What tools to get.

[bonsaeen]

Guys,

At the time I only have one bud shear and no other tool. I want to repot a Fig this Saturday and need to wire a juniper. What tools do you suggest i get initially. Also any particular brand and place where to buy these from?

Thanks

P.S I can find most information online but I want an option as can't afford to buy all tools right now so just want to get the ones this community members think are essential.

[Jarad]

Do you want your first tools to be cheaper tools for you to practice with or do you want to go straight to the top shelf stuff?

[bonsaeen]

Ideally something inexpensive that would at least last me a couple of years and during that time i can get better ones. But by all means please do share your opinion on both so i have a reference for future. Thanks

[shibui]

Branch cutter is the only tool that you cannot substitute something else for. It has curved blades to cut close to the trunk.
For repotting you will need root shears. Good bonsai shears are made for the job, last a long time and are comfortable to use but for a start you can use floral snips or cheap secateurs to cut through roots and potting mix.
A root rake will help with repotting. Some prefer the little 3 or 4 tined bonsai root rakes. I prefer to use a single tined hoof pick (check the horse shops) which I find more comfortable and more effective.
I also use the bonsai wire cutters a lot. They have better blades that cut right to the tip and can cut wire that is tight against a branch.

Other tools can wait until you are doing more advanced work.

You can buy cheap Chinese bonsai tools. Many are very poor quality. You can also buy better Chinese made bonsai tools. The best bonsai tools are still made in Japan and even though the initial cost may seem high they will last your lifetime if you look after them. Kaneshin, Masakuni and Kikuwa all make excellent tools for bonsai.
You can choose between black steel or shiny stainless steel tools. Stainless is generally a bit dearer but will not rust however they are harder to sharpen.

Local bonsai nurseries will have stock to look at - Orient Bonsai in the north, Bonsai sensation, Bonsai Art and Collectors Corner further south and East. One of our members ordered straight from Kaneshin website and received the order only a few days later so he is very impressed with the service they offer.

[Raymond]

I use the KANESHIN website mate. Paypal invoice converted from Japanese Yen to Aussie dollars, 4 days to deliver from Japan to South west of WA. Had an issue with one set of cutters i purchased, they sent me a replacement set EXPRESS post from Japan and said not to worry about returning the other set... I only buy my tools from them now.

[Jarad]

Kaneshin all the way!

[Max]

Guys,

At the time I only have one bud shear and no other tool. I want to repot a Fig this Saturday and need to wire a juniper. What tools do you suggest i get initially. Also any particular brand and place where to buy these from?

Thanks

P.S I can find most information online but I want an option as can't afford to buy all tools right now so just want to get the ones this community members think are essential.

Hi mate. I'm in the much the same boat, my brother took me to Bunnings and bought me a knob cutter and concave cutters, took me an hour of opening and closing to loosen them up, then i held the concave cutters up and light was showing through the blades, took me another hour with a whet stone...but hey....does the job now...i didn't expect magic for 15 bucks...now i have to save up for,fertilizer,water can,pots,wire,books,soil etc etc

[bonsaeen]

Yea even though I have not spent a fortune but almost $300 so far and i have just started. I am even willing to sell my PS4 which i bought 3 months ago so I can get proper tools. There is something about trees that i just cant explain but i luv em lol

[kcpoole]

Get to a local bonsai nursery and have a look at what they have in entry level tools. (support you local store first )
Ray Nesci in Sydney sells a starter kit of chines tools of Shears, Scissor, Rake, Branch cutters in a cloth Wrap for only not much more than a $100 Bucks. If any can give his current price then jump in.
I still am using mine after 14+years and only have replaced the scissors with a good pair a few years ago. I have added to it over the years as i need different tools, but still use the origia root shears and branch cutter.

You can go overboard and spend heaps, but just starting out you do not have to.

Ken

[bonsaeen]

Thanks all. So I think I will go to orient nursery as I bought the shearer from there and took one class as well. I will go with these cheap ones for now and hopefully get the Kaneshin in the next 6 months or so. thanks again.

[Graeme]

If you are planning on updating your tool/s in 6 months anyhow, why not wait till then and save a few bucks? For now nip down to the Big Green Shed and get yourself a pair of flower bud secateurs, at least I think that's what they're called. They're a light weight long nosed pair of secateurs, used in the florist industry mainly. Cheap as chips, will cut fine branches right up to 5-10mm thick ones. Sharp enough to cut roots cleanly. Then nip up to the tool store department and buy yourself a cheap pair of side cutter pliers to handle the wire side. Off to the local Chinese take away for a snack, sticking the chopsticks in your pocket and you are away with the completest tool kit you need for the time being. Then as time goes by and you find you are both hooked and indeed really enjoy this hobby, buy yourself a pair of branch cutters, pair of root shears, wire cutters, fine nose scissors, knob cutter, large branch cutters, root rake. Now you have the basic tool kit, you can start replacing each of them with stainless steel tools, plus get another couple of different size branch cutters, different size scissors, different size knob cutters, a branch splitter, a root rake, still with me? Now you need a new SUV to carry the tools in plus a covered trailer to tow trees around in. Then sell the SUV and trailer to buy a Van, better make it a big van. By then someone will have introduced you to carving. Now you will need .......................................

(by the way, the above is based on a true story, but names are not mentioned to protect the Hero of the story )

[Max]

If you are planning on updating your tool/s in 6 months anyhow, why not wait till then and save a few bucks? For now nip down to the Big Green Shed and get yourself a pair of flower bud secateurs, at least I think that's what they're called. They're a light weight long nosed pair of secateurs, used in the florist industry mainly. Cheap as chips, will cut fine branches right up to 5-10mm thick ones. Sharp enough to cut roots cleanly. Then nip up to the tool store department and buy yourself a cheap pair of side cutter pliers to handle the wire side. Off to the local Chinese take away for a snack, sticking the chopsticks in your pocket and you are away with the completest tool kit you need for the time being. Then as time goes by and you find you are both hooked and indeed really enjoy this hobby, buy yourself a pair of branch cutters, pair of root shears, wire cutters, fine nose scissors, knob cutter, large branch cutters, root rake. Now you have the basic tool kit, you can start replacing each of them with stainless steel tools, plus get another couple of different size branch cutters, different size scissors, different size knob cutters, a branch splitter, a root rake, still with me? Now you need a new SUV to carry the tools in plus a covered trailer to tow trees around in. Then sell the SUV and trailer to buy a Van, better make it a big van. By then someone will have introduced you to carving. Now you will need .......................................

(by the way, the above is based on a true story, but names are not mentioned to protect the Hero of the story )

Classic

[KIRKY]