Bonsai tools...

akhater

Newbie question again...
I have recently bought an red azalea & decided to train it into bonsai (it will be my first)

I am thinking of a unformal upright shohin.

The plant is pretty young (5cm high) & almost no trunk yet.

Anyway I was wondering what bonsai tools should I buy first.
Another problem is that in my country there is no one that sells bonsai tools so if some of they tools can be replaced with more commun gardening tools it would be great.

thanks

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Carl_Bergstrom

Hi akhater,

I'd recommend ordering a pair of concave cutters. This is probably the single most useful bonsai tool of those that can't be replaced with regular gardening tools or tools from the hardware store.

You'll want to make very smooth, flush cuts on your azalea; this will help. You could clean them up with a grafting knife or other sharp knife. Be sure to cover with cut paste.

Best regards,
Carl

__________________
In love with trees

pootsie

In the meantime, a decent pair of garden shears will help a lot also.

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

BonsaiMon

To do some of the basic Bonsai work you need :
sharpe garden shears
chopstick or stick with blount end
sharpe knife .. razor sharpe :0)
annealed copper wire or aluminum wire
wire cutters
bonsai soil

.. these I feel are the must haves. There are many tools designed to make life easier .. your work faster .. and most times .. more efficient.

the basic ones:
concave cutter
root rake
soil sieve
shears for cutting into soil .. root pruning
knob cutter

The list goes on from these depending on the type of work you are performing and size of your trees. I usually add concave cutters to the must have list but a sharpe razor knife for carving larger knobs of removed branches can perform the desired results. Ordering online works! Available right here at BonsaiTALK.

__________________
peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

akhater

what is the advantage of a concave cutter over regular garden shears?

should I start training my Azalea right now or wait till the trunk grows thicker?

imyerhukleberry

Concave cutters make a cut that forms a recession or shallow divit. This is to your advantage by helping the trees new cut heal faster. The divet cut into the tree is easier to fill with cut paste, and heals nicer than a flush cut or a stub left behind.

Here's a link showing a picture of CONCAVE CUTTERS...you can see how they will assist you in making a nice clean cut...