abqjoe
Chumono
I'm looking for a decent quality used SS Bonsai tool set for a price I can live with
Thanks!
Thanks!
Bonsai tool set.
- Thread starter abqjoe
- Start date
DougB
Chumono
Abqjoe you are better off just buying the individual tools. Most of a set you will never use. First you should have your fingers. 2ndly you need some good bamboo chop sticks. 3rdly you need a good pair of scissors. My preference are the ARS (Always Really Sharp) scissors #380. Then you need a good pair of concave cutters. With these you can get started with new tools for very little money.
Also members of your local club, you do belong don't you, often have tools that they will give to new comers to help them along.
Also members of your local club, you do belong don't you, often have tools that they will give to new comers to help them along.
jeanluc83
Omono
Why stainless and why used?
Stone lantern has a decent looking beginner set that would be great to get someone started. It is not stainless but it looks like a good value.
http://www.stonelantern.com/Beginners_4_piece_Bonsai_Tree_Tool_Set_p/tkba4-v.htm
I've never fallen for the whole stainless thing anyway. They are pretty but give me a good set of carbon steel tools any day.
Stone lantern has a decent looking beginner set that would be great to get someone started. It is not stainless but it looks like a good value.
http://www.stonelantern.com/Beginners_4_piece_Bonsai_Tree_Tool_Set_p/tkba4-v.htm
I've never fallen for the whole stainless thing anyway. They are pretty but give me a good set of carbon steel tools any day.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Avoid Stone Lantern tools. I have tried several, which resulted in refunds from Wayne (owner) and exchanges with Robert (3rd party vendor) regarding quality; including one tool that was substantially different than depicted in photos.
@abqjoe start with a good pair of shears; ARS is fine, and 8" concave cutter and 8" wire cutters. Brands I have used for years and recommend include Kiku, Masakuni, Kaneshin. Fwiw, I like my black steel tools better than SS; they cut better, and are easier to hold onto. I've been using my black Kiku wire cutters continuously since 1994.
CuriousLayman
Sapling
I bought a cheap beginner set on Amazon and didn't get much use at all before my concave cutters wouldn't close correctly. I ordered concave cutter and the slim shears from American Bonsai (their tools are stainless) and they feel really nice. The work well, but I have very little use on them and I'm a beginner so...
Tieball
Masterpiece
I've bought some specific use tools from American Bonsai. I think American Bonsai has outstanding stainless steel tools....and the owners really know their tool manufacturing...their product development is precise...and functional...and stand behind their tools. They also have the coolest soil pick that is stainless steel, radius rounded at the tip, turned and balanced....once held you won't want to give it up.
Unless you can see, examine and try a used tool I'd stay away and buy individual quality tools....the tools that you really need. I've not seen used stainless steel bonsai tools...but I also have not looked for them. There may be a tool-function problem if inexpensive.
Unless you can see, examine and try a used tool I'd stay away and buy individual quality tools....the tools that you really need. I've not seen used stainless steel bonsai tools...but I also have not looked for them. There may be a tool-function problem if inexpensive.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I would also avoid sets. Buy individual tools of the ones you can't substitute such as concave cutters, knob cutters etc. Ive found that almost everything else can be substituted with cheaper tools from Home Depot.
YukiShiro
Chumono
Because the carbon content in stainless steel alloys are rather low compared to carbon steel it does not keep an edge as well as carbon steel, there are new stainless, semi-stainless steel alloys out there these days that have a nice carbon content that will hold an edge better, but I do not know if the tool manufacturers use these.
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Remember concave pruners are used for cutting twigs no thicker than matchsticks or toothpicks and your concave will last.
Masakuni and Murata wrote a book on Bonsai tool care/use please read - library or Amazon.
See William Valavanis [ Google ] for tools.
Good Day
Anthony
Masakuni and Murata wrote a book on Bonsai tool care/use please read - library or Amazon.
See William Valavanis [ Google ] for tools.
Good Day
Anthony
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
armetisius
Chumono
Amen! Bought a set last year.
Concave/knob cutters -- okay; got 5 pairs of scissors I will probably never use.
And anything smaller than half the diameter of a pencil gets manicure/pedicure
clipper treatment anyway. The pliers/wire cutter type are quick, easy, and cheap.
Sorry but I find those "scissors" cumbersome to my hand and a bit awkward to
get into some "tight" spots. Nail clippers--not so much.
Much of anything larger can be handled with my 10 buck pair of Fiskars.
Something really big?
That is what they make coping saws for.
Live and learn.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Amen @Anthony ...
Here's why I like Kaneshin....
That is 2 screen shots of this page....
And there is much more information between those 2 pieces!
It couldn't be simpler to order.
All I did was send an email with the products I wanted, and the method of shipping.
I was given a American $ price which was accurate.
Used a PayPal link, which was also easy, even though I can't set up my own account at PayPal to do anything else!
I got a free gift of some fert baskets.
(I think due to my sweet talk, this doesn't always happen)
Couldn't be happier....or more informed.
Endostory!
I will never order anywhere else.
Sorce
Here's why I like Kaneshin....
That is 2 screen shots of this page....
And there is much more information between those 2 pieces!
It couldn't be simpler to order.
All I did was send an email with the products I wanted, and the method of shipping.
I was given a American $ price which was accurate.
Used a PayPal link, which was also easy, even though I can't set up my own account at PayPal to do anything else!
I got a free gift of some fert baskets.
(I think due to my sweet talk, this doesn't always happen)
Couldn't be happier....or more informed.
Endostory!
I will never order anywhere else.
Sorce
hemmy
Omono
I'll put in a plug in for the black Fujiyama cutters. As a beginner, I bought a rounded concave cutter and a knob cutter in 2009 and they are both still my primary tools with great edges (even after cutting branches way larger than toothpicks, whoops?). I clean up all my cuts with a sharp knife, but the tools are still sharp enough to cut me while cleaning them occasionally.
http://www.dallasbonsai.com/tools/traditional/concave-cutters.html
http://www.dallasbonsai.com/tools/traditional/concave-cutters.html
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I'm looking for a decent quality used SS Bonsai tool set for a price I can live with
For Heaven's sake, why? Used tools are crap and mostly used up or abused. Drop a stainless steel tool and you can wind up with a pretty screwed up stainless steel tool. There really are no "decent quality SS" tools, as those are usually sold at a premium because they're flashy. They're mostly not any better at their jobs. I've used the black and stainless. No noticeable difference except in stainless' tendency to chip more easily.
and why a set? Completely unnecessary expense. Buy one quality tool at a time, over time. With a set, as has been said, you're flushing $$ down the drain, as you're probably buying stuff you will never use. The most-used specialty tool in bonsai is the concave cutter. All the others can mostly be replicated with "normal" tools, like scissors, pliers, wire cutters, etc. Until you actually learn WHAT tools you actually need, spending money on a set it silly.
BTW, I've got the Masakuni/Murata tool book. Ain't all that. Don't waste your $.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Eh....crap.
I need to find info in how to sharpen bonsai tool. Can't find that info anywhere
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Don't know if you've seen these:
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/sharpen.htm
These are the most credible I found online. There are some other vids, but there are a lot of people who look like they have no idea WTF they're doing.
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/sharpen.htm
Jonas is selling a nice starter set on his web page:
https://store.bonsaitonight.com/
Not the cheapest set you'll find, but good quality tools that will last a lifetime.
https://store.bonsaitonight.com/
Not the cheapest set you'll find, but good quality tools that will last a lifetime.
abqjoe
Chumono
First off I would like to thank everyone for their input on this! Secondly, I like the logic of buying 1 quality tool at a time as the need arises. Thanks again!
jeanluc83
Omono
... and if you put them in a display case and never use them they will last even longer. The entire point of concave cutters is so that the branch heals flush. Matchstick branches will heal flush anyway because they are so small to begin with.
I got a very cheep set of tools years ago when I first started bonsai. The set was about $35 for 6 tools but they have held up fairly well. I have replaced almost all of them over the years but they got me started. Now they have been relegated to root work.
I have had good luck with Yoshiaki tools. The quality seems good and the price is reasonable. http://www.adamsbonsai.com/adamsbonsi2013_009.htm
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Jean Luc,
I will take a re-read at Masakuni/Murata's book, but I am not sure if there is anything about concave cutting and wounds.
Just that it's use is for twigs and the thickness it can handle.
What we discovered is, as you get more familiar with a tree type , the main tool is just a pair of small scissors.
Planned designs, and constant care with clip and grow, doesn't need large or dramatic cuts.
Most of that heavy tool use is for yammadori or forgetting to mind the trees as they grow.
Those Masakuni tools are just basic drop forged iron and as usual when demand grows, so too does greed for $$$$$$$$$$$.,
Still using the smaller concave pruners from Masakuni, via Mr, Valavanis [ bought 1983 or so ]
Khaimraj purchased a few more for about $12.00 US plus shipping from Amazon [ Chinese made larger size ]
Still waiting to have to use them.
We also discovered that some trees heal and others don't, and some don't have to as the wood is hard and toxic [ when mature ]
Those that don't heal, often have other ways to handle damage, you just have to observe and use the information.
Plus on seedlings going into a design, the cuts remain small.
So for example, the Sageretia, doesn't heal anything over this size - [ ] and so you plan for it or play Chinese and philosophize about
life and death struggles as your shrub decays away.
Can anyone say - wood hardener.
Good Day
Anthony
I will take a re-read at Masakuni/Murata's book, but I am not sure if there is anything about concave cutting and wounds.
Just that it's use is for twigs and the thickness it can handle.
What we discovered is, as you get more familiar with a tree type , the main tool is just a pair of small scissors.
Planned designs, and constant care with clip and grow, doesn't need large or dramatic cuts.
Most of that heavy tool use is for yammadori or forgetting to mind the trees as they grow.
Those Masakuni tools are just basic drop forged iron and as usual when demand grows, so too does greed for $$$$$$$$$$$.,
Still using the smaller concave pruners from Masakuni, via Mr, Valavanis [ bought 1983 or so ]
Khaimraj purchased a few more for about $12.00 US plus shipping from Amazon [ Chinese made larger size ]
Still waiting to have to use them.
We also discovered that some trees heal and others don't, and some don't have to as the wood is hard and toxic [ when mature ]
Those that don't heal, often have other ways to handle damage, you just have to observe and use the information.
Plus on seedlings going into a design, the cuts remain small.
So for example, the Sageretia, doesn't heal anything over this size - [ ] and so you plan for it or play Chinese and philosophize about
life and death struggles
as your shrub decays away.Can anyone say - wood hardener.
Good Day
Anthony
