Makita DUN500WZ 18V Battery Hedge Trimmer REVIEW

[@willowtreeoo7]

I bought this trimmer 3 years ago and I have done so much work with mine it's not funny, its so versatile. I use it commercially 4 days per week and has never missed beat. The blade has stayed sharp as well. The only thing that I would change is the timing on the on/off button, everything else is perfect. I clean and oil the blade weekly. I highly recommend this, for me its awesome.👍❤

[@RJLgardens]

I'm not sold on the blade quality, how many times have you sharpened yours in 3 years? Good bit of kit otherwise.

[@Pauly-o4w]

@@RJLgardensI’m thinking of buying one tomorrow, how many times you had it sharpened

[@ImranAmiKh4n]

How all reviews should be done. Thank you. I am glad you raised the locking problem. Brought one a couple of weeks ago and after two uses, the locking mechanism/pin has already broken

[@RJLgardens]

Cheers. Thats annoying, such a shame with the build quality as its a nice unit otherwise. The warranty is definitely needed.👍

[@paphoslawnranger5749]

I bought few weeks ago the Makita dun500wz and i like it very much,it can cut thick branches as well,and its very light compared to my stihl hl 94-C . Im using it most of the time on second gear. I have 2 makita batterys and one parkside battery 4ah with makita adaptor.

[@RJLgardens]

Glad you're enjoying it 👍

[@nswayze2218]

How long does it generally last with one battery?

[@garywilde6171]

Good price. Cheapest I can find is £315 now. Think I'll wait until winter for a sale.

[@RJLgardens]

Yes price has shot up, people need to stop buying them 🤣

[@strummer6642]

Very happy with mine, lightweight but cuts as effectively as the Stihl petrol on the highest stroke rate, but without the fumes. No problems with the lock. Lovely balanced machine, definitely one of Makita's better landscaping tools. I agree the machine could stay on for longer when releasing the switch, it is problematic when swapping hands on a hop up or ladder

[@RJLgardens]

👌👍

[@Tscholent-em1gt]

Just ordered your MAKITA trimmer and I wondered if there maybe a demo video around .Thank you for it.I’ll be using mine around the house garden only and sharpening blades is not going to worry me since I arranged for a landscaper to do our cedar and yew hedges which leaves me a couple of pseudo bonsai conifers. I wonder if the electronic shut off timer is there to prevent operators from manipulating the blade angle and accidentally deactivating the shut off ? In my 40 years as a landscape business owner I can assure you the visits I had to make to see a guy at the emergency department were not my choice endeavors of the day.Some how they found a way of changing the angle of the blade and at the same time running the motor and press both leavers by “mistake”. Both of them got injured while on orchard ladders. I was actually going to buy the cheaper version without the timer shut off but bought this version instead. Thanks again for your help.

[@Grahams-Grass]

I have found if you tape that top trigger down permanently it says on for 60secs before going off 👌👍👍🤠

[@RJLgardens]

👌👍

[@johnloran]

Thanks for the review - been looking at this for a while. I have the Milwaukee quick lok and the vibrations are not great and the blade quality pretty similar. I still have old shindaiwa long reach blades from 10 years ago that hold a better edge than all these new Chinesium blades but definitely wouldn't go back to 2 stroke. The little Makita DUH601 is a joy to use also and would buy it again despite the cheap blades. Keep the good content coming 👍

[@RJLgardens]

Thanks mate 👌

[@whitevoodooman7276]

Just got onn and pulling the trigger in my kitchen lol I think I like it already I've been on the hla66 for years and love them , getting a new sharp one next week Work full time on them everyday I'll update which is best lol . 99% sure the stihl will hold up better robust wise I've got one that's for bulking jobs , thick wood and ones that old and bent I looked it 15 foot to the ground ... Still going lol

[@RJLgardens]

Nice one, be interested to know which you prefer, so let us know in a few months. Always good to keep the old ones for parts and those dirty jobs. 👌

[@whitevoodooman7276]

@@RJLgardens i absolutely love it . its more slim lined which is better for me having a small van . its a better cut your right . iam going to use this for fine tuneing and the 66 for longer hedges or the thick stuff not sure how its going to hold up repair wise lol but ill just buy more of them and play around with it all i prether this , its nicer to use them Japanese allways make the best stuff

[@maxlambert1511]

Cheers for video man. Very informative. As for the prompt safety time out; i have a Makita twin 18v chainsaw and it is classed as a professional saw and this item suffers the same problem so i get you! Ta

[@RJLgardens]

Thanks, yeh very strange design choice, far too safety cautious for their high end units. 👍

[@MHumanoid]

Thanks for the honest review. The pin wearing out is enough for me to look elsewhere for a pole trimmer. I don't own any Makita tools, but I was considering buying into the platform for some good garden tools. I have a couple of Bosch Professional tools, but their garden range is pretty slim.

[@RJLgardens]

Cheers. Yeh try and stay with one brand is the cheapest option so choose wisely 👍

[@zarrow50]

I have the 40v powerhead version and it weighs a lot. It also cuts off after a second or two if you are not holding the trigger in.

[@RJLgardens]

Is that a split shaft version? annoying about the trigger.

[@zarrow50]

@@RJLgardens Yes, takes various attachments, got it cheap as well.

[@RJLgardens]

@@zarrow50 Thats always a bonus

[@russelldownesdownes5618]

I get quite a bit of movement from the neck where the 4 black screws are and don’t always click into position keeps on going past it but really like it

[@RJLgardens]

Make sure nothing has come loose 👍

[@devoncsmith2696]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I don't know if you had mentioned it, or if I had missed it in the video, but was there anything you mentioned about being able to extend it to make it longer or not? If so, how long is the unit in its current state and are you required to buy an additional extension to make it longer if needed for this unit? Cheers.

[@RJLgardens]

You cant make this 1 longer or add on extensions etc, its a set long reach, i'm not sure on size, around 2m ish maybe.

[@devoncsmith2696]

@@RJLgardens Thanks for your reply. Now that's a bumber!

[@whitevoodooman7276]

call me mad but haveing used this today again on a proper big hedge i can say that pd for pd this is the best hedge cutter in the world its an absolute pleasure useing lol and its nimble and slimline and light and got that high rev cut point and stright on the trigger unlike petrol and heavy and tons vibrations pd for pd lol this is an absolute beast . hope it holds up going to buy that single side blade one you use also as soon as prime gets it online lol

[@RJLgardens]

Nice one, so you prefer it to the hla66? Look after it properly and it should last a few years 👍

[@nswayze2218]

Thanks for the review. I was under the impression that this thing only lasted 40 mins but 2 hours wow. I can understand the button needing to be pressed being frustrating along with the blades needing to be resharpened but considering you have it a 6/10 are there any other high quality hedge trimmers you’d suggest?

[@RJLgardens]

That 2hrs is a rough working time not a constant trigger time and will vary on type of job its doing etc. I think all the major brands offering this sort of trimmer have a few issues with their machines as well. So there are no outstanding ones from what i have seen.

[@nswayze2218]

@@RJLgardens got you, thanks!

[@bidders77]

Definitely agree with all of this....I've had a few of these now and they have all ended up slipping out of the locked position....one unit has been sent to Makita 3 times for repair and not fixed my them.pretty sure they don't know how to fix it. They eventually sent me out a new unit. After 8 months that unit has now done the same. Disappointing considering they are best part of £300 now. I think it might be threaded where that bolt goes into the gearbox case and that rounds out after time...not sure though as I've not taken it apart myself as I don't want to void the warranty.

[@RJLgardens]

Yeh definitely is a problem, tightening the head bolt has made mine better so far. Certainly annoying though. Not sure if i would buy another 1 if there up at 300 now 😢

[@joshuabush2569]

I've got a lot of 40v XGT tools which i love, I don't have any 18 volt batteries I'm thinking of getting this as sadly they don't do a 40v version.. I was looking at the Stihl hla 66 but gearbox casing.. I also don't like that the blade speed is limited to 3000 on the Stihl.

[@RJLgardens]

I'm surprised they havent brought out a 40v version of this, it would probably be a big hit. Not sure what makita are doing atm, rather quiet on the new garden equipment front.

[@joshuabush2569]

@@RJLgardens I actually contacted them directly asking them if they had any plans to make a 40v version and they said they haven't... Strange. Also regarding the head dropping down issue from the pin, I think I've managed to fix it on my hedge trimmer attachment which is a similar design.. it's a pointy pin and I've filed it down slightly so it pushes in and fits a bit tighter.

[@TOM-cj4ct]

Which diameter you can effectively cut? For the manufacturer 23,5mm, is true? Thank you for reply. Regards Tom

[@RJLgardens]

It depends on the wood really, I'd say a safe max size being 20mm, the bigger you cut the more chance of blunting your blades.

[@MrGardener18]

I want to know who they get to test these machines in the design process because they always get it wrong. I'm constantly suffering the same annoyance with my stihls tools and there stupid trigger system. Get proper gardeners to test them how hard can it be to design something that works

[@RJLgardens]

Couldn't agree more mate, would be interesting to know who the testers are 🤣, its laughable 👍

[@gw4611]

Hi There. Thanks for review. Where is best place to buy this? You mentioned £200 or so but I can’t seem to find it anywhere for that. Cheers

[@RJLgardens]

This was last years price so they have gone up by now. Best bet though for cheapest price is the 2 large online selling sites, they have good deals every now and then just keep an eye out.

[@wardje53]

I have the same machine, as far as the lubrication of gears is concerned, is it not possible to screw in a grease nipple at the bottom and lubricate it with a grease pump so that you do not have to dismantle the entire base plate? My scissors came with two 6 amp batteries and they last much longer, but they are apparently difficult to find, I believe, but they do exist.

[@RJLgardens]

You could fit one, only issue is, the gearbox cover rides along the hedges most of the time so you could easily snap a grease fitting off on a branch etc. 👍

[@wardje53]

@@RJLgardens Yes, you're right, then you have a problem 🥴

[@Kelza]

Is this kind of machine good to trim Photinia Hedges?

[@RJLgardens]

Yes will cut those fine if just regular trimming

[@ra3975]

25 degrees sounds amazing? It was 50 Celsius this summer at my house. I said NOPE. Staying inside this week.

[@RJLgardens]

Well thats abit warm 😅, not fun to work in 🥵

[@robinulmer1857]

Do you use it for beech hedge, would it be strong enough with 18v?

[@RJLgardens]

Depends how thick it is, Its got the power, however blades will blunt quicker cutting thick stems.

[@dasgill4761]

Would this work with 3amp batteries? They are all I have for my makita drills

[@RJLgardens]

Yes 👍

[@whitevoodooman7276]

is it normal for the charger to get so hot lol got the proper makita charger not imitation one , got the dc18rc thing gets hot quick

[@RJLgardens]

Cant say I've noticed, i mainly use the dual charger but have that small one as well.

[@DavePawson]

Is it long enough? No extension?

[@bidders77]

God it annoys me, just had this back from Makita yet again and still slips out of locked position. Driving me crazy that they don't know how to fix it

[@RJLgardens]

Thats bloody annoying mate, my other makita hedge trimmer packed up today as well so i've got that 2 sort out now 😩

[@bidders77]

@@RJLgardens really annoying....I've bought the 461 to keep me going but it's nowhere near as good as the 500 for the thicker hedges. Good for fresh growth though and very lightweight. Got the 500 back again today for the 3rd time and not sorted. 4th time going in now for this one it's being collected Monday 😭😔

[@zcldx12]

I have exactly the same problem. Makita have had it 3 times and the last time they said there was nothing wrong with it. Makita UK are useless.

[@Grahams-Grass]

Hmmm think for me I want a telescopic shaft and a grease nipple ... interesting take on it ...

[@RJLgardens]

The problem with telescopic is the added weight, this thing is nice and light and you can reach a fair bit to be fair. 👍

[@handyman_horsens]

Nice

[@RJLgardens]

Thanks

[@martimclen2574]

Strange times....it looks like this crap design is applied to every aspect of our daily routines. Like if those people who make design live just whole their lives in front of their computer/laptop 🤔

[@RJLgardens]

👍

[@PetarVranjes-jx5ri]

Koliko košta

[@bluepeter450]

5 minutes of waffle, I expect this from American versions

[@RJLgardens]

All relevant waffle though 😅. Im only a small youtuber, cut me some slack.

[@whitevoodooman7276]

have you tryed the hla66 . proper built i put mine through anything lol and then got one for fine tune cuts this looks ace id love one they look alittle lighter than a 66 and a faster blade id love one for fine tuneing stuff but cart afford atm Japanese stuff is allways good

[@RJLgardens]

Not tried the latest hla66 yet and still waiting for improvements and other battery units before i consider investing in the likes of stihl or other battery brands 👍