What to Consider When Choosing the Best Hedge Shears

Hedge shears do not all offer similar performance. A number of factors affect their functionality, including blade type, blade material, handle length, ease of use, and more. Keep reading to learn about several of the most important features to consider when choosing the best hedge shears for landscaping.

Intended Use

Hedge pruning shears are typically able to cut branches up to a half-inch in diameter. Some models, however, feature limb notches to extend this dimension. Additional tools, like loppers, may also be required for cutting thicker branches.

Smaller pruning shears are also useful for maintaining hedges. They are well suited to reaching into tight spaces and trimming interior branches to allow more light and air to access the inside of the hedge.

Blade Type

Hedge shears are designed with either straight, wavy, or serrated blades, each of which has its own recommended usage.

Straight blades are optimal for trimming small shoots and soft branches. Due to their shape, they’re easy to sharpen with a millstone or sharpening stone, making them the most popular style on the market.

Wavy blades grip on to thicker branches that are a 0.25 inch or more in diameter and prevent them from slipping as you trim. They have to be professionally sharpened due to their design.

Serrated blades work best on thick, tough foliage and also require professional sharpening because of their shape.

Blade Material

Hedge shears are made from a variety of metals, and some are coated with added materials to prevent them from sticking and rusting.

Stainless steel blades are resistant to both rust and corrosion. They’re best for cutting thinner green branches.

High-carbon steel blades are a combination of stainless steel and carbon steel, which makes them stronger and easier to sharpen.

Nonstick blades include a coating that prevents the buildup of sap and other natural materials that cause them to rust or stick together.

Blade and Handle Length

The ideal blade length for hedge shears depends primarily on their intended use. A 6-inch blade is best for trimming hedges that are between waist and shoulder height. A 7- to 8-inch blade is versatile enough for most jobs, while a 9- to 12-inch blade is ideal for trimming taller privacy hedges.

Most hedge shears have a total length of between 20 and 25 inches. Longer shears are typically more powerful and provide a stronger cut. Telescoping handles provide optimal versatility because the total length of the shears is adjustable to accommodate the task at hand. It’s important to note that telescoping shears do tend to be heavier, so they may not be the best pick for gardeners who experience back and shoulder pain or suffer from arthritis in their hands.

Gears

Geared technology in a pair of hedge shears provides additional leverage when trimming, which comes in handy when handling thick or dying branches. Geared hedge shears typically provide between two and three times more power than gearless models.

Available on more powerful hedge shears, this cutting mechanism may not be necessary for all home gardeners. For those who regularly trim their hedges, gearless shears are sufficient for keeping up with new green growth.

Ease of Use

Several factors contribute to ease of use when tackling trimming jobs with a pair of hedge shears.

-Weight: Shears often must be lifted above the head during hedge trimming. For that reason, lightweight hedge shears can help prevent neck and shoulder pain or repetitive strain injuries. If weight is a concern, look for shears that weigh about 2 pounds or less.

-Handles: Telescoping handles are useful for reaching higher branches, but they tend to be heavier. The lightest hedge shears tend to have wood, fiberglass, or plastic handles.

-Comfort: Ergonomically designed shears and cushioned handles provide a more comfortable grip, enabling gardeners and landscapers to avoid hand pain and discomfort. Shock-absorbing bumpers reduce wrist and shoulder pain by tamping down vibrations and preventing abrupt stops.

-Maneuverability: An adjustable pivot bolt allows the user to adjust the blade tension to match the task at hand, making it easier to maneuver the shears when dealing with branches of different sizes.

House Painting Tools Types and Uses

Wall painting can bring your home to life. However, without the proper house painting tools, this job can be difficult to accomplish.

What kind of material are you painting? How big of an area do you need to cover? How much time do you want to spend painting? This article will introduce you to two different house painting tools: paint brushes and paint rollers, and help you choose the right one. When you know what you are considering, you will quickly find the right painting tool for the job at hand.

1.Paint Brushes

With few exceptions, paint brushes fall into two camps: natural bristle brushes, made of animal hair, and synthetic bristle brushes, usually made of nylon. Choosing a different type of paint brush usually depends on the type of paint you are using. For example, natural bristle brushes should not be used to apply water-based latex paints because water softens the hairs.

Choose a high-quality paint brush when you buy. Although they may be more expensive, it will be worth it in the long run. Quality brushes will make any painting task easier and faster, and they can be cleaned thoroughly and look like new on the next job. With a little care, a good paint brush will last for years of home maintenance.

The goodness of a paint brush can be simply determined by manual inspection. Spread out the bristles and inspect the brush tips. The more flags, or forks, the better the brush will be and the better its ability to apply. Good brushes may lose a few bristles when rapped, but bad brushes will lose a lot. Finally, choose a smooth, well-shaped wood or plastic handle that fits comfortably in your hand.

Paint brushes come in a variety of sizes and types and are necessary for those areas that are out of the reach of a paint roller. The following are some of the main types of paint brushes:

-Wall. This type of brush has square, wide bristles to spread as much paint as possible on large surfaces.

-Trim. Trim brushes are ideal for filling small areas. A finishing brush can be used to "cut in" around windows, doors and corners before painting the wall with a roller.

-Sash. The sash brush has an angled bristle end that makes edge or corner painting jobs easier - especially if you're painting around windows.

2.Paint Rollers

For large, flat surface areas such as walls and ceilings, a paint roller will help you get the job done in about half the time it would take with a paintbrush. They can absorb a large amount of paint at once and cover a larger area with one application. Most painters use brushes for trim work and around windows and doors, then turn to rollers to fill in the big gaps.

Paint rollers used for wall or ceiling painting usually have a handle made of plastic or wood that is attached to the roller cover by a metal or plastic frame. Some handles may have special designs for use with extension rods.

Which type of roller cover you should buy depends largely on the type of paint you will be using. Most rollers are made of lamb's wool, mohair, Dynel, acetate or polyurethane foam and are labeled with the type of paint they are to be used with.

The packaging of the rollers will also indicate the length of the roll cover, which is the length of the fleece, and it can vary from 1/16 inch to 11/2 inches. For rough surfaces, use a long lint; for smooth surfaces, choose a short lint.

Paint trays are made of aluminum or plastic and are used to hold paint-soaked rollers in use. Some trays come with hooks that allow you to attach them directly to a ladder. Most trays are washable and durable. But if you don't want to do the cleanup every time, you can opt for a disposable plastic pallet liner, or line the pallet with aluminum foil.