Loppers - Anvil or bypass ?

[davetb]

Hi everyone,

Completion on our wood purchase is tomorrow and we\'re very excited.

Been looking for a suitable wood for 6 months.

Need to buy some tools - lots of info. on internet.

One thing I can\'t find any information on is loppers.

Can find 2 types but no further info.

What would you recommend ?

Cheers, Dave

[tracy]

Hi Davetb - welcome- it is very exciting isn\'t it! We were so pleased when we finally go the key to our wood!

Tools - ok, there is a tool wish list somewhere on the forum , take a look. We were over excited and bought lots of things we never needed!

I hope everyone will jump in here with their advice, but here is our list.

1. bill hooks -expect to spend about £15 on a decent one. Older ones are better as they are easier to sharpen. - the little spike on some is useful for hedging- if you need it.

2. loppers - we have been through several. Anvil ones tend to squash the wood, so if you are wanting it not to be a tiny bit crushed at the cut end, bypass are better. I have cheap ones and expensive ones and the cheap ones worked best and all of them have become rubbish. Some screws get loose and difficult to tighten. Maybe someone on here can help more ! Extendable arms are a must! - I would recommend a cheap pair from the market.

3.bow saws - yes - smaller ones and larger ones

4. slasher - very cool fun and good for slashing stuff!

5.zippo lighter, or fire steel

6. lifting tongs - expensive but fantastic for lifting logs - really really saves your back and hands

7. secateurs- can\'t spell that - but a decent pair are jolly useful!

8. kelly kettle - or storm kettle is cheaper

9.first aid kit- not a bought one - a decent one made up with plasters, bandaged, anticeptic, tweezers, bandages, eye wash- and your post code for the ambulance ;-)

10- if you are going down the chainsaw route - do the training . I am doing a course in Aug, let me know if you want to come!

ok, enough waffle from me. What have I left out everyone else?

Tracy

[mikepepler]

On bowsaws, as well as the normal style ones, get one with a pointed \"nose\" as well, it will be useful for getting into tight spaces.

[tracy]

Here is a link for lifting tongs....

http://www.stantonhope.co.uk/Tools_26_Equipment_191101_Lifting_Tongs.asp

[DaveTaz]

I have a pair of bypass loppers, given to me by a friend who worked for National Trust, they were gathering dust on a shelf. These are quite short handled ones made by Sandvik. He gave them to me 13 years ago (they were old then!)and they are still as sharp as any new ones you could buy today. I used them regularly for 8 years as i was a landscape gardener back then. They will still cut up to 1.5\" without too much trouble - I dread the day Imay have to replace them

I guess what I\'m saying is, find an old pair, try car boot sales and junk shops etc

The quality of the steel is much better in older tools and will last longer

I helped a friend clear some fallen trees last year - he was given access to collect the wood for fire logs - he spent £35 on a pair of loppers lasted less then 10 minutes!!

Remember they aren\'t really designed to cut thick branches. I you get to the point you are struggling with them, put them down and get a good pruning saw (folding ones are very useful) - hope this helps - DaveTaz

[Binz]

I\'d add a compact digital camera to the list, it may not strictly count as a tool but well worth keeping a record of what you see and how things change both with the seasons and also with management.

We\'ve got a set of anvil type wilkinson sword loppers and they are still going strong after a couple of years; theyve got reasonably long handles and a gear/toothed pivot system to give more oomph, but the ones I\'ve seen in the shops now just have plastic teethed gearing and I\'m not sure how long that would last. I\'ve also got wilkinson sword* axe and billhook - not cheap but they stay sharp for ages. *branded as W-S, but made by Fiskars.

wrt 1st aid kit; as well as the nearest post code add the map grid reference too.

B