Candy and Everyone who posted,
This is a great winter thread! It helped to give me a push to get organized and I'm sure a needed headstart on gathering things for the upcoming spring season and potting. As I said in my journal, I even purchased myself a nice rolling tool box for portability to classes and club meetings. My club's topic for February is tools and their care and sharpening-so I plan on sharing this thread with them. Thanks and Warmest Regards,
Lesley =('):

Hello all,
It looks like Im a little late to this party but I'll make my contribution anyway.

First things first, Ralph, I know Roy too, and he convinced me to use the Lysol as well. Ha Ha.

I digress, the tool I use the most and get the most flack from is a pair of electricians shears, their cheap ($10.00-$13.00), they're very sharp ( I haven't had to resharpen a pair yet), their just big enough that you can keep them in your hands while working on a tree and the main tool body is chrome plated, however the inner blade portion is not.
I have a pair that has the inner blade portion rusted, bad, I use those to cut screen and wire off my trees.

In all the time I have used them I have never chipped a blade or flaked the chrome.
I usually use either Ideal or Klien shears, I like the Klein brand better, but they're not always available, apparently they are popular in my area.

I usually only use "bonsai" tools when I go into public.

Attached Images

Electricians shears.jpg (29.3 KB, 40 views)

As a joke my late sister in law gave me a set of minature garden tools from the dollar store. Small rake and spade, just perfect for a root rake and tamping down soil. She paid a $1.00. Have now seen them for 4.95 a set as official bonsai tools.

Bamboo skewers, from the supermarket, usually a dollar a pack are good for seperating roots. You can also ask for chop sticks, the next time you order Chinese.

jg

If the electrician scissors works for you that's great, although I don't think I would use them. Usually the electrician scissors have one serrated blade, I don't think you could get as clean a cut as with properly sharpened bonsai sheers.
Adam

The chopsticks that i get with my chinese are best, they are very strong and alot stronger than those you get in packs from supermarkets, of course you can get some nice black laquered ones but might be a bit ott for roots,

Regards
Rowan

I only have three items purchased for bonsai use (shears nob cutter). My other tools are the gardening variety plus copper wire with the insulation on it (I strip it when I need to wire a tree), couple of files to sharpen my tools, small saw. Tweesers, flat wooden spoon, bread knife, small scooper and plastic measuring spoons tied together, and a small topperware bowl with lid (my wife is still looking for these items). Wish I could afford some tools listed here.

Question, how do you clean your shears? dried sap buildup is a problem. Thanks.

Ideally you should clean your tools after each use. If you let the sap sit on them too long it becomes harder and harder to clean off, and can start to pit the metal if left on too long. Most times I clean my tools every time I use them, but with life comes other responsibilities that cut into my bonsai time. Sometimes I have to do whatever work I can get in and sometimes that means I have to wait a day or 2 after to clean my tools.

Adam

20 years of old wire that I've never thrown away