The ideal tool for vine top grafting, cordon cutting and tree lopping. The Maxicoup is considered the best in his category for its cutting capacity and the quality of each cut.
Tom on Tools
The idea that the guy who dies with the most tools wins still applies, but they better work and they better last.
I t has been too long since we have had a chance to test a tool and provide a little insight for our readers on what we think about the overall usefulness and effectiveness of a particular product. It's not for lack of wanting to test drive any tool, from hand tools to harvesters, and everything in between.
Granted, we're not the expert on harvesters. But we know who is and we would love to have them give it a whirl and provide their input. So, come one come all and let's do a better job of getting quality and useful information into the hands of the potential buyers.
Keep in mind that we don't do hit pieces if it breaks or doesn't perform up to expectations. That kind of thing happens. What we want to do is put the tools into the hands of people who really need them and who know the difference quality, efficiency, productivity and longevity can have on a farming operation.
This time around, with winter pruning on the horizon, we have had the pleasure of working with the On Target and the Electrocoup electronic shears, manufactured by Infaco.
Have you ever marveled at the fact that nearly every tree and every vine in every orchard and every vineyard is touched each winter by one or more sets of hands? The work that goes on in the winter months here in California is huge. This work is vitally important as workers prune each vine or tree, literally setting the stage for all that will come this next year and even the following year.
I want you to know that pruning is no easy task. This annual chore that I have tackled in earnest for each of the past 33 years, while for me brings pleasure, is still a major task. It is labor intensive, it is time consuming, it is critical in nature in that the economic viability of this next year lies in the hands of those men and women hired for the job.
Trees present a unique challenge in that they require both major and minor pruning all on the same tree and even the same limb. The sizes of the cuts are larger and vary continuously, thus making the right tool for the right job quite difficult to find. There are two sizes of shears, both are the same size, but one has a different sized jaw that will easily handle cuts up to 3 inches in diameter.
The Electrocoup shears come with an easy to attach set of extension poles. With your shears and the trigger on the end of your pole a really trick switch has been placed inside a pair of leather gloves. When you hand slips into the glove the small switch is located right at the end of your finger, much like you would press on one of the keys on your computer, just smaller.
When you have selected the branch you want removed you simply press your index finger against the extension pole and presto the limb is cut. It's way too easy. No pulling. No sawing. No heavy chain saw apparatus to hold in place. You press on the switch inside the glove as easy as you press the key on a keyboard and the cut is made.
In the end, what you will love most about the Electrocoup is its shear simplicity - no pun intended -but using it is a no-brainer. You can get up and running right now. My own demonstration was short and when next I used the shears I was on my own and never looked back. One of my initial
concerns with anything electric is the longevity of the batteries, along with the weight and ease with which the operator can work.
The weight issue was immediately dispelled when I slipped on the battery vest that was no different than slipping on one of my vests on a chilly morning. You can tell your vest has something in the pockets, but it was not the least bit heavy, restrictive or cumbersome.
The shears themselves are light weight; the line connections to the on/ off switch are perfect in length and did not get in the way of the work being performed. The holster to store the shears attached to your belt, for me on the right hand side, is easy to use and the shears store away quickly to allow the operator to use both hands if needed for the removal of limbs from the tree or vines from the wire.
That is not always the case with my conventional shears. I have never been a big advocate of having them over my neck while I did the two handed work that is many times necessary. These were easier to store and sped up my work.
Have I mentioned how easy it is to use. You won't believe how easy it is to use. My initial problem was finding things to cut as fast as my trigger finger wanted to pull the trigger, which by the way has a large easy-to-access trigger guard and would work with a gloved hand or not.
I have spent many a cold morning in the vineyard and gloves are a must. Even if you didn't use one to keep off the chill, you would want to be gloved to protect your hands, not from the shears, but from the abuse that come from vine and limb removal. The shears can be easily worked wearing a light or even bulky pair of gloves.
It changes your thinking about pruning all together. You move quickly, you think faster and the whole process is enhanced because of the effectiveness of the tool. It's like moving through a downed tree with a hand saw vs a chain saw. What was once drudgery is now really an enjoyable process.
Never would I have envisioned that this important work could be made so easy. The shears performed the life of the battery? It went all day. It went longer than I was willing to cut and that makes all the difference.
When I next picked it up, I was rested; it was charged and away went again. I am told the type of batteries that are used do not have the old memory issue, so plug it in when you are done and it will be ready for the next use.
No, I wasn't whistling while I worked, because the speed at which I could cut was only limited by the speed at which my mind would allow me
to make the right cuts. Thus forcing one like me with limited mental capacity to remain focused, least my right hand, and trigger finger get way ahead of the quality control that is needed for the work being performed.
In the end, as fast as you want to go or as fast as you can go, is the best way to describe what this tool will allow you to do. What I liked best was not only how well it worked, but how I felt after doing a days work combined with looking back down the row and seeing the level of productivity that had been achieved.
We highly recommend that you too see the difference for yourself. Take the time to contact On Target or visit their website at www.ontargetspray.com.
