Handtools for Trail Work

Tools for Brushing, Continued

Lopping and Pruning Shears Continued

Image of a true-temper lopping shears.
True-Temper lopping shears give a 1½-inch diameter cut.
The tubular steel handles provide extra strength and the rubber
cushion grips absorb shocks. These are used by biologists to remove
deer jawbones. The shears are 26 inches long and weigh 2¼ pounds.

Image of a hi-tork lopper.
The Hi-Tork lopper makes a 1½-inch diameter cut.
It is designed for hardwood, frozen wood, brush, and deadwood.
The shears are 27 inches long and weigh 3 pounds.

Image of a point-cut pruner.
Point-cut pruners make a 1¼-inch diameter cut.
The blades open wide to cut suckers or sprouts at blade point.
Weight is 3 pounds.

Bank Blades and Bush Hooks

Bank blades and bush hooks are designed specifically for cutting through thickets of heavy brush or saplings. Their long handles and heavy heads will add momentum to the force of your swing, but their curved blades also pose extra safety hazards. Always maintain a firm grip with both hands on the handle. Cut with a slicing rather than a hacking motion. Remember that bank blades have cutting edges on both edges of the blade. Stay clear of other workers. Be aware of the increased possibility of glancing blows, and always control the swing to avoid cuts to the legs or feet. Wear shin guards when operating these tools. Blades are available in 12- to 16-inch lengths. Handles are 36 inches or 40 inches long. The tool weighs from 3½ to 5 pounds.

Image of a bank blade and a bush hook.

Carry bank blades and bush hooks with the head forward like a shovel. Grip the handle near the head and hold the hook away from the body and down.

Sharpen bank blades and bush hooks with a mill bastard file and finish with a whetstone. Always wear your gloves and use a file guard. Stroke along the straight edges of the blades and swing the stone or file in an arc to maintain the factory edge bevel on curved sections.

Image of a bush hook.
Sharpening a bush hook.

Examples:

Image showing the council single-edge, eye-and-strap bush hook, the true-temper single edge, eye-and-strap bush hook, the true-temper doube edge, ax-eye type bush hook, and the council double edge, ax-eye type bush hook.
Bush hooks are used for clearing work that is too heavy for a
scythe and not suited for an ax. They are available with single-edged,
eye-and-strap blade, or double-edged, ax-eye blade type.
They have hickory handles 12 to 36 inches long and weigh 2 to 4½ pounds.