Tree Loppers are an arborist’s and home gardener’s best friend. They are used to cut larger limbs and branches from trees or shrubs, typically for a variety of reasons such as removing dead wood to reduce fire risk, opening up views, and improving air circulation to encourage healthy growth. A skilled professional can efficiently and safely remove a tree or even multiple large limbs with relative ease, but attempting to tackle such a task on your own can be very dangerous, resulting in costly damage to landscaping and possibly personal injury.
When trimming, you have the option to use either manual or ratchet loppers. Manual loppers operate much like scissors, with a basic open-and-close cutting action that relies on your strength for force. With ratchet loppers, a mechanism is added that multiplies leverage with each squeeze to make it easier to cut thicker branches.
The most important factor in determining the quality of a pair of loppers is whether they are suitable for your intended job. The size of the blades determines how thick a branch they can cut, and also whether you can comfortably reach high branches without straining. The blades of a pair of loppers must also be sharp enough to cut cleanly through woody and fibrous material.
During our tests, we found that the sharpened carbon-steel blades on these loppers were able to slice through thick branches with relative ease. The forged-aluminum handles are smooth to the touch, and although they’re not the lightest on our list, at just under four pounds they were still easy to wield while cutting overhead.
Another great feature of these loppers is their ability to fold close with the blades locked in place. This not only makes them compact and easy to store, but also allows you to keep the blades protected from the elements when not in use. This also keeps them from rusting and prevents the need to sharpen them as often.
For more precision in your cuts, a pair of loppers with a center-of-gravity positioning system helps you hold the tool properly for optimal cutting performance. This also reduces the chance of hand fatigue and blisters by allowing you to distribute your weight evenly between both hands when working. Most models with this feature come with padded grips made to reduce slippage and hand fatigue while increasing comfort.
Aside from the blades, the overall construction of a good set of loppers is important. Look for a strong, robust pair with reinforced metal hinges to increase their durability and longevity. Also, look for a pair with a solid locking latch to ensure the blades stay closed during storage and transport.
It’s worth mentioning that although some situations may call for the use of loppers, it is always recommended that you seek out the services of an arborist to do so. An arborist will conduct a full risk assessment and health assessment of the tree before performing any cutting. This ensures that you are doing the least amount of damage to the plant while still ensuring that it can grow and thrive in its new environment.
source https://standfasttreeservices1.wordpress.com/2024/06/14/the-best-tree-loppers/
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