Electric finger chopper?

[Kram]

I've been considering a cordless pruning shear and interested if anyone has had good or bad experiences with them, as an alternative to the mini cordless chainsaws I've been loking at. The finger chopper is probably a far more suitable tool for the stuff I was intending to use the mini chainsaw for - the small stuff that a petrol saw doesnt cut well. The only advatage the mini chainsaw had over petrol was size and weight, where as secatuers will give a better cut without springing the branch around and making a mess of it.

The bigger ones claim a max opening of 60mm but max cutting diameter somewhere around 30-40mm. Sounds ideal for doing reductions back to previous cutting points.

Obviously manual secatuers or loppers are an option but both take considerable time and effort per cut. Secatuers realistically 15mm or so is about the maximum I would care to do one handed repeatedly. Loppers too heavy and awkward to climb with.

This sort of thing, the video shows what they are generally capable of. Fast chopping of upto 40mm.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MIRTHBUY-Electric-Wireless-Batteries-Rechargeable/dp/B0921JSC9Z/

 

[Maker]

I watched someone using a Felco pair a little while ago, I was very impressed, he was snipping as quick as you would with manual ones. Probably cost about ten times what the Amazon ones do though.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

We bought this one at the start of this year, Mrs thinks it's great, very happy with it.

Deal: Kebtek Electric Secateurs,16.8V Electric Pruning Shears Electric Branch Scissors Cordless Pruner with Brushless Motor , 25mm Max Diameter https://amzn.eu/d/226CeM5

 

[Brad93]

The vintners all use them felco cordless secateurs for the grape vines

 

[hotponyshoes]

I tried some bosch ones, bloke was using them to cut big thick rope. Very impressed, I would have bought a pair but they were green series and not compatible with my blue series battries.
I reckon they had enough grunt for prepping spare ribs..

Most of the power tool makers seem to be getting into garden stuff now so if you already had a battery platform that maker might be the obvious choice?

 

[J1nx]

Love mine, scare me more than any of the chainsaws tho!

I bought the Fakita ones (genuine Makita ones are circa £1k), since bought another set, absolute game changers.

 

[Migmac]

Have a look at the Stihl ones, impressed me when I saw them being used

 

[premmington]

Have a look at the Stihl ones, impressed me when I saw them being used

Oh... thats cool - never seen one of them.

 

[Martin Hocking]

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some with a safety glove for your other hand that cuts the power before you cut your finger off.

I think they look amazing but I wouldn’t get one without the glove because I’m definitely that guy in A&E!

 

[J1nx]

If it’s green wood they will chop anything you can physically wedge in there, if dead they sometimes stall out at full width.

I find they replace loppers, I still use traditional felcos for finer stuff. These powered ones thin hedges and prep for the chipper like champs.

It would remove a thumb without a doubt in half a second, they need respect for certain.

 

[jo1010]

I dunno, I really can't imagine climbing with one of these. Looks like they're only really safe on the ground to me. At height you'd need it attached to a tool lanyard on your climbing belt and it doesn't look like it's designed for that (if it free falls it could kill someone)...even if your standing on a ladder with the tool, dropping it is still a danger to those below.
And..is there some kind of safety switch for it (twisting yourself around in a crowded tree, a branch could easily catch the trigger and operate the jaws?
I think myself I'd prefer a small pico chain on a 12 inch bar Stihl/echo, or a silky pruning saw ...

 

[Mick Annick]

I dunno, I really can't imagine climbing with one of these. Looks like they're only really safe on the ground to me. At height you'd need it attached to a tool lanyard on your climbing belt and it doesn't look like it's designed for that (if it free falls it could kill someone)...even if your standing on a ladder with the tool, dropping it is still a danger to those below.
And..is there some kind of safety switch for it (twisting yourself around in a crowded tree, a branch could easily catch the trigger and operate the jaws?
I think myself I'd prefer a small pico chain on a 12 inch bar Stihl/echo, or a silky pruning saw ...

The guys that prune my fruit trees every spring use them, they have them on a lanyard

 

[Smallfry]

Having taken a small slice off my thumb with my mums old left hand (I am right handed) Felcos, I REALLY do not think electric ones are a good idea.

 

[DAPPH]

I dunno, I really can't imagine climbing with one of these. Looks like they're only really safe on the ground to me. At height you'd need it attached to a tool lanyard on your climbing belt and it doesn't look like it's designed for that (if it free falls it could kill someone)...even if your standing on a ladder with the tool, dropping it is still a danger to those below.
And..is there some kind of safety switch for it (twisting yourself around in a crowded tree, a branch could easily catch the trigger and operate the jaws?
I think myself I'd prefer a small pico chain on a 12 inch bar Stihl/echo, or a silky pruning saw ...

Do what BT linesmen were supposed to do .
They were supposed to have have a small canvas bag on a long free rope , tuck the rope a few feet into your climbing harness belt and climb , then tie yourself on and haul up the canvas basket with your tools in it . Tie the basket off onto the ladder before taking out the tools . If you get to see a linesmans "Bass " they are ovalid and rarely catch on foot steps going up the poles , ladder rungs or branches due to the ergonomic shape and stout canvas material they are made of .

eBay ~# 326255093688 is as near to the one I use to use that I can find , sometimes called a plumbers canvas bag as well .

 

[Kram]

@J1nx Would you recommend the seller, have a link to it?

@jo1010 it will be on a chainsaw type bungee lanyard. If it doesnt have an attachenent point then one will be added. Anyway its a bad idea to be underneath without some awareness. Today I had no visibility of my tiny drop zone. I was surrounded by four sheds too so had to be quite precise.

Some of them appear to have a double safety switch or a process for getting the jaws to work, so a branch catching wont trigger it just like that. A feature I will be looking for and paying more to get.

Have a look at the Stihl ones, impressed me when I saw them being used

I have no interest in Stihl cordless tools, Makita are better. the video in the amazon link, I think, is more impressive.

 

[Migmac]

@J1nx Would you recommend the seller, have a link to it?

@jo1010 it will be on a chainsaw type bungee lanyard. If it doesnt have an attachenent point then one will be added. Anyway its a bad idea to be underneath without some awareness. Today I had no visibility of my tiny drop zone. I was surrounded by four sheds too so had to be quite precise.

Some of them appear to have a double safety switch or a process for getting the jaws to work, so a branch catching wont trigger it just like that. A feature I will be looking for and paying more to get.


I have no interest in Stihl cordless tools, Makita are better. the video in the amazon link, I think, is more impressive.

Ok, go buy a Makita

 

[J1nx]

Kram , I just found a seller on Ali with good feedback and lots of sales. Think I used different sellers with each but no issues, Ali seem more reliable to me than eBay nowadays anyway.

They have to be turned on by a electronic button before the trigger will work, tbh it should probably disable itself quicker for safety like genuine Makita tools do but it is convenient.

I can’t see how to lock closed on the Fakitas, so I put them on narrow setting before removing battery and storing.

Edit, found seller in history of last one…

 

[Kram]

Thanks, I've never used Ali as Im not sure theres any buyer protection? I'll probably get jt from Amazon and pay a little but more incase I need to return.

A little more though has me wanting one with a few extras that I dont know if they exist? Adjustable angle on the head along with a telescoptic handle.

Essentially a short, electric version of this, say extending 300mm to 750mm.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-PowerGear-Telescopic-Non-stick-Aluminium/dp/B075CTSCT8

I may have to buy a pair of blades and design something!
Anyone know if the finger choppers use a return spring, or perhaps its driven both ways?

 

[Kram]

Ordered the one in my first post. It appears to be a different version than the cheaper ones with a slightly wider opening blade. Ebay has them for around £57 but I spent a bit extra for delivery later today, plan to be using it tomorrow. I'll update if its any good.

 

[Kram]

Used it properly today, two small cherry trees. Both about the same size etc but one had a rotten central stem and took 3 hours by ladder, foooking hate ladders The near one was healthy so I climbed right to the tips.
Took my echo 2511, silky and didnt use either (except the 8" rotten main stem), all done by the pruner and a Fiskas pole pruner for some low bits. I did try to prune the tallest top with the pole but it couldnt cut it, the cordless is much stronger!

Lanyard was a peice of 3mm starter cord, tied as a scaffold knot both ends with a carabiner. Another loop of cord inside the scaffold for harness clip.I will sew a webbing harness to retain the battery incase it gets knocked.

500+ cuts, maybe 1000. While it counts the cuts, this resets each time you turn it off and on. For safety Im closing the jaws and turning off any time I need to climb a different position.

Battery still shows 3 of 4 bars. Very happy with it.