Cheap garden shears are also called landscaping shears. These are generally light duty, one-way tools for cutting grass or twigs. The best quality landscaping shears are made of carbon steel with aluminum handles and blades. They are strong enough for cutting through branches but lightweight and compact enough to be easily carried around.
When shopping for cheap garden shears, remember to look for handles that fit your hand. Many landscaping tools have handles that are made from aluminum or with plastic, but these types of handles do not lend themselves well to gripping large branches or heavy duty tape. Garden shears with steel or aluminum handles on the other hand, are sturdy and can withstand a lot of handling. This is especially true of landscape tools with tapered, rounded blades that can be very hard to handle.
One of the most important things to consider when shopping for cheap garden shears is grip size. The bigger the shears, the larger the cutting area they can handle, so you want a shear with a comfortable grip. If you have to stretch to hold onto the shears, it is too small. Likewise if the shears slip off your hands, it is too big. Try to get into the habit of always holding the shears at their widest point. A couple of inches wider is generally better, even if the tools are a bit heavy or bulky.
You need cheap garden shears that are both very sharp and will cut properly on a variety of surfaces. The best quality shears have been designed for cutting through various types of wood and metal. You should look for handles that are hardened to prevent slippage.
The best shears will have ergonomic handles. They will fit comfortably into your hand and be comfortable to hold. Ergonomic handles also provide a good value because they are designed to provide comfort while cutting. Good ergonomic handles will also provide a good safety feature. There should be a break between the shear and the handle, so that you do not accidentally chop your hand or finger when trimming hedges or other surfaces.
Cheap shears can be found in many different designs and styles. Some have leather handles, others plastic. Both styles have the ergonomic features described above. Both have the advantages and disadvantages, but if cost is the only factor that you are concerned about then opt for one with ergonomic handles.
The best shears are made of premium materials such as diamond plate or carbon steel, with a core of 50 % diamonds or carbon steel. The best shears have full steel blades with an epoxy coating. If the blade is dull then it can be refinishing by a professional service. Once the blade is refinished it will last much longer than other cheaper shears with inferior blades.
Some of the best shears have specific features to help you cut more effectively at short notice. For example if you are trimming a stem then having a pair of shears with a tapered point is ideal. A pair of shears with a side cutting edge is best used for thin branches and smaller branches. If you want to get rid of extra material at the base of a tree then you should use a pair of shears with a center cutting edge. Overall these are just some of the features to look out for to make sure you get the best use out of your pair of shears.
If you plan on trimming hedges then there are certain features to look out for. Cheap garden shears with plastic blade covers are not the best use for trimming hedges as they will damage the hedge. The best use for a pair of shears is one with a metal blade and an epoxy coat. This will give the hedge protection from sharp edged teeth over time and also reduce the risk of the shears becoming dull on the hone. A good quality pair of shears with a center sharp point is ideal for trimming hedges.
Some of the pros and cons of garden shears can be put into two categories, the pros and cons of pruners. Pruners are more expensive but it has a lot more benefits. The main benefits of pruners include precision, speed and ease of use, although some cons of pruners include having to sharpen the blades manually and losing sharpness as the blades get dull.
When looking at the pros and cons, it is clear that pruners have more advantages than shears. However, they do have their disadvantages, including being more expensive than shears and needing to be sharpened. Also, it is harder to sharpen the blades as you have to put in effort to make the cuts, which may take longer than with shears. Finally, pruners can only cut through soft materials like grass or bark. Hard materials like rock are too much for the blades, making them unusable for cutting through harder surfaces.