Purchasing specialized bonsai tools is an investment. With the proper care, these tools will last you decades, if not a lifetime.
Cleaning
Cutting tools should be thoroughly cleaned after each use. Always be careful of the sharp cutting edges. Remove dirt with a clean, dry cloth, and if necessary, use water and a gentle dish soap to remove sap. Dry the tool thoroughly to prevent rusting. Proper cleaning will also prevent spreading diseases upon subsequent use.
Oiling
Unless you have stainless steel tools, they should also be wiped with an oiled rag to prevent the humidity in the atmosphere from rusting your tools over time. This will also keep hinges and joints operating smoothly. Camellia oil (tea seed oil) has been traditionally used in Japan to maintain both swords and woodworking tools, but regular vegetable oil is an equally good, and more reasonably priced alternative. A light, clear oil is preferable.
Sharpening
Depending on the grade of your tool, and the use it receives, you will occasionally need to sharpen your tool. Our higher grade tools have more carbon in their steel, making them harder and therefore able to stay sharper longer. But just like fine knives and other tools, your bonsai tools will eventually lose their razor-sharp edge. When this happens, it is essential to have them sharpened so that pruning wounds are clean and heal more quickly.
You can sharpen shears yourself relatively easily using a water stone or a diamond plate. The trick with sharpening shears is to evenly sharpen the entire length of the blades, following the original bevel. This can be difficult, since most Japanese shears are riveted together and cannot be taken apart for sharpening. Sharpening improperly, too aggressively or too often can lead to the blades not mating well, which will decrease the effectiveness of the tool.
Sharpening concave cutters and knob cutters presents a particular challenge. With these tools, the blades must mate exactly and with a slight overbite, to work optimally. Without the proper sharpening expertise, sharpening evenly along the length of the small blade can be difficult to achieve. For many people, the sharpening of these tools is best left to a professional. You might also consider leaving the sharpening of your shears to a professional. You can find a sharpening professional in the yellow pages under sharpening services and the cost of these services is typically only a fraction of the value of the tools.
With a few minutes of care after each use, and proper sharpening only when needed, your tools will remain a pleasure to use again and again.
