AusBonsai

What's in your tool roll and tool kit?

I have :
Stainless 8in scissors
Stainless 9in branch cutters
Black steel heavy scissors
Black steel 9in branch cutters x 2 (used for roots and hard wood)
Black steel wire cutters
Black steel jinning pliers
1/2 doz sharpened bamboo chopsticks
2 old toothbrushes
Wire brush
Korean 2way folding saw
Grafting knife
Assorted wire (6 different gauges), cut paste, rooting and grafting hormone, grafting tape, diamond sharpening lap, soil scoops, velcro tape, sheets of screen
Angle grinder and 4 in Arbortech blade.

I find the stainless tools are well worth the investment. They hold their edge longer and are easier to clean than carbon steel.

I have a knob cutter and two pair of scissors that Steven gave me.

Long thin Trimming Scissors
Short Stubby Root Scissors
Medium size Branch Cutters
Medium sized Knob Cutters
All the above Steel

Stainless steel Bread Knife ( Rootball Sawing Off)
Sidecutters,
Small Knife,
Chopsticks / Kebab Sticks
Root Rake
Wire of Various sizes
Wound sealer
Turnatable ( Plastic from $2 shop)
Small Pruning Saw

Also Forgot Arbortech Blade on Grinder +
Dremel For when I do some carving
and a Large Reciprocating Power Saw For removing Large amounts of material from Collected trees/ Stumps

Nice saw! Take a look at this type of saw in action in one of Leong Kwong's videos. "Tree and a half" part 1. Part 2 and 3 show the results over time.

http://bonsaisouth.com.au/cms/content/view/47/74/

brenden wrote:Nice saw! Take a look at this type of saw in action in one of Leong Kwong's videos. "Tree and a half" part 1. Part 2 and 3 show the results over time.

http://bonsaisouth.com.au/cms/content/view/47/74/

Thats some tree in the video Brendan, thanks for that.
Peter

brenden wrote:Nice saw! Take a look at this type of saw in action in one of Leong Kwong's videos. "Tree and a half" part 1. Part 2 and 3 show the results over time.

http://bonsaisouth.com.au/cms/content/view/47/74/

Yep the same as mine
Awesome and the only thing to remove large sections of root and Trunk

Edited to remove off topic post
Ken

So are we posting big tree's?

may I?

Cleaned up with a 7" fine tooth japanese pruning saw

What I'm getting at here is a sensible discussion of the tools we use, especially so beginners might establish what is actually necessary.

As a tradesperson, I find it difficult to believe that anyone serious about the hobby could even contemplate attempting it without getting together some sort of tool kit. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to do a job and not having the tools at your side.

I have a kit that goes with me when I go bonsaiing.
On top of this kit, I have a 'Scorpion" saw, a Dremel and bits and a 100mm Grinder.

Jon

Hector Johnson wrote:What I'm getting at here is a sensible discussion of the tools we use, especially so beginners might establish what is actually necessary.

I am a beginner, not an idiot. Thanks for the concern.

Beginners only need a few tools, and only one that is specialized. This thread will overwhelm pretty quickly.
A branch cutter, chopsticks, by-pass pruning shears, a fine toothed garden saw a few sets of scissors ( one set of heavy florist scissors are recommended too and easy to get) and a pair of tweezers.

What else does a beginner need?

Crikey, some of you have a whole tool shed of things. for about 10 years now i've had one pair of traditional Japanese trimmers and a kids minni garden tool set containing a small rake, and a small shovel. small as in 8 inches long handle to tip...

a pair of secateurs (spelling??) i spose could be counted... um, that's it for me. i buy wire when i need it and soil when i need it. So for me I've used 3 things only for a decade or more.

Maybe that's why I'm reluctant to post pics...

"What else does a beginner need?"

Humility is sometimes useful. I listen intently when someone who knows more about the subject than me is talking.
Steve Rawkins is an interesting example. Every sentence he speaks about bonsai seems to have some wisdom you never knew about embedded in it.

As a newbie my collection is still small.

In my toolbox is:

- black steel scissors
- cheap steel scissors (read below)
- black steel wire cutters
- folding saw
- toolbrush!
- chopstick
- Small sharp knife for jin and other cutting
- Lots of little bits of wire and mesh, markers, etc.

A comment on the cheap steel scissors... I picked them up at K-Mart for $8 each. They "look" like the good Japanese steel scissors but no where near the quality. Great for those tasks that you don't want to use your good scissors for.

I have enough to do what I need to do at this time. I hope to grow my collection as $$$ can be spared. With a baby on the way its not an option right now.

If you feel I am missing any essentials I'd appreciate the feedback.

Hector Johnson wrote:"What else does a beginner need?"

Humility is sometimes useful. I listen intently when someone who knows more about the subject than me is talking.
Steve Rawkins is an interesting example. Every sentence he speaks about bonsai seems to have some wisdom you never knew about embedded in it.

I give respect to those who respect me. We are all equals, everyone can teach another something new. Even those I don't get along with I still learn from them.

Brendan, we had those scissors here and they didnt last long. I'll be talking to a local florist soon about an old pair.