Which type of scissors do you use?

[BobbyLane]

i have all the tools, but these are what i use consistently


i will never buy another bonsai specific tool though.

 

[Clicio]

... wire cutter. I have purchased the cheaper one, carbon steel (not stainless), and it misaligned when trying to cut a high gauge copper wire. So, good quality of the steel matters.

So I have bought this one below:


BTW, trying a forgotten (lost in the toolbox) hair scissors to defoliate some deciduous in the Summer they are sharp!

 

[TN_Jim]

Picked up a pair of these at work and have really been digging them. They’re comfortable, locking mechanism is great, nice spring action, very user friendly -have been going in back pocket every day when I get home to water. Also, they’re so cheap I don’t mind occasionally really putting them through some work they’re probably not made for..

https://www.amazon.com/Dramm-18025-Stainless-Steel-Compact/dp/B002WGINPY/ref=asc_df_B002WGINPY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193150648923&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7252097143985636640&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013192&hvtargid=pla-312112918036&psc=1&language=en_US

 

[penumbra]

Picked up a pair of these at work and have really been digging them. They’re comfortable, locking mechanism is great, nice spring action, very user friendly -have been going in back pocket every day when I get home to water. Also, they’re so cheap I don’t mind occasionally really putting them through some work they’re probably not made for..

https://www.amazon.com/Dramm-18025-Stainless-Steel-Compact/dp/B002WGINPY/ref=asc_df_B002WGINPY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193150648923&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7252097143985636640&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013192&hvtargid=pla-312112918036&psc=1&language=en_US

View attachment 317062

These are great. I have one in my car, one in my truck, one in my office and one goes with me when I water.

 

[River's Edge]

What are you calling a ball cutter? This term is new to me. I use concave cutters all the time, large and small, long and short.

This is what I refer to as ball cutters! Hope the picture helps.

 

[penumbra]

This is what I refer to as ball cutters! Hope the picture helps. View attachment 317093

OK, thanks, I call it a knob cutter. I use one fairly often but not as often as my concave cutter. Like I said, its two different animals.

 

[River's Edge]

if i misplace the silver ones, often the stand in ones will do a similar job at pruning thinner deciduous branching. sharp garden secateurs are great too and another of my go to tools.


has anyone ever watched Ryan pruning on the live streams, often he'll just use the same electrical wire cutters to clip a wired branch as he would when pruning an unwired branch. he rarely switches to a specific pair of bonsai pruning scissors. not saying he doesnt use them though, but non specific tools are just as effective on many occasions.

i tried this for myself.
i bought a pair of £5 electrical wire cutters on ebay and used them to prune wired branches along with finer wireless twigs and they worked fine. clean smooth cuts.

i wondered to myself why Ryan wasnt switching back to the bonsai scissors, its because the wire cutters were doing as good a job.
then i saw Peter warren using a small electrical wire cutter to prune a maple on one of the mirai streams and i went n bought one. cheap as peanuts.

Agreed, they work really well especially when wiring and not wanting to switch. They hang on a pinky while wiring and are always ready!
The ones I use are called FLART wire cutters.

 

[River's Edge]

OK, thanks, I call it a knob cutter. I use one fairly often but not as often as my concave cutter. Like I said, its two different animals.

Agreed, the cutting action is very different the way the blades meet and they leave a different shape in their wake! The concave definitely give a different angle of approach from the other style!

 

[TN_Jim]

I thought the op was asking about scissors...



it got weird..



t

 

[canoeguide]

If we're talking just scissors, these (or others just like them) meet most of my needs and are inexpensive.

Bonsai & All Purpose Scissors

These light weight shears would be a good deal at twice the price. They are sharp, easy to use and good for a range of tasks. Keep a couple in your kitchen drawer, on your bonsai bench and in your office. You can even trim your hair and beard with them. 8" (20cm).

stonelantern.com

For something a little more delicate, stainless surgical scissors are also very affordable.

 

[NickUK]

That's a small root cutter, and I use it a lot by the end of winter/beginning of spring to repot all shohin.

Ah OK - Do I see a lot of people using scissors like that for general pruning (on YouTube?) - Going back to the original question, I was just wondering if it came down to personal preference between that, and the thinner pruning shears?

Just to make it easier.... These are the 2 I'm comparing.....

[KANESHIN of bonsai tool]Bonsai Scissors Large (KANESHIN) " Length 205mm" No.36A

And

[KANESHIN of bonsai tool]Bonsai Trimming Scissors Large - Blue steel - (KANESHIN) " Length 180mm "No.35D

Obviously you can cut thicker material with the top scissors, but I also see a lot of people using them for general pruning of leaves and small branches as well (something the bottom scissors would also do).

I guess if you already had some "traditional" scissors such as.... https://kaneshin.shop2.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_771.html

Would you need the top pair of scissors?

 

[Clicio]

I don't mix root scissors with leaf scissors.
I use a long one to prune thick, dense or thorny foliage.
I use a short one for small, delicate or sparse foliage.
Make it simple.

 

[River's Edge]

Ah OK - Do I see a lot of people using scissors like that for general pruning (on YouTube?) - Going back to the original question, I was just wondering if it came down to personal preference between that, and the thinner pruning shears?

Just to make it easier.... These are the 2 I'm comparing.....

[KANESHIN of bonsai tool]Bonsai Scissors Large (KANESHIN) " Length 205mm" No.36A

And

[KANESHIN of bonsai tool]Bonsai Trimming Scissors Large - Blue steel - (KANESHIN) " Length 180mm "No.35D

Obviously you can cut thicker material with the top scissors, but I also see a lot of people using them for general pruning of leaves and small branches as well (something the bottom scissors would also do).

I guess if you already had some "traditional" scissors such as.... https://kaneshin.shop2.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_771.html

Would you need the top pair of scissors?

If you wish dedicated pruning scissors then two pair is desirable!
I do not mix root scissors with pruning tasks.
keep in mind that one can do the job with almost any type if they are strong enough and kept sharp! It is difficult to keep root scissors from nicking with substrate when working, therefore difficult to maintain a sharp clean edge for pruning!
Last point!
If working with deeper structure, larger canopy. Choose the longer scissor for easier access. If they have an equally slim profile.
If you work primarily with smaller bonsai than the shorter length is a better choice.

 

[Clicio]

I don't mix root scissors with leaf scissors.
I use a long one to prune thick, dense or thorny foliage.
I use a short one for small, delicate or sparse foliage.

Ah, hehehehe this is great, me and Frank gave the same advice with different words!

I do not mix root scissors with pruning tasks.
If working with deeper structure, larger canopy. Choose the longer scissor for easier access. If they have an equally slim profile.
If you work primarily with smaller bonsai than the shorter length is a better choice.

@River's Edge thanks for confirming their use!

 

[Arlithrien]

If you want to feel fancy while staying cheap, harbor freight sells bonsai shears for $1.99. They are made of only the lowest quality chinesium and I had to wrap the handles in electrical tape to stop them from hurting my hands every time I snip a branch, but they work.

 

[Clicio]

If you want to feel fancy while staying cheap, harbor freight sells bonsai shears for $1.99. They are made of only the lowest quality chinesium and I had to wrap the handles in electrical tape to stop them from hurting my hands every time I snip a branch, but they work.

Is it worth it?
Nope.