Non Bonsai tools and stuff for Bonsai

[Frozentreehugger]

Thought I would start a thread . For tools and equipment or stuff . We found useful for bonsai . To share with each other . Anything you think others might find useful goes . I’ll start us off First up is a pair of pliers there called duck bills . Essentially working tips a narrow flat tip with smaller grip teeth then a regular pair of pliers . There attached to a longer reach handle . There value . Is there ability to reach deep hard to reach locations . With the strength of pliers . Useful for wiring and tie downs and any work in tight locations . They make similar needle nose pliers . But the duck bills are more useful . There sold as automotive repair tools . And yes the pair pictured are top quality and price . But there are cheaper options available . Second is a roll of clear fishing line . Simply . Very strong invisible string . Both traits are useful especially together

 

[Pixar]

Any reason your using fluorocarbon fishing line instead of nylon ? does it last longer ?

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Any reason your using fluorocarbon fishing line instead of nylon ? does it last longer ?

No I I use cheaper mono line on trees . I started the thread at night . Instead of going outside . I just grabbed some line from my tackle bag for the pic .

 

[PonderingSage:]

Horse hoof nippers are good for big deadwood work…if you don’t have large root cutters.

 

[Diggumsmack2]

Horse hoof nippers are good for big deadwood work…if you don’t have large root cutters.

Yes! I was just looking at an old pair my father has from when he had horses. They look very similar to trunk splitters/root cutters and if you need to buy a pair, they are ⅛ the cost of "bonsai" tools.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Do

Horse hoof nippers are good for big deadwood work…if you don’t have large root cutters.

Do you have a pic for us non horse people . Sounds like something you could run into at a farm garage sale

 

[Diggumsmack2]

Horse hoof pliers (as far as I know, that's what they're called)

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Horse hoof pliers (as far as I know, that's what they're ca


View attachment 455096View attachment 455095

I’m sold got to get some of those

 

[Bonsai Turtle]

I was at harbor freight yesterday and came across several of these nippers https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=nipper

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I was at harbor freight yesterday and came across several of these nippers https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=nipper

They could be good for peeling bark and wood for deadwood . Biggest drawback to those style . Is the depth of the throat for clearance behind the blades . Get the ones with max blade width . To help that

 

[nuttiest]

I would love a dentist station on my worktable, with the hi powered water and drills overhead!

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I would love a dentist station on my worktable, with the hi powered water and drills overhead!

No water but creme de la creme in carving just need a credit card there is of course cheaper alternatives . But a shaft drive is vastly superior to a router

 

[Frozentreehugger]

More useful stuff from the automotive repair world . The different coloured pads . Are scuff pads ( slang name ) . If you ever used a scotch brite pad or a kitchen scrub sponge with a abrasive normally green pad glued to it you have the correct product . They are used heavily in the auto painting industry . Normally about 1/8 or 1/4 inch thick there ability to conform to irregular. Surfaces . There synthetic material that will not break down when used with most soap petroleum cleaners . And such . Gives then value in bonsai . Cleaning tools deadwood and even pots . The main difference from the kitchen scrub pad . Is they are colour coded rated like sandpaper for aggressiveness . The kitchen green bring the roughest or mist aggressive . These are available much finer fir delicate work . The white cloth they sit on in pic . Is a oil absorbent pad . Used like oil dry to clean up spilled oil . A common name is pig mat . They are woven material that will absorb a tremendous amount of oil . But will not absorb any water or allow water to penetrate . You can actually absorb oil spilled on water with them . For me they are valuable if you have collected or recovering trees . You want to mist but don’t want the compost to absorb excess water you cut these and wrap around the tree . There sift like cloth . And water runs off them . But still allowing the pot to breath . I would imagine they could be very useful in areas that have rainy seasons

 

[PonderingSage:]

I also asked my dentists for an any retired picks. They gave me half a dozen.
I’m going to try them for juniper vein cleaning.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I also asked my dentists for an any retired picks. They gave me half a dozen.
I’m going to try them for juniper vein cleaning.

That’s cool we use picks to fix cars . I’ve tried to find where to get the high quality pics the dentists use

 

[WinstonWolfe]

For heavy bends, I have used copper electrical grounding cable. Its non-annealed, so very stiff. You can get much greater holding power with smaller gauge.
That being said, be prepared to fight when it comes time to remove. Usually cutting it off is better for the tree than trying to remove in one piece.

 

[Lorax7]

For heavy bends, I have used copper electrical grounding cable. Its non-annealed, so very stiff. You can get much greater holding power with smaller gauge.
That being said, be prepared to fight when it comes time to remove. Usually cutting it off is better for the tree than trying to remove in one piece.

I’ve also used copper grounding cable, but annealed it myself in my propane grill.

 

[ShadyStump]

I've used garden staples to anchor newly collected trees into their deeper pots instead of wiring them. Much cheaper. They also make good anchors for guy wires, and are frequently used by gardeners for anchoring low branches for ground layering.

Full disclosure: It's not uncommon for me to wish I'd just wired the damn tree in. A strong wind can tip the tree pulling the roots out and the staple with them. But if you're concerned about disturbing the root ball, they're a reasonable alternative.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I’ve also used copper grounding cable, but annealed it myself in my propane grill.

You guys have it lucky . Has to do with electrical standards . Ground wire in Canada is multi strand . I use it as it’s still a good deal but it’s 7 strand . On the subject of wire I’ve experimented with inserting annealed copper inside plastic and or rubber tubing . For increased bark protection. . Inconclusive so far but has merit . Recommend stretch the wire straight and use dish soap and water as a lube if you want to try it . My interest in prunus is the drive

 

[ShadyStump]

You guys have it lucky . Has to do with electrical standards . Ground wire in Canada is multi strand . I use it as it’s still a good deal but it’s 7 strand . On the subject of wire I’ve experimented with inserting annealed copper inside plastic and or rubber tubing . For increased bark protection. . Inconclusive so far but has merit . Recommend stretch the wire straight and use dish soap and water as a lube if you want to try it . My interest in prunus is the drive

If you're not too worried about the looks, I've found green plastic coated aluminum wire at garden and hardware stores that's pretty cheap and purpose built for growing applications. Not quite copper where wiring branches goes, but certainly good enough for the price.