Mid tier tools

[ConorDash]

Hello,

I've been reading a few threads on tools, brands. I've heard the kaneshin are some of, or the best, there's also American bonsai and tian, that I have seen.
It is looking to me that Tian may be my best bet for picking up just a couple of the more heavily used tools, long scissors, wire cutters, as an upgrade from my large tool set I first bought.
My first set of tools are hardly terrible, everything still fine with them. They are uncomfortable to use and don't have a very quality cut to them, but usable. I'm in no rush, but it's nice to use nice tools.
Some examples of what I'm looking at:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...5-mm-8-Stainess-Steel/1013114_1521979334.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...00-mm-8-Blacksmithing/1013114_1543726567.html

These are still pretty cheap.. free shipping. Takes a LONG time to arrive though..

Anyways, I digress, would any of you speak to their quality or would you have a better brand of mid tier tools?
I have to bear in mind, I'm in England, for availability.

 

[Dalmat]

I'm in England, for availability.

Now I have to show you what grows in your garden, lol
http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/bonsai-tools/basic-bonsai-tools

I got these couple weeks ago , beautiful
http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/bonsai-branch-cutter-curved-cardon-steel-bonsai-tools

 

[sorce]

That's kinda cheap cheap for SS...

Which...

Unless you plan on salting them and leaving them out constantly, I wouldn't get anyway.

Go Kaneshin. They'll ship to you.

I still use 6 different pair of cuticle cutters more than anything.

And regular fiskars pruners.

And a cheap wood carving kit.

Sorce

 

[LanceMac10]

That's kinda cheap cheap for SS...

Which...

Unless you plan on salting them and leaving them out constantly, I wouldn't get anyway.

Go Kaneshin. They'll ship to you.

I still use 6 different pair of cuticle cutters more than anything.

And regular fiskars pruners.

And a cheap wood carving kit.

Sorce

Who be the dude on here that has the "CRAZY" deals on Kaneshin? But if @sorce is ordering from the factory, well, how hard could it be?

I've got a bunch of Yoshiaki tools, but not sure if they are still made or just marketed under a different name. Plenty of folks here have said good things about Kaneshin, and @sorce too....so tread lightly.....

 

[BobbyLane]

Bought these recently on ebayUK
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162097983890?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Ryuga...067701?hash=item2374d67775:g:ll8AAOxygPtS4VVw

my first set of tools was a multi set with everything you need from kaizen. i still use some bits from the kaizen multi set but replaced nearly all with ryuga tools from ebay sellers.

i would recommend a cheap multi set to get you going. use them properly and they'll last a very long time. down the line, you can replace bit by bit with nice, quality tools.

 

[ConorDash]

Now I have to show you what grows in your garden, lol
http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/bonsai-tools/basic-bonsai-tools

I got these couple weeks ago , beautiful
http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/bonsai-branch-cutter-curved-cardon-steel-bonsai-tools

Those carbon steel cutters look good.. but the first one is same as what I have. I didn't find them to be anything great and that main bolt you can see, is very rough on both sides. If sliding in to a tool kit, it scratches badly, it's really rough!

Cos kaizen don't have brand names, I didn't think much of them. Are the carbon steel versions of their tools good then?

 

[ConorDash]

That's kinda cheap cheap for SS...

Which...

Unless you plan on salting them and leaving them out constantly, I wouldn't get anyway.

Go Kaneshin. They'll ship to you.

I still use 6 different pair of cuticle cutters more than anything.

And regular fiskars pruners.

And a cheap wood carving kit.

Sorce

I'll check them out more then.. but they looked too expensive for my current experience level! I'll look closer, thank you .
What's SS stand for?
The last group of people to use that abbreviation didn't last long... Germans..

 

[ConorDash]

Bought these recently on ebayUK
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162097983890?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Ryuga...067701?hash=item2374d67775:g:ll8AAOxygPtS4VVw

my first set of tools was a multi set with everything you need from kaizen. i still use some bits from the kaizen multi set but replaced nearly all with ryuga tools from ebay sellers.

i would recommend a cheap multi set to get you going. use them properly and they'll last a very long time.

Yeh my first set and current set was a 20 piece online. Pretty cheap but does the job. I did just start after all, so didn't wanna invest yet . Now I'm looking to a bit.

Ah the Ryuga are a pretty popular brand. Would you recommend them? Cos I can look elsewhere for them, amazon etc.

Thanks for all the fast replies guys. I must have caught you all at a good time!

 

[sorce]

Stainless Steel!

That price for SS makes me think they're painted plastic!
If not, they won't hold an edge.

Are you going to buy shit tools this year...
Then when you get a little more experience, buy the next step up, so on and so on until.....

Realize quality now!

Sorce

 

[BobbyLane]

Yeh my first set and current set was a 20 piece online. Pretty cheap but does the job. I did just start after all, so didn't wanna invest yet . Now I'm looking to a bit.

Ah the Ryuga are a pretty popular brand. Would you recommend them? Cos I can look elsewhere for them, amazon etc.

Thanks for all the fast replies guys. I must have caught you all at a good time!

if it aint broke, no need to fix. if you have money to burn, i'd suggest buying more trees. at your level, there really is no need for tool upgrading. buy more trees and work on them

 

[Dalmat]

Are the carbon steel versions of their tools good then?

Yes, but they are from superior group of tools not basic.

 

[Cattwooduk]

I still use 6 different pair of cuticle cutters more than anything.

And regular fiskars pruners.

Sorce

Most of my day to day gardening stuff I use for work is Fiskars, love em! After using only my bonsai tools for all the stuff I did on my maple earlier, especially the bigger cuts I should have just used my secateurs but I wanted to do it 'properly', I think some of the cuts were actually more messy than if I'd used the Fiskars.

@ConorDash by the sounds of it you're using the same starting tools I'm using at the moment, they seem OK but it does seem to heavily depend on the wood which I guess is logical. The fixing bolt does indeed scratch and catch on the leather tool case I got for christmas!

SS is stainless steel.

 

[ConorDash]

if it aint broke, no need to fix. if you have money to burn, i'd suggest buying more trees. at your level, there really is no need for tool upgrading. buy more trees and work on them

Why do you have to be the sensible one? Lol.
I do agree.. it's just, for the cost of 1 or 2 tools, it's nice to use good quality that by no means breaks the bank. Also it's my birthday on 13th and I'm literally just telling some people they can buy a few tools.. mega exciting, I know lol.

Stainless Steel!

That price for SS makes me think they're painted plastic!
If not, they won't hold an edge.

Are you going to buy shit tools this year...
Then when you get a little more experience, buy the next step up, so on and so on until.....

Realize quality now!

Sorce

Ah gotcha. Yeah it's true, the price did seem too good but that site I first quoted seems pretty official? Doesn't look like it's faking things to people.
I understand... realise quality now.. but I just looked at Kaneshin... holy crap man! There's no way I can pay that for single tools right now lol. Sorry, maybe one day.. but that's just too expensive at the moment.. £80-100 for 1 tool.. I'd love one but I can't justify it at the moment.

 

[LanceMac10]

Super important to use the right tool/size of tool when working your trees. You'll spare your tools undue wear and your cuts will be cleaner/easier to clean.

Leather? It won't stay pretty long!!

 

[sorce]

Just don't buy the Silver surfer ones!

Bobby's right though.

Until recently, most of my stuff was small, and the Damn cuticle cutters.

She breaks the spring, and I bet to keep em!
Doesn't matter which kind.
I found the ones on the left at a baseball game!

Sorce

 

[Rob_phillips]

Ive brought quite a few ryuga tools and can speak for there quality. The scissors are sharp and seem to keep there edge well so are of good quality steel. I only purchased the stainless steel tools not the carbon ones. I got mine from amazon and at greenwood bonsai nursey when i visit. I recommend the bud pruning sissors they make and the long handle sissors.
And best of all they wont break the bank.

 

[M. Frary]

buy more trees

I totally agree.
I used bypass cutters and garden scissors for years.

 

[M. Frary]

Super important to use the right tool/size of tool

That's what she said.

 

[sorce]

That's what she said.

Some people keep 2 sets of tools....

One for the top, one for the bottom!

Whore!

Sorce

 

[M. Frary]

Whore

She is!
Or she wouldn't say such things.