Masakuni Tools - Are they Worth the Price?

23-Jan-2005	#11
Bonsainut Carrier of Bonsai Fever Join Date: Oct-2001 Location: So-Cal, US of A Country: America The Beautiful USDA Zone: Zone 9-10 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,833	JJr, Good Advice and ideas from the usuall suspects above. That is super you have some ready cash to spend on tools. The guy with the most and best wins remember that. I think if you have the money then buy the best. I personally have sold off my masakuni and gone to Stainless from Dallas. I had a masakuni stainless Concave cutter and shear, and both flaked silver stuff after awhile. The manufacturer had no response except to refer me to masakuni's book on tool usage. My son had a stainless Shear from Dallas Bonsai and it just never seemed to get dull. We left it out side used it to cut rope , etc never rusted never dulled . Just one nuts personal adventure, happy shopping. __________________ Keep growing,---'Nut Lethal Use of Farce Last edited by Bonsainut : 23-Jan-2005 at 01:14 PM. Reason: spelllling

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23-Jan-2005

#12

Carl_Bergstrom

Old Mister Crow

Join Date: May-2002

Location: Seattle, WA.

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 8

AHS Heat Zone: 2

Posts: 3,197

Quote:

Originally Posted by vance hanna

Although I did not find the link to the $100 Masakuni tweezers as mentioned, I did see the $59.00 pair. However they were not carbide tipped, see below.

Tweezers that are used in a professional manner, every day for a week, and all day long can dull.

What dulls? The actual grasping jaws or tips are used to pluck pine buds. So the logical answer to dulling tools: carbide jaws.

Tungsten Carbide is nearly the hardness of diamond and is expensive. The actual amount of carbide here is minimal, probably less than a $1.00 as scrap, but to make the carbide tips, a special mold has to be created and the carbide powder is pressed into place. Then this little bun or cake is sintered in a furnace to harden it. It is then precison ground into the shape and silver brazed into place.

Now you have a pair of 'balanced' stainless spring steel tweezers w/ carbide tips. A serious tool for weeks of work each season.

(Thanks to Gary Ishi of Chikugo-En for the lessons) Thanks to American Nat Carbide for the previous educational program they sent me to...Thanks to Imagawa-san for past Masakuni opportunites...(now Futaba)

Thank you for the very interesting and informative post, Vance.

The tweezers that Ron sold to me (Masakuni-alike or otherwise) arrived yesterday and, unfortunately, they don't have gripping jaws at all. Just smooth polished metal - useless for needle plucking, though they'll be nice for removing soil from the surface roots during repotting, I suppose.

So I'm off to order a pair of good plucking tweezers. Do you have any ideas where I'd find a nice pair of carbide tipped, balanced, spring steel tweezers like you describe? Or should just I just order the Masakuni from Dallas Bonsai?

Best regards,
Carl

__________________
In love with trees

24-Jan-2005	#13
vance hanna bonsaiTALK Artisan Join Date: Dec-2004 Location: SE Michigan currently Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 144	call Gary Ishi Carl, Glad to be of help. I'd call Gary Ishi at Chikugo-En bonsai nursery in Gardena, CA. Chikugo-En Bonsai Nursery, Masaru Ishii, 18110 S. Western Ave., Gardena, CA 90247, Wed.-Sun. 9:30-4 & by Appt., Ret. - Who., (310) 323-4011 Gary and his father, Mas are great people. Tell Gary you talked to me! best, vance hanna __________________ vance hanna fine bonsai take time

24-Jan-2005

#14