Taming a beech hedge with a loppers

Roadtoad · 23-06-2023 7:24pm #1

I'm taking about 1.5m off the top of a beech hedge, about 100m long.

I got a new bypass lopper (True Temper 42mm) on Thursday morning, and by Friday its already showing its age. (2 adults working diligently until exhausted!) I use a saw for the bigger cuts.

What's the best brand, did I buy a cheapie?

Are they suitable for resharpening?

I suspect if I tackled it in winter the branches would snap easier, but the student helper is available now.

Thanks for reading, double thanks for responding :)

looksee · 23-06-2023 7:55pm

TT is about mid range, I have a few things and they are fine, not amazing but ok. I think I have a TT shears but off hand without going and looking I can't remember which one it is but I think its ok.

I reckon if you buy cheaper tools for a specific job and they just about do the job I work on the principle that it got the job done for that cost (plus some sweat) and bound to be cheaper than employing someone.

I was given a japanese pruning saw a four or five years ago as a gift, one of the 80 - 90€ ones and while it was fabulously sharp for a good while its no better than average at this stage.

magicbastarder · 24-06-2023 10:35am

i use fiskars loppers, they have remained good after years of use. i do sharpen them very occasionally - maybe once a year.

i think they were €55 about six years ago - i've since seen fiskars stuff on sale in lidl, not sure if that could be a sign of them reducing quality.

standardg60 · 24-06-2023 12:25pm

If you're having to strain or wrangle the loppers to cut a branch it won't be good for it. Anything over 30mm thick I'd prefer to saw. An extendable loppers would place less strain on it and you.

Ps. Fair play to you for taking it on with hand tools!

Vizzy · 24-06-2023 12:57pm

I did the same on a beech hedge and bought a cheap battery chainsaw ( 4" blade) on Amazon.de and it is a gamechanger.

Something like this one.

Battery Chainsaw, 4 Inch Mini Chainsaw with Battery, One-Handed Electric Chainsaw, Hand Chainsaw for Gardens, Suitable for Trees, Branch Forests, 2 x 2000 mAh Batteries : Amazon.de:

The Continental Op · 24-06-2023 1:00pm

Lidl's loppers are surprisingly good. The anvil type probably the best for the OP's type of work.

Day Lewin · 24-06-2023 1:13pm

One important thing to know about loppers: you must use them with absolutely no twisting.

The cut needs to be straight down through the branch. If once you twist them, it throws the alignment off true and they will get progressively more twisted, weaker, and blunter, too, because it is not making an accurate cut.

That said, you can sharpen the blade, quite easily - just identify the cutting edge and sharpen it carefully with a kitchen steel - I've often done this.