Quality pruning tools for gardening, tree care and landscape work

[mdvaden]

It's been several years since I posted any video, but I put a video up yesterday about my choice of small tools for pruning. It's aimed at gardeners but a few points may be of interest to arborists. What was a new Hollywood Lark wireless mic sat unused for years until yesterday. I hope to record more redwood forest stuff, but had the pruning tool thing in mind for months. Doubt it will get 1000s of views but maybe it will help a few folks pick a good tool.

If anybody has a favorite brand or model of hand pruners, shears or chainsaws, feel to post your list in reply.

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[Patrick A]

Felco 2 hand pruners. Silky Gomtaro (whichever the length) hand saw.
I have not found a loppers I like. Fiskars are ok but a bit heavy. The 28" Marvin are good but the nut won t stay tight for more than 10 cuts.

 

[mdvaden]

Felco 2 hand pruners. Silky Gomtaro (whichever the length) hand saw.
I have not found a loppers I like. Fiskars are ok but a bit heavy. The 28" Marvin are good but the nut won t stay tight for more than 10 cuts.

Have you ever tried Felco loppers? And what length range would you use? I use a handsaw for anything that my Felco 20 lopper wouldn't cut. Usually just hand pruners and handsaw. But for a bigger lopper, I see Felco has a 21 that's close to 25 inches. Very spendy, but if it's built like the Felco 2 and Felco 20, mine practically never need adjustment or tightening except maybe once per year. But the construction configuration appears to be the same.

Glad folks are sharing feedback here, Youtube and on a landscape forum. Because I hadn't been shopping for pruning poles in over 10 years and didn't realize there's carbon fiber segments available now. $110 isn't cheap, but it's pretty reasonable for that material. I may upgrade next year after 4 crowns are finished in my mouth.

 

[Dave Shepard]

My F2s and F20 are great. I've used F21, also great, with more leverage.

 

[flushcut]

Felco 2 hand pruners. Silky Gomtaro (whichever the length) hand saw.
I have not found a loppers I like. Fiskars are ok but a bit heavy. The 28" Marvin are good but the nut won t stay tight for more than 10 cuts.

Bahco a division of Snap On makes an orchard looper that I love. Baileys used to carry it which is where I got it from a long time ago. Smooth cutting, not very big, good feel in the hands.

 

[flushcut]

Have you ever tried Felco loppers? And what length range would you use? I use a handsaw for anything that my Felco 20 lopper wouldn't cut. Usually just hand pruners and handsaw. But for a bigger lopper, I see Felco has a 21 that's close to 25 inches. Very spendy, but if it's built like the Felco 2 and Felco 20, mine practically never need adjustment or tightening except maybe once per year. But the construction configuration appears to be the same.

Glad folks are sharing feedback here, Youtube and on a landscape forum. Because I hadn't been shopping for pruning poles in over 10 years and didn't realize there's carbon fiber segments available now. $110 isn't cheap, but it's pretty reasonable for that material. I may upgrade next year after 4 crowns are finished in my mouth.

Check out Arbsession for deals on carbon fiber telescopic poles. They were closing out last year’s model cheap. I am a recent carbon fiber convert and I’m not looking back.

 

[Kaveman]

Corona hand clippers and lopers hold up really nice, and can be repaired. Silky Sugoi handsaw, because I like the hook.

 

[pigwot]

Patrick A,
I hear you on the Marvin’s with the never-tight-nut situation! Locktite time.
The best loppers I have are a City of New York roads and maintenance crew ‘standard issue’ - from a fellow whose grandfather worked on such a crew back in the 1930s. They are longer than most, and quite heavy-duty. A rivet has come loose on the one handle stiffener, so they are in my ‘to-be-repaired’ pile at the moment.