Makita 36v Power Head - Pole saw and trimmer review

Welcome to my first video! My review of the Makita DUX60Z.
www.makita.com.au/power-garde...
It took nearly 6 months (mid covid) for this to arrive - so these are my thoughts after 9+ months of use with it.
0:00 Intro
0:09 Unboxing
0:29 Trimmer Assembly
1:23 Saw Assembly
2:56 Power Head
4:08 Line Trimmer
5:36 Pole Saw
7:14 Cons
8:33 Pros

[@itsumonihon]

For anyone else watching this - get a brush cutter blade for your 36v power head (If your attachment supports blades!) and the difference is night and day. The brush cutter blades (Which look like a little chainsaw, such as the Forrester blade), will cut through any grass like it's not even there where the string trimmer might bog down and overheat the machine. The blade doesn't even slow down unless you try to cut thick trees with it. My property is covered with awful thickets of choke cherry, tens of thousands of trees about 1-3cm thick. This tool with a chainsaw brush cutter blade on it just slices it all down effortlessly. I thought it might not work on grass but I've found it works perfectly fine, and I even prefer it now for grass cutting vs trimmer line. The only place trimmer line seems to work better is when you need fine control over the height of the cut or whenever you're working around stones / pipes etc. that will wreck your blade. I've cut down unwanted choke cherry trees over 20cm thick with the blade attached to this trimmer, it is incredible. You do need to take it slow for big cuts like that. I just keep my trimmer on "turtle" mode with the blade on and leave it there. At around $20 the brush cutter blade is easily the best tool you can buy if you have one of these Makita power heads and string trimmers. Note that apparently not all Makita string trimmer attachments work with the blades, you'll need to check the user manual of the attachment to see which ones can use a blade.

[@randombiopod7384]

First class, fast paced, very informative and nicely edited, looking forward to more

[@gregandtarynsplace]

Thanks very much! Trying to keep them short and informative!

[@Grahams-Grass]

I've got mainly Dewalt but after watching a few reviews on the long reach makita I shelled out and from day one have loved it .. the safety switches are a pain in the arse but you learn how to deal with them 😉😉🤠👍

[@gregandtarynsplace]

I’d love to know why you didn’t opt for the similar thing in DeWalt? Their PowerStack and FlexVolt technology seem pretty good!

[@Grahams-Grass]

@@gregandtarynsplace long story I ordered the dewalt telescopic but found it a bit heavy ... these makita and feather lite and 3 speeds plenty of power ....

[@unkjason]

Looks great, thanks for the video. I was hoping to see your edger attachment video

[@gregandtarynsplace]

Thanks Jason - I took some more footage on the weekend so will start editing it soon!

[@gregandtarynsplace]

Finally done! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2TEpn-Vmbmjg8U

[@JDAfrica]

That chainsaw polesaw looks amazing. I just bought the dedicated 36v telescopic pole saw - as I found a great price. I was tempted to buy this modular system, but the postage price for each of the modular pieces was crazy (I’m in Africa, and postage fee is approx $140 per unit, plus the cost of the item). I thought the dedicated purpose made polesaw would also last longer. Has a hook on as well. Extends to 4m. So, on a small scaffold platform, can easily knock 6m trees. I already have a 36v string trimmer and another 18v one set up for edging. So didn’t make sense to rebuy it all in the modular format (powerhead)

[@gregandtarynsplace]

@J D did you get the EY401 or EY403 head with your telescopic saw? A 4m reach is a fair bit further and I'll bet its also a bit lighter than the Power Head. I have both the EY401 and EY403 and the 403 unit is substantially better, a completely better unit in every way. I'll be doing a review/comparison on those two after the 40v review! It was 5 stars until I grabbed it off the wall this weekend....

[@triple6758]

I understand the appeal of battery, but can't understand how so many have trouble maintaining a gasser. I get decades of use from mine without much troubles at all.

[@suspicionofdeceit]

Operative word is maintaining, with battery there is none, no smelly petrol, no messy oil, high noise, or nasty spewing exhaust fumes belching into your lungs.

[@triple6758]

@@suspicionofdeceit You serious Clark? 😂

[@honda116969]

Buy yourself the echo speed feed head for your Makita weed wacker attachment... Best choice ever

[@PLGardenCare]

Nothing wrong with the Makita ones they work fine at all 3 levels and are fast enough to load up

[@honda116969]

@@PLGardenCare not the one that came on mind you have to take it all the way apart... Maybe you live in a different country or a different area because Makita does make one very similar to The echo Speed-Feed so if yours came with that obviously you don't need to upgrade but mine you have to literally take it apart like ones from the 1960s so that was the best $30 bucks I ever spent on that Speed-Feed head 💯👍👍

[@PLGardenCare]

@@honda116969 we in Australia and I’ve got 3 Makita trimmers, 3 different heads. I will attempt their DIY trimmer that head is a pain in ass but the one that comes with this unit and a replacement I’ve bought are flawless

[@honda116969]

@@PLGardenCare shit that's cool bro I wish I could say the same because like you said mine was a pain in the ass I was like fuck this I threw it in the trash and bought the echo I wish mine came like yours so I did not have to waste 30 bucks 🤷 they know they can get away with ripping people off in America that's all it is. What a shame. I would probably rather have the Makita Speed-Feed head but they don't sell that at home Depot they sell the echo because it's a universal for basically any weed wacker that wants to be able to wind it up quickly.

[@sim-sim6956]

👀👍.

[@forger9443]

This was a nice comparison mate. Thanks for that. But how much actual runtime did you get out of it. I know it can't compare to a petrol engine, but like exactly how bad is the runtime compared to say a petrol power head? (I was impressed that it cut that grass btw)

[@gregandtarynsplace]

Great suggestion - I'll test that out when I do the 36v vs 40v comparison. I was thinking of using the line trimmer in that thicker grass until they go flat as a better 'real world' scenario, rather than just tape the throttle on and time it.

[@forger9443]

@@gregandtarynsplace It would be appreciated if you ever do get around to that. Most reviewers I had seen only ever go flat out at the max speed to give an estimate of runtime. I rarely ever run my petrol FS120 at max speed for what I'm doing, so seeing the makita trimming at only the speed really needed to cut the grass and the maximum cut area achieved would be a more useful comparison. But I mean, you have your limits.. I don't expect you to have unlimited lawn with thick "city violation" grass for an extended period to run a back to back comparison 🤣. But whatever you could show would be nice. Thanks mate!

[@kolrobi]

@@gregandtarynsplace any update on this? Very tempted to buy the 40v version of this but courious about run time as I would be using it away from charging availability therefore would use the 8ah battery.

[@gregandtarynsplace]

I should have the Edger review up this week so the 36v VS 40v will be next but unfortunately that'll likely be another month or so away at best sorry. I have found a location that I'll be able to run the 5ah and I picked up a 2.5ah as well so I'll have line trimming run time for both of those vs 36v 5ah. I believe the run time will be satisfactory but I'd be concerned with the weight if you're looking to use it all day. - 18v x 2 5ah = 1.18kg (2.6lbs) - 40v 2.5ah = 700gms (1.5lbs) - 40v 5ah = 1.32kg (2.9lbs) - 40v 8ah = 1.9kg (4.1lbs) The power head (no attachment) was pushing 4.8kg (10.5lbs) with the included 5ah battery and if you're using the hedge trimming attachment with extension pole, its seriously heavy and was quite fatiguing. The 8ah battery is pushing 2kg on its own! It'd be a pretty heavy tool if you're using the pole saw or hedge trimmer attachments where you're reaching overhead. I'm really keen to get the comparison done though, so hopefully sooner than later!

[@forger9443]

@@gregandtarynsplace Well I'll look out for that personally. I don't think I'd have an issue with the weight since I have used an FS 450 for extended periods without any issues really. So it should be good.... I just need the power and decent run time.

[@Janzer_]

and now there's the EY403MP which is 12 inches on the saw

[@gregandtarynsplace]

Yes! I have that now and it’s my first (and so far only) 5 star review. I couldn’t fault it 🙌 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLXlGlpoNmbibc

[@McCoyFamilyFarm]

Any second thoughts on wishing you would have got the 40V vs the 36V? Im wrestling with this decision now...

[@gregandtarynsplace]

I'm currently editing my 40v review/comparison! The TL:DR will be: - If you want more power/torque (ie: using the Pole Saw) - the 40v is the best option. - If you want the better e-brake, lighter, cheaper, better functions, the 36v is the better option. I'll probably keep the 40v, but I will miss the better e-brake.

[@McCoyFamilyFarm]

@@gregandtarynsplace Thank you for the advice! Looking forward to the video!

[@gregandtarynsplace]

The review is now live when you've got 10mins to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZycaJ-NgLJlh9k

[@PLGardenCare]

Both effectively run at same watt hours only benefit is one battery vs two

[@ariazhu9350]

Ahhh man the wife yelling at you from the house. Why do they do that?

[@sheezy2526]

Woa I didn't expect Makita that gets so much praise to have so many faults. Feels like everyone gets bribed by sponsorships nowadays.

[@ednaturnbull8564]

obviously reading instruction manuals is outside your talent skills, @ 9:45 you're up a stepladder. you obviously got bitten by the allure of the "multi tool", interesting that important specs, like total length of the pole saw is missing from makita's website (2.67m)... a bit short from my ego 4.1m for roughly the same price but definitely not in the same league as the ego.

[@gregandtarynsplace]

I would love to put the Makita up against an Ego product as they do have an excellent reputation. I measured mine from tip to end (rather than tip to trigger) and its 3.17m for the EY401 and 3.21m for the EY403. The actual Makita pole saw (not attachment) is 3.8m so quite a bit longer, but still doesn't have the reach of your Ego. You may want to skip my Hedge Trimmer attachment review as I'm up the ladder and next to a powerline, but thanks for watching this one and taking the time to comment :)

[@thommytom]

@@gregandtarynsplace Is it possible to use 2 pieces of LE400MP shaft extensions for the chainsaw?

[@gregandtarynsplace]

@@thommytom I never attempted it, but I can't see any reason why it would not work as the connection method is exactly the same on the extension poles as the attachments. Would be funny to see and a bit unwieldy!