Not having an unlimited budget I was planning on getting a set of these cheap eBay tools. My expectation of quality is very low but I was thinking some of the tools (brush, rake, root hook etc) don’t need to be high quality and it will also provide the case for tools that I could slowly replace for better quality ones in the future. Anyone bought these before?
Thanks in advance.
After reading a lot of old posts here, it would seem Kaneshin tools are held in high regard and reasonably priced, so my second thought was maybe grab Kaneshin Shears, Wire Cutter and Concave Cutter and then a cheaper rake tweezers etc. is it fair to assume you don’t need to have high quality Kaneshin Rakes or Root Hooks etc. but it makes more sense to buy the high quality Cutters? Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
- The Munt
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 122
- Joined: February 20th, 2018, 5:30 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus Procumbens
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Bonsai Club: BSOQ
- Location: Brisbane
Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by The Munt on February 22nd, 2018, 1:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It’s all about the new experience!
- Ryceman3
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2642
- Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
- Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1080 times
- Been thanked: 1632 times
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
Yep, makes sense!
Kaneshin scissors and branch cutter (or other quality brand if you prefer) are the crux of your tool set so I say don't skimp on those. The rest... well, I like to complete a set so I bought Kaneshin but you could easily use standard pliers and side cutters etc... No reason not to give them a go anyway, if you find you keep breaking/bending/destroying the cheaper stuff then when it comes time to upgrade maybe go for a better quality. I can recommend Kaneshin - I like them a lot.
Kaneshin scissors and branch cutter (or other quality brand if you prefer) are the crux of your tool set so I say don't skimp on those. The rest... well, I like to complete a set so I bought Kaneshin but you could easily use standard pliers and side cutters etc... No reason not to give them a go anyway, if you find you keep breaking/bending/destroying the cheaper stuff then when it comes time to upgrade maybe go for a better quality. I can recommend Kaneshin - I like them a lot.
"NO CUTS, NO GLORY"
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
- melbrackstone
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 3478
- Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
- Favorite Species: the ones that live
- Bonsai Age: 28
- Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
- Location: Brisbane
- Has thanked: 1222 times
- Been thanked: 743 times
- Contact:
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
you don't *need* a rake or root hook if you have some spare forks and a pair of pliers...
- The Munt
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 122
- Joined: February 20th, 2018, 5:30 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus Procumbens
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Bonsai Club: BSOQ
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
Yeah cool I figured as much. Thanks for confirming.Ryceman3 wrote:Yep, makes sense!
Kaneshin scissors and branch cutter (or other quality brand if you prefer) are the crux of your tool set so I say don't skimp on those. The rest... well, I like to complete a set so I bought Kaneshin but you could easily use standard pliers and side cutters etc... No reason not to give them a go anyway, if you find you keep breaking/bending/destroying the cheaper stuff then when it comes time to upgrade maybe go for a better quality. I can recommend Kaneshin - I like them a lot.
I’ve never used either but common sense told me those tools might be less important especially when it comes quality of the steel. Thanks for confirming!melbrackstone wrote:you don't *need* a rake or root hook if you have some spare forks and a pair of pliers...
Cheers
Dan
It’s all about the new experience!
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 7706
- Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
- Favorite Species: trident maple
- Bonsai Age: 41
- Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
- Location: Yackandandah
- Has thanked: 68 times
- Been thanked: 1455 times
- Contact:
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
At $64 I think it would probably be worth getting that set.
There are some tools in it that you won't use very often so quality should not be an issue.
I use that style of root hook (single tine) all the time and it should work fine even if the steel is not tool grade. A bent rod will do just as well.
If you keep the scissors, shears and root shears sharp they should also be serviceable for quite a few years. Branch cutters are my key tool. If/when the ones in your set are not performing well you can replace them with a quality pair and gradually replace the shears and scissors as you find the need.
There are some tools in it that you won't use very often so quality should not be an issue.
I use that style of root hook (single tine) all the time and it should work fine even if the steel is not tool grade. A bent rod will do just as well.
If you keep the scissors, shears and root shears sharp they should also be serviceable for quite a few years. Branch cutters are my key tool. If/when the ones in your set are not performing well you can replace them with a quality pair and gradually replace the shears and scissors as you find the need.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- The Munt
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 122
- Joined: February 20th, 2018, 5:30 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus Procumbens
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Bonsai Club: BSOQ
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
Thanks Shibui, that made up my mind!shibui wrote:At $64 I think it would probably be worth getting that set.
There are some tools in it that you won't use very often so quality should not be an issue.
I use that style of root hook (single tine) all the time and it should work fine even if the steel is not tool grade. A bent rod will do just as well.
If you keep the scissors, shears and root shears sharp they should also be serviceable for quite a few years. Branch cutters are my key tool. If/when the ones in your set are not performing well you can replace them with a quality pair and gradually replace the shears and scissors as you find the need.
It’s all about the new experience!
- DocPep
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 39
- Joined: May 12th, 2016, 6:45 pm
- Favorite Species: Elm, Maple, Fig
- Bonsai Age: 4
- Location: Shoalhaven
- Has thanked: 22 times
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
Mate I bought one of these sets for a Christmas present for myself and agree with Shibui .
They aren’t the greatest quality (obviously) but they’ll give you a good idea of what you need/use the most/ personally like.
As Shibui said I’ll be replacing my preferred/ most used tools with quality as need be.
In saying all that I’ve got a cheap 170mm branch cutter and a small set of long handled shears that I’ve been using for about 4 years and they’re still going strong.
Just my
They aren’t the greatest quality (obviously) but they’ll give you a good idea of what you need/use the most/ personally like.
As Shibui said I’ll be replacing my preferred/ most used tools with quality as need be.
In saying all that I’ve got a cheap 170mm branch cutter and a small set of long handled shears that I’ve been using for about 4 years and they’re still going strong.
Just my
- The Munt
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 122
- Joined: February 20th, 2018, 5:30 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus Procumbens
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Bonsai Club: BSOQ
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Padawan Aquiring First Toolset
Thanks DocPep, just pulled the trigger on that set so we’ll see how we go...
Now to source soil supplies...
Now to source soil supplies...
It’s all about the new experience!