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Oct 3, 2014 7:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have been using my Felco #2 pruners for at least 20 years.
http://www.felcostore.com/item...

Now I am older, and I have problems with my hands. I have much less strength and mobility than I did 20 years ago, and am considering ordering the
Felco #7 pruners.
http://www.felcostore.com/item...

They are not inexpensive. I have been looking for a pair of them at local home improvement stores, nurseries etc for a couple years now, and have not found anything but the #2. So, if I want them, looks like I will have to order them sight unseen.

Does anyone have any experience with both types, or with the #7?

The moving handle sounds very strangeā€¦. Confused
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Oct 3, 2014 9:21 PM CST
Name: Frank Richards
Clinton, Michigan (Zone 5b)

Hydrangeas Peonies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have a pair of fiskers that has the rotating handle. I looked for details on amazon, but could not find them. Perhaps they were discontinued.

At any rate, I like the pair i have. Not hard to get used to.

And, they might be easier to use... not sure:)

oh yes, they cost less than felco
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Oct 5, 2014 8:06 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
Thanks, Frank.

I didn't think about looking for a different brand. That's a good idea. I don't use my garden tool nearly as much as I used to.
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Jun 14, 2015 3:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
The reason I was thinking of getting new pruners was my old Felco's have been sticking closed when you make a cut. Not every time, but it's annoying. I've tried oiling, cleaning etc but have been unable to figure out what is wrong.

I have mowed walking paths around my fields and through my woods. I keep the branches, briars etc trimmed back on each side of the paths and that is a job a couple times a year.

I found the Fiskers with the rotating handle at Lowes a couple weeks ago. I think they were about $22.

Found out they are not nearly the pruner that the Felco is. They were rated for cutting up to 5/8". First I tried cutting some low hanging small twigs on a crab apple - they could not have been more than 1/4" - and the Fiskers struggled with this. I had to be sure that the pruners were at exactly 90 degrees to the twig or it did not want to cut easily. These were live twigs, not dead, which are always harder to cut. Went down one path and tried cutting blackberry canes and the Fiskers did cut those ok. Canes are easier than tree branches and twigs. But actual wood seems to be a struggle for these pruners.

Thinking it was my weaker hands, when a friend came over a couple days ago, he tried them. He had the same problem. He brought his old Fisker pruners - maybe 10 years old - and they were much better. Maybe the quality has declined.

He did feel that the new Fiskers were not sharp and that was part of the problem with them. Thinking I was returning them, we did not sharpen them. He felt that the material of the blades would not hold sharpening like the old Felcos.

He looked at my old Felcos and thinks the spring between the handles is worn out. While testing out the problem with my old Felco pruner, my friend was cutting some 1" branches on a London Plane tree. I can order a new one, so will try that.

I will return those Fiskers to Lowes. I hope they take them back.
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Jun 14, 2015 3:51 AM CST
Name: Wes
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Spring on the Felco is reasonably affordable. I'd soak mine in WD-40 or other petroleum product before spending 10 bucks for a new one shipped.

My Swiss pruner of favor is a Leyat Super Pro. It's the one I wear (in a Felco holster, lol). It does not have the rotating handle but in 30 years of pruning I prefer it to all others. I have a lot of Coronas mounted to commercial mowers, the old basic model pruners in 3/4 and 1". They're not comfortable but they do the job. I have some low end Bahcos that cut and function very well. I've yet to indulge in a pricey pair as I'd prefer to actually handle them prior to purchase. 3 sizes, I'd buy the wrong one...I've yet to physically handle their premium pruners. Fantastic cut on my cheap steel models. No local retailers.

Leyat has a rotator for about ten bucks less than Felco, you might prefer the spring design? Very similar to my Super Pro but with the rotating handle. Nice ergonomics and why I enjoy mine .I've always found the spring in Felco and clones to be a weak link and why I opt for the old design Coronas. They always work and the springs don't go missing.

Pruners are essential and there are a lot of bad options out there. Hope you find exactly what you need. Smiling
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Jun 14, 2015 6:11 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
Wes, we did WD-40 the spring. Tim thought it was just worn out.

After trying the rotating handle on the Fiskers, I wasn't that impressed.

I have not heard of the Leyat. If the spring does not fix my old pruners, I will see if I can find a local seller. Like you, I like to try them in my hand before buying.

I don't think anyone sells the Felcos locally anymore. Nursery that I bought mine at is no longer in business.

Thanks for the great info!
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Jun 14, 2015 7:29 AM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
I saw these mentioned in a review of pruners as being good for people with hand problems. I haven't tried them myself, or even seen them anywhere here, but the Amazon reviews look promising:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBHVO2E/

I have used Felco's with the rotating handle - kind of. I say kind of because mine are actually their sheep hoof trimmers but look pretty much the same as the garden pruners and work as such. I didn't find the rotating handle particularly helpful but maybe that was just me.

What I do find I use more than I expected are Fiskars 15" Power gear loppers. I got them for cutting larger stuff but find they're so easy to use, lightweight, and short enough handled that I often go for them instead of hand pruners - less bending, both hands used for cutting, and approved by the Arthritis Foundation - I don't have arthritis, just aging and less strength.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBHVO2E/

I think it's this one, but I can no longer read the model number on mine:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SD73/
Last edited by sooby Jun 14, 2015 7:32 AM Icon for preview
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Jun 15, 2015 8:17 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
Sue, great information! Thanks so much! The arthritis website will be a good resource to go back to.

I actually have a pair of Fiskars loppers. They are not the gear loppers. I have had them for years, and they are a great tool. A little longer than 15". They have been a good, reliable tool, and one reason I thought the Fiskars pruners would be good.
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Oct 13, 2015 1:33 PM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I use my #6 Felco pruners constantly. I just bought a new cutting blade for them on Amazon. My husband took them apart, oiled them, and replaced the blade. They are like new now! Love 'em!

Karen
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Oct 19, 2015 9:47 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
Karen,
I was not able to take my Felco's apart because of my weakened hands. A good friend was able to... and found a tiny piece of metal shaving wedged way down between the blades. Just enough to cause the sticking. No way to know it was there without taking them apart.

While he had them apart, he really cleaned them and then lubricated them. Was able to give the blades a really good sharpening. Better than I was able to when they were assembled. When he put them back together, he put on a new spring and a couple other parts I ordered for them.

They have a couple of really small parts inside and were a bit tricky to get back together. Glad I took a video of taking them apart to refer to! Whistling

Result? Hurray!
Last edited by daylily Oct 19, 2015 9:56 PM Icon for preview
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Oct 19, 2015 9:54 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Master Level
Oops, hit the finish button to soon.

It's like having an old friend back!!

They are working perfectly. A few dollars in parts and a few minutes of time. It's great that the pruners can be repaired so easily. I wish my friend would have volunteered to work on them for me last year!

Thumbs up
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Oct 20, 2015 4:21 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I understand, Julie. I knew I wouldn't have the hand strength to take them apart or get them tight enough when finished, which is why I asked my husband to do it for me. I'm so glad I did. I also have some Felco spray cleaner/ lubricant and he cleaned them well while apart. They truly are like new, and the new blade only cost $15 on Amazon.
(I seem to get an awful lot of boxes from Amazon...)

Karen
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