Loppers

Loppers are a type of scissors used for pruning twigs and small branches, like pruning shears with longer handles. They are a larger type of manual garden cutting tool, but not as long as pole pruners (averruncators in British English).

Loppers are usually operated with two hands, and have handles typically between 30 centimetres (12 in) and 91 centimetres (36 in) long to give good leverage. Some have telescopic handles which can be extended to a length of 2 m (6.6 ft), in order to increase leverage and to reach high branches on a tree. Loppers are mainly used for the pruning of tree branches with diameters less than 5 centimetres (2 in). Some of the newer lopper designs have a gear system, a compound lever system, or a ratchet drive, which increases the force applied to the blades.