Ratchet pruner: which garden pruner is better? Features of ratchet titanium models. How to choose a professional pruner

Appointment

It will be helpful for all gardeners to know that the implements differ in their purpose. Of course, there are universal options that cope with a large number of tasks, but you should not expect from one product that it will perform all possible operations.

Each field of activity implies the use of its own type of pruner:

Floristry - delicate and delicate objects, with two sharp blades of the same size, which are useful for cutting flowers and ornamental plants. They can also be used to cut various packaging materials: paper, film, tape.
Lawn dressing - designed to trim the height of the grass in hard-to-reach places that cannot be reached with a trimmer. The tip of such devices is made oblong and straight, and the distance to the ground is adjusted using a special wheel. There are models with short and long handles. In the second case, the cutting part is located perpendicular to the handle so that you do not have to bend over.
Vaccinations are a special type of device that is responsible for creating a neat and level vaccination site. The same cut, only in a mirror image, is obtained on the grafted shoot. Due to this, the likelihood that the graft will take root increases, and the possibility of infection of the tree decreases.
Brush cutter - scissors for the garden, which have more functionality and cope with cuttings up to 3 cm. Handles 20 - 40 cm long allow you to use them in operations with thorny shrubs, for example, for roses.
Lopper - has long arms like the previous variety and a small but powerful cutting element with sickle blades. This design allows you to get rid of even cuttings 5 - 6 cm in diameter. Also, many people use them as an alternative to a regular pruner, so as not to bend over while cutting.
Header - needed to cut branches located at a considerable distance from the ground. For this purpose, a telescopic handle is often integrated. There are also devices that are powered by batteries or gasoline. In fact, these are mini versions of electric chainsaws.

Criterias of choice

Choosing a garden pruner for your needs is no easy task

What should you look for when buying?

Sharpness of blades: they should be sharpened as much as possible.
Handles material - plastic, reinforced polyamide or fiberglass with anti-slip effect. Better - with a rubberized pad.
The device of the handles: the hand should feel comfortable on them. Look for models with a special finger groove.
Reliability of fastening: the bolt and nut must firmly fix the cutting blades.
Spring: choose a tape mechanism, it is considered more reliable than the usual wire spiral.
Blade contact: when joined, they should not form a gap, which will become a waste container and injure plants.
Check: be sure to try the tool in the store. Cut a piece of paper with them. Enjoy ease of use and cut quality. Feel free to ask the consultant questions.
Design: Poisonous orange, deep purple, sunny yellow and bright red details - not for beauty, but to make it easier to find the instrument in the grass.

Pay special attention to the material of the blades, since the main load will fall on them. They have proven themselves well:

65X13 - steel for the manufacture of knives, has corrosion resistance, is often used in the production of domestic models;
SK-5 - high-carbon steel, tool steel, keeps sharpening well, is used in Chinese and Japanese products;
440A - durable anti-corrosion steel;
AUS-6 - analogue of 440A, produced in Japan and improved (has a much higher wear resistance);
titanium is a lightweight and durable alloy, the most resistant to rust of all the materials listed above.

When buying, take a closer look at those places of garden pruners where defects are most common:

poor factory sharpening of the blades;
nicks and roughness on cutting inserts;
loose bolt;
a weak, practically non-shock-absorbing spring, or vice versa - so tight that the handles cannot be squeezed;
frayed spring rings;
the gap between the blades when they come together;
when cutting, the paper breaks, there are uneven edges;
the broken integrity of the rubberized pads on the handles (scratches, holes, torn edges);
loose fit of the grip pads (rubber rides and creates a sliding effect that can result in injury);
inconsistency with the equipment stated in the manufacturer's instructions.

Pruner elements

Secateurs lock

The secateurs are not only needed for storage when folded. The retainer plays an important role in the work, since it is not safe to hold an open pruning shears

Therefore, when choosing a secateurs, it is important to make sure of the reliability of the lock, not the possibility of spontaneous opening and ease of use.

Secateurs spring

The mechanisms for extending the pruner handles can be different, both open and hidden. In simple models, a coil spring or a tape spring can be used.

Fig. 9. Secateurs with tape spring.

The most reliable is a tape spring. Therefore, when choosing an inexpensive pruning shear model, it is reasonable to give preference to the ribbon spring.

Adjusting the position of the handles

Everyone has a different hand size, so it is important to match the pruning shears to your hand size. However, this is not always possible, especially if more than one person is using the pruner.

Fig. 10. Mechanism for adjusting the position of the pruning shears.

To solve this problem, a mechanism is installed on the secateurs that allows you to select the optimal distance between the pruning shears.

TOP-10 models

You can buy a fairly good lopper today at an affordable price - on average, 2000-3000 rubles. Some of the most popular models are described below.

VERTO 15G259

Telescopic tool with which you can cut fairly thick branches (diameter up to 45 mm). Equipped with aluminum handles, the compression of which is increased by 30% thanks to the transmission. According to user reviews, this is a fairly convenient lopper that fits well in the hands.

GRINDA 8-424391_z01

Equipped with a strong and reliable carbon steel blade. Cuts branches up to 40 mm in diameter, provides a maximum length of 1 meter. The lopper is equipped with a ratchet mechanism, but according to gardeners, it does not always work.

RACO 4212-53 / 248

A handy tool with a robust blade for cutting branches up to 40 mm in diameter. The grips on the handles are soft and prevent slipping. The total length is 70 cm, so this lopper is suitable for working with small shrubs.

Smart Cut Comfort Gardena 08773-20.000.00

One of the best delimbing loppers with a reliable ratchet mechanism and a very sharp blade, cuts branches up to 45 mm in diameter. Equipped with a metal anvil and a handy lock that can be operated with one hand. The cutting mechanism is patented by a Czech manufacturer.

GRINDA 8-424431_z01

It can be used to cut small diameter branches (up to 32 mm). The body is made of durable steel, the tool is equipped with a comfortable enough handle and guide block. Summer residents note that the tool works very efficiently, so the model can be considered one of the best in terms of price and quality.

RACO 4218-53 / 372C

It is a bar lopper that can cut small branches up to 32 mm in diameter.The length of the tool is also small - 42.5 cm. Among the advantages are widely spaced blades (by 3 cm), reliable fastening made of high quality steel and an affordable price (1400 rubles).

FINLAND 1710

Cuts branches with a diameter of up to 40 mm, has a total length of 52 cm. The blade is made of carbon steel, and the handles are made of composite material, which ensures their durability.

FINLAND 1709

It is a planar lopper that can cut branches up to 44 cm in diameter. The blades are made of carbon steel and have an AntiStick coating. The handles are made of fiberglass and nylon, which also guarantees a long service life. Summer residents note that this is a convenient and lightweight tool that is comfortable to work with.

GARDENA TeleCut 520-670 B 12005-20.000.00

Tool with adjustable handles, thanks to which it is possible to cut even tall branches with a diameter of up to 38 mm. Equipped with special attachments made of soft material that protect the palm from damage. The blades provide a precise cut and the delimber is easy to handle.

Fiskars 1000582

This is a planar lopper from a Polish manufacturer. It can be used to cut knots up to 38 mm in diameter. The blades are curved, strong and very sharp. At the same time, the tool weighs only 600 g, thanks to which both men and women can work with it.

Thus, it is quite possible to find a good lopper at an affordable price. The main condition for the purchase is the opportunity to thoroughly test the instrument while still in the store

It is necessary to pay attention to the work of the structure and to your own feelings.

Ergonomics of the secateurs

When choosing a pruner for yourself, it is important that it is convenient for you. When choosing, evaluate how it fits in your hand, whether it is light enough, how smooth and light the handles move, whether the latch is conveniently located

An important feature of the pruner is the material of the handles. If the pruner has metal handles, then it will not be comfortable to work with it in the offseason.

Secateurs with plastic handles do not have this problem. If the pruner handles are covered with an anti-slip coating, this will only add convenience when using the pruner, and this particular model is worth choosing.

When choosing a secateurs, pay attention to whether there is any fastening system, for example, on a belt or on an arm. With this feature, the pruner will always be at your fingertips.

Working in the garden is primarily a rest from the bustle of the city, and a good tool will only contribute to this.

When choosing a pruner, you should not rush, it is important to choose the right tool for a specific job and make sure that the chosen model will be comfortable to work with. The right pruning shears will delight your work and will preserve your plants, which will surely thank you with a good harvest.

The best pruning shears

The top five garden pruners include:

RACO 4206-53 / 150C is a garden tool with high quality hardened steel used in the manufacture of blades. These secateurs are durable and resistant to mechanical stress. The protection of the knives against corrosion is ensured by a special coating. The built-in ratchet mechanism increases the cutting force so that the pruner can easily handle hard and tough shoots. The knives produced by this brand leave a perfectly straight cut. The handle has a small brush that can quickly clean the blades. Thanks to the rubberized inserts on the handles, they do not slip out during operation;
Fiskars 111670 is a pruning shear, the versatility of which allows not only right-handers to use the tool. The blades are treated with an anti-friction coating that reduces friction and pressure on the cutting edges. The ratchet mechanism makes this tool suitable for thick branches. The blades are made of high quality steel and are double hardened. Durable handles with anti-slip coating;
Palisad 60560 is a durable pruning shears equipped with die-cast aluminum handles with rubberized inserts. Corrosion-treated Teflon blades are made from high quality carbon steel. The lower blade has small teeth that hold the branch in place while cutting and give a better cut than other garden pruners. Equipped with a ratchet makes it possible to work with thick branches. Another advantage of this model is that the lower handle is equipped with a protective arch;
The GARDENA 8905 is a pruning shear with a special coating on the upper blade to prevent the sticking of plant residues. High quality stainless steel was used in the manufacture of the lower knife. Reinforced fiberglass is used for the production of handles. The difference between this model and others lies in the possibility of individual adjustment of the working width between the handles. The cut after processing is especially thin and correct. Another feature of the model of this powerful pruner is that there is an electric knife lock at the top of the pruner;
The GARDENA 8854 is a tool with an unusual handle that resists overloading the wrist and rubbing the palm of the hand. At the top there is a button that activates the knife lock. For the manufacture of the handle, equipped with rubber inserts, reinforced fiberglass was used. Since the sharpening was performed with high precision, the cut has a perfectly flat and accurate surface. The upper blade is treated with an anti-stick coating. The bottom knife is made of high quality stainless steel.

Gardening scissors

Thus, before choosing a pruner for your garden and answering the question: which is better than Fiskars or Gardena pruning shears, we can say that GARDENA branch pruners differ from other companies in the presence of automatic knife fixation, as well as in high quality materials. A distinctive quality of Fiskars, RACO and Palisad secateurs is the special treatment of the blades against corrosion and other external influences.

When thinking about which pruner is better to choose, you need to focus on the purpose of this tool. It can be used for processing thin shrub branches, thick shoots or intended for grafting. In addition to those listed in this material, there are a large number of different models of secateurs, the cost of which also differs - the price range from which these tools can be selected varies from 300 to 3,000 rubles.

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Types of secateurs

Standard (bypass) - secateurs with one knife, the second plate is used as a stop, offset in relation to the cutting line. Due to this, only the cut-off part of the plant is deformed during pruning. That is, they work as sparingly as possible, which means they are suitable for pruning living, growing branches.
Gardening scissors - secateurs with two cutting plates, arranged on the principle of scissors. Their knives have a rounded shape, the cutting parts move towards each other. Such a tool provides an even cut, but still squeezes the material being cut. Therefore, it is better to use pruning shears for pruning very young shoots or for cutting herbaceous plants. In addition, due to the small spread of cutting knives, branches with a thickness of no more than 15-20 mm are amenable to them.
Anvil cutter - secateurs with one knife, the second plate serves as an emphasis. The stop is located directly on the cutting line. The “anvil” is usually made of strong plastic with a ribbed surface to prevent the branch from slipping. Due to the great effort created with this method of cutting, as well as the wide opening of the blades, these pruners cope with old, dry and rather thick (up to 30 mm) branches.
Lopper - garden tools used for cutting off shoots and branches of trees located high above the ground.
Bush cutter - secateurs with lengthened handles and reinforced knives. Cutting capacity up to 28 mm. Designed for removing thick and hard dry branches, for cutting all types of shrubs.
Ratchet pruner - a universal pruner for pruning both live and dry wood. The pruner cuts branches up to 3 centimeters in diameter at right angles. The ratchet is a discontinuous gear mechanism. Designed to convert rotary motion into one-way rotary motion. In other words, the ratchet allows the axle to rotate in one direction and does not allow it to return in the opposite direction. A ratchet is also called a ratchet. The main task of such a mechanism is to reduce the applied effort during work by trimming the wood in several stages.
Bar pruning shears - to remove branches located high in the tree. It is also convenient to cut off bushes with them - you can work without bending. Such a delimber is often equipped with a garden saw, sometimes a fruit collector, and the bar is telescopic.
Plant curly shears (topiary scissors) - straight-blade scissors. The double bow handles and the position of the handle give precise cutting, especially when shaping trees and shrubs. Suitable for trimming and shaping shrubs, bushes and small trees.
Grafting secateurs - secateurs used for grafting plants (apple, cherry, grapes, roses, conifers). It has a curly knife, which makes mirror cuts on the scion and rootstock, after which they are precisely connected to each other. With the help of a grafting pruner, a professional grafting of a plant is carried out in a short time.

Secateurs also differ in the manufacturing method: forged or made of stamped parts. Forged secateurs are usually more reliable and durable.

Appointment of the secateurs

When choosing a pruner, first of all, you need to have a good idea for what purposes it will be used. Depending on the type of work performed, different types of secateurs are used. By choosing the right pruner for a certain type of work, you will not injure the plants and waste extra energy when working.

Pruning shears can be divided into four types: garden shears, bypass pruning shears, anvil pruning shears, and delimbing pruners.

Garden shears are designed for cutting thin plant stems. They can be used for cutting cover material or for cutting twine for tying plants.

Fig. 1. Garden shears are used to cut thin, soft stems. They can also be used to cut various materials such as agrofibre, polyethylene or irrigation hoses. However, although they are made of sturdy stainless steel, thick stems should not be cut with them, as the stems will be severely injured.

The bypass pruner is designed for cutting live stems up to 25 mm thick. It is used mainly for the care of shrubs and vines, for example, currants, grapes, etc.

Fig. 2. The bypass pruner is used for cutting live stems of medium thickness. Its advantage is that it does not split the stem. To do this, the upper knife of the pruner must be located on the side of the plant root when cutting.

Anvil pruner is used for thick dry branches up to 30 mm in diameter.

Fig. 3. Anvil pruner is designed for thick, dry stems and branches. Thanks to the anvil, the stem does not break.

The lopper is used for cutting thick tree branches.

Fig. 4. Loppers are used to form trees and shrubs. Due to the long handles and a special mechanism, they are able to cut very thick branches without much effort.