Pruning shears should cut a branch cleanly and still let you feel your hand at the end of the row.
We made cut after cut on fruit wood, with bypass blades and with anvil shears, and stopped when the hand did. A clean cut and a tired hand are different problems.
The cut and the grip
Bypass shears slice. An anvil shears crush. For live wood you want the slice, close to the bud, without a torn collar. A spring that fights you, or a grip that is too wide, is what ends the afternoon early.
- A blade you can take apart and sharpen.
- A sap groove, so the shears do not gum shut.
- A lock you can work with one thumb.
- A size that closes fully in your hand, not only in a photo.
A crushed stem is a bad cut, even if your hand feels fine.
At the end of the job
Wipe the sap off before it sets. A drop of oil on the pivot keeps tomorrow easier. Replace the blade when sharpening no longer brings the edge back. The handles can outlive several blades.
Buy the shear that fits your hand and cuts without tearing. Fatigue is a reason to stop, not a badge.
