AusBonsai

hey guys,

Im just after some 2nd hand or cheap basic bonsai tools to that i can use as a starter kit? Or does anyone know if Bunnings sell them?

Thanks

Bunnings sells lots of stuff which I use as bonsai tools, but actual specific tools you are better to go to a specialist nursery to get. there are a few people on here who could sell them to you and no doubt they will PM you shortly.

to start with though all you really need are some good secatuers, some long nose pliers, some wire and a lot of patience.

My most commonly used tool until recently was my weeding stick which is an old football lacing tool. I think a small child has gotten hold of it and so I cant find it at the minute but have replaced it with a metal chopstick for the minute.

If you are starting out your better to by a good branch cutter and use other generally available tools over time you will get a whole box full.

Hartos wrote: If you are starting out your better to by a good branch cutter and use other generally available tools over time you will get a whole box full.

I agree, buy a Branch cutter and use bunnings tools for everything else...but it wont be long before you find the limitations of the other tools and start looking for more bonsai specific tools, and leigh may be able to help you out with that:

http://web.me.com/ledanta/Tools/Ledanta ... rsery.html

My only other tip is to buy the best tools you can afford, and look after them! Then you'll only have to buy them once.

Scott

You might check out eBay as well.... several nurseries (including Ledanta, Rocky Peak, as well as Simon's Orient Bonsai Nursery down here in Melbourne [trading under 'wonderfulhobby']) have an eBay presence. Often i some cases the eBay price is even better than the shelf retail price, even allowing for postage. There are several vendors without nurseries who sell tools on eBay. Every once in a while you might find a private seller posting tools, but rarely do folks get rid of old tools unless they are no longer fit for use.... like sombody's grandad who has 30-odd screw drivers in his shed, how many of us keep all our tools even once we upgrade!?

I agree with what others have said.
Off on a rant for a second though... Try going somewhere else than Bunnings. Support your local Hardware store (if there is one left), better yet go to Mitre 10 or order online.

I have seen the knob cutters at Bunnings for about $15, everything else can be general once you have them.
Loretta

Loretta wrote:I have seen the knob cutters at Bunnings for about $15, everything else can be general once you have them.
Loretta

We have nail pincers or wire cutters which may look similar, no knob cutters though...

The nail pincers could be used to cut a branch flush up with the trunk as they are flat bladed, the wire cutters (which is what looks most similar to a knob cutter) could be used as a spherical knob cutter, but unlike a knob cutter with a spherical cut (gives you the knob effect) wire cutters have a scalloped blade in which the cut tapers to the tip. These wont give you a clean knob cut unfortunately as they are not the right shape or sharp enough as they are a dull blade for crushing/cutting wire. We need sharp implements as to not crush what we are cutting.

Another item I have been checking out are the tile nippers, they have a tungsten flat cut blade... about $25.

I also am in the market for 2nd hand basic tools if anyone has anything up for sale pm me

you can get some pretty cheap new tools for a reasonable price, to start with to get you through all you really need is a concave branch cutter. you can get through with normal garden tools that most people usually have like a good pair of secatuers, a three prong rake, a solid pair of scissors, a while back at bunnings they had these outdoor scissors that had red handles shaped like bonsai shears, they were two dollars i picked up a couple of pairs and they work very well for the price.

the thing with bonsai tools is you generally get what you pay for, a good tool kit or tools if you look after them will last you a lifetime. trying to do to big a cuts with them for stuff that they are not designed for obviously they will not last..

jamie

Jamie wrote: a while back at bunnings they had these outdoor scissors that had red handles shaped like bonsai shears, they were two dollars i picked up a couple of pairs and they work very well for the price.


jamie

Just don't try and cut anything reasonably thick or they will bend the handles.
I was thinking of buying all that $2 stock and putting them on ebay for $7... But because of the handles bending I chose not too.

the ones i got are pretty solid, i havent tried cutting thick stuff with them though, mostly just root or twig trimming and they are good, i usually use them for root trimming mostly as i dont want my good ones stuffed

Virtually every type of tool can be a hand tool and many have also been adapted as power tools, which get their motive power from motors or engines rather than from human mechanical action.

Garden tools