Tool Review
Fiskars Power-Lever Bypass Loppers
by Debbie Teashon
Philip Bloomquist pruning a Cornus capitata tree using a Fiskars Power-Lever Bypass Lopper.
I discovered a tool that’s worth some excitement! What I look for in my tools is sturdiness and ease of use, but last year my loppers were so bad they mangled branches instead of cutting them. I was ready to invest in a better pair for the pruning jobs I tackle. Professional gardener and expert pruner, Philip Bloomquist was pruning my shrubs and trees one day, so I asked if I could try out the loppers he used for bigger branches. I took the handles in my hands and was surprised by how substantial they felt. I reached the tool up into a tree and with one clean stroke the razor sharp blade cut a one-inch caliper branch off as if it was a small twig. In surprise I said, “Cuts branches like buttah!” I was so impressed with how easily the loppers sliced through the branch, I had to have a pair.
I didn't expect that you could buy these in almost any home improvement center or that they would be affordable, but I was happy to discover that our small town hardware store stocked the Fiskar Power-Lever Bypass Loppers in several sizes. My choice of weaponry—a 28-inch size lopper—has the capacity to cut up to a 1 ¾ caliper branch.
What makes this garden tool so easy to use is the power-lever mechanism, which increases leverage, making each cut twice as easy than how an ordinary pair of loppers cut. The soft grip pads reduce stress so pruning jobs are easier on hands—much appreciated after a few hours of pruning.
If you struggle with single-pivot loppers that mash and mangle branches of your beloved shrubs and trees, toss your old pair aside and add the Fiskars Power-Lever Bypass Loppers to your garden tool shed. You will like how it “cuts branches like buttah”.
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