Comparison ARS 180-1.8 vs FELCO 8

This tool in most cases is manual and mechanical, requiring physical impact. However, at the turn of 2021 and 2022, battery versions began to appear, simplifying work. Most of the tools below can be either mechanical or cordless. More details about them:

- Secateurs. A fairly simple and easy-to-use garden tool designed for cutting branches, small shoots on the crowns of trees, shrubs, harvesting grapes and solving other similar problems. Outwardly similar to scissors and can be used either with two hands or with one, depending on the design. Secateurs can have different lengths of handles and blades, as well as the configuration of the working part. The classic model consists of two blades - a support blade and a working blade. The first serves to securely fix the branch or shoot during work, as well as to prevent the branch from jumping to the side after cutting. To cut large branches with a size of 3-4 cm, the pruning shears are reinforced with long handles and a ratchet mechanism.

- Scissors. Garden shears already have two blades in the working area and are used for trimming thin branches, stems, grass, etc. They are characterized by straight blades and an extremely simple design. They may vary in the shape of the blades, the type of cutting edge, as well as the length and size of the handle. For example, scissors with a serrated or wavy edge are go...od because the branches and shoots being cut do not slide along the blade; these are often used for trimming climbing plants. And if you need to deal with particularly thick and durable shoots, then garden shears with a serrated blade are suitable for this task.

— Lopper. Garden tool for cutting branches and knots. As with pruning shears, the working area has a sharpened blade and a stop. But at the same time, the product is distinguished by long handles (usually from 30 cm to 90 cm) and allows you to work with vegetation located on the lower branches of the tree. The handles form a lever, so it is important to hold them with both hands. The tool is convenient for processing trees with a dense crown, cutting branches of thorny bushes, etc.

- Height cutter. A special type of garden tool, mainly intended for processing tree crowns or trimming fruit branches without the use of a ladder or stepladder. The product is distinguished by elongated telescopic handles - from 1 to 4 m, thanks to which the customer can work while standing on the ground. A special mechanism is built into the handle that allows you to control the decisive tool. Often, pole saws are equipped with saw blades.

— Vaccination. A tool for making special cuts necessary for scion and rootstock in the process of grafting trees. It is characterized by the presence of a figured knife, with which sLR cuts are made. Different types of grafting pruners can be equipped with blades of different configurations, and in universal models one working blade can easily be replaced by another. Different blade shapes are necessary to graft different types of trees. The advantages include the fact that with the help of this tool the process of grafting shoots is greatly simplified and accelerated. On the other hand, grafting pruners are only effective if the shoots are approximately the same size, otherwise you will have to use a knife.

— One-handed. Tools designed to be held in one hand while working. Thus, the second hand remains free, which is important in some situations — for example, when working at height, when you need to hold on to something just in case. Another advantage is portability: the tool is light and compact, many models can be easily carried in your pocket. The main drawback of the one-handed design is the relatively small force on the blades and, accordingly, the low efficiency when working with thick branches. Because of this, models with a maximum cutting diameter of more than 25 mm are extremely rare among such tools. The same applies to high cutters — for them, a two-handed layout is technically more convenient.

— Two-handed. Models designed to be held with two hands during operation. Usually, these are rather large instruments with long handles; the latter allows you to achieve high force on the blades and even cope with fairly thick branches without problems. The specific thickness limitation may, of course, vary; however, for example, all loppers are by definition two-handed. The disadvantages of this design are considered primarily bulky and rather significant weight, but they are offset by high efficiency. But a more critical point may be that during operation both hands of the user are busy: this, in particular, makes it difficult to work in an unstable position, especially at height.

The design of the drive used in the pole saw (see "Type").

The drive is a flexible or rigid rod that transfers force from the user's hands to the blades of the tool. At the same time, it is customary to separate such thrusts not by flexibility / rigidity, but by location, the options can be as follows:

— Internal. The drive located inside the handle (bar) of the pole saw. This design provides excellent protection for the mechanism of the tool: the likelihood of moving parts coming into contact with branches and other foreign objects is minimized. Pole saws with this type of drive are by definition equipped with rods (see below) and can be used out of the box, unlike outdoor models; however, the "native" bar cannot be removed and replaced with another, which can create inconvenience in some situations.

— Outdoor. Drive located outside the pole saw. To be more precise, most of these tools are bits with blades and a drive, which are not equipped with rods at all. This creates additional hassle in preparation for work. On the other hand, the user can choose the bar at his discretion and, if necessary, easily change it; and if necessary, even an ordinary wooden stick, like a mop handle, can play the role of a rod.

The largest diameter (thickness) of a branch that the tool can handle.

The larger the maximum cut diameter, the more powerful this model, the lower the likelihood that a certain branch will be too tough for the tool. At the same time, note that to ensure high power, long handles and strong blades are needed, which accordingly affects the dimensions, weight and price. Therefore, it is worth choosing according to this parameter with a certain margin, but at the same time, this margin should not be too large.

As for specific figures, a maximum diameter of 20 mm or less is considered relatively small, but it often turns out to be quite enough for simple work. 21 – 30 mm — the average value, 31 – 40 mm — above average, and in loppers the maximum thickness can exceed 40 mm.

The ability to block the blades while the tool is not in use. Blade locking can be carried out in different ways, but the principle of its operation in all cases is the same: a special mechanism holds the blades in place, preventing them from opening and preventing unwanted contact of the cutting edges with surrounding objects. This provides additional security during storage and transportation.

The tool has a special spring that opens the blades. Thus, the user only has to apply force to close the blades during the cutting process; to open them, it is enough to relax the hand, allowing the return spring to perform its function. This noticeably speeds up and simplifies the work, especially when you have to make many small and frequent movements — for example, when cutting numerous small shoots. At the same time, the power of the spring is low, and its resistance when closing the blades is almost imperceptible against the background of the overall cutting force. And so that the blades and handles of the tool do not diverge during storage and transportation under the action of a spring, a special lock is provided in the design.

— Plastic. Relatively simple and at the same time quite practical, as a result — a common material. Plastic perfectly resists moisture, almost does not cool hands in cool weather, and is relatively inexpensive. As for strength and reliability, they are generally somewhat lower than those of metals, and most tools with plastic handles are designed mainly for simple work with relatively low loads. However, there are exceptions — for example, powerful loppers, which use high-quality durable plastic grades for handles. Anyway, for additional convenience, handles made of this material are often supplemented with rubber pads.

— Steel. The key advantage of steel is its high strength, which makes it possible to use this material even in the most powerful tools designed for thick branches. Compared to another metal — aluminium — steel weighs a little more, but costs less. For additional resistance to corrosion and ease of holding, steel handles can be coated with paint or equipped with additional overlays, most often of rubber or plastic.

— Aluminium. Another metal used for handles is along with steel. Aluminium differs from it, on the one hand, in lower weight and better resistance to corrosion, on the other hand, in higher cost. However, the difference in price is not so great, so these handles are also very popular. They can also be equipped with various overlay...s for added convenience.

— Tree. "Classic of the genre", not out of use today. The wood is pleasant to the touch, does not cool hands in cool weather and looks good. In terms of reliability, this material is comparable to plastic: it is inferior to steel and aluminium, but it is quite applicable even in fairly powerful tools. The unequivocal disadvantages of wood include poor resistance to scratches and chips. Because of this, accidental contact with sharp objects can lead to the appearance of chips, fraught with splinters. In addition, this material does not tolerate constant contact with moisture, and it is advisable to store a tool with wooden handles in a dry place. Note that for a number of reasons, the tree is used mainly in one-handed tools.

The material from which the additional overlays for the tool handle are made. Most often, this material differs from the material of the handle itself (see above), but there are exceptions — for example, additional plastic lining on the plastic handle. Anyway, the most popular types of materials are as follows:

— Rubber. Convenient, practical and inexpensive, and therefore — an extremely popular material. Secure to hold and at the same time relatively soft, making it great for both plastic and metal handles: rubber grips do not slip in the hand, do not cool the skin in cool weather and provide additional comfort due to the softness. The disadvantages of rubber include poor scratch resistance and a slightly higher cost than another popular option — plastic. However, in general, these shortcomings cannot be called critical.

— Plastic. Another fairly popular material, widely used primarily with steel and aluminium handles. Plastic provides a secure hold, it does not slip in the hand like metal; in addition, such pads are not afraid of moisture and can also play the role of additional protection against corrosion. However plastic is harder than rubber and somewhat less reliable and durable; On the other hand, it also costs much less.

— Wood. A material rarely used, mainly with metal (steel) handles. The tree is very attractive in terms of convenience: it is pleasant to the touch, does not cool the hands and almost does not slip. On the other hand, su...ch pads are less reliable than rubber or plastic ones, they do not tolerate moisture (the material can swell and warp) and contact with sharp objects (slivers can form, threatening splinters). So it makes sense to specifically look for wooden handles, first of all, if you are a principled adherent of the classics.

— Cork. The cork does not slip in the hands and perfectly absorbs moisture, thanks to which it is securely held in the hands. In addition, this material is soft and elastic, which gives additional convenience and comfort. At the same time, compared to the same rubber, cork is less durable: it is relatively easily damaged and, without special care, quickly absorbs dirt, which can cause it to lose its “presentation” and then its working properties. As a result, cork overlays are extremely rare — in some models of garden tools.

Availability of a bar in a complete set of delivery of the tool.

This feature is relevant mainly for high cutters (see "Type") — a long rod, in fact, allows you to reach the desired height with such a tool. At the same time, models with an intra-hand drive are equipped with rods by definition, but the pole saw with an external drive can be supplied without a rod — in such cases it is assumed that the user will select it himself, depending on his own preferences and the requirements of the situation. For details, see "Pillar Pruner Drive".