Stanwood Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Carbon Steel Shear Set and Tool Kit Discontinued by Manufacturer

Bonsai enthusiasts require sharp, clean, and reliable tools for their work. This set does not disappoint. After extensive shopping and reviewing, this set gives you the essential bonsai tools you need. Most bonsai tool kits are either terribly made, or are ludicrously expensive. This kit plays it in the middle and gives you great tools at a reasonable price.Below, each of the ten pieces of this set are listed. They also have a short comment underneath on how they performed on an actual bonsai specimen. Beside the name, I've listed how many stars each tool would have garnered individually. I also listed whether the tool in question was free of rust and dirt.1. Knob Cutter: 5/5 starsIt cut cleanly and was very sharp. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.2. Branch Cutter: 4/5 starsThe cut was clean, and the heads fit tightly together when closed. It was slightly harder to move than the Knob cutter. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.3. Rake / Spatula: 5/5 starsThe handle felt solid and has a good black finish. This piece worked especially well at raking the soil. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.4. Leaf Shears: 2/5 starsIt was sharp but too small. I noted that that the blades didn't meet together when closed. I haven't used this tool because I'm afraid of an uneven cut mutilating what I'm trimming. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt. UPDATE 2-19-13: Found no use for substandard blades. -DISPOSED-5. Root Hook: 5/5 starsThe tip was nicely sharpened and the neoprene handle grips very well. This tool is invaluable for combing out congested roots. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.6. Root Shears: 3/5 starsThese are the hardest of the scissor/shears in the set to move. Oiling is definitely needed on this piece. I also felt the handles were excessively large. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.7. Long-Nosed Scissors: 4/5 starsIt was hard to move and required oiling and lubrication, but it cut nicely and arrived sharp. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.8. Fine Point Scissors: 5/5 starsThese scissors are smooth moving and great for trimming. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt.9. Wire Cutters: 4/5 starsThe head fits nicely together, but needs oiling for best results. *When it arrived, I examined it and found no rust or dirt. UPDATE 2-19-13: Slight rust was found on handle. Proceeded to wax all tools while storing them.10. Hemp Brush: 1/5 starDry, dusty, and dirty. I believe this piece of the set makes an excellent contribution to your local landfill. I see no reason that this tool is essential. Use a paintbrush if you want to smooth your dirt. -DISPOSED- It should be noted, although each tool worked and appears to be crafted well, that after arrival each tool was cleaned with alcohol and re-oiled. After oil was applied, each tool was then worked extensively to allow complete lubrication. I also purchased the ( Smith Abrasives Diamond Retractable Sharpener ) to allow sharpening of any tool if they were deficient or became dull. I recommend this purchase because proper sharpening of bonsai tools is essential to practicing the art form. The final analysis concludes that the tool set as a whole is crafted well and free of any major errors. Each tool scored on average 3.8stars.

I knew when I ordered these that they were cheap knock offs of the really fancy, really expensive, Japanese tools. I figured for 60 bucks it was worth a shot, and I am glad I took the chance.Pros:1. Affordable for entry level into the hobby. Plant material can be costly, tools can be costly, etc. This affordable kit has enough in it to keep a beginner working for a long time. For less than the price of one tool from the high end. For bonsai you need 3 things: Concave cutters, Wire cutters, and scissors of some sort, a root rake/pick is nice but a chopstick or skewer will work for this in a pinch. And the concave cutters are semi negotiable depending on your tree. All 3 are here.2. Relatively decent quality on the tools that are important (see above)3. Ordered with super saver shipping and got it a day or two before earliest estimate.Cons1. The biggest set of scissors is very stiff. I tried lubrication and that didn't help, it's just a stiff joint.2. 3 pairs of scissors seems a little extreme. I styled a new tree the day after I got these, and literally 2 of the 3 sets of scissors are unused.3. This one is the biggest one, the wire cutter is almost worthless for bonsai. It is a scissor type wire cutter and for bonsai you really need a cutter that the blades butt into each other (think bolt cutters). The scissor style cutters have a tendency to bend wire as it cuts. When taking wire off of a tree that can lead to real bad scarring to your branches that will take well over a year to grow out.Overall I'm giving these a 4/5. The tools I needed are in good working order but some of the other stuff is junky. The tools I didn't "need" are a nice addition. If I had purchaed (for example) a high end concave cutter it would in no way improve my tree or bonsai skills but I would have paid more for that 1 tool than for this whole set. If I had to go back and make the choice, I would definitely order again

I read the comments and am quite puzzled by the level of expectations of some of the commenters. I've been doing bonsai since 1973, which doesn't make me good but does make me a veteran. I bought a Masakuni medium concave cutter and a knuckle cutter for $35 each and that was close to 35 years ago. I continue to use a pair of small Fiskar pruners for fine trimming, There are a number of videos on YouTube that can direct you on how to care for the tools. I would recommend this set to any user (not giving up on using the Masakuni's and Fiskar's that I already have), they are quite functional.Forgot to mention, I also bought a pair of bonsai tweezers, which I consider essential for weeding with minimum disruption to the soil and potting.

Got exactly what I thought I was getting. These are beginner tools none the less for people who are just getting into bonsai. No reason to go spend $300+ on a higher grade tool set if you are just starting. This is everything you will probably need as a beginner and for cheap! These tools will work fine if proper care is given and they are sharpened. If you are wondering, yes, these tools are nothing comparable to high grade Japanese bonsai tools. They have their flaws and imperfections that make them so cheap, but they are under warranty for a long time. Not only that, the company actually admits they are not perfect quality and doesn't lie straight to your face about them.

Great set pf tools!!!’n

I bought this after reading the reviews. Who knew bonsai tools could be so expensive! When I got the set I was a bit disappointed because they appeared cheap, heavy, and slightly rusty, but my husband, a beginning bonsai learner says they're great and very sharp!

These tools seem very well made. They are heavily made tools but so well balanced that they aren't tiring to use. As a beginner with Bonsai and this being only the second time I bought tools for my Bonsai, it would have been nice if they had marked the tools for eaier identification.