Fiskars PowerGear II Hedge Shears (HS551): Product Review
A low-end tool with several problems, including blade slippage and extra weight.
Available on Amazon
Buy ItAny tool that promises to make pruning or shearing hedges “three times easier” is worth looking at. The Fiskars PowerGear II shears with their patented gear technology are supposed to multiply your power but, unfortunately, we found that it was suited for light shearing only.
Features
- Hardened blades with low-friction coating
- PowerGear® patented gear technology
- Ergonomic handles and bumpers
Hardened, Low-Friction Blades
Fiskars steel blades are fully hardened, so they will remain sharp with extended use. They are also coated to lessen friction and to prevent the blades from gumming up with sap.
This coating, it seems, works to the user’s disadvantage, causing larger limbs to slip from between the blades. Other tools have serrations to prevent this from happening, or the blades are beveled for more precise cutting. This flaw makes the shears unsuitable for many shearing applications.
A tool suited for light shearing only.
The gear technology makes cutting fairly effortless.
Gear Technology
The PowerGear® patented gear technology makes cutting fairly effortless, multiplying leverage to give you up to three times more power (according to Fiskars). With better blades, this would be a plus.
Ergonomic Features
The handles are steel, rather than lighter weight aluminum, which adds to the weight of the tool. At 23 inches it is comparatively small, and at 2.4 pounds, comparatively heavy. The weight is concentrated at the handles, rather than the blade end, which helps some.
The rounded steel handles have Softgrip® touchpoints securely riveted.
The bumpers are small, and offer less cushioning than most.
Recommendation
Fiskars Power Gear II HS551 is a low-end tool with a medium price tag of $30 to $45. If you have any amount of heavy shearing, the blade slippage will frustrate you. The extra weight, due to the steel handles, can cause arm stress with continued use.
Where to Buy
Fiskars tools can be purchased at some local retail stores, on the Fiskars website, as well as through Amazon.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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my fiskars hedge pruner broke a tooth, is there a warranty on your trimers or how can i get a replacement part