Bonsai Tools

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BostonBull

Joined
Dec 15, 2007
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Anyone have experience here with Japanese made Bonsai tools? I am looking for some scissors o do light pruning with. One or two companies say they use "Japanese steel" both carbon and stainless, but don't list their HRC or steel type. One company says they use SK steel for stainless and "yellow", "white" or "blue" for their carbon steels, but again no HRC and no further info on which steel exactly.

What would you do?!
 
Arathol said:
Not worry about it so much. A plant won't notice a couple points on the hardness scale. You don't need the latest super steel to snip a couple twigs off a bonsai tree. Regular carbon steel has been working fine for some time now.
Click to expand...

Really the same could be said for any cutting task....that hasn't stopped anybody from chasing the latest sexy super steels!
 
Totally agree! The Blue and White steels are full carbon and not new age super steels?

The more I think and learn the more stainless makes sense from a sanitation and cleaning perspective.

The few folks who make stainless tools in Japan all quote as using "Yasuki Silver Steel" that "doesn't rust easy". Any idea what this steel is, how rust resistant it is and how best to sharpen it?

Link if you're interested.... https://kaneshin.shop2.multilingualcart.com/index_en_jpy_7-160.html
 
BostonBull said:
Totally agree! The Blue and White steels are full carbon and not new age super steels?

The more I think and learn the more stainless makes sense from a sanitation and cleaning perspective.

The few folks who make stainless tools in Japan all quote as using "Yasuki Silver Steel" that "doesn't rust easy". Any idea what this steel is, how rust resistant it is and how best to sharpen it?

Link if you're interested.... https://kaneshin.shop2.multilingualcart.com/index_en_jpy_7-160.html
Click to expand...

The cleaning and sanitation perspective of carbon steels doesn't stop many chefs both pro and home from using carbon steel kitchen knives. The best knives for behind the sushi counter even today are still carbon steel knives. Bonsai as an art has been around in Japan since the 12th Century and no one seems to have had any serious problem with the steel used.

Yasugi (sometimes written as Yasuki) is Hitachi's steel production factory where carbon steels are made. The "Silver" stainless steel refers to the Ginsan (aka Gin3) which translates to Silver No.3.

http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/ginsan.shtml
 
I don't know the brands that you have seen, but make sure you check out ARS. They make top notch tools that don't cost a fortune.
 
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