Trimming!! And gadgets to make it easy?

[furrysparkle]

What are some of the ways or devices that you use to trim your crop of those extra fans?

[insomniaczzz]

One thing that I have seen repeated from different growers is to cut fan leaves, do not pinch them. I think the thought process behind this is that some tug too forcefully when using only their hands. A nice sharp pair of little snippers will do the job. A have a pair of fiskars and a small pair of titanium sewing scissors. Any thing sharp enough to easily cut a strand of thread will be perfect for your plants. For thicker stems, like topping, a nice pair of pruning shears is perfect.

[Tika]

Thumbnail and opposing index finger
or
CURVED Titanium Friskars

[insomniaczzz]

Yes, using the thumbnail and index finger works great........as long as the leaf comes free easily. I've using the work pinching a few times and was told to use scissors. Some growers have the finesse to pinch and others don't. LOL

[Green75]

If you want to make it more interesting try using a 24" chain saw....that'll do the job

[insomniaczzz]

Now that would really take finesse!

[Tika]

LOL just spit my coffee again!

[furrysparkle]

I was thinking of a gadget I saw a while ago, which had a fan of rubber brushes that rolled the buds along a blade to get everything right up to the bud.

[PaganRich]

Yeah...got one of those....too indiscriminate and you lose good bud....didn`t use it in the end for that but do to chop my trimmings up finer to make solids

[insomniaczzz]

Can you find a picture to post? I'm not sure I know exactly what you are describing.

[StickyFingers]

Good Evening furrysparkle. If you're talking about removing shade leaves on a plant..pinch 1/2" back from where leaf stem attaches to branch with thumb and forefinger. Simultaneously crush and cut through the leaf stem with your thumbnail. This closes the end of the 1/2" stub that remains on the plant and blocks entry to bugs and disease. I do not recommend using scissors, but if you do, squish the ends of the little remaining stubs. It's faster to do it with your fingers anyway. With practice you'll be using both hands at once. If you're talking about using a machine for final trim on your bud, I don't recommend them unless you absolutely cannot hand trim. Mechanical trimmers beat up your bud and knock a lot of trichomes off in the process, but it is fast. They can't get down into the little nooks and crannies like scissors can and the buds look machine trimmed. I hand trim and so does everyone I know that grows. I know a couple of youngsters that grow at least 100 lbs. per year and the two of them trim it all by themselves, by hand. They might be done by now. They sell to dispensaries in L.A. One of 'em told me once that hand trimmed bud brings a premium over machine trimmed. Buds look much prettier when they're hand trimmed. It took me weeks to trim about five lbs.this year. Trimming is my least favorite part of the process. I have contemplated buying one of several brands of electric bud scissors that are on the market, but don't think they can get into little places either. These are the scissors I use, recommended by the local grow shop guy. I have found them to be much easier on my hands than the Fiskars or others. I don't use the finger loop.

GRO1 Hydroponics Mini Clip Scissor

[PaganRich]

Thanks for the info Fingers (Can`t call you Sticky Fingers as it`s so..... )....going to try above next trim

[furrysparkle]

I am indeed discussing the final trim and I am interested in a machine with a catch so that I can use the trim to roll a few joints with.

[bobsakamoto]

hey sticky, thanks for that info--very, very helpful to a newbie like myself. you know, the more i read the more it seems that a good rule of thumb would be something like, if in doubt, treat the plant like a person. i know that sounds crazy but what i mean is, you said

"This closes the end of the 1/2" stub that remains on the plant and blocks entry to bugs and disease."

it's like, if you absolutely have to cut a person (for their own good) then it's best to do it as painlessly and hygienically as the situation permits. similarly it's like you're saying to "bandage" the pinch with your thumbnail, is that right?

finally, i've never trimmed anything but my own hair but it sound like from your description that something largish and electrical is always gonna be too hamhanded, if you will. if that's the case, i've noticed the last few years a proliferation of what i would call "manscaping" products. there are all sorts of like little tiny trimmers, some for nose hair specifically i think, who knows. but they might be applicable for what you described... they look like miniature versions of the oster clippers i use to shave my husky/chow pupadog.

[Karlee]

Pinching a plant leaf off from marijuana isn't good watch what it does as you do it, it pinches both sides of the cut and the plant feels this and is stressed, a cut is clean and doesn't damage the stem. with the stem being hollow in the middle you want that clean cut.

My favorites

[Beach_Town_Brit]

I use a cheapo camera tripod to hang branches on for rough trimming. I put a plastic bin beneath the tripod, hang the branch from pan/tilt handle and adjust the height to whatever is comfortable.
Then I just snip away. We then dry on the branch and my girlfriend does a close trim/manicure of the dried buds before we jar (her eyes are much better than mine).

I'm with Karlee I love the simple little fiskars pictured above, my favorite too.