Nigel, I find it beautiful the way you to look at the whole process of creating something. Taking the time, for instance, to look at this simple tool, can open space to realize that it is actually full of details, and we can work with our creativity to make it better to our perspective, especially if we can enjoy being in that moment, just like you aways do with your trees. You're an incredible artist and thank you sharing your art with us.
@DavesBonsai2 жыл бұрын
Leave it to Nigel to spend more time on a tool than most of us spend on our trees. A great lesson in patience and doing things the right way. Thanks Nigel!
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Dave, I do enjoy this type of work!
@betulaobscura2 жыл бұрын
Nice restoration!
@jokesterk53022 жыл бұрын
A good toolkit really is half of the job,so it's very worth while taking good care of it,so I reallly admire your attention for everything you handle! Thanks for sharing it.
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Thanks 👍
@sophiaangelini43682 жыл бұрын
The ultimate artist! A philosophy lesson.
@peterw28452 жыл бұрын
Hats off to you Nigel to have the patience to do all this by hand 👍, great job !
@bizmayker2 жыл бұрын
This is very helpful Nigel! Good job!
@BruceElliott2 жыл бұрын
This was very instructive. The first bonsai tool I ever bought was a pair of concave branch cutters about 30 years ago. Unfortunately, I neglected them for a period of time, and they rusted up much like Nigel's spherical cutters. I cleaned all the rust off some time ago, but I didn't attempt to smooth out the pits and dimples left behind. Now I see that it can be done with some patience, and it looks like the kind of satisfying work that I enjoy. I'll definitely give it a shot. I'm looking forward to Part 2 with advice for sharpening the cutting edges!
@BruceElliott2 жыл бұрын
I almost forgot - do you have a Dremmel type rotary tool, and would you recommend using that to smooth out some of the tighter nooks and crannies near the pivot joint?
@christopherrector74614 ай бұрын
Tool restoration is one of my hobbies in addition to bonsai, would love to see you eventually add a 'restoration station's section to your operation. Old antique tools can be just as beautiful as a wonderful aged bonsai, and restoring them is an art. Love this
@christopherrector74614 ай бұрын
Plus then you can restore tools to use for restoring other tools. Have a really funky arsenal, and it's a never ending hobby just as bonsai
@wood-youknowit2 жыл бұрын
Great job with amazing detail, most people want a quick fix, but old fashion hard work saves the day.
@vishallagoo2 жыл бұрын
Learned lot of basic tool usage today. Thank nigel 😁
@OddBonsai2 жыл бұрын
It sure looks like a brand new tool. It would be nice if you could restore the bluing. At the start if the video you said that the two cutting edges should meet perfectly, but I remember that Hong said there should be a bit of overbite in one of your older tool sharpening videos. Looking forward for the sharpening.
@grahammorris19972 жыл бұрын
" there should be a bit of overbite " - Agreed
@twodogsyyc67292 жыл бұрын
Brownells has bluing for guns that would work very well. It's the only way to "blue" without heat.. take care
@jessevdmeer2 жыл бұрын
I think Nigel also likes the process of cleaning the tools by hand. But soaking rusted tools in Cola overnight, and clean it with alcohol works also very nice 👍🏼
@BonsaiCornwall2 жыл бұрын
Great work Nigel, thank you! 🪴
@michaelcowart61002 жыл бұрын
I lost my concave cutters in the yard last fall. If I ever find them again I imagine that I will be doing this too. Thanks Nigel!
@MaybeBonsai2 жыл бұрын
It looks like new already! Very nice progress on the restoration!
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Xin, hopefully it will look factory when I'm done! \
@PeriodWoodworker2 жыл бұрын
The key to a pair of cutters that will stay sharp the longest is to NOT sharpen so the edges touch. They should always be slightly offset. Try running your thumb nail across the edges of a new pair and you will always feel the offset.
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Yes, thanks, there should be a slight overlap!!
@leneecasteel20052 жыл бұрын
Hi Nigel!! WOW, you have done a great job so far. They are looking beautiful!! I have, not a suggestion, but another thing you can do to make them even more user friendly. There is a plastic (or rubber, I'm not sure which) dip that you can use on things like the handles. When I was still working at the Albany Oregon Water Reclamation Facility, our tools kept getting "borrowed" by some of the other workgroups. So we got some Hot Pink dip, and it was magical! Our tools always showed back up if they were even borrowed in the first place after that. It also makes them easier on the hands if you have to grip them hard for whatever reason. Just thought I would mention the product. I don't have any tools that have rusted, but I'm very glad to see how I can clean them back up when it does happen. Definitely a video I will save to my "Bonsai" video folder. Thank you Nigel and God Bless!
@andrewogawa10292 жыл бұрын
After the sand paper would steel wool work better. Getting rid of the rust starting with soaking in vinegar overnight might help. I agree with the radius idea. I don’t like the handle to be too smooth/slippery, harder for me to hold for repeated cuts.
@twodogsyyc67292 жыл бұрын
Great job Nigel. Ceracoat is a great product to treat the tool so it won't ever rust.
@waterlover2 жыл бұрын
Love the customization of the pruners, Nigel Bonsai Customs😈
@abbasduman69632 жыл бұрын
You could also use vinegar to remove the rust. Also, do you think that spherical branch pruners are suitable as the first branch cutter for beginners?
@donteven57122 жыл бұрын
Soaking in vinegar/ water overnight would save you a lot of time removing rust
@youngwillie95022 жыл бұрын
Restored my favorite iron skillet with vinegar. It looked like a chunk of Mars when I found it.
@5anctvm972 жыл бұрын
Just be sure to dip in an alkaline water to stop the vinegar from corroding the metal, followed by WD-40 to prevent flash rust.
@HansWeberHimself2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, but where’s the fun in that? 😉
@chrisrose3232 жыл бұрын
I got this hybrid prune. Love it!
@katyb27932 жыл бұрын
I never thought my metals and plastics class from high school would actually come in handy one day 😁
@5anctvm972 жыл бұрын
1. Wire wheel to remove rust, dirt and resin. 2. Files and sandpaper to remove any casting marks and pitting. 3. Degrease the acetone a few times. 4. Blue the metal with Super Blue by Birchwood Casey. (The only way to blue metal with out heat.)
@jeef162 жыл бұрын
lol using super blue is a bit overkill and ngl it doesn't protect against rust as well as you'd think. A clear enamel, either spray or nail polish, would work a lot better in my experience. Also, I love to use evaporust before wire wheeling it really helps remove excess rust and makes the process go faster
@arnaudinputselector2 жыл бұрын
you should buy a kaneshin polishing gum it's perfect for that. i use it to clean my tools after every time i use them. wd40 is also great if you have rust in the articulations of your tools
@arnaudinputselector2 жыл бұрын
it will save you a lot of time ;-)
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip!
@arnaudinputselector2 жыл бұрын
@@TheBonsaiZone my pleasure! ;) I found them on the French website « le jardin de moji » but I’m sure other shops sell them. It’s called « gomme de polissage Kaneshin » in French.
@agnesbrown86302 жыл бұрын
Soak in Cola, does a wonderful job!
@Dave_0993_I2 жыл бұрын
I like your draw-filing technique. . . .and I'm a seasoned Blacksmith. .
@chelstoncheah85902 жыл бұрын
Nigel, probably you can also use rust and sap remover from Kikuwa. Removes rust like a charm
@sorrentowolf22012 жыл бұрын
Just a quick safety tip! Don't use files without a handle? The file tang is ment to be inside the handle, & not in your hand or wrist?
@dinudavis42302 жыл бұрын
You are a good chemist too... *chemistry should be respected* 😀
@stuartrose76282 жыл бұрын
Autosol metal polish is really good Stuff Nigel
@JustMyThreeCents2 жыл бұрын
Nigel, love love the videos!!!
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Michael and you are also Foist to comment!!!!
@chrisrose3232 жыл бұрын
Dont get laquer Nigel. Gunblue gives it a beutifull dark color and provides very good protection. After Gunblue, oil it.
@marysoldeeley22182 жыл бұрын
Already looking like a different tool!
@dadhobbies2 жыл бұрын
Evap-o-rust. Get it from princess auto. Can reuse and lasts for a long time. So easy.
@cwjones50742 жыл бұрын
Use gun blue to finish them 👍 great job
@iamaduckquack2 жыл бұрын
Evaporust would make short work of the rust. Also Fireball Tool did a thorough test of the 'push don't pull' file thing and disproved it. Push vs pull makes no difference to the file.
@juandiegovasquez14972 жыл бұрын
Where is Hong when you need a tool sharpening lesson. Ha! Cheers from Hamilton.
@johnbrennan20282 жыл бұрын
Hello ,I picked up a few old bonsai cutters ,one has a missing rivet? Where would I find a replacement and what kind ? Ty so much , love your channel ,john
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
You could use a stainless bolt and lock nut, that way you can take them apart for sharpening!
@markwallerich1455Ай бұрын
Get a gun bluing kit to get the tool black again like it was originally.
@almac25982 жыл бұрын
Our bonsai scissors have nice finger loops on the handles that make them easier to use. Does anyone know if there are after market clip/slip-on finger loops for tools. I've searched, but can't find any.
@thecommenter5782 жыл бұрын
I think a blueing finish would look nice on this tool, and would prevent it to rust again
@lukasmihara2 жыл бұрын
I tried to find out who made the pruners, but it is very difficult to read. Maybe someone who knows some Japanese/Chinese can help. I'm pretty sure the last sign is 芝 but I'm very unsure about the two before/above that.
@peeweepabalate3022 жыл бұрын
How do you align the blades?
@Dave_0993_I2 жыл бұрын
Rust-bluing! Or cold-bliuing compound.
@sbragaglia2 жыл бұрын
Shouldn’t the terminal part of the handle have groves so that the tool does not slip in your hands?
@Crootcovitz2 жыл бұрын
There are lots of files out there in the world. Most of them on computers.
@TheBonsaiZone2 жыл бұрын
Good one!
@susanrickett77512 жыл бұрын
Hello Nigel!
@sbragaglia2 жыл бұрын
Maybe it’s just a urban legend, but how about submerging the tool in a bath of the famous fizzy drink (soda drink) for a day? According to the folklore, it cleans the rust perfectly! 😅
@ArdArdArd1232 жыл бұрын
Coke works, because it has a lot of acids in it. But vinegar works better. And even better would be a specialty rust remover or using electrosis.
@grahammorris19972 жыл бұрын
@@ArdArdArd123 It's a weak phosphoric acid. Not good for tooth enamel!
@priveprive67622 жыл бұрын
Ist so funny ,last week I was doing the same ,but I dit it with electrolysis and after that I Bleu them whit Perma bleu ,you can buy it on the internet