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It is important that you maintain your bonsai tools in good condition. Clean and well-taken care of tools have many benefits:
- Tools last for a long time.
- Blunt tools will make unsightly cuts, resulting in an ugly bonsai tree. Sharp and clean cuts don’t look unsightly and also heal faster.
- Pruning wounds caused by dirty blunt tools are more prone to bonsai pest and diseases.
Refer all the bonsai tools used to make a bonsai for more details.
It is essential to perform regular maintenance and care for your bonsai tools if you wish to get the most out of their performance. This will also minimize the need for repairs or replacements in the future.
The following care and maintenance measures should therefore be observed to ensure the longevity of the tools.
- Clean and oil them regularly so that they don’t rust and that they remain sharp at all times. Lubricating the tools with a rust-preventative lubricant like WD-40 is a wise idea.
- Cleaning can be done with denatured alcohol or even soap and water. Wipe off moisture with a rag and dry them. Do this preferably after each use. This is prevent transfer of disease from one tree to another.
- Remove the tree sap from the tools by using turpentine.
- You can even use Copper sulfate solution to disinfect your tools.
- If there is any rust or minor pitting, use a rust-eraser or wet-and-dry sandpaper to remove it.
- It is always a wise idea to keep your tools in a cover, preferably in a pocketed tool roll. This will protect them from rubbing against other tools. You can even use a toolbox or toolbag. However, make sure that it is stored in a moisture-proof shed.
There is the option of buying bonsai tool sets that come in a custom-made case. This makes storage of tools a little easier. - Be careful not to drop your tools.
- Also, do not use your tools as impact tools. (eg. do not use your large pliers or branch cutters as a hammer to drive the chisel in the trunk of the tree at the time of grafting). Use the tool only for the work it is meant to do.
- Make sure not to twist the shears or cutters as you are cutting. Excessive twisting will definitely ruin the alignment of the blades or the cutting head.
- Ensure that you protect the cutting heads of the tool from nicks and abrasions.
- Sharpen your tools only when necessary. (You must also learn the right technique to sharpen your bonsai tools. Because sharpening the tool in a wrong way can also lead to misalignment of the blades or cutting head).
- Traditional Japanese bonsai tools are mostly not made of steel. Hence, special care should be taken to keep them rust-free.
- You should always invest in the finest quality tools whenever possible. This will provide you with better service for a far longer period of time than the cheaper alternatives that may be tempting at the time.
