Hoof trimmers for knob cutter

Has anybody tried using an old set of hoof trimmers for bonsai purposes? I got an old set that needs some attention on the cutting edge. Hopefully I can get them back into shape. It looks like somebody tried using them on metal because there's some scar marks. I've done some filing and have taken a lot of the deformed metal out but now they don't close all the way. I'm going to need to figure out where it's coming into contact, preventing it from closing all the way. Hopefully I can put these trimmers back into use. For now I need to find my dremel lol

Heck, I've tried all kinds of different tools....from electrical to woodcarving. Use whatever works!
I do think you will need to get your hoof trimmers to get near to touching, or create the microscopic "overbite" of a normal bonsai tool if you want to get very precise cuts.

No. one. The hoof trimmer is much more akin to a root splitter than a knob cutter.

No. two. The hoof trimmer has two sharpened jaws that meet at the edge, like a human fingernail clipper.

No. three. The knob cutter is cupped and the hoof nipper is straight.

No. four and most important, the knob cutters edges bypass and do not meet at the edge. The bypassing allows a very clean cut with out crushing the wood a edge meeting device would provide. Much like bypass rose pruners or bonsai shears. Wire cutter edges meet and crush the wire into two pieces. A root splitter, like a hoof trimmer works like a wedge and splits the root into two pieces or cuts it by crushing it in two.

I'm not saying it won't simulate the proccess and will even work, but IS NOT a knob cutter. A knob cutter is a very precise tool and once used will never be forgotton.

Hoof trimmer


Root splitter


Knob cutter

Exactly, Al. I might use a hoof trimmer for splitting something but never cutting. These are tools that are designed to do specific tasks that are really not remotely related. Fwiw, I use my knob cutter more then any other cutting tool excluding my shears...there isn't a better tool for removing the extra wood from a branch stub.

Dav4 said:

Exactly, Al. I might use a hoof trimmer for splitting something but never cutting. These are tools that are designed to do specific tasks that are really not remotely related. Fwiw, I use my knob cutter more then any other cutting tool excluding my shears...there isn't a better tool for removing the extra wood from a branch stub.

Click to expand...

....except a core box router bit in my die grinder!

No, but I've used bonsai cutters on the horse.

Since the Masakuni Bonsai Tool Company rather established and invented many of the bonsai tools we use I thought I'd share their photos with their proper purposes. Please note that the "Knob Cutter" makes a flat cut. The "Curved or Spherical Knob Cutter" makes a concave cut. This is the tool most people simply call knob cutter, but that's the wrong name. Also, please note the design difference between a Trunk Splitter and Root Cutter.