I've got a set of geared loppers from Wilkinson Sword but sadly they don't seem to sell them anymore. If you can find something similar though I'd definitely recommend ones that have a moveable pivot point for the blade to give you more leverage. Mine will cut through anything that the jaws fit around. I've never got on with the anvil type either. Bypass cutters get a bad rep because the cheaper ones bend more easily on tougher or thicker wood but good quality ones don't seem to have that problem.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Bypass cutters get a bad rep because the cheaper ones bend more easily on tougher or thicker wood but good quality ones don't seem to have that problem.
Yes I think the bypass loppers I have used are cheap ones where the blades end up twisting apart from each other when cutting a thick branch, but i'm sure brands like Felco won't have that issue.
Go for bypass loppers and only go for Felco loppers. I have been using the same Felco model No. 7 secateurs for nearly four decades with a blade, spring and shock absorbers every few years.
I've been using the Felco 200A-50 aluminium lopper which is an older model however I would not use any other lopper. Admittedly they are pricy however you get what you pay for. If you've got something like a laurel you may also want to consider a good pruning saw
I seem to be in the minority and prefer my anvil loppers (not felco though). All my secateurs (incl my felco😉) are bypass but I use my loppers for the heavy cutting, trees etc and find the anvil better at this when dealing with thicker cuts. If you are mainly using them for the Laurel then I would be happy with bypass but for ‘heavier’ cutting I prefer my anvils.
I bought the Felco 220 bypass loppers, they are a good length for reaching through my laurel hedge and they cut really well. I got the curved blades version, the only gripe being you have to open them quite wide to get the branch in the jaws. Not a problem but when you're reaching into a think hedge then space is restricted. I do think that the anvil type may have been a better choice, but the bypass 220's do go through thick branches like a knife through butter.
Anyway, I've been using them to lower the height of my laurel hedge, which has taken me 2 days to finish. It will take another 2 days to carry the branches to the front of the house for the tree guy to chip them.
So I should now get more daylight into my greenhouse, as I noted last year the light appeared restricted.
Posts
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Felco-220-Bypass-Two-Hand-pruning/dp/B00FLU53PG/ref=asc_df_B00FLU53PG/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=225363222612&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5221962198001019173&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006518&hvtargid=pla-467395000277&th=1
I note the price was £210 until a few days ago but has now dropped to only £161
Personally I find the extendable ones easier to use.
If I'm standing on a border and need to cut something close it takes 2 seconds to shorten them
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Go for bypass loppers and only go for Felco loppers. I have been using the same Felco model No. 7 secateurs for nearly four decades with a blade, spring and shock absorbers every few years.
I've been using the Felco 200A-50 aluminium lopper which is an older model however I would not use any other lopper. Admittedly they are pricy however you get what you pay for. If you've got something like a laurel you may also want to consider a good pruning saw
Let us know what you go for.
Happy lopper shopping
TheSustainableGardener
Anyway, I've been using them to lower the height of my laurel hedge, which has taken me 2 days to finish. It will take another 2 days to carry the branches to the front of the house for the tree guy to chip them.
So I should now get more daylight into my greenhouse, as I noted last year the light appeared restricted.