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YO! Okatsune

YO! Okatsune
Posted on 04/08/10 | Posted by The Fat Gardener

It is very rarely that I am truly surprised by new garden tools. Manufacturers seem to spend most of their time making handles longer, tools lighter or stronger and adding the now obligatory 'soft feel' handles to their products. This week however, I was surprised not only by the quality of the new garden tools I was testing, but also by the fact there was nothing new or innovative about them!

The tools in question are manufactured by a company called Okatsune from Hiroshima in Japan who have been making sharp, tough cutting tools for over 70 years. The hardness of the blades comes from the exacting tempering process used, with blades heated to over 800°C in two stages and then cooled down in five phases following a strict time schedule. The secateurs and pruning shears have a 'V' shaped spring which distributes the load evenly over the length of the spring making for a very soft closing action which is great for repetitive use over long periods.

All the cutting tools are equipped with distinctive red & white handles which I am not completely sure about, but add a certain 'je ne sais quoi' and will certainly be visible if they are dropped! I am also told by the manufacturer that because of their unique blade design sap is drawn away from the cutting edges meaning they stay sharper for longer.

The three main products in the range are:

  1. Hedge Shears - Okatsune shears come in two sizes; a standard pair (KST217) that are 535mm long and weigh just 800g and a long handled pair (KST230) that are 780mm and weigh 1050g.
  2. Bypass Secateurs - Okatsune secateurs are available in two sizes; a small pair (KST101) that are 180mm and weigh 180g and a standard pair (KST103) that are 202mm and weigh 230g.
  3. Fruit & Pruning Shears - Okatsune shears come in two styles; the fruit pruners (KST301) have short 24mm curved blades for precision removal of soft fruits and the thinning shears (KST304) that have 45mm straight blades for dead heading, light pruning and cut flowers.

Added to the quality of the Okatsune pruning tools I have been very impressed with some of the prices. The fruit and pruning shears retail for under £8.00 each and the standard secateurs are £30.00 - great value for such good quality Japanese made garden tools. The shears are more expensive, but are wonderfully light to use and their very hard, sharp blades are perfect for topiary and shaping work as well as general hedge maintenance.

So if you're interested in trying a new brand and take your pruning seriously, you can't go wrong with the Okatsune range of cutting tools.

See the whole Okatsune range here

Any comments? Please email us at info@qualitygardentools.com

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