I sure love a good mail call on Saturday, especially a Tool Time Mail Call!

[abqjoe]

So I've been doing a lot of research on Bonsai tools lately in hopes of being able to get myself a set that would last a lifetime! Long story short it boiled down to Masakuni... After searching the globe for the best price that I could find on Masakuni tools I ended up making my purchase from this place in Tokyo Japan http://www.fromjapan-kt.com/ . These guys sell Masakuni for maybe 15% more than what Kaneshin costs. Fast-forward to my mailman ringing my doorbell this morning, I'm a very happy camper

 

[_#1_]

WOW complete set nice and shiny! I need those soon!

Like you're about to do surgery lol.

I read to buy tools slowly as you need them. But I wonder if it's cheaper to just get the set.

 

[c54fun]

Very nice.

 

[Paradox]

WOW complete set nice and shiny! I need those soon!

Like you're about to do surgery lol.

I read to buy tools slowly as you need them. But I wonder if it's cheaper to just get the set.

Do what your budget allows. It isnt necessary to get all the tools at once and it isnt necessarily cheaper. The main bonsai ones you need soonest are a branch cutter, concave cutter and a wire cutter. Everything else can be substituted with cheaper tools from Home Depot/Lowes. I have pliars and snips from HD. I use a drywall knife to de-pot trees. Ive purchased other bonsai tools along the way as I felt the need such as smaller or bigger cutters, carving tools, tweezers. I use cheaper plastic soil scoops instead of the SS ones. etc etc

The main thing is to make sure you keep your tools cleaned and oiled between uses and they can last you a long time.

 

[quietobserver]

Beautiful set there.....hope you enjoy them and remember to pick the right tool for the job so as to not f@ck them up. I say this from experience.

 

[_#1_]

Do what your budget allows. The main bonsai ones you need soonest are a branch cutter, concave cutter and a wire cutter. Everything else can be substituted with cheaper tools from Home Depot/Lowes.

Is a knob cutter just a knob cutter? I mean, can I just get one from Amazon and it'll work as good as the more expensive one; granted if I take care of it.

I think I'll need it to take out a branch about 3/4" without damaging the branch right next tot it.

 

[quietobserver]

Is a knob cutter just a knob cutter? I mean, can I just get one from Amazon and it'll work as good as the more expensive one; granted if I take care of it.

I think I'll need it to take out a branch about 3/4" without damaging the branch right next tot it.

No. If you only want to buy 2 or 3 "good" tools I'd put $$$ into a decent knob cutter. But if you have room to get to it you can spend 12-15 on a good finishing saw at the box stores that'll do the trick.

 

[Don Blackmond]

No. If you only want to buy 2 or 3 "good" tools I'd put $$$ into a decent knob cutter. But if you have room to get to it you can spend 12-15 on a good finishing saw at the box stores that'll do the trick.

A finishing saw is not a substitute for a knob cutter. Completely different tools and purposes.

 

[quietobserver]

A finishing saw is not a substitute for a knob cutter. Completely different tools and purposes.

True, but for a beginner on a budget who wants to get rid of a branch the finishing saw can cut nicely back. If he's still serious about bonsai down the road he can always clean it up later with good tools.

 

[j evans]

Congrats on the very nice tool set, it make anyone's day better. Enjoy

 

[Vin]

True, but for a beginner on a budget who wants to get rid of a branch the finishing saw can cut nicely back. If he's still serious about bonsai down the road he can always clean it up later with good tools.

Sorry, I have to disagree. If you're on a budget then at least purchase a concave cutter. A finishing saw just isn't going to hack it (well, it will hack it but not in the correct way) as a replacement for a knob cutter.

Nice set of tools Joe!

 

[quietobserver]

Sorry, I have to disagree. If you're on a budget then at least purchase a concave cutter. A finishing saw just isn't going to hack it (well, it will hack it but not in the correct way) as a replacement for a knob cutter.

I said remove/saw a branch, not use as a replacement for a knob cutter. Hence my original post above mentioning buying a knob cutter if only purchasing a couple good tools. If you just want to remove a branch and you're a beginner on a budget, there's nothing wrong with a good sharp saw. I'd venture a guess that it isn't a $3k tree he's removing a branch from as a beginner.

 

[Dav4]

A decent saw AND a knob cutter are the way to go...and you can have both for not much $$$. When I use my saw on a potted tree, the knob cutter is usually right there waiting to finish the job.

 

[Vin]

I said remove/saw a branch, not use as a replacement for a knob cutter. Hence my original post above mentioning buying a knob cutter if only purchasing a couple good tools. If you just want to remove a branch and you're a beginner on a budget, there's nothing wrong with a good sharp saw. I'd venture a guess that it isn't a $3k tree he's removing a branch from as a beginner.

I'm not wanting to create an argument. Your idea of removing a branch and mine are obviously not the same. I thought you meant complete removal of the branch from the trunk. In those cases you would use a knob cutter to leave a divot for the bark to heal over without leaving a bulge in the trunk. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[Don Blackmond]

A decent saw AND a knob cutter are the way to go...and you can have both for not much $$$. When I use my saw on a potted tree, the knob cutter is usually right there waiting to finish the job.

Precisely. Use the saw to remove the branch, then use the concave cutter to clean and dress the wound. Hopefully no one is using a concave cutter to remove a branch.

 

[jeanluc83]

Is a knob cutter just a knob cutter? I mean, can I just get one from Amazon and it'll work as good as the more expensive one; granted if I take care of it.

I think I'll need it to take out a branch about 3/4" without damaging the branch right next tot it.

"A poor man can only afford to buy the very best"

I'm not sure who said that originally but the sentiment applies here. You could buy the cheap knob cutter and replace it in a couple of years or just buy a good tool now and save the cost of the cheap one.

 

[Giga]

Nice set, though I do prefer nice carbon steel tools rather then stainless, they are shiny!

 

[abqjoe]

Nice set, though I do prefer nice carbon steel tools rather then stainless, they are shiny!

I just don't like dealing with rust and carbon rusts quickly!

 

[Smoke]

"A poor man can only afford to buy the very best"

I'm not sure who said that originally but the sentiment applies here. You could buy the cheap knob cutter and replace it in a couple of years or just buy a good tool now and save the cost of the cheap one.

Roy Greene.