Hand pruners come in two types: bypass and anvil. Most yardeners find it handy to have one pair of each design.
Bypass hand pruners use a scissors action and are designed to cut green or fresh wood. The cutting blade is tapered and thin making these effective in narrow spots among limbs. The top blade passes against the hooked lower blade that catches and holds the branch while the cutting blade comes down on it. Bypass pruners give a smooth, accurate cut close to the main trunk of the plant, cutting branches up to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
Anvil Pruners: In this style, the cutting blade comes down in the center of a soft metal or hard plastic anvil, sort of like a knife cutting on a cutting board. This tool is designed to cut dead or very dry tough wood. The blade should make contact with the anvil all along its length. This design makes them better for cutting larger branches without springing the blades, up to ¾ inch. But the anvil design won't cut as close to the trunk, leaving a small stub.
Handles vary in style, materials and construction according to the type of tool. Both bypass and anvil pruners should have handles covered with molded vinyl for comfort and gripping ease. A return spring should open the blade after each cut and a locking device at the rear of the blade mechanism is preferable to one at the rear of the handles which can cause blisters. The shears should open and close smoothly, without resistance, but they should not be loose.
While sometimes difficult to find, hand pruners for left handed folks make their work a bit more comfortable. Be sure the pruner feels comfortable in terms of the size of your hand. Persons with smaller hands need to be sure they don’t buy a pruner that is tool large causing them to “choke up” on the handles which is very tiring and uncomfortable.
FISKARS® PowerGear® Bypass Pruner
FISKARS® PowerGear® Bypass Pruner
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New for 2004!!!
The state-of-the-art in hand pruners, FISKARS® PowerGear® Pruner provides power and comfort for the serious gardener. Its unique gear design maximizes leverage to reduce cutting effort, and the rotating handle minimizes strain and fatigue, especially during extended use. This pruner features a blade that can be replaced with a simple twist of the wing nut and a sleek, ergonomic design that’s ideal for medium to small sized hands. This pruner can cut branches up to ¾ inches in diameter. The precision-ground steel blades are fully hardened to withstand years of cutting green and growing wood.
The unique PowerGear® tool design used two gears to amplify the cutting force instead of just one or two pivot points. The gear mechanism reduces cutting effort and provides excellent leverage the entire length of the blades, even at the very tip. The gear mechanism is built into the Nyglass® composite handles, so when the handles are squeezed together, the bottom handle rotates with the hand, minimizing friction, strain and fatigue. The Nyglass® composite also makes the pruners extremely lightweight, yet exceptionally durable. This pruner has a life time guaranty and is made in Finland.
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Lifetime warranty
Ultra hard tool steel blade
PowerGear® design
Adjustable handle opening
PTFE coated blade
Nyglass® composite body
3/4" cutting capacity
Replaceable blade
Rotating handle
Generally available in most independent garden centers. The suggested retail price is $29.99. For locating a retailer and more information go to www.fiskars.com
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FISKARS® PowerGear® Anvil Pruner
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New for 2004!!!
These unique pruners utilize the patented PowerGear® technology, which increases cutting power by 35%. These slim, but mighty tools fit nicely into pockets and easily cut dry or dead branches up to 3/4" in diameter. These pruners feature an ideal blade length for precision cutting and maneuvering through dense growth. The locking mechanism operates with a simple touch, protecting blades and preventing accidents. This pruner has a life time guaranty and is made in Finland.
This pruner features a blade that can be replaced with a simple twist of the wing nut and a sleek, ergonomic design that’s ideal for medium to small sized hands. This pruner can cut branches up to ¾ inches in diameter. The precision-ground steel blades are fully hardened to withstand years of pruning away dead wood and dry, tough stems.
The unique PowerGear® tool design used two gears to amplify the cutting force instead of just one or two pivot points. The gear mechanism reduces cutting effort and provides excellent leverage the entire length of the blades, even at the very tip. The gear mechanism is built into the Nyglass® composite handles, so when the handles are squeezed together, the bottom handle rotates with the hand, minimizing friction, strain and fatigue. The Nyglass® composite also makes the pruners extremely lightweight, yet exceptionally durable.
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PowerGear® patented technology
Anvil-style blade
3/4" cutting capacity
Ambidextrous lock
Lifetime warranty
Generally available in most independent garden centers. The suggested retail price is $29.99. For locating a retailer and more information go to www.fiskars.com
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FISKARS® Loop Handle Bypass Pruner
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Don't be misled by the elegant look of this stylish duo of hand pruners - they're serious cutters! The comfortable Softgrip® upper handle adds padding to prevent friction and keeps hands from slipping. The loop handle allows hands to relax without having to put the tool down, as well as protects knuckles during the pruning process. These slim, but mighty tools fit nicely into pockets and easily cut branches up to 5/8" in diameter.
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Softgrip® upper handle
Bypass-style blade
Loop handle
5/8" cutting capacity
Ambidextrous lock
Lifetime warranty
Generally available in most independent garden centers. For locating a retailer and more information go to www.fiskars.com
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Bahco Hand Pruning Shear
Bahco Pruning Shear
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The handles are made of glass fiber reinforced material which is lighter than aluminum, yet more resistant than steel. They fit particularly well into the hand. One-hand-locking. For more information and sources go to The Bahco Web Site