Bonsai long chisel - White steel - "Length 300mm " 6mm No.657 / 9mm No.658
This carving tool was commissioned by a professional bonsai craftsman and created for them.
The handle is very long, allowing for work in intricate areas.
It is used for large bonsai trees.
Two blade lengths are available: 6mm and 9mm. Please select your preference.
Overall length: 300mm
Material: White steel
(What is White Steel?)
This is a hand-forged chisel crafted from a single iron rod.
It is made using the traditional Japanese sword-making method, combining soft iron with hard steel to achieve both "hardness" and "toughness."
The steel used is Yasugi steel (White steel).
Yasuki steel refers to steel produced at the Yasuki Plant of Hitachi Metals, Ltd. in Yasugi City, Tottori Prefecture. It has long been famous as a production area for tamahagane, the steel used for Japanese swords.
There are three types of Yasugi steel commonly used for blades: Blue steel, White steel, and Yellow steel.
These names come from the practice of attaching colored paper to the finished steel to distinguish its quality.
Blue steel is mainly used for sashimi knives, while White steel is mainly used for deba knives.
Because the sharpness of the knife subtly affects the taste of sashimi, Blue steel, which is harder and less prone to chipping, is used for sashimi knives.
Conversely, deba knives, which cut through the hard bones of fish, use White steel, which is slightly more prone to chipping (though this is not visible). Using the harder Blue Steel would cause it to slip.
Deba knife
Therefore, this chisel uses White Steel, which is easier to work with on trunks and branches.
*As a side note, in ancient Japan, during the samurai era, it is said that new swords would slip, so swordsmen would deliberately wear and tear the blades by repeatedly inserting and removing them from sand dunes.
