What tools to use when cutting thick branches?

[Pat093]

I have been acquiring more stock to learn from in the last couple of month and some need big thick branches cut.
The problem i face is that my normal bonsai toolkit has nothing that is suitable to cut these branches/trunks?
So i want to ask what tools, power/hand do you guys use?

Pat

[kcpoole]

I have been acquiring more stock to learn from in the last couple of month and some need big thick branches cut.
The problem i face is that my normal bonsai toolkit has nothing that is suitable to cut these branches/trunks?
So i want to ask what tools, power/hand do you guys use?

Pat

I have a foldable pruning saw when the trunks are up to 6 inches or so, and bigger than that, an electric Reciprocating saw

Ken

[alpineart]

Hi Pat,
I use anything with teeth or a blade designed to cut .Handsaw , Powersaw , Chainsaw , Bow saw , axe , pruners , branch loppers , secateurs , the list goes on Supa-Cheap Auto's have an excellent pair of solid stainless steel secateurs and branch trimmers for around $15 i have numerous pairs as i for get where i leave them .Being stainless they won't rust so i find them laying usually where i last had them , out in the garden somewhere .

Cheers Alpineart

[Jamie]

hi mate,

go down to the "big B" and get yourself a pruning saw, dont go for the cheapest as they dull quickly but the last time I got one, I spet round 25 bucks and it hooks in hard and gets through thick hard trees quickly. if it is for a bonsai that is more refined with a branch that is just to big or the trunk to thick you can get a saw called a key hole pruning saw, the blade is thinner, but sturdy and is perfect for this. most good bonsai nurseries will carry them

[Hornet]

Hi Pat,
I use anything with teeth or a blade designed to cut .Handsaw , Powersaw , Chainsaw , Bow saw , axe , pruners , branch loppers , secateurs , the list goes on Supa-Cheap Auto's have an excellent pair of solid stainless steel secateurs and branch trimmers for around $15 i have numerous pairs as i for get where i leave them .Being stainless they won't rust so i find them laying usually where i last had them , out in the garden somewhere .

Cheers Alpineart

Sounds like me mate, constantly losing my secateurs, find them in the car, in the kitchen, in the yard, half the time its where my son decided to put them lol.

Any atm the moment i cant afford propper bonsai tools so for all my pruning i use secateurs, if i collect stocks thats a little too large for that i just hit it with the curcular saw

[Jow]

Large cuts are best made with a saw initially and then cleaned up with concave cutters etc. followed by a sharp knife. Clean cuts made by sharp tools heal fastest.

[Pat093]

thanks heaps for the input guys
ill save some penneys

Pat