Author Jack Hemingway

Jack is a licensed Arborist and owned a tree care company for many years. When he's not up in a tree you'll find him hiking and clearing trails in the Coronado National Forest.


Heroclip® (a Combination Carabiner and Swivel Hook): Product Review


What can I say, I love the Heroclip® and I absolutely recommend it. The Heroclip® is a combination of a carabiner and a 3600 swivel hook, letting you use it as both a clip and a hook. It’s a rugged and rustproof tool made from high quality materials, with excellent fit and finish. Plus, it’s available in 3 sizes and a multitude of colors. Although it’s not something you’d normally think of as Continue Reading


FreedomWeeder: Product Review


The FreedomWeeder is a 44-inch tube that you fill with liquid herbicide (of your choice). It has a spot applicator tip on the bottom to target individual weeds, an attached hand pump sprayer for broader application, and a “drizzle” cap to pour contents. The tube is long enough that you don’t have to bend over to apply the weed killer (your back will thank you!). And I love the option to use the sprayer when Continue Reading


Sun Joe® Cordless Go-Anywhere Portable Pressure Washer (SPX6001C): Product Review


What a great concept - a completely self-contained, cordless pressure washer that doesn’t need a nearby spigot, hose or electrical outlet (meaning there’s no hose or electrical cord to get tangled up in). Water is supplied from an attached 5.3-gallon bucket and power from a 40V li-ion battery. What’s not to like about that? For a 40V power washer, the run time is excellent, averaging over 21 minutes on high power. That gives you enough time Continue Reading


WORX 20V Cordless Chainsaw: Product Review


There are a lot of things to like about the WORX 20V cordless chainsaw. It has plenty of power, even with only a single 20 volt lithium-ion battery. It makes fast clean cuts, has a nice ergonomic design, is comfortable and easy to handle, and has excellent fit and finish. Given its light weight (roughly 6.8 lbs) and petite stature, virtually anyone would be able to use this chainsaw. Because it’s a small chainsaw, with only Continue Reading


Sun Joe® SPX1501 Pressure Washer: Product Review


I like this little beast of a pressure washer. To me, it's like a wolf in sheep's clothing - despite its petite size and toy-like appearance, it's a powerful cleaner. I'd put it in the "beginner" pressure washer class because of its useful pressure rating of only 1400 PSI. But if you're looking for a basic unit without a lot of bells and whistles, a unique adjustable spray nozzle (no more losing individual nozzles!), easy-to-attach Continue Reading


Corona QuickSaw – 7-inch Folding Hand Saw (QS 7800): Product Review


If you’re looking for a long-lasting, high-quality pruning saw, you’ve found it with the Corona QuickSaw®. The 7-inch, impulse-hardened high-carbon steel blade makes pruning large branches easy. The saw folds conveniently for portability, and it offers a rubberized handle that makes using it comfortable and slip-free. Tight tolerances and a metal thumb lever add to the overall quality of the product. The blade makes clean, fast cuts to shorten your pruning time. For a Continue Reading


Centurion Folding Pruning Saw: Product Review


If you’re looking for a folding pruning saw to tackle tough jobs, the Centurion® Folding Pruning Saw provided adequate cutting performance, but the blade is not as efficient/effective in cutting performance compared to other straight bladed folding saws. It is a more middle of the road saw. After a third saw was tested, the saw locked in all positions. The company provides good pruning information on the packaging, and the saw’s handle offers a comfortable Continue Reading


Felco #7 Bypass Pruner: Product Review


If you’re looking for a perfect bypass pruner that offers long-lasting cutting power and comfort, the Felco #7 Bypass Pruner belongs in your garden shed. Created with Swiss precision, the pruner offers excellent craftmanship and high-quality materials, making it an ideal investment. While not inexpensive, the pruner performed fabulously for more than two decades of use in my career as an arborist—without any replacement parts needed. The rotating handle provides comfort for users who make Continue Reading


A.M. Leonard Tri-Edge Folding Saw (A700): Product Review


If you’re looking for a pruning saw with the convenience of foldability, check out the A.M. Leonard Tri-Edge Folding Saw. Offering many convenient features, like tight tolerances, adjustable tension, and a comfortable handle for a good grip, the saw performs decently. However, with super sharp teeth, the saw surprisingly lacks super-fast cutting speed. Additionally, the lack of coverage of the blade when closed promotes an “accident waiting to happen” feel. A decent saw that will Continue Reading


Centurion Multi-Gear Lopper 2X: Product Review


If you’re looking for bypass loppers to tackle thick branches, the Centurion® Multi-Gear Lopper 2X performs adequately. While the company claims the lopper cuts diameters of 2 inches, in reality, the maximum cutting diameter for hard wood was 1-½-inch. The telescoping handles offer a comfortable grip, and they lock securely with a pin mechanism. The pruning information provides a good resource for the user, but the blades create ragged cuts due to “spread.” Additionally, the Continue Reading


WORX Hydroshot Portable Power Cleaner WG644: Product Review


For a portable, highly convenient power cleaner that requires no cords or a fixed water source, the Hydroshot™ offers a perfect alternative to typical units. Two 20-Volt Lithium Ion batteries power the unit, eliminating the need for cords or gas. It cleans well at high PSI, removing dirt and mold easily, while it also waters plants when using the two-speed trigger with a gentle squeeze. Easy assembly and smart functions make the Hydroshot™ an excellent Continue Reading


Corona 7-inch Folding Pruning Saw (RS 7245): Product Review


If you’re looking for a perfect pruning saw, you’ve found it with the Corona 7-inch Folding Pruning Saw. Extremely strong impulse hardened high carbon steel teeth make quick, clean cuts. The ergonomically designed handle and rubberized grip adds comfort without sacrificing dexterity, and the ability to fold the saw makes the tool highly practical for the user. The curved blade easily cuts high branches or those below waist, but it also works well at torso Continue Reading


WOLF-Garten® Interlocken® Pole Pruning System: Product Review


The WOLF-Garten® Interlocken® pruning pole system is a combination of high-quality parts that fit seamlessly together, including a telescoping pole, pruning saw, and bypass lopper head. The saw and lopper can be individually snapped into place with the press of a button, letting you choose the right tool for the job without needing multiple poles (because who has space for that?!). Each cutting tool makes nice, clean cuts and the extendable pole is lightweight yet Continue Reading


Fiskars POWER TOOTH® Softgrip® Folding Saw (7″): Product Review


This folding saw has a unique undercut capability (basically, the blade “bends backward” at the handle) that makes it easier to use for those who are not comfortable with flipping a saw over to make the undercut. The push button design of the blade lock works extremely well for a right-handed person but it’s not easy for a lefty to use. It features a sharp POWER TOOTH® saw blade that makes good clean cuts and Continue Reading