Most tools and other accessories used in vegetative propagation can be purchased at garden / horticultural dealers.
| (a) Grafting knife | Grafting and budding knives: Several types and qualities available. The knives should have an edge of hard steel that will keep sharp for a long time. |
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| (b) Budding knife | The grafting knife (a) has a straight edge. The budding knife (b) has a curved edge and a blunt end for opening the bark and inserting the bud. |
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| (c) Double bladed budding knife | A double bladed budding knife (c) is used for patch-budding. |
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 | Sharpening stone: There are stones for oil and stones for water. The stone should be hard and have a plain surface. The best type has a medium grit stone for rough work and a hard fine-grit stone for final sharpening. |
 | Pruner or secateurs: Several types and qualities available: For light pruning, e.g. thin cuttings and scions and for removal of leaves, a light type with straight blades is preferred. A strong type with curved blades is preferred for heavier pruning. |
Grafting wax: Various types are commercially available. Some are hot types, which are melted before use and which harden when cooled down. The waxes are applied with a small paint brush. Vaseline can be used as an alternative.
| How to sharpen a knife |
| To sharpen the grafting knife, the initial grinding may be done with a medium grit stone, but a hard, fine-grit stone should be used for the final sharpening. The stone should be wet with water or oil during sharpening. Do not use a carborundum stone, because it is too abrasive and will grind off too much metal. Most grafters prefer to use knives beveled only on one side, the back side being flat, whereas others prefer a knife beveled on both sides. In sharpening the knife, hold it so that only the edge of the blade touches the stone in order that a stiff edge for cutting can be obtained. Use the whole width of the stone so that its surface will remain flat. A correctly sharpened knife of high-quality steel should retain a good edge for several days' work, with only occasional stropping on a piece of leather. |
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From Hartman and Kester 1983 |
