Barnel B5000 Thorn Stripper

I grow roses. This product is easy to use when I want to have some roses for my dining room table.

I tried the thorn stripper on several different types of roses. The cut roses from my husband received the first test. This group had leaves and a few smaller thorns since the florist took care of most of them. The stripper removed both leaves and thorns easily. I then took the thorn stripper out in the yard where I have various types of rose thorns and wondered if the thorn stripper would survive my " attack all clothes, yard hats, and not to mention anyone coming close to this rose bush". The rose bush immediately attached itself to my hat when I went after a longer stem but it was no match for the thorn stripper as I removed a few thorns and leaves on roses I would place in a vase. I was stunned as this rose bush has the type of sharp, long, thick thorns from a Disney movie! Needless to say the smaller rose thorns would not win against this tool. I was skeptical when I first took the thorn stripper out of mailer but the job it did made me a believer. I like the black finger holder as it was a good place to rest your finger and insure a good grip on the stripper.

I purchased this thorn stripper for my wife who raises roses as a hobby. She had broken a previously owned stripper with a plastic handle attached to metal blades. The plastic broke and my amateur repair only lasted a few months.This product is all metal and I expect my wife will use it for the rest of our lives. Sturdily built and effective. She's especially fond of the little post on the handle that gives her some pulling power while stripping the stems. I've seen some comments about having to be careful about the pressure exerted on certain stems ... seems to me that a design can't be had that accommodates all different sizes and structures of different stems. My wife says this is the best design she has seen and believes it is sturdy enough to last a long time. Easily 5 stars!

I used these to strip the leaves and thorns for the bulk roses I'd ordered for my bouquets. They're big and sturdy and made easy work of it. Before I knew it there was a pile of leaves on the floor, ready to be swept up. Make sure you're holding them correctly, with the finger rest facing down, like the other reviews say. I'd recommend one of these thorn strippers to anyone, especially since the price was so reasonable.

There is a learning process to using this tool. I initially was using it with the rubber finger rest up with my thumb resting on it. The tool was chewing up my stems with large thorns and they looked awful. The smaller thorns were coming off ok. I was beginning to think that the few negative reviewers might be right. Then I realized I was using the tool incorrectly. Use the rubber finger rest down. It makes all the difference in the world. Once I changed the method, I was able to dethorn several hundred roses quickly without damaging the stems.

Prior to retiring, I worked for several years in a flower shop. I love flowers so this was a perfect job for me. This thorn stripper is something I used every single day and not just for roses. And now I will have my own. They are just indispensable, (to me), when arranging, prepping, etc.

It took a group of inexperienced 'strippers' only a few minutes to adjust to the skill level needed (none) -- we were able to strip 60 dozen roses for a fundraiser, in the span of just a few hours and minimal effort. The task was simple and even allowed for coffee and chatter as we worked. A great buy

These things do work pretty well for me. I have rose bushes so I was able to practice with them on a few stems. Once I got the hang of it, they worked great. I started off my first run with light pressure and made a second pass if any thorns remained. Now I can easily strip a few for a vase! Great deal for the price.