To feed the need

[Eric Group]

Lol! I have the Masakuni root hook that looks like Brian's red tool. It's pretty sharp. The hook is curved. Works great. Only cost $9.

Most of my tools are Masakuni. I've had some of them them for 40 years. No, I don't have the $750 concave cutters. I prefer the black carbon tools to the stainless.

I bout pooped myself when I saw this:
http://www.dallasbonsai.com/product-p/m101.htm

You know... I get it. Quality has value. If I buy quality clothes they last longer than the Old Navy Jeans I bought for $7.99 on clearance. If I get a Mercedes (Tesla?)it is worth more and is a better vehicle than a Kia that costs half as much!

Paying a little extra, or even twice as much to get something of quality is worth it SOMETIMES, but when you can Buy some Yoshiaki shears for $25-$30 that will CUT THE DAMN BRANCH... Why would it be necessary or worth it in any way to pay like %600 more? $750!?!? For some 7 inch pruning shears? Seriously? That just blows my mind! Clearly not all the Masakuni tools cost this much... I seriously just don't get THIS. Do you think they have sold any of these? Gatdawg!!

 

[Adair M]

Lol!

I looked at the link, and saw what they were, and I about pooped MY pants! I have a pair of those!

Or so I thought. I just checked, and mine are Yoshiaki. Lol!!!

But I do have a bunch of Masakuni. Most recently, I bought a pair of the "root pruners", that make a straight cut. But I'm not using them on roots. I'm only going to use them on azaleas.

I use the cheap ABS scissors a lot.

 

[Plantermunn]

They only have two left. I hope they don't sell out before I can sell a kidney.

 

[jk_lewis]

This has to be the most ever written about the most inconsequential and easily replaced bonsai tool. Hoofpick, chopstick, old, bent silverware, large nail (also bent), fingers, screwdriver, etc. etc. etc.

Nuff!

 

[barrosinc]

I bout pooped myself when I saw this:
http://www.dallasbonsai.com/product-p/m101.htm

You know... I get it. Quality has value. If I buy quality clothes they last longer than the Old Navy Jeans I bought for $7.99 on clearance. If I get a Mercedes (Tesla?)it is worth more and is a better vehicle than a Kia that costs half as much!

Paying a little extra, or even twice as much to get something of quality is worth it SOMETIMES, but when you can Buy some Yoshiaki shears for $25-$30 that will CUT THE DAMN BRANCH... Why would it be necessary or worth it in any way to pay like %600 more? $750!?!? For some 7 inch pruning shears? Seriously? That just blows my mind! Clearly not all the Masakuni tools cost this much... I seriously just don't get THIS. Do you think they have sold any of these? Gatdawg!!

Is that a typo, or is it really that much? I thought masakuni tools cost at most, 200USD.

 

[M. Frary]

Yep. My hand doubles as a meathook and a roothook.

 

[Eric Group]

They only have two left. I hope they don't sell out before I can sell a kidney.

They must be the only two EVER MADE! The rarity is driving the price up!

 

[Eric Group]

Is that a typo, or is it really that much? I thought masakuni tools cost at most, 200USD.

Naw man... That is real US dollars. Not pesos...

Most of their shears cost around 200-250$... I don't understand why these are three times that! I still cannot see me spending $250 on a set of shears either but again I am quite frugal! AKA CHEAP AS HELL.

 

[Eric Group]

This has to be the most ever written about the most inconsequential and easily replaced bonsai tool. Hoofpick, chopstick, old, bent silverware, large nail (also bent), fingers, screwdriver, etc. etc. etc.

Nuff!

I think we veered off of root hooks quite a few times so far... I saw on the Art of Bonsai videos that an old screw driver is what the master at their nursery in Japan recommended for most root work. All the apprentices were using them on one video about repotting a large Cedar!

 

[Plantermunn]

So tell me about your knob cutters.

How do they work?
As a beginner do I realy need one?

 

[jk_lewis]

So tell me about your knob cutters.

How do they work?
As a beginner do I realy need one?

Dunno what got into the Japanese heads on these. REALLY odd grips. Hard to hold. They do have a use, though -- but maybe not for a beginner.