Making chopsticks

[Maiden69]

I don't know about that. Don't think you really need 4" construction grade to make splinters with a root splitter...anyway, if you dig through there you can come up with more reasonably priced big rounds and poles.

I agree, but the ones he sells are at least 4" round, which brings a premium to the price. Like I said, he over engineer things, which is one factor to the high price. I think the only thing I seen that have a very similar price is the copper wire. There are a few vendors that are cheaper, but if you tally a per-foot price Mirai's is even or slightly cheaper.

BTW, this are the ones I buy for anchoring the roots... already cut, sanded and polished. No splinters to deal with

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S4CG1XD?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[BrightsideB]

Does the chopstick really matter that much? Or is it just cool!? Having a variety of different styles of chopsticks seems really cool. I wouldn’t spend my time on it though. Maybe during winter or something. Like @rockm said who has time during repot season. I tend to think a softer wood may be better. But I just use chopsticks because they are effective and cheap. I lose them all the time.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I was taught to whittle long ago.

This seems like something Ryan just DOES... and someone thought making a video of it would be "cool"...

 

[rockm]

Does the chopstick really matter that much? Or is it just cool!? Having a variety of different styles of chopsticks seems really cool. I wouldn’t spend my time on it though. Maybe during winter or something. Like @rockm said who has time during repot season. I tend to think a softer wood may be better. But I just use chopsticks because they are effective and cheap. I lose them all the time.

Doesn't really matter that much. I've used wooden, bamboo and metal pieces to do the job. BAscially, a stick that's not too thick, but thick enough to be firm to help get soil in. You insert the stick into areas on the sides and perimeter of the root mass in the pot. Add soil and rotate slowly and even evenly which allows the soil to "travel" into the voids of space between roots and voids underneath the root mass. Anything that can do that, gently used--not stabbing and grinding the roots-, works fine.

 

[badatusernames]

I don't fault him for looking for new revenue, but this is a little too much...

I caught him mention that Mirai has a sponsorship with the brand of paper towels they use to wrap bonsai wire for deciduous. The man knows his audience and it likely ain't us. There are definitely people out there who listen when he tells them to use a specific type of paper towel over another.

Some bonsai thing or another that came in the mail recently had a couple of wooden dowels used to secure the item. I whittled it down into a "chopstick" and I will say that I like it better than even the better-than-takeout sticks I got on Amazon (they're sturdier but still cheap as beans).

The man has a >$500 Mirai-branded soil sifter on his site (I've actually seen one in action! It's pretty neat if beyond my budget!) - he knows his audience. Just think of the companies in the PNW and you'll probably at least have a broad idea as to who his core customer base is likely to be.

 

[dbonsaiw]

I basically left out the chop stick in my repottings this year as I fear I'm crushing the little roots I left. Once the tree is secured and the roots surrounded by soil, I start to add soil over the roots themselves. I will lightly tap the soil repeatedly so that it falls into crevices. Rinse, lather and repeat. I will also water heavily as I do this to further fill the crevices with soil. I'll do that until the soil doesn't settle anymore.

 

[badatusernames]

I will say though - marketing aside - seeing a bunch of older bonsai folks with hand wraps for joint pain (or whatever else) definitely has me wondering if Ryan has a point about these wire cutters:

Wire Cutters

As your bonsai practice advances, your tools should effortlessly support the entire spectrum of structural and physically demanding work. The Knipex wire cutter is an ergonomically designed tool with a multi-rivet construction to provide maximum mechanical advantage with minimal effort expended...

goods.bonsaimirai.com

"This tool easily cuts the thickest gauges of wire, minus the wear and tear on your hands. Finally expand your capacity for applying heavy wire with ease and confidence. Use this tool to save your hands, so you may wire bonsai for years and years to come."

If I worked with larger trees / larger gauge wire that marketing might work on me...

 

[mrcasey]

This is my impression of what I might hear if I were to listen to this video:

It's important to facilitate the exploration of all the nuances of chopstick creation methodology. Chop-sticking and chopstick creation is at the meeting and confluence of both horticultural and aesthetic considerations. This means that the chopstick directly influences and facilitates tree health both in the root system and photosynthetically as the tree uses photons from sunlight to change carbon dioxide and dihydrogen monoxide into sugars which are then usable by the tree.

 

[Fonz]

I'm using both the chinese restaurant ones as the homemade bamboo ones.
For small trees with small size bonsai soil I'm using the chinese eating chopsticks.
For larger trees I'm using the homemade ones. Work goes a lot faster than with the chinese chopsticks. Sure mine aren't as fancy as Ryan's but they do the job just the same.

The 2 on top are about 4 years old and are all worked-in, the bottom 2 I just cut from some bamboo I took down in my garden and are still a bit sharp on the edges, but I'll sand them down over time with my hands .

 

[Fonz]

I will say though - marketing aside - seeing a bunch of older bonsai folks with hand wraps for joint pain (or whatever else) definitely has me wondering if Ryan has a point about these wire cutters:

I have one of those. Little bit different but same brand. Can only say good things about it. Cuts through steel wire too.

 

[namnhi]

I guess when I have refined trees, which feels like forever for me, I will worry about it. And then I will make sure to only use the soft side of the bamboo stick @namnhi

I was thinking that is a bit much as well that's why I post the link to the video. Maybe my next trip back to VN... I could go looking for some handy person to create tons of chopsticks like the one Ryan made and sell for maybe 5 bucks each.... Could be a hero for creating jobs and making some bucks too.

 

[Maiden69]

I caught him mention that Mirai has a sponsorship with the brand of paper towels they use to wrap bonsai wire for deciduous. The man knows his audience and it likely ain't us. There are definitely people out there who listen when he tells them to use a specific type of paper towel over another.

Yes, agree. There are fanbois everywhere, but they are not enough to sustain a brand. He does cater to everyone, but he do knows how to target a certain audience that will definitely shell some hard cash on the next big thing.

Some bonsai thing or another that came in the mail recently had a couple of wooden dowels used to secure the item. I whittled it down into a "chopstick" and I will say that I like it better than even the better-than-takeout sticks I got on Amazon (they're sturdier but still cheap as beans).

If you ever go to an Asian market try to look for Japanese chopsticks. I think that for bonsai work, they are truly better shaped than the Chinese ones. On a side note, for eating I prefer Korean chopsticks... LOL

The man has a >$500 Mirai-branded soil sifter on his site (I've actually seen one in action! It's pretty neat if beyond my budget!) - he knows his audience. Just think of the companies in the PNW and you'll probably at least have a broad idea as to who his core customer base is likely to be.

This! I am a wood worker and a metal worker, and I can tell you that if I was going to make that thing for anyone else I would be charging more than what he sells it for. I don't know where he is getting that thing done, but knowing how upcharge works, he is getting a deal on it.

You can make something similar with the metal round ones available on Amazon. Should work great for someone with a small collection of trees.

 

[BeepBeepBonsaiSheep]

I don’t know guys. I read the article (didn’t before) and I believe it’s a pretty good read. Short, to the point, yet detailed

I think it does highlight some important aspects if you did want to make one, even if from different materials. Leave one side flat, keep a sharp point, and proper angle that moves soil, yet doesn’t damage roots

I did find an error though. The article toward the end mentions sanding with 100 grit. I’m pretty sure he meant 1,000 grit

I’m half tempted to make my own/ modify the chopsticks I just got, and make a note for next year. I don’t have a lot of repotting to do in a season, so I’m sure one stick would last me a few seasons (especially using potting soil and not harder akadama)

 

[rockm]

I basically left out the chop stick in my repottings this year as I fear I'm crushing the little roots I left. Once the tree is secured and the roots surrounded by soil, I start to add soil over the roots themselves. I will lightly tap the soil repeatedly so that it falls into crevices. Rinse, lather and repeat. I will also water heavily as I do this to further fill the crevices with soil. I'll do that until the soil doesn't settle anymore.

I did this for a while too. Unfortunately, I found that it doesn't really get the job done, as it only stacks soil vertically, which can leave voids in places underneath the root mass. Yes, a chopstick CAN destroy roots, but this really won't matter all that much, as you've already pretty much compromised the root system anyway with pruning.

Using an implement to work soil into spaces and underneath the root mass (by laterally inserting and working the soil in with whatever) takes care of the soil, so it doesn't settle into a "waterline" effect, leaving some roots high and dry.

 

[yashu]

This is my impression of what I might hear if I were to listen to this video:

It's important to facilitate the exploration of all the nuances of chopstick creation methodology. Chop-sticking and chopstick creation is at the meeting and confluence of both horticultural and aesthetic considerations. This means that the chopstick directly influences and facilitates tree health both in the root system and photosynthetically as the tree uses photons from sunlight to change carbon dioxide and dihydrogen monoxide into sugars which are then usable by the tree.

You totally forgot to mention something about “the narrative arc”.

 

[Maiden69]

I did find an error though. The article toward the end mentions sanding with 100 grit. I’m pretty sure he meant 1,000 grit

1000 grit won't do anything to bamboo other than polish it, heck, 600 grit will start the polish on hardwoods.

100 - 120 would be enough for what he is doing, maybe 220 if you want it really smooth, which you probably won't. Anything above that is prepping the wood for gluing/finish.

I did this for a while too. Unfortunately, I found that it doesn't really get the job done, as it only stacks soil vertically, which can leave voids in places underneath the root mass. Yes, a chopstick CAN destroy roots, but this really won't matter all that much, as you've already pretty much compromised the root system anyway with pruning.

Using an implement to work soil into spaces and underneath the root mass (by laterally inserting and working the soil in with whatever) takes care of the soil, so it doesn't settle into a "waterline" effect, leaving some roots high and dry.

This statement needs to be bolded out and make a sticky... one point that Ryan/Bjorn/___ insert any bonsai artist that has been doing this for more than a minute name advocates. The last thing you want are voids between roots when repotting, especially in trees that rely on the roots below the trunk or Shin as Ryan calls it.

Which brings the point that Ryan stated on the video, a sharp point to help the chopstick glide between the roots instead of mashing them down.

 

[yashu]

Honestly this site sometimes, almost, makes me feel bad for the guy (Ryan), way too much ball busting for no reason. The content is solid and if someone wants the convenience of buying something to take advantage of said content right there, on the site, then why not?… and as others have said it’s just plain silly to fault someone for having a business that sells these things.

…all that said…

@mrcasey nailed the Ryan Neil narration style, that cracked me up, but in good fun.

 

[Taste]

https://www.amazon.com/71-01-200-SBA-Leverage/dp/B004WMZQ24/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZYQCH7TG2M39&keywords=knipex+71-01-200+R&qid=1679417290&sprefix=knipex+71-01-200+r%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

I will say though - marketing aside - seeing a bunch of older bonsai folks with hand wraps for joint pain (or whatever else) definitely has me wondering if Ryan has a point about these wire cutters:

Wire Cutters

As your bonsai practice advances, your tools should effortlessly support the entire spectrum of structural and physically demanding work. The Knipex wire cutter is an ergonomically designed tool with a multi-rivet construction to provide maximum mechanical advantage with minimal effort expended...

goods.bonsaimirai.com

"This tool easily cuts the thickest gauges of wire, minus the wear and tear on your hands. Finally expand your capacity for applying heavy wire with ease and confidence. Use this tool to save your hands, so you may wire bonsai for years and years to come."

If I worked with larger trees / larger gauge wire that marketing might work on me...

 

[rockm]

Honestly this site sometimes, almost, makes me feel bad for the guy (Ryan), way too much ball busting for no reason. The content is solid and if someone wants the convenience of buying something to take advantage of said content right there, on the site, then why not?… and as others have said it’s just plain silly to fault someone for having a business that sells these things.

…all that said…

@mrcasey nailed the Ryan Neil narration style, that cracked me up, but in good fun.

Honestly, can't really understand people who can't take a joke, which this post mostly started out to be. I mean, c'mon, a five minute video on making chopsticks? It sounds absurd...Like a Monty Python skit...It's not silly to point out that you're OVERPAYING for the convenience.

 

[Maiden69]

https://www.amazon.com/71-01-200-SBA-Leverage/dp/B004WMZQ24/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZYQCH7TG2M39&keywords=knipex+71-01-200+R&qid=1679417290&sprefix=knipex+71-01-200+r%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

If you want one, it is on sale at Amazon right now... Knipex are not cheap to come by. Ever since the Chinese knock-off started appearing Knipex prices has gone down slightly... I think that one was around $100 2 years ago, now you can find them on sale for close to $50.

https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-CoBolt-Compact-Cutter-7101200/dp/B000SOSC4Y?th=1

If you want a cheap alternative, get the Kobalt from Lowes, at less than $20 it get's the job done... I use it for 3/16 and smaller stainless welding wire.

https://www.lowes.ca/product/bolt-cutters/kobalt-8-in-bolt-cutter-464628