The branch cutters


There are three types of branch cutters

  • the concave cutter
stainless steel bonsai concave cutter
  • the knob cutter
tian bonsai tools knob cutter stainles steel from tian bonsai tools
  • round edge cutter
round edge mixed cutter for bonsai

What are the branch cutters

Bonsai Branch Cutters are very useful bonsai tools and are specially shaped to allow you to get in close when pruning and shaping bonsai trees. 

The blades on bonsai branch cutters are angled to give a clean neat cut that helps the trees heal and reduces the risk of infection. 

Tian bonsai tools branch cutters are good quality and will last well if looked after. 

The Japanese bonsai branch cutters are a bigger investment with similar durability. 



Steel types

All brands like Mu Tian bonsai tools also manufacture their carbon steel alloy series upon the same design. You can find them in the market too.

We choose stainless steel. The stainless steel heavy duty of theses cutters will keep a sharp edge indefinitely when properly used and cared rust free with a low maintenance

This tool is designed for cutting branches flush to the trunk so that the resulting wound can heal quickly with little scarring.

The concave cutter is the single most important tool for bonsai use and for which there is no substitute.

Spherical Knob Cutter

The knob cutter (as known as spherical cutter too) offers a tight cut at the base of the branch so that the wound disappears in a short time.

Also a tool that you will need if you want a finish in the pruning wound like the professional bonsaist.

The knuckle cutter has no substitute at the hardware store. It is a small investment for a great result.

knob cutter spherical branch cutter bonsai
Stainless steel Knob cutter. The “spherical” branch cutter for bonsai

The spherical knob cutter is designed to remove trunk knobs and roots.

This tools is somtimes known as knuckle cutter too

The head is shaped like a ball, hence the name ‘spherical’.

They produce a hollow, circular cut that heals quickly with a minimum of scarring.

Concave Branch Cutter

stainless stelle concave cutter for bonsai b
The 8″ version is considered the basic size. 8″ overall. Similar in appearance to above. Made in China.


This razor sharp tool is designed for cutting branches flush to the trunk.

The resulting wound can then heal over quickly with very little scarring.

Will keep a sharp edge indefinitely when properly used and cared for.

The concave cutter is the single most important tool for bonsai use and for which there is no substitute.

Round Edge cutter

Between concaveltool and the spherical, to offer better performance, the Japanese bonsai brands developed a new tool some years ago.


The Chinese brands quickly drew their verisions and the result was the curved cut concave, an straight cut based a curved blade. The round edge cutter

an hybrid tool between the concave cutter and the spherical cutter for bonsai


It is a half concave cutter and half knob cutter tool. A true delight of precise work. If you are thinking of buying your pruner, you have the benefits of the first two.
An intermediate solution that can save you some dollars and be useful in many occasions.

Clean and maintenance

As with all bonsai tools Bonsai branch cutters should be wiped with a light oil after use to keep them in good condition. 

If looked after then your bonsai branch cutters will give you years of service.

These tools for bonsai also interest you: