Comparison GARDENA HighCut 360/18V P4A 14776-20 vs Ryobi ONE+ RY18PLA-0

The design of the drive used in the pole saw (see "Type").

The drive is a flexible or rigid rod that transfers force from the user's hands to the blades of the tool. At the same time, it is customary to separate such thrusts not by flexibility / rigidity, but by location, the options can be as follows:

— Internal. The drive located inside the handle (bar) of the pole saw. This design provides excellent protection for the mechanism of the tool: the likelihood of moving parts coming into contact with branches and other foreign objects is minimized. Pole saws with this type of drive are by definition equipped with rods (see below) and can be used out of the box, unlike outdoor models; however, the "native" bar cannot be removed and replaced with another, which can create inconvenience in some situations.

— Outdoor. Drive located outside the pole saw. To be more precise, most of these tools are bits with blades and a drive, which are not equipped with rods at all. This creates additional hassle in preparation for work. On the other hand, the user can choose the bar at his discretion and, if necessary, easily change it; and if necessary, even an ordinary wooden stick, like a mop handle, can play the role of a rod.

The largest diameter (thickness) of a branch that the tool can handle.

The larger the maximum cut diameter, the more powerful this model, the lower the likelihood that a certain branch will be too tough for the tool. At the same time, note that to ensure high power, long handles and strong blades are needed, which accordingly affects the dimensions, weight and price. Therefore, it is worth choosing according to this parameter with a certain margin, but at the same time, this margin should not be too large.

As for specific figures, a maximum diameter of 20 mm or less is considered relatively small, but it often turns out to be quite enough for simple work. 21 – 30 mm — the average value, 31 – 40 mm — above average, and in loppers the maximum thickness can exceed 40 mm.

The ability to adjust the blades of the tool. The specific meaning of this option in different models may be different, it should be clarified separately. So, in some cases we are talking about adjusting the distance between the blades, in others — about the angle of the blades relative to the handles, etc. However, anyway, this feature provides additional options for setting the tool for different situations.

The presence of a loop for the fingers in the design of the tool. Such a loop is used in one-handed tools: it is usually installed on one of the handles, four fingers are threaded into it, opposing the thumb. Such a device provides additional convenience and reliability in holding the tool (reduces the likelihood of letting it out of hand), and also provides some protection from branches and other foreign objects.

Modern cordless pruning shears can be supplied with or without a battery ; Moreover, in the first case, a different number of batteries may be provided (1 pc or 2 pcs), or even a built-in power source. It is also worth noting that models with a removable battery usually do not use any original batteries, but universal solutions for power tools from the same manufacturer. The advantage of this design is obvious: first of all, it facilitates the search for power sources, including in addition to or as a replacement for “original” batteries. Here is a more detailed description of specific configuration options:

- 1 PC. Devices supplied with just one replaceable battery. This package may seem almost ideal: the tool can be used immediately after purchase, and when purchasing you do not have to overpay for a second power source. This configuration is designed mainly for two situations. The first is when the tool is planned to be used for short-term work, i.e. it is possible to take significant breaks to charge the battery; the second - if the household already has at least one spare battery, so there is no point in buying a model with 2 batteries.

- 2 pcs. The presence of a second battery inevitably affects the cost, but in many cases this point is more than offset by the additional ease of use. Firstly, two batteries allow you to work longer withou...t interruptions - in fact, autonomy is doubled. Secondly, while one battery is in use, the second one can be kept on charge; This allows you to minimize charging breaks, or even get rid of them altogether. Thirdly, the breakdown or loss of one power source does not interfere with work - it is enough to install a second one. And fourth, the spare battery may be useful for another compatible power tool.

- Without battery. The most popular option in principle is battery powered. Along with the obvious inconvenience - the tool cannot be used out of the box - this package has a number of significant advantages. First of all, the customer can choose the model and number of batteries at his own discretion, without relying on the manufacturer in this matter. And if there is another battery-powered tool on the farm, then the power source from it may well be suitable for pruning shears; This will completely eliminate the need to spend additional money and time.

- Built-in. The built-in power supply allows you to make such a tool as compact as possible. In addition, the customer does not need to bother with a separate charger - just connect the included cable to charge. On the other hand, a dead battery cannot be quickly replaced with a fresh one - the only option is charging, which requires an energy source and can take a lot of time. Also, this design does not allow you to select batteries at your discretion; and if there are problems with the power supply, you will either have to take the entire device for repairs or replace it with a new one. In light of all this, models with a built-in battery are usually intended mainly for minor home repairs and simple tasks that do not involve long-term work and high loads.

The name of the battery platform supported by the device. A single battery platform is used to combine various power tools of the same brand into one line (screwdriver, grinder, circular saw, etc.). Devices on the same platform use interchangeable batteries and chargers. Thanks to this, for example, there is no need to select a battery for each individual model of a power tool, because one purchased as a spare battery can be used in various power tools, depending on the situation or as needed. Batteries of the same platform basically differ from each other except perhaps in capacity.

The capacity of the battery supplied with the tool.

Theoretically, the higher the capacity, the more energy the battery accumulates and the longer the tool is able to work on a single charge. In fact, however, two points must be taken into account. Firstly, only batteries with the same voltage can be directly compared in terms of capacity in ampere-hours (if there is a difference in voltage, you need to convert the capacity to watt-hours using a special formula, and use these values already). Secondly, the actual battery life will depend not only on the characteristics of the battery, but also on the power consumption of the device itself; at the same time, the power consumption for battery models is not directly indicated in the characteristics.

Battery models compatible with the tool.

When choosing a tool, this information is relevant mainly for models without a battery included. For tools that come with batteries, the battery model is more of a reference—it's mostly "for the future" if a spare or replacement battery is needed. However, this data can also be useful in the selection process — for example, to assess compatibility with an existing battery on the farm, or to find detailed data on compatible batteries and determine how they meet your requirements (in particular, there are formulas that allow you to determine the time of continuous operation from a specific battery; these formulas can be found in special sources).

— Plastic. Relatively simple and at the same time quite practical, as a result — a common material. Plastic perfectly resists moisture, almost does not cool hands in cool weather, and is relatively inexpensive. As for strength and reliability, they are generally somewhat lower than those of metals, and most tools with plastic handles are designed mainly for simple work with relatively low loads. However, there are exceptions — for example, powerful loppers, which use high-quality durable plastic grades for handles. Anyway, for additional convenience, handles made of this material are often supplemented with rubber pads.

— Steel. The key advantage of steel is its high strength, which makes it possible to use this material even in the most powerful tools designed for thick branches. Compared to another metal — aluminium — steel weighs a little more, but costs less. For additional resistance to corrosion and ease of holding, steel handles can be coated with paint or equipped with additional overlays, most often of rubber or plastic.

— Aluminium. Another metal used for handles is along with steel. Aluminium differs from it, on the one hand, in lower weight and better resistance to corrosion, on the other hand, in higher cost. However, the difference in price is not so great, so these handles are also very popular. They can also be equipped with variou...s overlays for added convenience.

— Tree. "Classic of the genre", not out of use today. The wood is pleasant to the touch, does not cool hands in cool weather and looks good. In terms of reliability, this material is comparable to plastic: it is inferior to steel and aluminium, but it is quite applicable even in fairly powerful tools. The unequivocal disadvantages of wood include poor resistance to scratches and chips. Because of this, accidental contact with sharp objects can lead to the appearance of chips, fraught with splinters. In addition, this material does not tolerate constant contact with moisture, and it is advisable to store a tool with wooden handles in a dry place. Note that for a number of reasons, the tree is used mainly in one-handed tools.