Unless you've got plenty of time and energy to spare, I'd use a small
chainsaw. The silica in mature culms will dull most cutters fairly quickly.
Forget anvil-type cutters, they just smash and splinter any culms that are
very large. If you insist of upon using a bypass shear, get a good one that
has ratcheting action. It will make larger cuts much easier.

David

"Dan Epstein" wrote in message
...
I've got uncontrolled bamboo forest with stalks rising to approx 40-50
ft (some black, some green in color). Stalks have a diameter of approx.
2" as the base, max. (I would guess).

Is it best to cut the bamboo stalks with a BYPASS looper or with an
ANVIL looper? Are there any recommendations? I'm looking at Fiskars
and Gardena brands (amazon.com).

I've been using an anvil looper approx. 24" in length but the blade is
now very dull and can't be easily sharpened, nor replaced.

My guess is that bypass loopers must be much more robust than anvil
loopers as the two blades can get pushed apart and the slippery bamboo
get stuck between the blades as they "bypass" each other. Therefore I'm
gravitating towards an anvil looper.

Thanks much for your advice!

Dan