Cruiser
Chumono
After sifting through some threads on this site I decided to buy tools from American Bonsai. A gift card was used to purchase rounded concave cutters and slim shears.
For people on the fence about tools or this brand, I want to share my observations and first impressions. They’re based off 5 hours of pruning deciduous branches. I’ll update down the road once the tools have experienced more wear and tear.
Forged Stainless Steel ROUNDED Concave Cutter: Standard Issue
-Cutters appear sturdy, like they’d hold up alright if dropped.
-Edges overlap with no uneven gaps and look well aligned.
-Clean cuts. No tearing.
-My only minor gripe would be the hand feel. The handles are both convex so they feel “wider” in the hand compared to some other cutters that have curved handles (one convex the other concave).
Side by side with knob cutters to compare handle shapes. The curved handles of the knobbers on the left are more comfortable and easier to manipulate.
Forged Stainless Steel Refining Scissors: Standard Issue Slim
- Well balanced. They feel light in the hand yet there is a weighted and sturdy feeling which you’d expect in most solid metal objects.
-The blades come to a fine point. It was easy to access and cut things in tight branch crotches.
-Thumb loop nestles comfortably in the “meat” of your thumb and not too much over the knuckle joint.
- The blades have a little give at the axis/attachment point. There is a very small gap between the blades (1/2mm) when the shears are fully closed. The gap closes at a moving point along the blade edge as the shears are used. They cut paper, stems, and foliage fine.
After some initial concerns I googled “little gap in scissor blades” and came across an explanation. Apparently the gap is a feature known as a “set”. It is supposed to help beveled edges cut by preventing material from folding along the edges of the blades as the shears close.
In addition to the tools, American Bonsai threw in some free stickers and a coupon for 5.00 off my next purchase.
For people on the fence about tools or this brand, I want to share my observations and first impressions. They’re based off 5 hours of pruning deciduous branches. I’ll update down the road once the tools have experienced more wear and tear.
Forged Stainless Steel ROUNDED Concave Cutter: Standard Issue
-Cutters appear sturdy, like they’d hold up alright if dropped.
-Edges overlap with no uneven gaps and look well aligned.
-Clean cuts. No tearing.
-My only minor gripe would be the hand feel. The handles are both convex so they feel “wider” in the hand compared to some other cutters that have curved handles (one convex the other concave).
Side by side with knob cutters to compare handle shapes. The curved handles of the knobbers on the left are more comfortable and easier to manipulate.
Forged Stainless Steel Refining Scissors: Standard Issue Slim
- Well balanced. They feel light in the hand yet there is a weighted and sturdy feeling which you’d expect in most solid metal objects.
-The blades come to a fine point. It was easy to access and cut things in tight branch crotches.
-Thumb loop nestles comfortably in the “meat” of your thumb and not too much over the knuckle joint.
- The blades have a little give at the axis/attachment point. There is a very small gap between the blades (1/2mm) when the shears are fully closed. The gap closes at a moving point along the blade edge as the shears are used. They cut paper, stems, and foliage fine.
After some initial concerns I googled “little gap in scissor blades” and came across an explanation. Apparently the gap is a feature known as a “set”. It is supposed to help beveled edges cut by preventing material from folding along the edges of the blades as the shears close.
In addition to the tools, American Bonsai threw in some free stickers and a coupon for 5.00 off my next purchase.
