Concave cutters

Discussion in 'Maples' started by Jaybee63, Mar 8, 2015.

  1. Jaybee63

    Jaybee63 Rising Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Is it worth owning a set of concave cutters or other specialist cutters for pruning work on Japanese maples. I currently don't have any Bonsai, they would be used on garden planted and potted maples.
    If so, I would welcome recommendations on what people are using, hopefully tools available,here in the UK.

    John
     
  2. ROEBUK

    ROEBUK Generous Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Hiya John.. To be honest with you i had they same thought a few years ago and looked into buying a couple of specialist Bonsai cutters,soon changed my mind when i saw how much they would cost!!!! don't get me wrong the ones i looked at were real quality which you would automatically go for to give your JM the treatment they deserve , but over a £100 for two !! i don't think so,could buy a cracking new JM for that.

    Ended up buying a concave wire cutter and a pair of nail pincers ,honed the edges down for a better cutting area and these suffice for what i need to trim on my JM. Mark
     
  3. Jaybee63

    Jaybee63 Rising Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Thanks Mark. I never thought of wire cutters. I use Felco 8's for pruning, but sometimes end up with stubs on the trunk where I can't get in close. As you say, they are not cheap, I had been looking at the Bonsai dealers in terms of sourcing.

    John
     
  4. emery

    emery Renowned Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Hi John,

    I got a pair for around 30 Euro on the net, might have been ebay (it's been a while). Main usage is removing dead tops of understock once the graft has healed completely. I usually buy 1-2 year grafts, so especially with a side graft this needs to be done.

    I tried using these for close cutting with pruning, but actually found the concave cut to be a disadvantage to healing over. So not really recommended for this purpose. Like you I use Felco #8, which usually gets be close enough. I sometimes shave off a little with a sharp cutter, but it's a rare thing.

    -E
     
  5. Jaybee63

    Jaybee63 Rising Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Thanks Emery.
    At that sort of price i will probably go ahead and buy a pair. I guess there will always be occasions when they become useful.
    I want to try grafting next year, I have a lot of seed in the fridge at the moment having followed the advice on this site so sounds like they may be of use when the time comes.

    John
     
  6. opusoculi

    opusoculi Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    I have a concave cutter and don't use it frequently; but sometimes. I agree with emery.

    Other:
    I would recommand this italian made pruning-scissors with two schapened blades; no crushing .
     

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  7. Jaybee63

    Jaybee63 Rising Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Those pruners look like a good idea, I use felcos but still at times suffer from stem crushing.
    Any idea on the manufacturer and model?

    John
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2015
  8. opusoculi

    opusoculi Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Last edited: Mar 16, 2015
  9. kaydye

    kaydye Active Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    I decided to spend the money on one and have never regretted it. It is like a surgeon's tool and even though I do have some container maples, I use it more training young trees in my garden. I also have a bigger one for larger branches, like pre-sawing size.
     
  10. Jaybee63

    Jaybee63 Rising Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    Thanks for all the advice, I am going to bite the bullet and purchase a pair.
    I'd like to be able to neaten up some of the more visible pruning cuts, I know about not going past the branch collar, but just want a neater healed cut.

    John
     
  11. Kaitain4

    Kaitain4 Well-Known Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    I love my concave pruners. Makes a cut like no other. Better for healing.
     
  12. Jaybee63

    Jaybee63 Rising Contributor Maple Society 10 Years

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    kaitain,Which brand and size are you using?
     
  13. Kaitain4

    Kaitain4 Well-Known Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    I have no idea. They're Japanese, and probably have an inch and a half long pruning tip.
     
  14. Houzi

    Houzi Active Member 10 Years

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    I got a cheap pair from B&Q when they used to do a bonsai set,certainly nothing particularly quality looking about them but have used them 100's of times,so I don't think there's any need to spend a fortune on a pair.Anything above say 1/4" I'd use a normal pruner as I think the cut is better but if like me most of your pruning is small twigs&branches,I've found them invaluable as they can get right in there up close.For the JM's I rarely use anything else.
     
  15. banjoboy

    banjoboy Active Member

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    I bought a pair of these fujiyama concave cutters for $80 and really like them for trimming the rootstock from my grafts. I've had them for 4-5 years and them seem to be well built.

    http://www.dallasbonsai.com/product-p/bm59.htm
     

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