How to make a hedge trimmer with your own hands from a chainsaw and an angle grinder?

For good care of your garden, hedges and gardens, a hedge trimmer is one of the most necessary tools.

A high-quality hedge trimmer is not cheap, so those who know how to make various equipment with their own hands often try to make such a tool themselves.

The necessary components are usually right at hand of the owner of any garage. If not, then purchasing them at the nearest hardware store is not difficult.

Next we will tell you:

• what types of homemade hedge trimmers you can make with your own hands;
• which cutting tool is best suited for a grinder (angle grinder, angle grinder) or chainsaw and how to make it work;
• what tools and materials are required to make a hedge trimmer cutting tool.

Everything about creating a grafting pruner with your own hands

This tool was created to increase the convenience of seasonal pruning of branches, while gardeners in their business can use several of its types simultaneously, depending on the height of the tree and many other factors.
To facilitate the operation of loppers, most of them are manufactured using modern technologies and materials, which results in increased productivity with reduced effort spent on work.

Among the many models and modifications, each buyer can choose a tool that meets personal requests and needs.

Another way to create a homemade sawmill

You can use another method of making a sawmill. In terms of technology, this option will not differ much from the previous one. The tools and drawings will be identical as in the first version.

The drawing shows the main components. First of all, this is a chainsaw, its drive and a mechanism with which it will be possible to regulate the thickness of the resulting board. It is also worth noting the mechanism that allows you to move the cutting part of the structure, and a device for securely fixing the log.

The process of sawing a log on a sawmill is carried out by lowering or raising the base of the device, which is held on by four screws or welded to the plate with nuts with bent edges. A lock nut is placed on the top of the base and tightened once the sawmill is fully set up. The adjustment takes place to the desired thickness of the processed log.

The cutting part moves along the corners, which serve as guides along the frame. A gap of 50-55 cm is maintained between these elements. Two rollers are attached to each rack, the upper one rests on the guide angle, and the lower one will keep the sawmill from lifting. Instead of rollers, you can use 20 mm bearings.

The wood on this structure is secured using two combs, one of which moves with a screw, the second remains stationary. After installing the log, the first movable element is fixed in a stationary state with several screws. After installing the fixing device, you can start working on the sawmill.

Purpose of loppers

The lopper is used for emergency or seasonal pruning of branches, in particular shoots, on tall shrubs and trees.

This tool was created to enable a person to care for the crown of tall plants directly from the ground, without resorting to a ladder.

The advantages of this approach are obvious, since if you have a suitable lopper, there is no need to constantly move the stepladder from place to place.

The task is especially simplified when several dozen plants are pruned.

you can What to make from a chainsaw

All homemade products can be divided into 2 groups:

• the most simple grinder (devices, ice drill, pump, winch, walk-behind tractor, boat motor, bicycle, moped);
• more complex objects and mechanisms (sawmill, snow blower, snowmobile, snowmobile, helicopter, power plant, solid forged knife).

To manufacture all of the above devices, you can use various brands of chainsaws. When choosing them, you should take into account the necessary power for normal operation. alterations of everything for the manufacture of various devices use the following brands of chainsaws: Druzhba, Ural, STIHL.

Rod loppers from other manufacturers

In addition to the listed manufacturers, there are also such as: - Palisad, whose products are similar in design and functionality to Fiskars products, but are hardly similar in quality. At least an external inspection did not reveal any similarity in quality. — ARS (Japan) is an exotic tool in our country, which I only saw at a garden exhibition, but did not work with it. — Others (mainly “Far Eastern” manufacturers) produce loppers with a fixed cutting unit, which I, again, do not recommend buying.

Device and characteristics

The simplest lopper works on the principle of garden shears, that is, it has a cutting part and two handles, which can be simply elongated or telescopic.

The cutting part consists of a main blade with a crescent-shaped cutting edge and a concave counter blade, which not only cuts through the wood from the opposite side when the handles are brought together, but also supports the branch itself.

Instead of a counter blade, a stop in the form of a hook is often installed, which supports the branch being cut.

The design with two blades is comparable in principle to scissors. Options with a blade and a counter stop work similar to the actions of a kitchen knife on a cutting board.

Material

Classic mechanical loppers can cut off branches up to 55 mm thick.

For this reason, the tool must be as durable as possible.

On the other hand, the instrument is constantly held in weight, often above the head, and therefore manufacturers are constantly struggling with the excess weight of their models, making them from special materials.

The cutting elements of mechanical loppers are always metal; the blades themselves are made of chrome-molybdenum vanadium (CrMoV) steel and have a protective Teflon coating that prevents aggressive environmental influences and reduces friction (anti-friction coating).

Also, the material used here is often carbon, stainless or tool steel.

Handles with a power mechanism that increases the cutting effect and, as a result, reduces the required physical force applied to the handles, the use of durable but lightweight materials is allowed in their manufacture.

Thus, almost every lopper from a self-respecting manufacturer is equipped with aluminum handles, and some models even use fiberglass in production, especially when it comes to structures longer than 2 meters.

For ease of use, the handles can have a soft anti-slip coating.

Dimensions and weight

The total length of loppers is from 0.3 to 4 m, and this tool weighs on average about 0.2 - 2.6 kg. The cutting diameter of most models is 30 – 55 mm.

Chain loppers, a subtype of loppers, can weigh up to 7 kg and cut branches with diameters up to 300 mm.

Cordless shears – compact lopper

Particular attention should be paid to cordless garden shears. Their main advantages include the price, since this tool costs half as much as the models described. The second plus is light weight. If the mass of previous copies was at least 3 kg, then these scissors weigh from 500 to 1000 g. Let's consider the most popular models.

BOSH garden shears of the ISIO series are equipped with a double type of knife, a lithium-ion battery of 1.3 and 1.5 Ah, for models of the 2nd and 3rd generation, respectively. All other parameters for these two models are the same. The blade width is 80 mm, the voltage is 3.6 V, and the operating time reaches 50 minutes. For an additional cost, you can also purchase an extension handle made specifically for this model.

Bosch cordless garden shears

Electric hedge trimmers of the ABC 10.8 Li series are more expensive. But the high cost is due to the configuration. These scissors are equipped with three high quality Swiss steel blades. In this case, one light press is enough to change the working tool. In this case, a 10.8 V lithium-ion battery is also installed. The duration of continuous operation can reach 100 minutes. Charging time is only 3 hours. The width of the knives is 100 mm, and the length is 120 mm and 200 mm. A comfortable handle, a soft pad, a special anti-lock system - all this will make the work as comfortable as possible, regardless of the thickness of the branches being cut. The cost of such a tool can reach $140, and it weighs almost a kilogram.

Types of loppers and their prices

A standard lopper is a mechanical tool consisting of one or two handles and a cutting part with one or two blades.

It is easy to use and requires physical effort to operate.

This manual version, in turn, is presented on the market in several types, depending on the design features.

Before we begin to analyze the existing types of loppers, it is necessary to clarify some definitions related to the design of the handles:

Based on the way in which the length of the handle is increased, the tool can be:

Rod

A special rod is included in the kit or purchased separately, which is connected to the lopper through a special fastening.

There are stacked options, when the total length is formed by connecting several short rods in series.

In some models, the cutting head rotates relative to the rod for ease of operation, and the mechanism itself is driven by an extended chain or rope, which you just need to pull.

The price is approximately 800 – 2000 rubles.

Some manufacturers offer only cutting heads for this price, and the rod will have to be purchased separately.

Telescopic

The handle(s) extend to a certain length.

A similar design can be either a long one-handed lopper or short two-handed models.

Interestingly, for some products the length of the handles can be adjusted within a wide range.

Garden

One of the types is called a garden lopper, which is one long handle with a cutting element at the end in the form of a pruning shear.

This option is designed for branches of small thickness and works on the principle of biting them.

It is activated by pressing the lever with one hand, while holding the long rod with the other hand.

The most widespread is the double-lever version, consisting of two blades with two handles, which, according to the principle of cutting off branches, can be:

Planar (bypass)

A parallel-action lopper is used for cutting living branches, as it ensures an even cut.

As a result, the plant receives less trauma, which means that the place where the branch was cut off heals earlier.

Here the principle of operation is similar to conventional scissors, where two knives move counter-moving in the same plane.

The cutting edges of the blades are curved and straight. Often this tool has one straight blade and the other a concave blade, resembling a hook to make it easier to hold the branch.

The option in which the reciprocal concave part does not have sharpening, and the main blade slides parallel and at the same time past it, is called bypass, sometimes bypass.

Actually, this applies to both the lopper and the related tool - the pruner.

Contact (anvil)

Used for cutting dry branches.

The principle of operation here is not so much in cutting branches, but in squeezing and thereby cutting them.

The result is a not particularly neat cut, although it requires less effort than in the first case.

To reduce the force required in work, double-lever models come with a ratcheting mechanism, which is often equipped with garden shears, or the design has another kind of power drive that increases the applied force by 20 - 40%.

To work with large diameter branches, use a reinforced tool that can withstand heavy loads.

Reinforced options can also be made lighter through the use of aluminum and various alloys.

Some professional models have a design that allows you to change the performance characteristics, for example: an adjustable lopper with variable drive transmission force or cutting angle.

Universal lopper

It has a wood hacksaw designed for cutting thick branches.

Such rod models are good because they allow you to trim tall branches in a wide range of diameters.

This option has proven itself when pruning both thin and thick branches, because... It is enough to lean the saw teeth against the branch and cut it with several translational movements or cut through a thin branch with the appropriate mechanism.

Combined

The movement of the blade is transmitted from the cord through a system of blocks, and return to its original position is ensured by a spring.

This design is called a caterpillar lopper.

In addition to mechanical tools, there are other types of them:

Electric loppers

Built on an electric motor.

There are networked models that require a constant source of electricity, such as a household network or a generator, as well as battery-powered options, which are designed to have a built-in or removable battery.

The first ones are cheaper, but for comfortable work even in a small garden you will have to buy an extension cord.

The latter do not have such a drawback, but the time they work with them depends on the battery capacity.

Electric loppers come in both rod-type with a chain saw and with a saw blade - this is a small version designed for cutting down branches located below.

The average cost of a power tool: 10 – 20 thousand for battery options, and 7 – 15 thousand for networked models.

Gasoline

These models belong to varieties of small chainsaws and pole-cutters that operate on the basis of a two-stroke gasoline internal combustion engine.

They require fuel costs to operate.

Among the advantages of gasoline tools, one should note a much greater working life and power, as well as mobility.

Such a tool is optimal for carrying out delimbing work on large areas of garden plots and it will cost the gardener 20–50 thousand rubles.

In the world of electric or gasoline-powered tools, there are also combination systems that include a chain polecutter, hedge trimmer, and other similar tools.

You can also purchase a separate attachment for the trimmer in the form of a chain lopper, thereby saving on the purchase of an independent lopper.

How to make a machine from a chain saw and a comb?

The main advantage of this brush cutter is its undemanding use of materials, because any chain saw, including the cheapest one, is suitable for its manufacture, as long as the chain is sharp.

Despite the fact that the most efficient and autonomous is a chainsaw, a similar modification can be carried out with other types of chainsaws, that is :

• electric saws;
• cordless saws;
• loppers of all types.

In addition, we recommend buying a longer bar and chain for the chainsaw, because the length of the bar that comes with the tool is not always sufficient.

Tools and materials

To make such a tool, you will need :

• any, preferably the lightest, serviceable chain saw;
• sheet steel 2 mm thick;
• M6 bolts and nuts;
• lock washers for M6 bolt.

Here is a list of tools:

• Bulgarian;
• semi-automatic welding machine or inverter;
• drill with a set of drills;
• scriber or marker;
• steel ruler;
• corner or protractor;
• spanners;
• vice;
• grinding or sharpening machine.

Procedure

Before starting work, determine the parameters of the comb, because the thicker the bush branches, the greater the distance between the teeth should be. You can make several combs with different pitches between the teeth, this will allow one chainsaw to trim a wide variety of bushes and trees.

Here's the procedure:

1. Remove the bar from the chainsaw and measure its width, then add 5cm to get the length of the teeth.
2. In the tire, at a distance of 5 cm from the sprocket teeth located inside the tire and the edge of the chainsaw body, drill holes with a diameter of 6–6.5 mm; bolts will be installed here that secure the comb to the tire. If the distance between the holes exceeds 30 cm, then drill another one in the middle.
3. Measure the distance between the outer holes and add 5 cm to it, this will be the length of the comb carrier plate.
4. Cut off the carrier plate (3–5 cm wide) and teeth (1 cm wide).
5. Clean all cut parts using a grinder or sharpener. You can perform this operation with a grinder's grinding disc, but it's easier with a machine.
6. Mark the mounting holes on the carrier plate, then drill them and make sure they line up with the holes on the bar.
7. Mark the position of the teeth, and place them not perpendicular to the supporting plate, but turning them in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the chain by 5-10 degrees, this will prevent the branch from jumping out of the comb during sawing. Remember, the plate and teeth must be placed on the back side of the tire, that is, not on the side of the bush being trimmed, otherwise the comb will cling to the branches and make pruning difficult.
8. Weld the teeth to the carrier plate.
9. Cut each tooth to point at a 45-degree angle, with the short edge of the corner on the sprocket side, and the teeth themselves separated from the tire by a support plate. You can do this work before welding the teeth, but it’s easier this way.
10. Install the comb onto the bar, then make sure the saw teeth do not interfere with the comb teeth.

Device

For classic models of loppers, it is almost the same as for pruners - the same basic elements:

You should pay attention to ensure that the working blade is sharpened as much as possible and does not form gaps when in contact with the lower one. The nut and bolt must be tightly tightened, the spring must provide good shock absorption. But the most important thing is the handles. The longer they are, the more functional the tool. Therefore, telescopic and rod models are in maximum demand among gardeners.

Lopper and pruner: what's the difference?

Secateurs and loppers are designed to solve essentially one task: trimming branches and twigs.

However, these are two different tools.

Secateurs are similar to scissors, have short handles and are effective where you can easily reach with your hands, that is, for trimming low-growing branches and young shoots.

Loppers have much longer handles, and therefore they are great for working in hard-to-reach places, for example, in dense bushes.

Rod options even allow you to trim branches at a height of up to 6 m, depending on the length of the rod itself and the height of the gardener.

Due to the elongated handles, which act as levers, loppers are suitable for cutting off branches of a larger diameter than pruners.

In the end, the only actual difference between these two tools is the length of the handles.

Accordingly, the pruning shears can be used with one hand, because it is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

With a lopper, regardless of its model, all work is performed with only two hands.

Basic accessories for chainsaws that have gained popularity

If you purchase special attachments for the tool, it will be extremely easy to install them; you won’t need to modify anything or disassemble the tool body. All ready-made accessories are designed specifically for installation on a chainsaw. Another important advantage of purchasing a chainsaw is its autonomy. This is explained by the fact that all electrical devices require a 220 V outlet. Using a chainsaw, you will be able to use homemade products in the field, be it a drill, an ice drill or a wood cutter.

A self-installed grinder attachment on a chainsaw allows you to use the equipment not only as a gas cutter, but also as an angle grinder. The nozzle is connected to the device via a special pin, and begins to rotate using a belt from a pulley attached to the drive sprocket shaft. Thus, the device is installed instead of the saw bar

It is important to choose the correct diameter of the nozzle circle; to do this, you must first study the instructions for the Druzhba chainsaw or other equipment used to make a useful device

The corroder is one of the most popular chainsaw attachments

Another common attachment among users is a corroder, used for cutting bark from trees. The attachment is also popular among woodworkers because it can be used to easily remove bark, knots and growths from untreated wood. Some people use a nozzle to create longitudinal or transverse grooves on the beam. There are mainly two types of coders:

• Drums. The main area of ​​application is bark removal, the second name is decanter.
• Disk. Used to create various types of recesses.

There are several nozzles on sale that differ in grip width, most often 80 and 100 mm. If the knives become dull, there is the possibility of secondary sharpening. If the knives are completely out of order, it is better to purchase a new set from the manufacturer. The attachment itself is a cutter or drum mounted in a bearing assembly. Actuation is carried out by a belt drive, and the rotation speed is regulated by the force of pressing the accelerator handle. The diameter of the pulley also affects the speed: the larger it is, the higher the speed. Studs for installing the nozzle are included in the kit.

Which lopper should you choose?

When choosing a lopper, you should first consider the purpose for which you are purchasing the tool.

So, for example, if there are more shrubs and young trees in the garden, it is more advisable to buy a model that can cope with branches with a diameter of up to 25 mm.

On the other hand, when the farm is dominated by mature and old trees, it is impossible to do without a lopper capable of working with diameters up to 50 - 55 mm.

When choosing a lopper, it is advisable to pay attention to the following parameters:

As you know, the maximum height at which a gardener can trim tree crowns depends on the length of the lopper handles.

Inexpensive models, most often, do not have telescopic handles, so you need to take into account the total length of the tool and correlate it with the planned work.

It is important to remember here that the handles of double-lever models that are too long will be extremely inconvenient to use, since they will have to be spread to a fairly large angle in order to grasp the branch.

A medium-sized tool is good for working with bushes and small trees.

Also recommended for selection are loppers, the blades of which have precision sharpening, ensuring high sharpness of the cutting edges.

Professional loppers have the following characteristics: the use of high-quality steel, hardened blade, forged blade, two-component handle with a stopper, low-friction blade coating, etc.

When choosing, it is recommended to hold the lopper in your hands and make sure that it operates smoothly and that there are no backlashes.

The presence of a special Teflon coating on the knives reduces friction between parts; fresh wood does not stick to such blades.

To summarize, we can draw the following conclusions:

You should also remember that not all models are equipped with an extension cord.

Sometimes it will have to be purchased separately.

Another option for “high-altitude” pruning

A chain saw is used for this. This tool leaves an even cut and does not cause much damage to the tree. However, it is not suitable for working with high-lying branches - the saw should be upgraded. For this:

• take a strong rope 10 to 12 m long;
• cut into two identical parts;
• a load is attached to the end of the first segment and thrown over a high branch;
• the other end is connected to the edge of the tool;
• then a second rope is taken and tied to the remaining end of the chain saw.

By pulling the string from side to side you can cut the branch. This can be done alone, but it is more convenient to work with an assistant.

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Advantages and types of loppers

In the first picture there is a neat result of the work of a lopper, in the second there is an unimportant work of a pruner.

Special qualities of the lopper

A tool that has a ratcheting mechanism.

Types of tools

An additional removable device on the pruning shears in the form of a saw.

Loppers are very similar to pruning shears. However, unlike them, they have elongated handles. Many models have folding, that is, telescopic. In addition, the tool may have a special cutting mechanism, which is a saw on a long handle

Based on their operating principle, conventional loppers are divided into two types.

Depending on the type of drive, there are also two types of devices.

Based on their design, the following types of devices are distinguished.

A single lever lopper has a single cutting edge and is similar to a saw.

The photo shows plants pruning using a double-lever tool.

Double-lever analogues are the easiest to operate. They have two handles and two cutting edges.

As a rule, devices are produced with an electric drive.

Important Features

Lopper with automatic cord machine.

Telescopic rod for lopper.

Note! Before choosing a tool, think about the length of its handles. This is especially important if they are not telescopic. It ranges from 0.94 m to 4.116 m. The longer the handles, the higher the branches you can reach.

What devices can a summer resident use?

In this operation, the quality of the working tool plays a huge role, since if it is not sharp enough or the cutting parts are defective, then the opposite result will occur. Dull blades can only damage the branch and then the process of healing the “wound” will be very difficult, which will negatively affect the general condition of the plant. You may also encounter problems such as branches located high up or too thick, and then a simple garden pruner will not cope with the task. Let's look at the features of all garden tools.

Simple garden pruner

A simple pruner is an indispensable thing for every owner of a summer cottage; it can easily remove unwanted branches on bushes, vineyards or trees. There are two types of this cutting tool - with curved blades and double-sided sharpening. The first ones must be adjusted correctly so that there is no unwanted gap between the working parts. And the second ones resemble scissors. They are easy to use, but such a tool will not be able to reach hard-to-reach places.

Cutting tool with curved blades

But the lopper is a completely different matter. Not only can you easily remove a branch of even a fairly large diameter with it, but with the help of special high-altitude electric loppers it is now possible to reach almost to the very top of the tree. It is the latter type that we will dwell on in more detail.

Grafting pruner: features and purpose

The grafting pruner has become an innovation that allows you to obtain almost 100% results when carrying out vaccinations. The principle of operation of the device is as follows: using a precise blade on a pruning shear, a cut is made on the scion and rootstock. It is the ideal blade that makes it possible to guarantee a cut from which the two parts of the branch fit together. After using such a tool, the gardener only needs to secure the two parts in the chosen way. This device made it possible to radically change the views of gardeners on the grafting process; now it has become easy and elementary.

Today, manufacturers produce universal pruning shears with three types of attachments: V, U and omega, which allows you to perform various types of garden grafting. Now every gardener will be able to supply the attachment that is necessary for a specific tree and grafting method.

A special feature of the tool is its durability. As practice shows, one tool is enough for several thousand sections . Gardeners note that such a tool does not pose a danger to humans; its operating principle and design are thought out to the smallest detail.

Design features of a homemade carriage

The carriage for a chainsaw is straight and even guides along which the tool is fed to the material being processed. To obtain a straight cut with the specified parameters, the saw is rigidly fixed on a movable platform, which, in fact, is called a carriage. The most common kit contents include:

• guides. Their role is usually performed by rails, channels, I-beams. A good solution to the problem is to use a duralumin ladder;
• carriage, which is a type of cart that moves along guides. It has a grip or support platform for fixing the chainsaw. There are designs in which only the frame is rigidly fixed, and the engine itself only rests on a special stand;
• device for adjusting the thickness of lumber. Changes the lifting height of the cutting body of the chainsaw, which allows you to quickly and accurately set the desired sawing thickness;
• trolley feed motor. This element is not required, since large amounts of work are not performed on such devices. In addition, mechanized feeding requires the installation of limit switches and other control equipment. However, many users prefer to install a mechanism to obtain an even sawing pattern, which improves the quality of the boards.

Figure 1 – Homemade carriage for a chainsaw

There are also simpler carriage designs, which consist of a rigidly mounted chainsaw and a bounding frame. The material is fed to a moving chain, and the frame calibrates the thickness of the resulting board. This type of carriage is rarely used, since it is extremely difficult to feed heavy logs manually, and the results obtained do not have a smooth and straight surface. The best option is to feed the tool onto a fixed log.

Types of garden loppers

Before ordering a tree pruning tool, familiarize yourself with its types. Some designs are suitable for cutting thick branches that reach a diameter of up to 5 cm. Based on the type of blade, they are distinguished:

Types of loppers

In addition, they differ in design. Depending on it, there are two types of tools:

Description of the rod lopper

There are also mechanical, petrol, electric and battery-powered loppers. More details about them:

Types of loppers

Petrol

Champion 125T-10 Maruyama MCV3100TS (12″) Huter BS-25

Electric

Ryobi RPP750S 3002228 Ryobi RPP755E Einhell GC-EC 750 T

Rechargeable

Black+Decker GKC108 Cordless lopper Greenworks G24PS20 24V 2000107

Mechanical

Mechanical lopper Grinda 58481/40232_z01 Gardena 500 AL Comfort 08771-20.000.00 Fiskars UPX86 1023624

What is a lopper and why is it needed?

A lopper is a hand-held garden tool designed for cutting branches of trees and shrubs. If your site has tall trees, thorny bushes, or other plants with hard branches, we recommend purchasing a hedge trimmer. With its help, you can easily and quickly trim the branches of raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, and rose hips without fear of getting scratched. When caring for tall trees, you don’t have to constantly move a ladder or stepladder around the garden - loppers are designed specifically for processing tall plants from the ground. Even if your plot is very small, a manual lopper will come in handy on the farm. When caring for a large garden plot with several dozen trees and shrubs, you simply cannot do without this tool. Any professional gardener will confirm this.

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