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Uganda, Kampala
1 Level
723 Review
45 Karma

Review on KSEIBI 143010 Cut And Hold Bypass Pruner - Long Reach With 1/2 Inch Max Cutting Capacity (3.5 Ft - 1.0 M) by Terry Murphy

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Great Tool, But Needed One Modification For Cutting Upward facing Growth

This 5 foot cut-and-hold pruner is very light weight and perfect for cutting small branches and fruit and keeps them from falling to the ground (or into your neighbor's yard). It gives you complete control.However, I subtracted one star because without modification the tool as delivered is not very useful for cutting upward facing branches -- like the new growth shoots on the top of a fast growing bush, hedge, or small tree that must be constantly trimmed. The reason for this limitation is that the handle rotation is limited to 180 degrees around a screw that is optimally placed for cutting fruit or downward-facing branches. To get the plastic holder to be on top of the cutter for upward-facing growth, you have to twist your wrist into an awkward side position that is very tiring.Fortunately, if you are handy with a drill (or have access to someone who is), it is easy to fix this limitation by drilling a new 1/8" screw hole on opposite side and moving the screw. I did this, and now I absolutely love the tool and use it constantly.Here are the instructions: 1. Lock the handle into the closed position. Remove the current screw. The handle can now be rotated completely around (it has a swivel inside). 2. With a pencil, mark the center directly opposite the current hole for primarily upward-facting trimming. (Note, if you need the ability to freely switch between upward and downward-facing trimming, consider putting the new hole just 90 degrees to one or the other side depending on whether you are right or left handed.)3. With a steel nail and small hammer, tap a small dent where you want to drill the hole. The handle is aluminum which is a fairly soft metals so it should only take a moderate tap. It will also be easy to drill. 4. Starting with a small (e.g. 1/16") steel drill bit, drill a small hole through the wall of the pole 5. Repeat using progressively larger drill bits, i.e. 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, and finally (on my unit) 1/8". - IMPORTANT: Before drilling each next larger-sized hole, first test the screw that came with your unit in the hole you already have. The front part of the screw without threads should just slide into the hole and stop when the threaded part hits the hole. If you don't understand how self-tapping screws, get help from someone who does. 6. Screw the Phillips self-tapping screw into the new hole as it had been in the original hole.Hopefully the company will read this review and start pre-drilling extra holes so consumers don't have to. When they do this will become a 5-star tool. In the meantime, I hope these instructions were helpful.

Pros
  • The Cut and Hold feature eliminates the need to pick up fallen debris
Cons
  • Blade may become damaged if not stored properly