The Bottom Line
Midwest products Easy Cutter is a good quality hand held angle pruning shear which has been adapted for miniature stripwood cutting by the addition of a solid metal miter plate with angles marked on both sides of the blade. The cutter comes packaged alone, or with adapters which slide on to the miter plate to hold square stock, or 5/8, 3/4 and 1 inch round stock and cordage. With the adapter in place, only 90˚ angle cuts are possible. Rubber handle grips make the cutter easy to use, although the reach of the handles is designed for larger hands, and cutting larger hardwood stock requires a fair amount of force.
Pros
- Easy to use stripwood cutter with angle markings.
- Cuts materials up to ½ inch thick.
- Easy method of cutting multiple pieces of mitered stripwood.
- Replacement blades available
Cons
- Uses a crushing anvil pruner blade, so on softer woods or thicker pieces some distortion occurs.
Description
- Easiest way to cut thin basswood and jelutong strips either straight or angled.
- Works with flat stock.
- Can be purchased in a kit with adaptors for use with square or round stock.
- Works with wood, not metal.
- Can be used right or left handed.
- Requires minimal hand strength for thin woods, needs strength for thicker cuts. Smaller size available.
Guide Review - Easy Cutter Stripwood Cutter
Anvil pruners can cause some crushing of the wood they are cutting. The crush is more noticeable on softer woods, but is easily sanded off. These tools are most successful for woods under ¼ inch thick, although they will cut larger pieces with relative ease. The length of the blade will allow you to easily cut wood up to 1 ¼ inches wide and up to ½ inch in diameter.
A well designed, comfortable slip free handle means this fairly heavy set of pruning shears is easily balanced in one hand while you hold the wood in place securely (and safely) against the miter angle with your other hand. The tool grip is fairly large, so individuals with very small hands or weak grips may find the tool more difficult to use. Midwest Products produce a smaller Super Easy Cutter for smaller hands which will cut wood up to 1/4 inch thick. If you can use standard pruning shears to prune twigs, you can use this tool to cut stripwood.
For wider wood, exacting precision or thicker than ½ inch material, I'll continue to haul out the miter box and saw. Almost everything else though will find itself being pruned to the correct angle! This is a very handy tool.
