What are the parts of an anvil lopper?

29th February 2020

What are the parts of an anvil lopper?


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		Anvil lopper blade
		An anvil lopper has just one blade, which is sharpened to a fine edge, and cuts through branches and other plant matter during use.

		Anvil lopper anvil
		The anvil on an anvil lopper sits where the bottom blade would sit on a bypass lopper. It is called the anvil because it provides a wide, flat surface for the blade to press branches down on during cutting, in the same way that a blacksmith’s anvil provides a flat surface on which to strike metal workpieces.

		The anvil provides resistance against the downward force exerted by the blade; this increases the overall force applied to the branch, making cutting easier.

		Anvil lopper arm bolts
		The arm bolts on an anvil lopper are used to fasten the blade, anvil, and compound action mechanism to the handles tightly. Usually, a simple nut, washer and bolt are used. The number of arm bolts used varies depending on the design.

		Depending on the manufacturer, centre oiler bolts may be used at the hinged joints of the compound lever.

		Anvil lopper handles
		The handles are the parts of the anvil lopper that the user holds, and are used to open and close the blades.

		On an anvil lopper, the top handle is fixed to the blade, and the bottom handle to the anvil. Both handles pivot about the two fulcrums on the compound action mechanism, so that when the handles are opened, the blades part, and when the handles are closed, the blades close.

		Anvil lopper handle grips
		Each of the handles on a lopper incorporates a moulded handle grip. This is manufactured from rubber, and moulded to provide ergonomic grip and comfort during use, while further absorbing the impact generated by cutting branches.

		Compound action mechanism on an anvil lopper
		Anvil loppers feature a compound action mechanism instead of a simple hinge between the anvil and blade. The inclusion of this feature makes the tool able to function as a compound lever.

		A compound lever is a simple machine which works on the principle that energy is transferred and amplified from one system of levers to another. This action creates a mechanical advantage and allows the user to maximise output force while minimising input effort.


		On an anvil lopper, two levers are included in the compound action mechanism; the handle attached to the blade, and the lever arm of the compound action mechanism.

		As effort or force is applied to the blade handle, the resulting force is exerted on the anvil handle at the second fulcrum.

		Meanwhile, the user pushes the anvil handle inward, as both handles are closed to close the blades. This provides resistance against the force exerted at the fulcrum, and is added to the initial force exerted by the blade, making cuts easier; this is called ‘force amplification’.

		Many household objects employ a compound lever, including scales, nail clippers and piano keys.

		What is the ‘fulcrum’? A lever, in any form, is always made up of four parts:

		The effort This is the point of the tool to which force is applied. On an anvil lopper, this point would be the handle grip on the handle attached to the blade.

		The fulcrum The fulcrum is the point about which a lever pivots. A compound lever always has at least two fulcrums. On an anvil lopper, the fulcrums take the form of bolts around which the blade pivots, and the bolt attaching the compound action mechanism to the anvil.

		The load The load represents the point of the tool through which force is exerted directly on the object being lifted, cut or compressed by the lever. On an anvil lopper, this refers to the blade.

		The lever The lever is the body of the tool, which connects all three previous parts to form one whole. On an anvil lopper, this would refer to all of the component parts of the tool, as have been covered on this page.