What stems can I cut with my Okatsune Gardening Tools?
A question we get asked often is, Will my Okatsune Secateurs or Snips be able to cut this?
So, at Okatsune HQ we’ve decided that we should let you know what you should and shouldn’t cut, so that you can keep the blades of your Gardening Tools in tip top condition.
Here’s a little run down on the dos and don’ts when cutting.
Okatsune Secateurs
Available in 3 different sizes to suit different hand shapes these are the perfect tool for cutting hard, woody stems. Perfect for cutting shrubs, roses and fruit trees as long as what you are cutting is no bigger than 25mm in diameter. For anything bigger than this we’d recommend one of our Silky Pocketboy Folding Saws which are a perfect tool to complement your Secateurs and work brilliantly for any bigger pruning jobs. Very handy if you are cutting branches bigger than 25mm.
Always keep an eye on the wood you are cutting with them too, hard and knotty wood will mean you risk damaging and chipping your blades and never used them to cut wire, metal or stone.
Make sure not to twist the blades when cutting, our Secateurs are Bypass Secateurs and work best when the blades slide cleanly past each other.
Okatsune Snips
Our range of Okatsune Snips are the perfect choice when cutting soft green stems, thin and pointy blades make them ideal for deadheading, harvesting or trimming cut flowers. They will cut through the soft stems of herbs and will do the light pruning work of fresh stems that aren’t woody on shrubs and other plants.
Our 304’s are also perfect for cutting in places that are difficult to reach with their long blade. Our 307 snips are loved by gardeners and florists for their precision in tasks.
Never use our Okatsune Snips to cut through woody stems and branches such as rose canes and fruit tree branches. Always think if it’s thicker than a pencil it’s always best to use our Okatsune Secateurs instead.
Okatsune Heavy Duty Snips
Finally, we come to our Okatsune 207 Heavy Duty Snips.
These snips have thicker blades of 3.3mm meaning there is more versatility of what you can and can’t cut with these snips, but they still have the lightness when in use, like the other snips in our Okatsune Range. Their pointed blades are perfect for cutting anything between a soft and hard stem. Used for cutting, thinning and bonsai pruning. Their pointed tip also means you have precision to cut in the most difficult of places where there is dense foliage that needs cutting back and pruning.
Remember although they are called heavy duty snips, they shouldn’t be used to cut through thick woody stems, this would be the job for a pair of our Secateurs.
Please keep in mind that general maintenance of your blades is key for giving the best cut each time, always clean them after each use and dry them well. We also recommending using a small amount of oil on your blades as long as it isn’t too greasy and to store them somewhere cool and dry preferably in a holster such as out Okatsune Holsters that are available in different sizes to fit our Okatsune range.
Coupled with only cutting what your Okatsune tools are designed for cutting as we’ve discussed above, will improve the longevity of your much loved Okatsune Secateurs and Snips.
