Research article Energy and force requirements for six pruning shear designs
P. Crossland , G. Murphy , G. Martin and M. Dean
Six pruning shear designs were compared under laboratory conditions. Total energy and peak force required for cutting radiata pine and Douglas-fir branches were measured. Branch sizes ranged from 9 to 65 mm. Under one set of standard conditions some shears required over 50% more energy and peak force than others. Douglas-fir required more energy and force than radiata pine. Two brands tested on both species differed in terms of the magnitude of the additional requirement. Total energy and force requirements tended to increase with cutting edge angle and with blade thickness. (no keywords)
