Customer Reviews

Corona Clipper BP 6170 3/4-Inch Capacity Angled Bypass Pruner with Vinyl Coated Steel Handles

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

(See my review on Felco #2 pruners as to why.) After reading the current reviews on these things, I have to say I'm a little suprised by one (bending cutting 3/8 inch branches... ouch, I don't think that is typical.) I can see these working well for cutting sunflowers... if that was all these were used for I could see giving them a higher rating, but most people will use them for more tasks than that. I bought a set on the advice of a salesman and took them home to try out for a couple of days, and took them back. They're all right, but I think you are further ahead by spending the extra ten bucks on a set of Felco's. Better quality, better feel, better durability. You'll be happier longer.

I use these to cut/prune sunflowers for wholesale. I've had them for about 3+ years and they've held up great. They are sharp enough for small/precise work, and large enough for significant cuts (which happen often with large sunflower stems).

I was very glad to see this model still available, having had my previous pair snaked by, well, snakes.

My previous pair were used in a professional capacity at a grower's nursery, so I've had some real use out of them.

I consider myself to be a connoseur of good design. These clippers are functional and streamlined, without pretentious styling, thin and elegant. The last thing I want is a bulky tool getting in the way when I am doing 8 hours of pruning.

There are two points to consider beyond the general excellence of this tool:

1) The rubber grips are now disappointingly in orange, the picture doesn't mean you've found reserved stock. Great for when you drop your clippers, not if you just miss your old trusty pair of secateurs :) Bad thing about the new grip: the oil will rot them while in the packaging, so when you open the package, wipe them well and expect your hand or glove to be orange the first day :( Minus one star for that, though it's a minor fault as the grip still seems sturdy enough to stay on there for a few years. Corona, the dark green was fine for people who don't drop their clippers in the leaves :)

2) YES IT SAYS 3/4" but one would be prudent to appreciate the application. There are hardwoods, even citrus, I would use a heavier tool for thicker than 3/8" - use a pair of loppers, or a saw if you need to cut through 3/4" of hardwood, don't torture your clippers or your hand. It's not a magic light saber. OTOH it will go through a 3/4" diameter annual weed stalk like butter. If you have to strain, use a heavier tool, otherwise you will twist the clippers. Don't blame the tool. I do expect that there are other brands with wider, heavier builds that will perform better on such tortuous cuts, but I like precise, elegant tools.

I came back to Amazon looking for replacement blades, knowing that the original will eventually wear out. I was suprised to see that it was 2001 when I purchased these pruners. I use them mainly for pruning apple trees in the early spring, and also for cutting cutting up fallen tree branches. Later in the growing season they are used for much more civilized chores, like cutting flowers, with no complaints. I know I am cutting branches larger than they were designed for (up to 3/4 inch), but they have held up great. Now if I could just find those replacement blades . . . . . .

I should have followed my own advice I am leaving for others. I had read the reviews prior to my purchase of the 6170 pruners by Corona. I was thinking to myself as I was reading the reviews, these people are probably using them wrong as I never had any set of pruners fall apart or have the blade get defective or splinter off etc. even with the cheap pruners I have.

Well I went to Ace Hardware picked up a set and used them for one day to cut roses (mainly deadheading and very very light pruning of some smaller thinner canes. Well after a few hours I noticed the blade wasn't cutting too well. Upon inspection there were several spots on the blade that had worn flat or gouged out. Mind you this was a brand new pair of pruners, not a pair that was 10-15 years old. I thought to myself, "Ok, this must just be a coincidenece and has nothing to do with the reviews on Amazon. I will return these and it is probably a fluke defective unit." Well I return them to ACE and they didn't have a replacement in stock. They ordered a set and a week later I get it hoping my problem is solved. I happily start cutting roses when the blade twisted somewhat and the blade wouldn't close. I noticed some of the metal was sheared off!!!! This was after approximately 60 minutes of deadheading roses!!!! Looking at the blade and wondering how it could possibly happen still stumps me to this day. One minute it was cutting fine the next minute it was an unuseable pair of bypass pruners. I get on the phone with Corona they basically say their warranty will just give me an exact set of pruners and there would be no telling if the problem with that replacement set wouldn't have the same problems of the one I was returning. They recommended I return it to the store since I just bought it, which I did. This time I got my money back and bought a set of ACE cheapies and they feel more solid and the blade is heat treated forged steel. I don't forsee me returning these.

On a whim before my return of the first 6170, I saw the Corona 6240 on Amazon for about $30 so I went with it. Hope they last longer than 2 hours. If they suck I may be stuck with it as I am not about to be paying shipping to return a crappy set of Coronas.

On the first day out, these pruners self-destructed on me. I used them to trim some small branches. They worked fine through several, but then apparently twisted on one cut. The large blade gouged into the small, digging into the metal. I didn't have any warning or "feel" that the blade was twisting and the branch wasn't that thick (1/4-3/8"). I had to take them apart and file away the very large burr. Needless to say, they don't work as well now and I'm in the market for a replacement.