Show Us Your- Homemade Bonsai Tools

[Mitchell]

Hi all!

Was out the back, forging some grafting knives and noticed the adjustable branch bender I made several months back. Given that I was making tools then noticed a previous tool I had made, got me to thinking what other tools/equipment AB.com members have made at home for their bonsai needs. I know others have constructed several items, I believe it may have been Bretts post about his branch benders that got me started.

I and I am sure others would like to see what you have made at home, even if you posted it separately before.

I'll start us off, here's my branch bender again. It works as a standard bar bender, the bender provides a fulcrum point, then the handle may be adjusted to avoid branches/increase your leverage on the point. Link and a couple more pics, including the jaws. viewtopic.php?f=96&t=5759&p=67013&hilit ... der#p67013

Anything you made feel free to post.




Disclaimer- Fiskars Australia Inc and Fiskars Group as an entity, neither denies nor confirms the rights to this product. Patents pending.

[Mitchell]

Didn't make these, but manipulated them to suit my bonsai needs. Ok, If it is a normal tool (that you believe) you have enhanced, feel free to post too.

Here is a set of floral fine snips, I applied heat to the handles then shaped them. The grip was straight before, I felt the angle added to the ergonomics whilst also allowing you to look down the blade and observe exactly where the tip is cutting. Many fine cutting bonsai tools due the the handle shape obscure your view of the tip as your hand is in line with it. Just imagine trying to prune out internal branches on a dense bonsai, it's all about being able to view what your cutting. Some will understand I hope.

edit- Here's another shot I found, here I am holding the snips by the dropped handle, notice how you can see straight down un-obscured.

[Damian Bee]

Nice nippers Mitchell. No time to show mine off till later.

[Mitchell]

Thanks Damian!

No one has anything they care to share? C'mon, I'm sure there are many examples of fine Aussie invention out there!

[kcpoole]

Here is a Bender clamp I made to hold a collected Radiata pine

[Mitchell]

Thanks ken! that's exactly what I'm talking about. Cheap effects tools to add us, I believe when you first posted the clamp you mentioned the need for such an items and made it from just materials made around the home. A feet of engineering attached to your bonsai right there, not yanking your chain, I was and am impressed at the angle you achieved.

[aikijooji]

One of the simplest of bonsai tools I made was a root hook. It cost me nothing as I had all the materials lying around in the garage. I used an old tent peg and a piece of wooden dowel as the handle. I sharpened the short end and then bend it back so it was at a right angle with the longer end, then i drilled through a dowel and pushed it through.

Simple and effective.

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[dragon]

hi all
i did the same with a old screw driver i had just put in a vice and bend, handle was already on it so not really much to do and
you can use a small one for small tree,s or a super duper one for large tree,s
cheers dean

[Mitchell]

Great craftmanship aikijooji! That looks amazing. Not only practical, but a nice looking tool as well, would suit any bonsai enthusiasts kit.

Hey Dragon! Care to take a quick pic? Seems not interesting, but some would have never thought of bending a screw driver. Please post a pic if you can.

[dragon]

Great craftmanship aikijooji! That looks amazing. Not only practical, but a nice looking tool as well, would suit any bonsai enthusiasts kit.

Hey Dragon! Care to take a quick pic? Seems not interesting, but some would have never thought of bending a screw driver. Please post a pic if you can.

hi mitchell the only reason i used old screwdrivers was i had alot of old ones in the shed and instead of tossing them out i did the obvious and use them for various bonsai after bendin them and when you dont have the cash to buy you improvise with what you got i will search for them they in shed which is a mess at moment.
cheers dean

[Mitchell]

Thanks mate, I too have done the old screwdriver root hook trick. I also made nice a little gouge for adding jin lines/detail out of bending a metal scribe to right angles.

[mashby]

Hi all
I went back through my memories (a fairly dark and dim place) and remembered that when I first tried attempting to create bonsai, I made a root hook and a rake. Following are the pictures of my first 2 tools:

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I was subsequently given potting tools from an old gentleman who said he used to grow bonsai about 30 years ago. I'm not sure if he made them or not, but they add some interest when I look at all my new correct" bought bonsai tools!

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I'm not sure if I should try and clean them all up or to just preserve them as they are.
Take care everyone.
Happy Losar (Tibetan New Year) to you and your families.
I wish you all health, happiness and love.

[Mitchell]

Happy losar to you too Mashby!

You fork is innovative and those tools given to you are inspirational! Folded steel tips and handle sockets, nicely done all round not easy to role steel like that. Be sure to watch my forge thread as some design elements will be taken from these for further tools of mine forged.


My only concerns are the top items in the first pic, looks like either physical damage (which is fine) or rust corrosion damage.
They are functional as is, though you could sand them and remove rust, then oil. Rust eats away slowly at all steels, so they are slowly getting smaller.

I would be happy to restore them for you free of charge, they would be beautiful sparkling steel again.

[kcpoole]

Thanks ken! that's exactly what I'm talking about. Cheap effects tools to add us, I believe when you first posted the clamp you mentioned the need for such an items and made it from just materials made around the home. A feet of engineering attached to your bonsai right there, not yanking your chain, I was and am impressed at the angle you achieved.

Yeah I was surprised too
After been on a while, I can probably get some more bend out of it now. It is about maybe 130deg bend now but woud like to get even tighter. I will possibly able to do that using turnbuckles at the next potting

Ken

[Steven]

Here is a beauty for the frugal bonsaist by AusBonsai member AnneK. Different sized soil scoops crafted from a plastic jar and a plastic spray bottle.
They worked a treat, are light weight and don't get bent out of shape like the stainless steel ones. Well done AnneK

Soil scoops by AnneK.jpg

Regards,
Steven