Bonsai Tools question

[kvan64]

Hi, I already have a concave cutter. I heard of a brunch cutter and also a knob cutter. I am tempted to buy these two but don't know if they have any more function than the concave cutter which I already have. Could someone explain to me what these different cutters are intended to use for?
Thank you.
DK

[buddaboy]

Kvan, Ill try to help.
The normal Branch Cutter takes a straight cut which can be angled into the wood so as to reduce the scarring.
The Knob Cutter Takes an almost half round chunk out of the wood.
There is also a Concave Branch Cutter which takes a slightly curved cut which is supposed to give a much more natural cut.

There are a lot of Branch Cutters sold on Ebay etc as Concave Branch Cutters. I have both and I prefer the Concave Cutter over the normal Branch Cutter.
Ron

[Jester]

Hi Kvan, look to be honest, I am not up to speed on the nuances of each of these tools. I will tell you what I understand about the subject at the risk of being bombarded by objections on Sunday morning. As far as I know, a knob cutter is the same as a concave cutter. Actually, let's get the terminology right:

You have a spherical knob cutter and a concave branch cutter (So, within the context of your post we are actually only talking about 2 tools, not 3.)

I have always gotten by with a spherical knob cutter but others will tell you that they cannot get by without their concave branch cutter. You say that you already have a concave cutter......well that just means you probably have one of the 2 tools I have mentioned. When you find out which one it is that you have, bear in mind that it is all about angles. If you want to cut a branch, the concave branch cutter is easier to use as the blade is angled and therefore allows for an easier approach. This task is not as easy with a spherical knob cutter but I have always managed. Others will tell you different things here as everyone has their preferences but remember 2 things. The issue here is for you to achieve a good concave cut. Concave cuts heal more cleanly than flat cuts. Secondly, instead of being too preoccupied with the differences between the two tools, remember also that each comes in varying sizes. I have 3 spherical knob cutters, 1 small and 2 medium.

Hope this helps

John

[Jester]

Apologies, was not aware of a normal branch cutter as per Buddaboy's post. Thanks for clarifying Buddaboy

[buddaboy]

Jester, Thats Ok mate.
I started with the standard $60 ish chinese set of Ebay, and have been replacing piece by piece as I need to.
When I heard about the proper Concave Cutter I found about a dozen sellers on Ebay who were selling the straight Branch Cutter as a Concave Cutter. The only guide I could use was actually comparing pics of each . Howerver I was able to finally find one and it deffinatly was worth the price. In the Morning when I get home from work Ill take a pic of all three tools and post them here.
Ron

[kvan64]

Thank you everyone. I'm learning so much here.

[Jarrod]

If you think about the names of the tools for a second it will all become clear in your head. Branch cutters = branch cutting. Knob cutters = knob cutting. So you use a branch cutter to remove long branches, with angle of the blade allowing you to get in close to the tree. And then the knob cutter to take off the knob that you have left.

A concave branch cutter is an emalgamation (sp) of the two which speeds up the process slightly by allowing you to cut a branch off and have a similar finish to the wound as a knob cutter.

Hope this has cleared it up a little?

[kvan64]

If you think about the names of the tools for a second it will all become clear in your head. Branch cutters = branch cutting. Knob cutters = knob cutting. So you use a branch cutter to remove long branches, with angle of the blade allowing you to get in close to the tree. And then the knob cutter to take off the knob that you have left.

A concave branch cutter is an emalgamation (sp) of the two which speeds up the process slightly by allowing you to cut a branch off and have a similar finish to the wound as a knob cutter.

Hope this has cleared it up a little?

Hi Jarrod, this sounds like with the concave cutter, which I already own, I don't need the other two. Uhm, save some money

[Jarrod]

Pretty much though I feel you can do a better job with the two seperately. Definately save your money for trees at the moment, invest in more tools as you grow in the hobby. Most people feel that branch or concave branch cutters are the only tool you need to have that is specially made for bonsai, you can sustitute all other tools, I think if you search this forum you will find a useful post about it.

[buddaboy]

Ok Guys,
It took me a little longer than I thought it would, but Nightshifts can do that to me. These are the three seperate tools I was talking about.

Branch,Concave,Knob Cutters.jpg

Someone with more knowledge than me can probably come up with different names for them, but I have added a picture of the cutting profiles of each tool.

Cutting Profile.jpg

Each tool has a different cut, and I find the Concave branch cutter leaves a much smoother/gentler cut.

Buddaboy ( Ron )

[kvan64]

this is why it said: "a picture is worth a thousand words" in describing something. buddaboy, thanhs a lot for the pics. I've decided to buy a normal branch-cutter to add to my collection as I found it's a bit hard to use my concave cutter to shape the outter bend as I cut the apex and change the leader branch. As for the knob cutter, I believe that I can survive without it at the moment.
Thank you for everyone's input. This definitely helps begginers like me decide what to buy when budget is limitted.

[Pup]

Very well put with the pictures. Remember what you are cutting how deep . Conifers will find a new SAP path quicker than other tree's so if the cut is deep beware.

Dorothy Koreshoff would say the last tool you want is a branch cutter. Agood pair of shears first.

Secateurs will cut your branches just as well as branch cutter's with less damage.
Until you understand the physiology of the tree you are working on, leave a stub to dry out so the upper part does not die.

[kvan64]

Very well put with the pictures. Remember what you are cutting how deep . Conifers will find a new SAP path quicker than other tree's so if the cut is deep beware.

Dorothy Koreshoff would say the last tool you want is a branch cutter. Agood pair of shears first.

Secateurs will cut your branches just as well as branch cutter's with less damage.
Until you understand the physiology of the tree you are working on, leave a stub to dry out so the upper part does not die.

Thanks for your input PUp. I also go a couple of japanese pairs shears and Secateurs. I did quite a few of stump carving recently and found the need for a bigger branch cutter.

[Japh]

Speaking of bonsai tools, I ordered a beginners toolkit recently from Orient Bonsai Nursery on EvilBay.

They arrived yesterday

002b.jpg

[Jordy]

Nice Kit Japh

I plan on attaining:

• Concave Branch Cutter
• Leaf Trimmer or Trimming Shears
• Root Shears

When i visit Island Bonsai soon