How To Maintain an Electric Hedge Trimmer

One of the easiest ways to maintain your backyards, such as by trimming the hedges, shrubs, and bushes, is by using an electric hedge trimmer. If you have been doing this with a pair of scissors, could we ask you if you have been living under a rock? If you do not know what an electric hedge trimmer is, let’s just say it is something that makes your life a lot easier, especially if you have a backyard or a garden. In other words, an electric hedge trimmer is a machine that is used to trim excess branches and leaves that grow out of place making the yard or garden shabby and uncared for. It’s a more specific tool than a chainsaw or lopper for making hedges look clean quickly.

However, buying an electric hedge trimmer then sweeping away into a cleaner back yard or a garden does not mean it is going to be like that forever. You need to know when to trim those pesky bushes, shrubs, and hedges when they start to grow all over the place. In addition to that, every time you use an electric hedge trimmer, it is exposed to a lot of debris and stress. This can leave traces of wear and tear over. If they are left unnoticed, they can worsen your trimmers’ performance or possibly cause a jam that may be very annoying to fix. 

With regular maintenance like the lubrication of such an electric hedge trimmer, you can identify the issues early on, so that you can prevent more serious damage or malfunction. Even more so, a well-maintained tool is also the safest to use. Therefore, try to make routine inspections for your tool which could highlight potential damages and impair safe functioning. These periodic checks and servicing can minimize the risk of injury. 

Do Electric Hedge Trimmers Need Sharpening?

The blades of the electric hedge trimmer will go blunt like any other cutting tool. Sharper blades mean precision cuts, that you expect to get from your hedge trimmer.

Sharpening those pesky blades may require a lot of time to keep your electric hedge trimmer in shape. However, it does not have to be a tedious task. You may want to use a drill or cone-shaped filling stone to do the job. If you cannot find a drill, use a file to do the job. However, remember to curb sharpening your blades once per 50 hours of use. Be gentle and avoid wearing too much of the blades away. You may send it to your nearest service center if you are not confident about doing it yourself. 

Maintaining an Electric Hedge Trimmer

• Wash the Blades: Every time you use your electric hedge trimmer, you cut through twigs, branches, and leaves. Therefore, sap in small amounts begins to set in on to your blades. This can cause the blades to slow down over time. Therefore, if the trimmer is not cared for, the precision of cuts will deteriorate. The added friction cannot only reduce the cutting performance but also heat the motor while in use.
  
  Cleaning the blades is as easy as rubbing them with a cloth soaked in soapy water after you have used the hedge trimmer for the day. Afterward, apply a manufacturer prescribed lubricant on to the teeth and blades for smooth operation. Do it after every use if you want your machine to keep satisfying your trimming urges. Also, make sure your tool is thoroughly dried after you store them away. 

• Wash the Air-Filter: For your hedge trimmer to perform at its optimum level, it needs a smooth passage of cool and clean air. While you use the hedge trimmer for extended periods, dirt and debris start to set into the air filter which can hinder the airflow. This would ultimately result in reduced engine power, overheating, and reduced performance.

The Air filter can be usually released via a button or by unscrewing a compartment. Try and look up into your user’s guide for more instruction. If you have removed the filter, blow through it, or simply use a blower if you are a puke breath. Then tap on a surface afterwards to get rid of the remaining debris. If you see that your air filter is heavily soiled, you should probably buy a new air filter. Do not attempt to wash or submerge your air filter unless the user manual allows it to do so. It can cause the fibers to swell and make it harder for the air to pass through. 

• Tighten Loose Parts or Screws: You do not want loose parts of your electric hedge trimmer to shoot right back at your beautiful face. Loose parts can be very dangerous, especially in a cutting tool. They may easily fall off onto your pedicured feet. What is more daunting is if you are unaware of what exactly fell off from your electric hedge trimmer. Do not use the trimmer any longer, as this can be very dangerous. The constant vibrations the electric hedge trimmer makes can loosen connector bolts and screws, and this is why you need to regularly service your hedge trimmer. 

To identify loose parts, thoroughly check your electric hedge trimmer. If you find a sly bolt or screw trying to escape into freedom, bring out your screwdriver and spanners to give them a firm twist. Do not go overboard by tightening them too hard, as it can damage the threads along with the surrounding parts as well. Refer to the user’s manual before you start repairing the tool by yourself.  

• Lubricate the Blades Regularly: The use of a hedge trimmer means that it is being exposed to moisture that contaminates the blades. Erosion usually sets in quickly, but a good lubricant can help provide a safety barrier to prevent unwanted friction. Routine lubrication will ensure that blades slip smoothly over one another.

Lubricating the blades is quite easy. You just lay down your trimmer on a flat surface and apply the appropriate lubricant on the blades and teeth, then simply wipe away extra grease and you are good to go. 

• Clean the Exterior: Your electric hedge trimmer may have a lot of buttons for you to play with, but they can become victims if your trimmer is not kept clean. Also, a poorly kept trimmer will overheat as cool air will not be able to glide freely if the air vents are jammed. 

Simply wipe the exterior with a damp piece of cloth. You can also use a blower to remove debris off of your machine. Keep away from the use of abrasive chemicals or cleaning solutions. If you have used wet wipes to clean the tool, make sure it’s dry before your store it back.

• The Right Way to Put it Away: Do not store your gardening tools in places where it is excessively damp, such as a shed or the toolbox of your car, which may be very prone to puncture. This is a simple way to guarantee a shorter lifespan for your electric hedge trimmer. Moisture can cause corrosion in your trimmer and can go rusty like your dating skills. The battery may also cause shorts and damage internal components if the storage environment is similar to your bathroom.

If you cannot find a single place in your property that is not damp, get certified waterproof canvas or a UV resistant casing to store your tool away. If you can’t get them either, just wrap your electric hedge trimmer using a cotton cloth or a dry towel to keep the moisture away. Then put it back in its plastic cover for additional moisture-proofing. 

Final Thoughts

Be consistent with your routine maintenance if you want the best performance from your electric hedge trimmer. It will make sure that your tool survives the impending sweeps with ease and last season ahead. You may not need to use this comprehensive care guide to maintain your electric hedge trimmer, but if you do, your hedge trimmer will not only last for an extended period but will also perform smoothly, leaving you satisfied.

Follow the entire list of tips quarterly to see if everything is in top-notch condition so that the trimmer can be in its best possible shape and give your money’s worth of precision cuts that you think you deserve. 

Some food for thought is to give the electric hedge trimmer a visual inspection before you attempt to do anything. Diagnose if the important functions are working without any interference. Also, disconnect the power cord if you need to take the tool apart for internal inspection. You do not want your fingers trimmed.