE.

See My New Page - Fred's Top 10 Practical Gifts

AS WELL AS TESTING EVERYTHING I HAVE ALSO CAREFULLY SELECTED THE BEST SUPPLIERS SO YOU WON'T GET RIPPED OFF WITH AN OLD MODEL OR GRADED PRODUCTS.

THANKS

FRED-IN-THE-SHED

Black & Decker Alligator Pruner

This unique tool from Black and Decker combines the features of a small chainsaw with the action of loppers. The result is a very effective pruning tool that is easy to use and most importantly very SAFE.

The Alligator is light enough for me to use from my wheelchair and the clamping jaws and double safety switches make it much safer than any other powered pruning tool.

use link below to check latest price and further details

There was an 18v batter version but it has been discontinued.

check Alligator price from Fredshed recommended supplier
see link below for Cordless Alligator!

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The Black and Decker Alligator has a 550w motor and weights about 4KG. It will easily cut branches up to 100mm ( 4 inches)

This tool is fun to use but you still need to take care with it to protect yourself and also make the tool last longer. This one got abused and a small cog broke. Luckily Black & Decker spares are easily available and the parts were only £3.

Top Tips This Month

Be prepared for more snow- buy a shovel for car and home now!

The Fiskars shovels are strong enough to be used for other jobs like clearing up garden debris and horse poo.

The Silverline Mini round nose shovel is ideal for digging holes for planting, (if you are a Dwarf or can get on your knees to dig).

Doff Your Cap To Squire Jenkins - another official Fredshed tester of power products.

At his Welsh country estate Squire Jenkins and his man servant "Ted" can give even the most robust tools a thorough workout- and if they don't come up to scratch - just like the peasants, they shoot em,.......pull !

squire.jpg (8298 bytes)

Squire Jenkins, Purdey & Boss

DO ME A FAVOUR!

If you use a powered product like a shredder , trimmer or hedgetrimmer then buy these cheap but effective goggles.

It's so easy to damage your eyesight , from a speck of blown dust to a flying thorn.

Buy now - what have you got to lose - only £6 or your eyesight.

I always wear goggles and gloves when testing garden shredders as thorny branches can get whipped about in your hand or face.

Still can't find the tool you are looking for?

For free expert advice - on buying tools, (on and off-line) mail me at
fred@fredshed.com

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