Snips have long, narrow blades that allow you to get into tight spaces and make precise cuts without damaging other parts of the plant - I really like to use them for deadheading and harvesting, but they're also a valuable tool in the cut flower garden and for florists. In Japan, they are used for needling pines.
Snips are not as strong as secateurs, they are intended for light snipping work and soft green stems. They're much lighter than secateurs so there's less strain on your cutting hand when you're using them for long periods of time. I keep mine right beside my secateurs in my holster so I always have the right tool at my disposal.
There are many inexpensive snips on the market, but they generally have flimsy locking mechanisms that require two hands to use. If you are using snips frequently, it makes a difference to use a model that has the same one-handed locking mechanism as our secateurs.
Keep them locked when not in use so you don't poke yourself with the very pointy, sharp tips. Or, better yet, keep them in a holster and out of the compost heap!
Niwaki #1000 grit sharpening stone is recommended for this model.
Product Details
- KA70 carbon steel
- blade length: 2.4" (62mm)
- total length: 8" (205mm)
- max cut: Ø5mm
- weight: 0.45lbs (200g)
- comes with a spare spring
- made in Sanjo, Japan