Characteristics and features of the choice of cordless secateurs

Ornamental pruning of flower shrubs, shaping of short fruit trees and pruning of grapes is time-consuming and demanding. In this article, we will look at the characteristics and features of different models of cordless secateurs, as well as get acquainted with tips for their selection and use.

The cordless pruner is a variant of the usual gardening tool, equipped with an electric drive of the blade movement, powered by a built-in storage device. Structurally, the blades of such a tool almost do not differ from those used on manual versions, but the handle is usually made one or wider, because it houses the battery and the system that sets the blade in motion.

The cutting elements of such devices are usually made of durable grades of tool steel and have a collapsible mount., which allows you to change them in the event of a breakdown. To protect the knives from breakage, and the operator from injury, on most models, the cutting elements are covered with a plastic case. In this case, one of the knives is made stationary and characterized by a lower degree of sharpening, while the second is sharpened noticeably sharper and often has a higher hardness due to a specially selected hardening regime. A fixed knife is also called a supporting knife, and often a groove is made on it, designed to drain the juice of the cut plants.

The mass of such tools usually does not exceed 1 kg, and they are controlled using the trigger lever built into the handle. When the lever is pressed, the cutting element starts to move. As soon as the operator releases the lever, the knife returns to its original position. The tool can be used both for removing twigs and dry branches, and for pruning trees.

The main advantage of cordless pruning shears over mechanical ones is a noticeable saving of the gardener's efforts and time, because autonomous models work many times faster than manual ones and do not require the operator to exert muscle efforts. Another plus of such devices is that the cut on the branches turns out to be noticeably smoother and thinner compared to manual pruning, which has a positive effect on the viability of the cut plant.

Possessing a number of undoubted advantages over mechanical models of garden pruners, have electrical models and a number of disadvantages:

• the main one is the noticeably higher cost of such products in comparison with the more familiar manual options;
• another drawback of battery devices is the need to charge the drive, because a discharged pruner becomes absolutely useless;
• Finally, stand-alone models develop noticeably more force than manual models, so using the device without proper precautions and dexterity can lead to serious injury.

The most popular battery-powered garden shears on the Russian market the following models can be named.

• Sturm - a cheap and convenient Chinese version, it allows cutting soft branches up to 14 mm thick, but cannot cope with hard wood more than 10 mm thick.
• Bosch EasyPrune - one of the most budgetary models from the famous German company. It differs from most analogs in the classic layout with two handles, which, depending on your preferences, can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.The control is also different - instead of pressing the lever, you need to squeeze the handles, which facilitates the transition from mechanical to electric pruning shears. Equipped with a 1.5 Ah battery, which limits the number of cuts before recharging to only four hundred.

• Bosch CISO - the second budget model from the German manufacturer, featuring a single handle design. Despite the slightly lower storage capacity (1.3 A * h), the unit is more energy efficient - a full charge is enough for 500 cuts. The main disadvantages are long charging (about 5 hours) and small cut diameter (14 mm).
• Wolf-Garten Li-Ion Power - a variant from a less well-known German company, which differs in a higher price compared to the previous model with a comparable cut diameter (15 mm). Although the battery capacity is only 1.1 Ah, a full charge is enough for 800 operations. The undoubted advantages are a comfortable and ergonomic handle and a very durable drive.
• Ryobi RLP416 - a budget option originally from Japan, allows you to cut branches up to 16 mm thick. It is characterized by a comfortable grip, fast battery charging (despite the capacity of 5 A * h) and a large number of cuts before charging (about 900).
• Makita DUP361Z - one of the most powerful models from the Japanese manufacturer, leading many ratings and collecting many positive reviews. It is characterized by the largest allowable diameter of cut branches among the considered tools - 33 mm. Equipped with two lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 6 A * h, which is enough to operate for two days without recharging. Unlike other devices, the storage of which is in the pen, here the batteries are located in the included backpack.

The total weight of the kit reaches 3.5 kg, which can be called a clear drawback. The blades can be set in one of 2 positions, which allows the tool to be set up for working with thick or thin branches.

• Before starting work, it is imperative to check the charge level of the drive and the serviceability of the device, and also lubricate it with silicone spray. If on the day chosen for pruning there is heavy rainfall or high humidity is observed, then it is better to postpone the work or use a regular pruner instead of an electric one.
• To avoid injury, try to keep your other hand as far away from where you are cutting as possible.
• Wipe the blades of the tool as often as possible and remove the fragments of branches stuck between them. Ideally, this should be done after each incision. Try never to drop the instrument, as this can damage its electrical components.
• Do not try to cut branches that are thicker than the recommended thickness for your tool model.
• Never allow electric wires, wires and other metal elements to get between the blades of the device, it is not intended for cutting metal and may be damaged. In the best case, the blade will be damaged, in the worst case, the electric drive will break.
• If during pruning the pruner begins to knock or make other uncharacteristic sounds, as well as get very hot or smoke, stop pruning immediately, unplug the device and either send it in for repair, or disassemble and try to fix it yourself.
• After completing the work, wipe the work surfaces (preferably with a rag soaked in machine oil) and fold the secateurs back into the package. Store the device in a warm (but not hot, otherwise the battery may be damaged) and dry.

For the characteristics and features of the choice of cordless secatars, see the video below.