Thanks @BobTheGardener. That looks like just the thing To solve the problem. To be honest, I'm sick of the sight of them grinning at me with their shiny red handles and I've finished the job with my trusty old cheapies. I 'll definitely give it a go when I've finished my snit. The blade is really sharp so I'd better wear gloves for the job - not sure how that'll work.
I tried that today. The screws seem to be welded with paint. The thread (slot) was becoming damaged so I stopped. I'm pretty certain now that the blades are just a bit too close together. Maybe with use they'll grind down. Oil at the crossover seems to work better than spraying the spring. With regard to safety mechanism, my cheapos ( probably Wilkinsons) have a sliding effort that works perfectly. What psssssss me off is that I could have bought at least 5 cheapos which would have lasted about 3 years each without maintenance for the same price. A pruned shrub is pruned however much the tool cost. A pound shop watch tells the same time as a rolex. A Lamborghini gets stuck in the same traffic jam as a Lada.
With regard to safety mechanism, my cheapos ( probably Wilkinsons) have a sliding effort that works perfectly.
I thought of these when I read the comments about the locking mechanism. My Wilko £6 bypass pruners have a sliding lock mechanism that never gets in the way. They also just work perfectly with smooth cuts and have lasted 5 years so far. I wash, oil and sharpen yearly, which takes 5 mins tops. Then just a quick 5 second sharpen with my pocket sharpener before any delicate/critical jobs for my own peace-of-mind.
Any well made tool will last and work well if looked after - price isn’t always an indicator of quality as there are great and rubbish products available at all price points.
I also have a cheapo pair of secateurs that are similar style to your felcos and suffer from similar issues which is why I don’t buy those sort of one’d anymore. The more solid bypass pruners aren’t quite as quick between cuts (although arguably they are because they don’t get stuck on their own lock!) because they’re meant to handle thicker stems/ branches. But I’ve got snips for faster cuts.
B3 - it’s such a shame that you’ve ended up with ones that don’t really fit you! I find this happens a lot with gifts - people now don’t buy me tools or devices as they know how picky I am! 😄
B3 I've used mine for about an hour in total and I haven't had any problems. Today I used them for about 45mins. Out of curiosity, how long have you used yours?
Not long. I've gone back to my old faithful cheapies. If I use them, I'll be waiting for them to stick again. To soon to be doing much pruning yet anyway
I have had my Felco no 2 for more than 20 years. I would say yours are faulty, a premium brand like this should not give this trouble. As to the locking , yes it can catch but if you are doing a lot of quick cuts make sure you open it really wide , it avoids the problem. Iagree with the maintenance and adjustment advice but it shouldn't be needed on something so new. Did your OH pay with a card, should be able to prove purchase that way, try to get them replaced, go with and get the right ones for you.
I'm pretty sure it's the blade catching but the screw to loosen it a bit seems to be painted shut. The slot in the screw head was getting damaged so I stopped trying to unscrew it. I will get around to contacting felco.
I can't move that screw on my Felco's either, or the one on the lock mechanism. I have had mine 30+ years though. I have taped over the lock as I kept catching it and locking them when I didn't want to. That resulted in many "Oh dear, I do wish that wouldn't keep happening" comments from me in the garden. OK, the actual comment was rather shorter and to the point, but you get the idea.
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I 'll definitely give it a go when I've finished my snit. The blade is really sharp so I'd better wear gloves for the job - not sure how that'll work.
With regard to safety mechanism, my cheapos ( probably Wilkinsons) have a sliding effort that works perfectly.
What psssssss me off is that I could have bought at least 5 cheapos which would have lasted about 3 years each without maintenance for the same price. A pruned shrub is pruned however much the tool cost. A pound shop watch tells the same time as a rolex. A Lamborghini gets stuck in the same traffic jam as a Lada.
Any well made tool will last and work well if looked after - price isn’t always an indicator of quality as there are great and rubbish products available at all price points.
I also have a cheapo pair of secateurs that are similar style to your felcos and suffer from similar issues which is why I don’t buy those sort of one’d anymore. The more solid bypass pruners aren’t quite as quick between cuts (although arguably they are because they don’t get stuck on their own lock!) because they’re meant to handle thicker stems/ branches. But I’ve got snips for faster cuts.
B3 - it’s such a shame that you’ve ended up with ones that don’t really fit you! I find this happens a lot with gifts - people now don’t buy me tools or devices as they know how picky I am! 😄
If I use them, I'll be waiting for them to stick again. To soon to be doing much pruning yet anyway