Just get a grafting knife. Don't use the any knife, a grafting knife has a beveled blade which will give you nice straight cuts. Any cheap grafting knife will work fine.

Scott

I picked up the Omega tool on ebay, its nice!! The cuts line up so perfectly every time. I'm glad I got it.

Peace,
Little John

The Omega tool works well on the right size stock but it is not the answer for most grafting. The reason many people say they can not graft is they don't spend enough time and effort doing it. Some people only learn from their mistakes and must be willing to make them to learn. Al

Everyone's going to have their own preference.

I was a carpenter for years and have found that a plain Stanley Utility Knife with replaceable/retractable blades is the easiest for me to use. The blades are thin, stiff, and razor sharp, and a 100-pack of extra blades is cheap. The large body is easy to hold onto, and the bright green color is hard to lose.

When I first started grafting I bought a whole host of grafting knives, from folding-blade ones to the Tina budding knives to the Omega cutter. They now all sit in the toolbox while the Stanley gets used all season.

Depending on the Omega tool will severely limit the type of grafts you will be able to do, as the stock sizes have to be just right. Learn to master the cleft graft, the whip graft (tongue is optional), and the bud graft, and you will be able to handle just about any situation that comes along.

Applenut

Totally agree, Applenut.

I use the OLFA large size, it feels good in your hand.
My preferred method is bark grafting, root stock up to thumb size in diameter.
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Konrad

Here is a link that might be useful: Bark Grafting

I don't do nearly as much grafting as most on this site, but I consider my Stanley utility knife the perfect tool for the job. "Sharp" is essential, and with the utility knife it's easy to have that. The stiff blade and nice, big, grippable handle are nearly as important. The edge goes where you guide it- and if you ding it doing something stupid the fix is quick and simple! $2.00 at a second hand store plus a box of new blades.

(Not that I would ever do anything stupid ...)

:-)M

Anyone have a model number on the Stanley utility knife they like? The ones I found don't look like Konrad's.

The Fruitnut

fruitnut, Stanley 10-099

Konrads is a break off blade type.

It took me two full days on a ladder to top work 100 saddle grafts. I did prune and branch spread while I was up there. I tell you my working hands were taped from the cuts and sore. If I knew about the 3 in 1 grafting tool I would have gotten one.
Might have taken only a day and a half with the $62 tool.

Here is a link that might be useful: 3 in 1 Grafting Tool

Git-er-done grafting kit: stanley-type razor knife, 3-m Scotch 77 electric tape, and a tube of acrylic-latex caulk (like Dap Alex).