AusBonsai

i am after a strong pair of cutters... i'm starting to work on thicker material and scissors aren't doing the job! anyone in the sydney area know of some quality/budget tools?

You can get cheap secateurs at Bunnings... cheap enough to buy several and throw them away when they dull. An op shop bread knife is good to cut through things like azaleas and privets. A second hand saw can cut through larger roots and save your good saw for areas not around soil. Buying cheap is usually getting cheap but I'm sure you are aware of that. I bought the standard bonsai root cutters from a nursery - cost me about $40 several years ago and they are quite good and have lasted well. Look in $2 shops for heavier cutters that would do the trick.

thanks for that advice. i guess you do get what you pay for... but as you suggested, maybe the $2 shops have some that someone just got rid of in great condition.

I use a Stainless bread kife to cut off the bulk of the roots, and an old pair of Large pruning shears for the deatil work, and then my branch cutters for larger roots which I do individually

Yes, Bunnings. Bunnings currently stock a reasonable quality one that you could find near the checkout counters for $4.

kvan64 wrote:Yes, Bunnings. Bunnings currently stock a reasonable quality one that you could find near the checkout counters for $4.

I don't think they will last past one or two uses been there done that. Get a good pair to start they will last 20 + years.

I have the secateurs, my father had. I have been using them for 34 years swiss made siscars. Still cut well.

Roots must be cut clean to lessen the trauma, and the chance of infection from a jagged wound.

Cheers Pup