AusBonsai

Hi all

OK so i've been rerearching madly and come up with the following list of Carbon steel tools i intend to buy. Although it is time, it's a hefty investment so thought i would get feedback on my selection of tools based on the following.

I'm a traditionalist and also a name brand and quality kind of guy so wanted to stick with good Japanese Corbon Steel. I have an array of Bonsai from seedling to mature but majority would be medium in size (I have a couple larger ones). I'm looking for a set of tools that will stand the test of time (you can assume i will care for them), and will cover me for the majority of work i do. I do plenty of wiring and i'm not scared of cutting, however as my plants mature finer work will be needed.

I have selected the a couple of sizes in a number of tools based on ensuring i can work on my larger trees (approx 60-80cm) without the risk damaging tools, while also being able to do finer work and work on small to mid trees too.

I have predominately selected Kaneshin brand buying them direct from Japan. There is a Kikuwa "root hook" and "small hand saw" but these were chosen as i didnt see the point in paying international freight on those couple of items as they are not carbon steel anyway (buying these from bonsainet.com.au).

The only item i felt i had to defer to what i think is an inferior brand, was for my small wire cutter being Ryuga brand (also getting from bonsainet.com.au) . I really wanted a specific shape scissor style small wire cutter but couldn't find the same shape of scissor in any of the top brands.

So the list of tools is:

Pruning Shears -- Kaneshin No.35D -- Bonsai Trimming Scissors Large - Blue steel - (KANESHIN) " Length 180mm / Weight 300g" (39mm Blade)
Branch Cutter (Concave) -- Kaneshin No.1A -- Bonsai Concave (Branch) cutter Small (KANESHIN) " Length 170mm / Weight 255g" (20mm Blade)
Branch Cutter (Concave) -- Kaneshin No.5 -- Bonsai Concave (Branch) cutter Extra Large (KANESHIN) " Length 270mm / Weight 562g" (30mm Blade)
Knob Cutter (Medium) -- Kaneshin No.10 -- Bonsai Knob / Knuckle cutter Medium (KANESHIN) " Length 175mm / Weight 187g"
Knob Cutter (Large) -- Kaneshin No.11 -- Bonsai Knob / Knuckle cutter Large (KANESHIN) " Length 210mm / Weight 250g" (17mm)
Wire Cutters (Small) -- Ryuga RC-19 -- RYUGA 160mm Wire Cutter Carbon Steel
Wire Cutters (Large) -- Kaneshin No.511 -- Bonsai Wire cutter Large (KANESHIN) " Length 200mm / Weight 260g"
Root Sheers -- Kaneshin No.40F -- Bonsai Scissors large (Kaneshin) - Blue steel - “ length 180mm / Weight 330g” (50mm Blade)
Root Cutter -- Kaneshin No.13A -- Bonsai Root cutter Medium (KANESHIN) " Length 210mm / Weight 370g"
Root Hook -- Kikuwa 2341 -- KIKUWA Single Prong Root Hook 155mm
Rake (Small) -- Kaneshin No.55 -- Bonsai Rake – w/spatula – (KANESHIN) “Length 250mm / Weight 150g”
Pliers -- Kaneshin No.48A -- Bonsai Pliers (KANESHIN) " Length 180mm / Weight 215g"
Jin Chisel -- Kaneshin No.8719 -- Jin Chisel "Length 260mm / Weight 220g"
Tweezer Spatula -- Kaneshin No.59 -- Bonsai tweezers "angle point" (KANESHIN) "Length 215mm / Weight 105g"
Small Hand Saw -- Kikuwa 1452 -- KIKUWA Bonsai Folding Saw 120mm Stainless Steel

Once i receive all the tools i will be looking for a nice new tool roll for storage so any advice on good tool rolls would also be welcomed.

I look forward to peoples feedback, comments, suggestions and general banter.

Thanks in advance

Go to a canvas worker and design what you need It worked for me.

Pup wrote: ↑September 30th, 2019, 12:26 pm Go to a canvas worker and design what you need It worked for me.

Seriously.... Cant' beleive i hadn't thought of that!!

Gee that is one fancy tool kit,worth a fortune,hope you have the trees to suit it,but yes I agree better to buy good tools and you have certainly done that, no good for me with my crappy trees

Kaneshin is on my wish-list - a wee bit in the future, but I'll get them.
I have a few medium trees, and many shohin, so my selection won't be the same; the thing I have found is that not all tools suit everyone. I have a good selection of shears, side cutters, etc., of moderate price range [I won't name them as I'll be replacing them, bad sport to do that...!]; but I find I keep coming back to the 3 or 4 main tools for the bulk of work.

My point being, you seem to be investing a lot in these tools, just make sure you're getting ones you'll actucally use and not buying them just to look good in the toolkit

Fill ya boots WMC; no half measures in your list!

Do you grow azaleas? If so, here's one from left field - and before I go on - I do not have this tool myself but I was reflecting on some advice I received from an experienced azalea grower when I first started in this hobby and he noted that I should take care with concave cutters on azalea (actually he said avoid at all costs or words to that effect ) due to the fine cambium on azaleas, a flush or even convex cut is better. I think he had a Masakuni tool - perhaps it was no.61 crescent blade branch cutter. I can't be sure and hey, it's a pretty specialist tool but given your extensive list, I thought I would point it out.

Also - my favourite tool is Kaneshin 63A Drop Forge Tweezers - yeah what? Weird choice for a favourite tool but it's so versatile (and tough/sturdy)... much heavier than the (59) - which my step-dad has. I pick weeds, I scratch the surface soil of nursery pots to check potential nebari (shhh), I poke soil between roots when repotting, I use the flat end to pat down moss .... I have probably stirred my coffee with it... I just feel 10% better when it's in my pocket wondering around the garden.

Anyway - enjoy the tools when you get 'em and send picks when you've got 'em to make us all envious. Even the Kaneshin packaging is lovely.

Paul W wrote: ↑September 30th, 2019, 5:53 pm Gee that is one fancy tool kit,worth a fortune,hope you have the trees to suit it,but yes I agree better to buy good tools and you have certainly done that, no good for me with my crappy trees

Yeah, it’s certainly a wish list Paul. I have come to the conclusion that if I’m investing enough time (which I do) thinking about, looking at, and caring for bonsai.... it only makes sense to have the right tools rather than just make do.
It’s time to have the tool I need rather than need a tool and not have it as I have done.

Very extensive list... hard to go wrong with Kaneshin.
No branch splitter?
Also, you should be sure to get a CreanMate block from them too (if you don’t already have). Very handy/essential for cleaning off the blades of your cutters etc...
Wanna see pics when the eagle lands!

I have a few odd Kaneshin tools, certainly nothing like this list, but there is no doubting the quality.

I mostly use Osuka from a price point of view but the quality doesn’t hold a candle to Kaneshin. Still, the only tool i’ve had yo replace was the narrow shears from trying to cut a too thick branch and bending the blades.

My pockets are a little too nervous to stump up to a tool kit like that!

gordonb wrote: ↑September 30th, 2019, 6:45 pm Kaneshin is on my wish-list - a wee bit in the future, but I'll get them.
I have a few medium trees, and many shohin, so my selection won't be the same; the thing I have found is that not all tools suit everyone. I have a good selection of shears, side cutters, etc., of moderate price range [I won't name them as I'll be replacing them, bad sport to do that...!]; but I find I keep coming back to the 3 or 4 main tools for the bulk of work.

My point being, you seem to be investing a lot in these tools, just make sure you're getting ones you'll actucally use and not buying them just to look good in the toolkit

I hear you Gordon. I will no doubt predominately use a hand full of the tools. Unfortunately I have damaged a couple of tools in the past due to not having the correct tool to use, so i decided i'm not going to let that happen again. Also, I figured as we spend so much time on our trees that ii makes sense to invest. I have a hedge trimmer i use 2 times a year and didn't blink at buying that. We have a TV in another room we dont even turn on. The amount of and length of use i figure its worth the investment. Time to anti up i reckon.

MJL wrote: ↑September 30th, 2019, 10:20 pm Fill ya boots WMC; no half measures in your list!

Do you grow azaleas? If so, here's one from left field - and before I go on - I do not have this tool myself but I was reflecting on some advice I received from an experienced azalea grower when I first started in this hobby and he noted that I should take care with concave cutters on azalea (actually he said avoid at all costs or words to that effect ) due to the fine cambium on azaleas, a flush or even convex cut is better. I think he had a Masakuni tool - perhaps it was no.61 crescent blade branch cutter. I can't be sure and hey, it's a pretty specialist tool but given your extensive list, I thought I would point it out.

Also - my favourite tool is Kaneshin 63A Drop Forge Tweezers - yeah what? Weird choice for a favourite tool but it's so versatile (and tough/sturdy)... much heavier than the (59) - which my step-dad has. I pick weeds, I scratch the surface soil of nursery pots to check potential nebari (shhh), I poke soil between roots when repotting, I use the flat end to pat down moss .... I have probably stirred my coffee with it... I just feel 10% better when it's in my pocket wondering around the garden.

Anyway - enjoy the tools when you get 'em and send picks when you've got 'em to make us all envious. Even the Kaneshin packaging is lovely.

I don’t do Azaleas but will remember that for the future.
Thanks for the heads up in the tweezers.... will check it out.

Ryceman3 wrote: ↑October 1st, 2019, 7:08 am Very extensive list... hard to go wrong with Kaneshin.
No branch splitter?
Also, you should be sure to get a CreanMate block from them too (if you don’t already have). Very handy/essential for cleaning off the blades of your cutters etc...
Wanna see pics when the eagle lands!

Yeah, I usually have crean mate on hand. I haven’t had a need for a branch splitter to date. I guess I can always add it later if I find I start wanting it.

TimS wrote: ↑October 1st, 2019, 1:02 pm I have a few odd Kaneshin tools, certainly nothing like this list, but there is no doubting the quality.

I mostly use Osuka from a price point of view but the quality doesn’t hold a candle to Kaneshin. Still, the only tool i’ve had yo replace was the narrow shears from trying to cut a too thick branch and bending the blades.

My pockets are a little too nervous to stump up to a tool kit like that!

I know what you mean Tim. I figured if they last me 20years (assuming I look after them) then it works out to be roughly $50 a year... well worth it I think.

Apologies for the delay.......
I had forgotten all about posting pics of the tool kit as a few people requested. I got the boxes out for the pics (which i love nearly as much as the tools), and took a couple of pics of the tool set i ended up purchasing after the above discussion and plenty of homework.

I primarily went Kaneshin tools.
(The small hand saw, single root hook and wire brush are Kikuwa, and the small wire cutter is Ryuga)

I am still feeling as happy, blessed and excited (like a little boy at Christmas) as the day i got them.

Worth every penny in my opinion.

A fine selection, may you get many years of pleasure out of them.