Recommendations for secateurs.

meoldchina, Sep 29, 3:08am
I seem to ruin secateurs at an alarming rate. I can rarely get two years from a pair. I don't like the ones that have a sliding closure because I find it too easy to slide and lock the blades when I am cutting. I also have small, podgy hands and a lot of secateur handles open too wide for me.
Can I learn your recommendations?

scruff71, Sep 29, 3:55am

veejay13, Sep 29, 4:24am
I prefer these, too.

piquant, Sep 29, 8:43pm
They are very good - but having small hands too - I struggle with the geared ones. The handles open just too wide for a comfortable fit. I recently bought some ARS tiny secateurs (which are probably more for picking than pruning - except for small stuff) but I find them really, really good. I also like the smaller Fiskars ones but for heavy pruning - geared is the way to go. I believe Fiskars also do geared loppers - maybe they would be a better bet for you.

pauldw, Sep 29, 9:38pm
One of the Fiskars bypass models does come in 2 sizes. Check online for pricing, there does seem to be about a $15 spread hi/low.

wine-o-clock, Sep 29, 9:41pm
i love my bahco ones

wendalls, Sep 30, 7:31am
There is an article on them in a recent kiwi gardening magazine so I'll have a look. They recommended German as being expensive but long lasting.
Felco. ARS, Gardena, Freund, Bahco.
Then fiskars and macgregors for cheaper, won't last as long but do a good job.
It said to select carefully from each manufacturer s range depending on what you are doing with them. Ie pick a robust pair if it's for bigger stuff.

meoldchina, Sep 30, 9:06am
Thank you all. I have to admit I have tried Fiskars without success. I will hunt down some Bahco and Felco and try them for size. I hope they don’t package them so you can’t see how far they open.

scruff71, Sep 30, 9:14am
Pleasure

the-archer, Oct 1, 8:18am
When i worked in a nursery,we used ARS (made in Japan) ones for propagation pruning etc.still have mine and they're great.

tegretol, Oct 2, 11:03am
Yep they are the best. Handles are one-piece steel so don't bust like the ones shown in those piccies. Also new blades are available for about $8/pair. Wouldn't buy anything else.

flancrest, Mar 16, 1:41am
Except that only 2 of those 5 are German.