Here it is, our brand new Bark Stripping Jin Tool. It has two settings, one for thin branches and one for thicker branches, but you can adjust it easily to any size up to almost 2″ (5cm). In the photo below the blades are 1 & 1/2″ (4cm) apart in the center and you can get it to open even more. The overall lenght of the tool is 6 & 5/8″ (approx 17cm). Made in Japan by Koyo tools.
It passes with flying colors
I just braved the cold and ice and tried mine on three types of branches (oak, larch and juniper) of varying thicknesses. As soon as I got the hang of how much pressure to apply and the wrist movement (this took about 30 seconds), it worked like a charm. I look forward to tackling my bonsai with it come spring.
And speaking of tools
A new shipment of Koyo tools (including the one featured here) just came in from Japan. And BTW: tomorrow we start a tool sale, so the timing is just right.
Open wide. As you can see, it can strip large branches, as well as small and medium ones.
Nature’s crazy bunjin (this has nothing to do with the tool; just thought you might like to see it). We found this Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) on Point Lobos. The bottom half of the trunk (mostly not shown here) is straight and fairly thin. Then suddenly it veers sharply left, thickens out (it’s a sort of flat thickness characteristic of this species) and swirls around into a wild bunjin type tree. Photo by Amy Palmer.