Bonsai may not be considered the norm in the United States, but it is growing in popularity. A handful of correct equipment plays a crucial role in producing even the simplest bonsai, but that only applies if you’re passionate about such an ancient Japanese horticultural skill.
Each Bonsai tool serves a specific purpose in shaping and training these extraordinarily beautiful living works of art. As you’re a beginner to this horticultural art form, the available quantity of bonsai tools will drive you with a question like this: What Bonsai tools do I need for a bonsai tree? available can make deciding which one to buy a challenge. As I’ve passed this starting phase, I can help you to choose the right Bonsai tools.
This article entails a collection of detailed Bonsai tools – you will learn everything there is to know about Bonsai tools, including beginning and advanced tools. What their purpose is, and when and how to employ them.
Bonsai Tools for Beginners
New Bonsai hobbyists just require a few basic tools to begin with, for this enjoyable and rewarding hobby.
Pruning Shears
In British English, these are namely “secateurs,” and in American English, “hand pruners.” Pruning thick branches with dense foliage necessitates using these. Using “Anvil or detour type secateurs,” it’s difficult to trim around thick branches’ corners. As a result, stay away from them. Make use of shears with narrow jaws and precise cutters.
When using these shears, keep the following considerations in mind.
When pruning, avoid holding the pruner handles sideways.
Also, avoid bending or twisting pruners while pruning to avoid damaging the branches and blades.
Pruning Scissors
Pruning scissors for Bonsai comes in two varieties: Long and butterfly-shaped scissor.
Mostly, they employ scissors with a long handle and a comfortable grip butterfly-shaped scissor to cut fibrous and thick roots.
Pruning scissors with large handles are great for trimming smaller branches and finer twigs. Because of the precise holding position of these scissors, you may cut shoots, delicate roots, and tiny branches with greater force. For precise cuts, make sure you use only sharp pruning scissors.
Knob Cutter
The knob cutter’s cutting blades are fashioned like two sphere halves, allowing the tool to bite into the trunk’s wood aggressively. The knob cutter can quickly remove a large amount of wood while keeping the trunk or branch’s final surface shape.
To trim out deeper pruning cuts, remove Bonsai branch stubs, and provide a concave hollow that heals rapidly without an ugly bulge, experts recommend a knob cutter. Greenwood can be cut up to 10mm thick. You should make larger cuts in a series of little nibbles.
Pruning is impossible without a knob cutter!
Roots hook or Root rake
Soft-touch and the use of a particular instrument are required when repotting a bonsai. The root hook, also known as a root rake, is useful for removing old soil and straightening tangled roots. The bonsai root hook’s single-prong cleans the root system while inflicting minimum bruising and breaking. The root hook has a rounded point to reduce plant harm even more.
Concave Cutter
Another essential bonsai tool for which there is no replacement is the concave cutter. Those razor-sharp tools are made to chop branches flush with the stem, allowing for quick and smooth healing with minimal scar. The concave depression prevents the wound from becoming infected and causing an unsightly hump on the trunk.
An 8-inch concave cutter is ideal for cutting branches with a diameter of 1 to 1 1/2 inches or less.
Bonsai Wire
A Bonsai tree is shaped with wires of two types. The wires are available in thicknesses ranging from 0.3 to 8 mm. recommended states that the wire is about a third of the wired branch’s thickness.
Anodized aluminum wire is commonly used for shaping deciduous Bonsai. These wires are extremely flexible and simple to work with. In general, beginners usually begin by working with anodized aluminum wire before moving to copper wire. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing because it keeps less evident on branches. Anodized aluminum wire is available in a variety of thicknesses.
It’s appropriate for coniferous trees with thick branches to use annealed copper. It is more durable than aluminum wire and effectively holds the branches in place.
Wirecutter
Most Bonsai are shaped and trained using copper and aluminum wires. Wire in various diameters employs a plier for bending the wire for deadwood, and a wire cutter is required to wire a bonsai tree. These instruments come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you have many shohin Bonsai, get little ones.
Wire cutters are divided into two categories that are commonly used. As a result, choose a cutter based on the wire’s diameter.
A general wire cutter cuts aluminum wire. Even in confined spaces, cutting the wire is excellent.
Copper wires are cut with a wire cutter that is capable of cutting through thick wires. You can also use it to cut wire with thicker gauges.
Related: How to clean bonsai tools
Advanced Level Bonsai Tools:
When you are in an advanced stage, you may need various types of bonsai tools, based on the plant type. Here, I have discussed a few must-have bonsai tools for advanced bonsai hobbyists.
Jin Pliers
Using a set of Jin Pliers, this advanced method, termed jin and shari, involves stripping branches off and cutting the bottom regions of evergreen bark. To give it the impression of old, worn bonsai branches, the pliers squeeze and peel away bark and wood. Jin pliers can also be used to unwind and tie training wire.
Hand Saw
Hand saw exclusively used for thick branches and trunks. The blade of a hand saw is thin and contains fine teeth. It acts upon the pull stroke and ensures the making of more precise and delicate cuts in thick branches. Instead of moving the saw outwards, move it towards you while cutting. It provides more control, which saves the delicate bark from being shredded during the cutting process.
Turntables
When you’re working on a bonsai, you’ll turn it around a lot, and you’ll scratch the table it’s on. Lifting and turning heavy trees regularly is exhausting. There are many good work tables for bonsai tree maintenance, including simple flat rotary discs, enormous turntables that can be tilted in different directions, and vertically movable turntables with three legs.
Brushes
Need a brush to get rid of algae deposits on pots’ surface. Use water to lubricate the brush while cleaning a pot. The tree’s trunk, branches, bark, and deadwood should all be cleaned using brushes.
Power Tools
When using power tools, extra caution is required because serious injuries can occur. To avoid getting metal bristles and wood splinters in your eyes, always wear safety glasses! Using powerful electric Bonsai tools, a dust mask, overalls, gloves, and even a helmet may be a good idea for lengthy deadwood work. Work with complete concentration and care, holding the machine tightly in your hands and cautiously using the power button and speed control dial.
The “Dremel” is a tiny machine that comes with a vast selection of bits, including a 1/8″ or 3mm shank. Other manufacturers’ machines with similar components include revolving brushes made of brass, steel, or nylon, for scraping off the bark and smoothing deadwood, as well as various grinders, cutters, and abrasive wheels.
For bits with a 6mm or 1/4 shank, the “Makita” is among Bonsai hobbyists’ most preferred big machines. Similar die grinders are available from other manufacturers. Since the various bits must be utilized at different speeds, choosing a machine with a speed control dial is critical. A range of powerful bits is available for these huge power tools, including revolving brushes made of various materials, abrasive wheels, circular saws, cutting wheels, and grinding bits in various designs.
Large die grinder machinery is not advised for novices or inexperienced handymen due to its immense power and weight, making its operation difficult and dangerous.
For deadwood work, some bonsai experts utilize sandblasting equipment. Large, expensive instruments necessitate a unique working environment, protective equipment, and specialized knowledge. The effects of this technique on deadwood work are frequently quite convincing.
Curving Tools
Working on deadwood has the primary goal of making it appear natural, with no indications of human intervention visible. It may appear counterintuitive, but this is why there is such a wide range of instruments available for this purpose.
A sharp plier is used to split branches that you can use to separate dead branches and stumps several times. The Jin Plier is used to pull fibers of wood found in conifers and fibrous wood. Moreover, it breaks small wood particles on trees with little fibrous wood than deciduous ones.
Lifting wood fibers is best done with a slim chisel that isn’t too sharp. Peeling off the bark and carving minor furrows that should match the course of the fibers is done with a variety of loop knives and carving tools.
Many different shaped and sized carving tools perform well for shaping, contouring, smoothing, and narrowing. They are often purchased in sets and available in various qualities and sizes.
It’s preferable to employ a gas torch, such as one powered by lighter gas, to obliterate the last traces of your labor and remove any remaining wood fibers. After scorching, steel, nylon, and brass brush off the charred wood layer.
Wood hardener, made up of liquid polymers, dissolves in acetone to preserve rotting deadwood. Another well-known Japanese Jin liquid made of lime Sulphur is primarily used for deadwood whitening and has some preservation properties.
In Conclusion,
Growing and taking care of Bonsai does not necessitate the use of hundreds of different tools. If you can’t afford all of these tools, focus on a high-quality essential toolkit. Whenever you have this basic equipment, you can begin this bonsai hobby.
If you’re new to Bonsai, you can get a crucial toolkit that includes almost everything you’ll need. If you’re a newbie, it’s best to start with a few simple tools, such as a good concave cutter and a regular shear. The more you deal with Bonsai, the more specialized tools you’ll need in the future.
