Knob Cutter
While you can use a household pruner to cut branches
off your bonsai tree, It's not recommended. A regular pruner will leave ever so little of a bit of the branch that's been
cut off. When the scar grows over it will leave a permanent raised spot where the branch once was. The knob cutter Also knows
as a "Wen cutter" works much like a concave cutter only at times you will need to take a branch in several cuts
to get the angle right for the final cut against the trunk. The knob cutter can occasionally make the necessary cut where
a concave cutter can't properly line up. It also makes a good tool for roughing out wood for carving jin or shari.
Twig Cutter
When you need to make a lot of small leaf or twig cuts
you need the accuracy of the twig cutter as well as the ability to reach deep inside the structure of the tree. they are also
valuable for candling pines.
Bonsai Shear
Larger branches are usually cut concave with a knob or concave
cutter so I mostly use these on small branches and twigs that are just a bit to big for twig cutters. If your shearing back
an entire trees exterior you almost have to have them.
Bonsai Broom
Now we have some the tools for pruning a Bonsai broom makes it a lot easier to properly clean up your pruning mess
from the soil surface. A bonsai broom does an excellent job, it's an inexpensive tool and it gives you the accuracy to get
in under the branches an around the trunk without beating up your bonsai's bark the way you might with an ordinary shop broom.
Turn Table
A turn table makes for easily spinning of your
bonsai to different positions. The first thing I want to do, after cleaning up the roots a bit to get the full story, is take
a good look at every angle of the tree to decide where the front will be. A bonsai turntable makes the job a breeze. Also
when pruning I am constantly spinning the tree not only to see it all but to better position for the perfect cut.
Concave Cutter
The concave cutter like the knob cutter, makes an indented
cut which heels over evenly leaving no raised spot or trace of the removed branch. Bonsai judges take off big points for poorly
heeled cuts. The concave cutter is just a bit easier (in the right situation) to line up at the correct angle for the cut
although in certain places you will need a knob cutter to reach the right angle where a concave cutter can not.
Potting
Most potting can be performed with some basic tools scrounged up
from the average household. Of course the right tools for the job make things a lot easier. It's a good idea to collect bonsai
pots so you have somewhat of a selection for the tree you want to pot as it's important to the overall appearance of the "finished"
bonsai tree. If you bought your bonsai already potted, it will need to be occasionally root-pruned and repotted even if it's
back into the same pot again. Besides that, once you buy an ordinary nursery stock or a pre-bonsai in a ordinary nursery pot
or collect bonsai material from the wild, you will eventually sculpt it into a masterpiece and pot it into the perfect bonsai
container, at which point, you will be forever hooked. Once this hooking takes place, you will be doing a lot of potting and
so need the proper tools for the job.
Pot Screens
Pot screen,
second only in importance to the pot itself, is placed over the holes of a bonsai pot to keep the soil from washing out.
Root Hooks
A root hook is the ideal tool for combing out and
untangling roots without damaging them.
Bonsai Rakes
A bonsai
rake is used to remove twigs and wood from the surface of the soil before sweeping with a broom. They often have a flat on
the opposite end which is useful for freeing a bonsai from its pot and works as a makeshift potting trowel.
Soil Scoops
Soil scoops make adding the soil to the pot a lot easier especially
around the trunk and under the branches. Some soil scoops have a screen for one last shake out of the extra fines that can
clog a bonsai's drainage.
Potting Trowel
When you ad soil
during the potting process you can use your thumb to firmly pack it in. The potting trowel makes this an easier task especially
when your bonsai has low branches to reach under.
Soil Sieves
While it's a good idea to purchase some professionally mixed bonsai soil until you get a feel for it, eventually
you will want to make your own, less expensive mix. Soil sieves are used to separate the different sizes of soil components
and remove the fines that can clog a bonsai's drainage and eliminate valuable oxygen supply to the roots.
Wiring
At this point you will probably want to be able to further refine
your bonsai tree. Wiring your bonsai can produce incredible effects and instant gratification. It's pretty important to have
a bonsai wire cutter for removing the wire without damaging the bark when the time comes. Of course you will need some bonsai
wire and a bit of "know how". I'll have a bonsai wiring article up soon and link to it from here.
Wire Cutters
A bonsai wire cutter is used to properly
remove wire from a bonsai without harming the trunk, branches or bark.
Branch Benders
If you want to bend the trunk of a bonsai or a large branch, you
may need some branch bending jacks.
Adding Some Awe
If your looking for a bit more awe factor, a Jin or Shari is a guaranteed way to get it.
jin knives or Gravers
Sharp blade of various different shapes for
removing wood and bark to carve jin or shari.
Power Dremel Tool
A high-speed bit turning machine for deep carving trunk hollowing and drilling bonsai wood.
Jin Pliers
A bonsai plier used for loosening, peeling and removing
bark from a bonsai tree to create jin or shari.
SEE ALSO BONSAI SUPPLY
Bonsai Secrets Guide!
