Mike423

Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone out there (and I'm sure there's someone) who knows of any high quality Bonsai websites where they sell high quality tools and good items out there (preferably with competitive pricing). I have found a number of sites out there but they are way to overly expensive compared to what the items normally cost or just have little yo nothing offered. I found one site that looks really nice and had some awesome items that were priced to sell but they are located in the UK and after multiple attempts to contact them (needed to contact personally for shipping cost prior to purchase) even after receiving a response from them the second time don't seem to want to bother with me.


On another note, I was planning on purchasing a wireless Thermostat where I could place multiple sensors in different locations and monitor the temps. I don't know of any brands or for that much anything more on the subject other than I would like to get this type of thermostat. Any advice out there on what brands are cost effective and work good? The sensors have to be able to withstand below freezing temperatures.

Thanks
-Mike

artyanimal

Mike423,

For me tools = anything from chopsticks to chainsaws. I do however, draw the line just before heavy explosives!

Could you help us out with some specifics?

Cheers,

Arty

Mike423

Tools like top end Japanese concave cutters & shears, carving tools/power bits, turnbuckles etc.. as well a store with normal commodities like cut paste with at least decent prices. Surprisingly there's no real Bonsai stores or nurseries in the Chicago land area, and the ones that sell anything have nothing worth interest and are sky high in price. The only place I usually get soil amendments pots tools etc.. is at a bonsai show held at the Chicago Botanical Gardens (Midwest Bonsai Society Show), but even there the prices can get quite high depending on items in question and the vendor supplying it, and have prices that seem to lean twords bypassers that seem to know little to nothing about the world of Bonsai instead of prices for enthusiasts.

centaura

Well, you've already mentioned my suggestion - going Midwest's shows at the Garden since you were in Chicago. Unfortunately, what you're seeing there is pretty much the going prices for things in the US, as those are some of the major national vendors for bonsai equipment in the states. Part of that cost is that its all imported from Japan. Another place that you can try is stonelantern.com - they're always having sales at their site, but beware of really cheap tools. Any kind of cutter that you're going to get for less than $20 is probably not going to be very good. I recently thought I found a deal at Hidden Gardens on the south side of the Chicagoland metro (can't remember the suburb, only that it was south) - got a pair of concave cutters for around $20. They are so stiff, and the blade heads are so thick, that you can barely use them. I'm back to using my nicked pair because they at least cut.

Bonsai House in Detroit had some decent beginner level tools (i.e. cheapest costing) at good prices, but they don't have a web presence (that I am aware of).

-Centaura

Mike423

Thanks Centaura, I found this one site that had some great stuff (kaizenbonsai.com), but am unable to purchase from them? Any stores you know of that might have similar items or prices? I'd like to find a nice site similar to this one that I can slowly purchase top end tools. I also would like to find one where I can find good quality unique power tool bits, and items like turn buckles as well as other specialty tools.

I was also wondering if there were some experienced bonsai enthusiast that could give me some insight on what top brand tools are best, like Masakuni, Fujiyama or Nobuichi. From my limited research it seems like Nobuichi might be best. Lastly what would you guys that do use top end tools think is a better material in general concerning what the tool is made of high carbon or stainless steel. I've heard of some tools (Nobuichi) being made of stainless steel with the cutting edges being laminated with hi-carbon steel.

Also is there any benefits to owning additional smaller sized tools other than for the use on smaller Bonsais with with tools for tighter work spaces are needed?

Thanks again everyone

-Mike

centaura

Another web source would be Dallas bonsai - they have a variety of tools at reasonable prices on their website. As for top tool brands, I've been told that masakuni are the top brands of tools. When we have Masters in from Japan in Chicago, we have a set of Masakunis that are for them to use. I've heard good and bad about stainless steel tools - good that they are high quality tools, but bad that if you need to sharpen them its nigh on impossible. I've never owned any, but have been told that by others. Another good higher-up brand (high, but lower than masakuni) that's available in Chicago is yoshiaki - there's a guy that I could put you in touch with who's a dealer. Other than that, I did forget to mention two other sources that you could travel to easily from Chicago, but again they have no web presence (I know that you're looking for websites, but a lot of the smaller dealers don't have ones set up). They are -

1 - there's a small vendor who oftens sets up a sales table at Milwaukee Bonsai Society meetings. I've invited him down to Midwest meetings, but he hasn't taken me up on it yet.

2 - there's the Michigan All-State on May 14 & 15, they get about a half dozen regional sized vendors, who are a little cheaper than the national vendors that the Midwest shows bring in. I've never compared tool prices, so don't know on that front, but they often have cheaper stock, etc.

There was a bonsai store in Chicago, but it closed about 6/7 years ago. Though, it would not have been much help in the cost fighting sense - its name 'Yasakunai' means 'not too cheap' in Japanese. He closed right before I moved to this area, and is now the currator of bonsai at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Kaizen might be a vendor at the upcoming ABS Seminar in Louisville - I believe I saw them vending at the North Carolina Arboretum show this last Oct. Not sure about their internet presence/sales.

And to one of your orginal questions, I've found thermostats like you're looking for at Home Depot, but can't recommend brand names or anything - I have one and its great for monitoring my root cellar, but I don't recall what it is.

Hope that helps,

-Centaura

centaura

Well, that one depends on the size trees that you work on. I have a lot of shohin trees, so love my smaller tools. Even then, I've used my small concave cutter when working on larger trees too - when working with smaller branches, or where I want small, precise wounds (even on big trees, the smaller that you can keep the wounds, the faster they heal). I bring out the bigger tools when power is what is needed verses finesse, or for larger cuts. So, yes, I'm a big fan of small tools for many uses, big trees or small trees.

-Centaura

Mike423

Thanks centaura, a lot to digest and think about. Sounds like you go to alot of bonsai shows near and far. I would like to but I only have the patience to and am more limited to locations a few hours away at most, plus I'm not too familiar on the wide spectrum of shows that take place as of yet. I noticed you said you were a member of the Midwest bonsai society, I just joined myself the other month and have only gone to one meeting so far, so I don't really know anyone there yet, except for you now


I think I head of the Nursery you were talking about that closed some years ago in the Chicago land area. I heard from one person that the owner used to have some nice classes and was quite a good teacher. I heard he closed up shop but does still take part in teaching some classes that take place during the show or something like that, but I didn't know he was more involved than that. I always considered taking a class or two that the Garden offer's every spring but have been hesitant due to the prices and to how beneficial they might be.

Thanks again for mentioning some locations near me. I wasn't necessarily looking for websites, but ask for ones in general because I didn't expect to have help from someone who was familiar with locations near me I'll have to look into that Louisville thing, so far Kaizen seems to be the only store that I've found online that seems to live up to what I'm looking for in a Bonsai provider, and ironically is the one I cant access.

I'll take your work on Masakuni being a good brand choice. While I'm intelligible on most Bonsai commodities, I'm not familiar with tool brands and what to look for as being good or fair price (other than what my eyes and sense might tell me).

centaura

Well, if you've been to a MBS meeting, then you've seen me in person - I was running things Its also a joke for those who know me how much I love to travel, and especially travel for bonsai (ask Treebeard), but then I'm crazy.

Ivan Watters was the owner of that store, and is now the curator of bonsai at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He's the one who holds the classes at the Garden (three times a year, next ones start in April), though you're right, they are a bit expensive - but they are good classes. Ivan is going to be our speaker at the Feb. meeting if you'd like to get a feel for him. The other learning opportunities in Chicago-land are the workshops that we have in conjunction with the shows at the Garden - those are taught by the vendors or in August we have some with the guest master.

No worries. I don't drop by here much anymore, but I know what's around the Midwest as far as bonsai is concerned.


The ABS Seminar in Louisville will be a good show, but many of the vendors will be the sames ones you see in Chicago. They have a few different ones, I haven't looked at their list recently to see who else they're getting verses who we get.

Masakuni will be one of the top ones, and the most expensive. I'm usually fine with the yoshiaki tools that Fred sells at our meetings. They're not as expense as masakuni, but are still a good tool. Fred brings tools to most of our meetings to sell.

Sorry to the rest of the forum that this turned into a "Chicagoland resource thread" - hopefully some of the other info has been helpful.

-Centaura

nhamood

I personally went to ebay or www.got-bonsai.co.uk