What are the different types of lopper blade or anvil?

29th February 2020

What are the different types of lopper blade or anvil?


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		Straight blade
		A straight blade is the most traditional form of lopper blade, and is sometimes called a ‘scissor blade’ for its resemblance to the blades on a pair of scissors.

		A lopper with a straight blade may be less expensive than other models, but lacks the benefits of a curved blade, and may easily slip off branches and stems during use.

		Curved blade
		The most common type of blade used in modern lopper designs is curved, with the curve of the sharpened top blade fitting into the curve of the unsharpened bottom blade.

		Alternatively, a lopper may feature a curved unsharpened blade and a straight sharpened blade.

		Curved blades offer three major benefits:

		The curve of the unsharpened blade, which partially encircles the branch or stem from beneath, helps to prevent it from slipping out of the jaws.

		As pressure is applied, the curve of the unsharpened blade, coupled with the force applied by the sharpened blade, encourages branches and stems back toward the fulcrum (the innermost point of the jaws), maximising the force exerted.

		Where the sharpened blade is curved, this maximises force input at the point of contact by providing a smaller area of contact between the sharp edge and the branch or stem. The smaller the area of contact between blade and branch, the more force is concentrated into one spot, and the cleaner the cut.


		Straight anvil
		Like a straight blade, a straight anvil on a lopper is the most traditional and inexpensive shape, but lacks the benefits of a curved, hooked or serrated anvil.

		Iit is much easier for branches and stems to slip off a straight anvil, resulting in a longer task and messier cuts than can be achieved with a more modern design.

		Curved anvil
		A curved anvil works on the same principle as a curved blade, partially encircling the branch, and must be used with a curved upper blade.

		The curve of the anvil prevents branches and stems from slipping out of the lopper’s jaws, and encourages branches and stems to sit close to the fulcrum. Like the curved blade, a curved anvil may also be called a ‘hook anvil’, for its ability to grasp a branch or stem and prevent it from sliding free.

		Serrated anvil
		A serrated or ‘toothed’ anvil features a row of serrations (or teeth) along its surface.

		By providing friction between branch and anvil surface, this enables branches and stems to be gripped even tighter, making it almost impossible for them to slide about or escape during cutting.

		A serrated anvil is ideal for use in wet or damp environments, where bark may be slippery and make grasping branches and stems difficult.