Standard issue in Japan, where these are considered the every day, go-to choice for pruning. The big chunky catch at the bottom has a crisp action that’s easy to use, even with cold wet hands or muddy gloves, and the spring is well secured and never accidentally pops out. As with all Japanese secateurs, these have a simple direct action, resulting in a very clean, efficient cut.
Yellow grips stand out in the garden, and are great for when they end up in the compost heap. We’ve added one blue sleeve to the left handed version, to avoid mix-ups with your right-handed partner’s or colleague’s pair.
When cutting, remember: if it feels too tough, it probably is too tough, so use your intuition.
Tips
- Clean with a Niwaki Crean Mate rust and sap eraser
- Sharpen with a Niwaki #1000 grit stone
- Protect with Niwaki Camellia Oil
Caring For Your Tools
Most of our sharp tools are made from carbon steel - this means they may, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things…
1. Correct Use:
- Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
- Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
- Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
- Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
- Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
- Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts
2. Keeping Them Clean:
- Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Clean Mate and water
- Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place
3. Keeping Them Sharp:
New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).
- Sharpen Secateurs every couple of weeks
- Sharpen Shears and Topiary Clippers EVERY TIME you use them - the difference is amazing.
