Makita EN7350SH One-Sided Hedge Trimmer Review

Why do you want a one-sided hedge trimmer? I’m glad you asked that. Let me explain. If your lawn care route or landscaping needs include maintaining deep hedges, then the Makita EN7350SH one-sided hedge trimmer may be the perfect tool.

Around Central and South Florida we have many communities with low and deep hedges. These hedges manicure properties, often offering boundaries for individual owners or even neighborhoods. Some examples of these hedges are Boxwood, Ficus, and even Viburnum, just to name a few. These hedges offer many square feet of coverage. With a lot of coverage, comes a lot of maintenance, hence many hours of trimming and picking out debris. If all the debris is not removed, then you’re dealing with unsightly dead foliage on the tops of the hedges. Property owners aren’t too fond of this, especially if you’re working in Isleworth or South Beach.

Makita EN7350SH Hedge Trimmer Features

With the Makita EN7350SH hedge trimmer, you get a long reach and a chip receiver – a plastic scoop that collects the fresh clippings. The EN7350SH has a 30-inch one-sided, oscillating cutting area. On the opposite side of the blades is the scoop. So, as the 30-inch choppers, oscillating at 4,200 SPM, cut down the new growth, the fallen timbers are collected neatly in the scoop. With one motion, the user makes the cut and then flings it into the yard. Fallen debris can then be easily raked and collected, rather than painstakingly picked from the hedge.

MM4 4-stroke Performance

Powering the 30-inch one-sided hedge trimmer is the Makita MM4 4-stroke 25.4 cc engine. Even without the rpm and excessive noised 2-stroke, the Makita 4-stroke puts out 1.1hp. This is music to the ears. The EN7350SH includes a 30″ single-sided blade for a range of trimming applications. No pre-mix is needed, so it’s straight unleaded gasoline in the fuel tank. Typical engine oil lubes the internals, and it is required to add 100cc of oil to the crankcase before the first start. After this, recommended oil changes are every 100 hours. With the translucent oil-fill spout, it’s easy to see the “Low” and “Max” level for the oil, without removing the cap.

We covered the MM4 Technology in another post, and it’s worth a read.

On one hand, the MM4 4-stroke is more efficient since there is no oil added. You don’t have to worry about the correct amount of premix. This gives you cost savings on the premix itself. On the other hand, since this is a one-sided trimmer, you deal with added runtime since you can’t cut on your back-swing. We’ll call this a wash in the efficiency and cost of premix vs. one-sided.

Furthermore, included in the Makita EN7350SH one-sided hedge trimmer is a dual-stage air filter. Large sealing areas keep dust and debris from passing the filter, and it’s easily accessible without tools.

Chip Receiver – Leaf Catcher

A couple of the prominent features on this hedge trimmer is the one-sided blade and the addition of the leaf catcher. Makita calls it a chip receiver, but we never saw any chocolate chips flying around. That would make for a tasty review, however. The chip receiver makes sense and it does its job. Cutting a swath on the top of the hedge, nearing the edge, all the cut leaves and twigs are in the receiver and ready to be ejected. A quick flick of the wrists and the debris is on the ground, ready for removal. With a typical hedge trimmer, all the remains would stay on top of the hedge. Some of it may fall to the ground, but other stragglers would be left to die, wilt, and be an eye-sore on the top of the hedge.

Start-up and Restarting

Horsepower and efficiency are not the only important factors. Makita realizes that starting combustion engines is also important. Built in the Makita MM4 4-stokes is Mechanical Automatic Engine Decompression for quicker and easier starts. Typical steps remain the same here. Full choke, pull until it fires. Set to run position (open choke), pull the starter rope and grab a handful of throttle.

We did notice that the MM4 is a little more fickle on restarts than a typical 2-stroke. Nothing critical, but if the MM4 cooled down much, then we’d have to use the choke again for the restart. Again, nothing that was troublesome, but it is worth noting. Additionally, the Makita MM4 engine is very easy to pull start.

Shaft and Hardware

New, in the box, the Makita EN7350SH one-sided hedge trimmer comes in two pieces, but assembly is a very simple procedure. The internal steel shaft includes a solid metal splined stick-out from the engine side, mating with the splined female end on the cutting-blade side. The shaft is pre-greased, so all you have to do is insert the shaft and reinstall the included Torx head screws. A T-handle scrench is included as well, which also works as the spark-plug wrench.

Ergonomics

While the Makita EN7350SH one-sided hedge trimmer is not light, weighing in at 14.7 lbs., you do have to realize it has a 30-inch cutting swath. This is potentially doing the work of two typical hedge trimmers. Even more efficient than two, if you realize the use of the scoop. At the same time, since it is one-sided, you don’t get the luxury of cutting on the back-swing.

The internal steel drive shaft not only adds in durability, but it also offers less vibration, making it easier on the operator. A molded throttle assembly along with a wide trigger reduces fatigue, hence increasing comfort. The auxiliary or secondary, handle is adjustable per the user’s needs. When it comes to hearing comfort, the Makita EN7350SH 4-stroke shines a bit. At the ANSI standard 50-feet, Wide Open Throttle only emits 75 dbA. at the operator’s ear, there’s a bit more at 95 dbA. While the bystander may not need hearing protection, it’s definitely still recommended for the operator.

Final Thoughts

We put this Makita EN7350SH one-sided hedge trimmer in the field for review and testing, and our pro landscapers spent some time behind the wheel…stick. The results were impressive. Build quality and ergonomics are a big plus for the Makita one-sided hedge trimmer, and performance stands on its own as well. Runtime and efficiency are par for this tool. A full tank of unleaded fuel (~20 oz.) will provide about 55 minutes of wide open throttle (WOT).

The cutting quality of the blades were above average for sure, and the large cutting space between the blades allowed for the larger growth to cut as well. Even when you’re digging in deep with this Makita, it will get it done. On the Value side, it’s a little harder pill to swallow. This one-sided hedge trimmer will set you about almost $500. In the end, this is a niche tool for doing certain jobs, and it can pay for itself when used properly. Sure, the price tag is a little steeper, but Makita seems to build this tool with quality components. With care and maintenance, this Makita EN7350SH should last for years.

Check out this Makita EN7350SH Hedge Trimmer and other OPE from Makita here .