American Bonsai Tool & Supply Co.

[rps]

A friend is considering investing in a set of tools from the American Bonsai Tool & Supply Co. He asked me what I knew about their product (and reputation) which forced me to admit I had never heard of them.

If anyone on this forum has direct experience with these tools, your comments/review would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[carp]

Yes. I am familiar with the tools. My good friend Adam Lavigne is a dealer and I have handled the tools myself. They are very well made and feel nice in the hands, the logo is even lazer etched into the tool. I do not own any of the tools but will be investing come tax return season. American Bonsai Tools is a relatively new start up, but the man behind the company is not new to metal working, his name is Cullen Mariacher and he is based here in FLA, maybe Orlando, but I'm not positive.

if you go to Adam's blog www.adamaskwhy.com you will see him using the tools. and I'm sure you can find a link somewhere in the page to message him for any information regarding the tools.

 

[Wee]

I know nothing about the tools but I love reading Adam's blog....He is a hoot.

Brian

 

[jkd2572]

I bought a concave cutter. They are very high quality for a fraction of the cost of other stainless tools.

 

[tmmason10]

I'm still waiting for my sponsorship!

Adams blog rocks. He posts so frequently and makes me crack up as I read his posts at work.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I don't have any myself yet, but I had Adam Lavigne help me with some trees during this last summer and got to handle some of them myself. They were very nice. I'm going to buy some once I have the funds.

 

[Vin]

I am not being negative. However, I have heard that the tools are actually made in China. It would be good to know if that is indeed true.

 

[mat]

The company is based in Casselberry, Florida (a suburb of Orlando). I think the tools are manufactured in China. From what I've seen, Cullen is definitely committed to quality.

I have the full set, via an amazing gift last August. After half a season of thorough use, I can say that I'm pleased with the set as a whole. Sharp, well made. I have a couple of name-brand carbon cutters that just seem 'better', but the AB versions are great everyday tools.

One of my shears has a chip it in (maybe from trimming roots and soil?) I also think the two smaller concave cutters are a bit redundant. Other than that, no complaints.

 

[Wee]

The quality of products coming out of China has improved greatly in the last 10 years.....Atleast in the stone industry. They have went from having workers in flip flops working on dirt floors and sleeping in the plants thru the week to having CNC machines as advanced as most plants in the USA with quality to match....Only 10% of their production is exported....China is growing by leaps and bounds. We as a company fought with having to go to China to get some of our cut-to-size stone but it came down to....Do it or close the doors. I'm glad the owners decided to work the Chinese otherwise I would have been without a job and stone drafting is all I have ever done.

Brian

 

[rps]

Thanks, all, for taking the time to respond. The above is helpful.

 

[Bob O]

I have a few AB Tools I bought last summer and am happy with the quality. The owner plans to eventually bring the manufacture of them to the US.

They also sell other bonsai items including pots & wire.

Check out their Facebook page and website.

Bob O

 

[American Bonsai]

Hi everyone, my name is Cullen with American Bonsai. Thanks for the discussion about our products, I hope its ok with the forum admin that I chime.

When I started ABTS, I knew right out of the gate that we would not be able to make everything here in the US. This is not typical for us as I am used to having all processes here in the states. My background is in manufacturing - machining, fabrication, and coatings, primarily of 303/304 stainless steel and 6061-T6 aluminum. All of our processes and materials are of US origins, as well as all product development, engineering, testing, and quality control. So our standard process for manufacturing our products is for it to occur in US, most of it here in Florida.

With bonsai products, there are many overseas manufacturers that have many years of experience. So for components that we cannot cost effectively process here in the US yet, we thoroughly vett the source, the people, the materials, and the processes. That is for products that we do not handle ourselves. About 70% of our product line is currently American-made. Our goal is to have all of our products 100% American-made. It is just a matter of time and resources and we make progress day by day. Ultimately, when we put our name on a product, we want bonsai artists to have a great experience and the best bonsai products available.

We are located in Altamonte Springs, Florida, feel free to give us a ring or stop by.

Again, I hope it is ok to post here as a vendor, still waiting on a response from the forum from a couple weeks ago to get approval.

-Cullen

 

[Stickroot]

Hi everyone, my name is Cullen with American Bonsai. Thanks for the discussion about our products, I hope its ok with the forum admin that I chime.

When I started ABTS, I knew right out of the gate that we would not be able to make everything here in the US. This is not typical for us as I am used to having all processes here in the states. My background is in manufacturing - machining, fabrication, and coatings, primarily of 303/304 stainless steel and 6061-T6 aluminum. All of our processes and materials are of US origins, as well as all product development, engineering, testing, and quality control. So our standard process for manufacturing our products is for it to occur in US, most of it here in Florida.

With bonsai products, there are many overseas manufacturers that have many years of experience. So for components that we cannot cost effectively process here in the US yet, we thoroughly vett the source, the people, the materials, and the processes. That is for products that we do not handle ourselves. About 70% of our product line is currently American-made. Our goal is to have all of our products 100% American-made. It is just a matter of time and resources and we make progress day by day. Ultimately, when we put our name on a product, we want bonsai artists to have a great experience and the best bonsai products available.

We are located in Altamonte Springs, Florida, feel free to give us a ring or stop by.

Again, I hope it is ok to post here as a vendor, still waiting on a response from the forum from a couple weeks ago to get approval.

-Cullen

Hi Cullen,
My name is ADAM, I make tools in
the US also, Mid Mo actually. I will be in Florida this week and would love to come by and visit you and your manufacturing facility!

 

[American Bonsai]

Hi Adam, sweet tools! Keep up the great work and looking forward to meeting you.