Outdoor Shears – Common Types and Uses
There are three common types of outdoor shears that are really helpful in yard maintenance. I will discuss only hand-tool models in this article, avoiding power tools. When you are considering what shears to purchase, you should first think in terms of the types of work you expect to do, and after that, think in terms of weight, comfort and price.
Lopping Shears
Lopping shears have long handles, require both hands to operate, and are more heavy-duty than other single hand shears or hedge trimmers. They are great for thicker branches, and can typically cut diameters up to about 3 inches. They can have scissor type cutting ends similar to hand held bypass sheers, or they can have the single blade anvil-type cutting ends. The strength and length of the long handles allows for good leverage, which means making powerful cuts is easier.
If you purchase the anvil design, know that the cut typically will be more like crushing or pinching the branch first, and then severing it. In other words, green branches will usually be crushed on one side and sliced on the other, which can create a more damaging cut. Anvil designs, as a result, work really well for cutting dead branches.
Scissor-Type or Bypass Shears
Bypass Shears work like scissors and are really good for precision cutting and closer cuts. The profile of the cutting blades looks like a smiling duck bill with an upper blade with a convex curve slicing past a lower blade with a concave curve (sometimes the lower blade is straight).
This cutting blade design allows you to make easy, clean cuts of branch diameters of almost 1 inch. They are smaller, lighter, and very easy to carry with you, so they tend to be the most widely used type of shears. Quality steel and good craftsmanship are the keys to Bypass Shears and other outdoor shears, so don’t compromise quality because of price. If you’ve ever used cheap, easily dulled bypass shears, you know difficult and exasperating pruning can be.
Hedge Shears
Hedge Shears are basically just that. Hedge Shears. They really can’t be used for anything else, but they have long blades, cut multiple, small branches at a time, and are great for pruning and shaping your hedges. Because of this, they are an outdoor shear essential.
Believe it or not, a high quality, well lubricated, and well sharpened pair of hedge shears will cut almost as fast as power hedge clippers and you don’t have to worry about dragging an electrical cord around with you.
If you own quality lopping, bypass and hedge trimmers, you will be able to handle about 90% of all your trimming needs. You may also want to check out the various tree trimmers on the market, as well, if you want to reach high distances without a ladder. Remember to buy well made outdoor shears, keep them in great shape, and they will last for many years.
Dan Fenstemaker is an outdoor shears expert. For more great information on outdoor shears, visit http://www.inteletool.com.
Inteletool inventor Dan Fenstemaker hails from Ohio. A painting contractor, Fenstemaker wondered why other tool heads weren’t available for his telescopic paint handle, so he designed then patented his own. At the 2009 National Hardware Show, the DIY television crew chose Inteletool to feature as one of its hot new tools on its “Cool Tools” show, which aired multiple times throughout the 2009 Thanksgiving weekend.
