"Joe" wrote in message news
I bought a craftsman "heave duty hedge trimmer" that has been awful. It
says it can cut through 3/4 stems,


That's the size of a broom stick and would beat any hedge trimmer to death.
We have had husky electrics and gas powered (Echo) ones and I wouldn't
subject any of them to that. You need a pair of manual loppers or a chain
saw for the big stuff. RM~