Works pretty well in thick claggy clay too…
Depends on what you use it for. If you waggled it in clay to plant something without removing soil, it will compact the ‘hole’ its made.
Niwaki 7ft adjustable tripod ladder. Been meaning to get one for years, but only just got it. Superb build quality and the welds are first class. I particularly like the simplicity of every part of the ladder, with a special mention of the spring-loaded adjustable leg pins. Everything on the ladder is made with longevity and ease of use.
If you want a tripod ladder, buy this brand. It’s design is far better than the Henchman brand, which is actually gimmicky in places.
So much easier to use in the garden than a ladder or a 4 leg platform.
Better design than the Henchman, including the top where the steps go all the way to the top without a rail.
Lovely welds
Simple, fast adjustable leg pins.
4 Likes
I find the Stihl Kombi system very good. Something like 16 years ago I bought one of these, with a motor unit, both secondhand well used, and probably then at least 20 years old:
Adjustable from the angle shown through to 90 degrees the other way. Excellent on my extensive big hedge (upper face plus, standing on a ladder, the top, but with an electric long blade Bosch hedgetrimmer for the lower face sections).
After a couple of years I bought one extension pole (1 metre, the carbon one to minimise weight):
However the weight of the hedgetrimmer at the end of that was a bit much, and it also sapped power, so I didn’t use much.
Then, needing to prune some trees I bought this:
and a second extension pole giving serious long reach.
The hedgetrimmer is still giving sterling service, with only an occasional oil/greasing, however the motor unit was getting more and more difficult to start, and about 5 years ago I bit the bullet and bought a new one:
Ah, bliss! It takes typically 3 or at the most 5 cord pulls to start from completely cold, quite light pulls at that, and a single feeble half-pull when warm, meaning I can turn off frequently for clearing cut vegetation etc, even when standing 7 ft up a ladder doing the top of the hedge.
Three weeks ago my electric “bump feed” strimmer jammed yet again (usually happening several times in a session), and needs a new spool holder. Instead I bought this:
Wow! Cuts at least 10x faster than the old electric one, and the bump feed works!
Stihl is expensive, but perhaps there is a reason why it seems to be number one choice for professional garden maintenance people: they are use-anywhere, seriously robust and work very well. The downsides are noise (I have to wear ear defenders or earplugs), faffing with making up 2-stroke oil, exhaust fumes (whilst not normally a direct problem, they are there), wieight, and cost. If I was buying new now without having any Stihl Kombi bits I’d seriously look at some of the cordless electric options out there, though with the reach I need for some things prices not much different, while battery charge life might be an issue if working continuously for a whole day.