Quality Garden Tools Blog

Great Loppers

Posted on 19/02/10 | Posted by The Fat Gardener

In the latest chapter of my occasional (very occasional!) series on my favourite gardening tools I will be looking at loppers.

Loppers are an interesting ‘in-between tool’ for jobs that are too small for a saw, but too big for secateurs. I use my loppers (I have about 3 sets) as much as I use my secateurs – they are great for getting low down without bending (I tend to creak) for cutting suckers on roses & trees and they are also perfect for making clean, precise cuts on the lower branches of fruit trees.

I often talk about how important it is to make neat, clean cuts on trees and shrubs so as to avoid diseases and loppers are perfect for this task. Technically loppers have very similarly shaped blades to secateurs and very similar handles to shears; this means they cut almost as precisely as secateurs, but offer more leverage and therefore more power because of the longer handles.

Because of this increase in power, branches up to 2" (50mm) can be severed relatively easily (although I tend to use a saw above 1½"). The ratchet and gearing mechanisms available in some loppers mean that thick branches can be cut with less effort and are particularly popular with older gardeners.

My pick of good loppers are:

1. Bahco P1980 Heavy Duty 800mm Bypass Loppers: The ‘daddy’ of all loppers. Cuts branches up to 2" (50mm) with aluminium handles and heavy duty cutting head. Suitable for prolonged use and tough jobs – these Bahco loppers won’t ever let you down!
2. Felco Bypass Loppers Carbon Fibre Handles: A very good idea from one of the best name in gardening tools. These loppers cut branches up to a diameter of 35mm, but the strong, light carbon fibre handles are interchangeable – long or short for different tasks.
3. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp 21" Geared Bypass Loppers: Heavy duty loppers with ‘a bit of help’. Although not light, these loppers have a geared mechanism decreasing the effort needed to cut. The large cutting head is PTFE coated to reduce friction and aid cleaning.
4. Bahco PG19 Expert Bypass Telescopic Loppers: Get some extra reach. These great quality loppers have extendable handles that with just a quarter turn increase the handle length from 60cm to 90cm. The extra reach is particularly useful for pruning low tree branches.
5. Bulldog Bypass Ratchet Lopping Shears: Best loppers for value. Bulldog’s ratchet action loppers can cut branches up to 4" thick and also have handy extending handles. These loppers are particularly good for those of us who aren’t as strong as we used to be!
6. Bahco P1660 600mm Bypass Loppers: The loppers I use. No fuss, no gimmiks, just a really great set of traditional loppers. Not to heavy, the length is just right for jobs above my head and at ground level (I try to avoid bending if possible!) and I keep them razor sharp.

As long as you keep the blades clean and sharp, your loppers will be one of the best garden tools in the shed.

All the above loppers can be seen at: www.qualitygardentools.com/hand-tools/loppers/viewcategory

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

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