Tobisho Topiary Clippers
Hakaribasami

More Information

If you get excited by quality, you’ll love these: Tobisho are a small family business deep in the mountains of Yamagata, an area famous for the quality of its steel. All their tools are drop forged (bashed with a very heavy pneumatic hammer) out of amazing quality steel, they have an incredible weight and balance, and great attention to detail. The Japanese name, hakaribasami, translates as leafcutting scissors, and it’s crucial not to cut old, hard growth, just soft green stuff. Long blades and spring action make clipping a doddle.

Tips

Clean with a Niwaki Crean Mate rust and sap eraser
Sharpen with a Niwaki #1000 grit stone
Protect with Niwaki Camellia Oil

Dip blades in a weak mix of bleach or Jeyes Fluids every so often when working, to stop them clogging, and to help prevent spreading nasty viruses. If necessary, use wire wool to scrub off any stubborn, dried-on leaf resin, but a Crean Mate should take care of day-to-day gunk.

More about Tobisho

Tightening Your Secateurs

Through regular use, Secateurs and Topiary Clippers can work a bit loose. Tightening them is straightforward but there’s a knack…

Loosen the hexagonal nut (it’s a locking nut, so you don’t tighten it to tighten the play of the secateurs)
Undo the bolt, clean the separate parts - a great opportunity to sharpen really well
Rescrew the bolt, and tighten to what feels right. This is how you adjust the play, with the bolt, not the nut
Put the locking nut back on

In theory it’s easy but in practice quite tricky, as the nut can seize up - be sure not to slip and scuff it (or your knuckles) with the spanner. If it seems too daunting, select the Sharpening Service and we’ll sort them out for you.

Sharpening Service

Tobisho Topiary Clippers	$140.00
No Holster	+ $0.00
+ Long Leather Holster	+ $30.50
	exVAT

Delivering to US (Paying in USD) Edit

Please note: By law, we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18. By placing an order for one of these items you are declaring that you are 18 years of age or over. These items must be used responsibly and appropriately.

Long Holster

117g
284 x 82mm
3mm Leather
Made in China
In Stock - Available to dispatch worldwide, contact us for showroom stock availability

Tobisho Topiary Clippers

307g
267 x 52 x 22mm
108mm blades
KA-70 Carbon Steel
Vinyl Grip handles
Made in Japan
Includes Spare Spring
In Stock - Available to dispatch worldwide, contact us for showroom stock availability

Delivery

UK: (excluding Tripod Ladders)

Free delivery for orders over £100*
£4.00: Standard service via Royal Mail Tracked 48; typically 2–5 working days.
£7.50: Priority service via Royal Mail Tracked 24, DHL, FedEx, or UPS; typically delivered next working day by 6pm (excluding Sat/Sun and UK Bank Holidays) for orders received before 12pm GMT Mon–Fri (excluding UK Bank Holidays).

Global: (excluding Tripod Ladders)

Free delivery for orders over £/$/€100*
Price depends on location - adjust the COUNTRY tab in your basket to see the price.
We use DHL, FedEx, or UPS, and we’ll email you the tracking info.

*Customs fees may apply and are estimated during checkout. Surcharges may apply to some larger or heavier items to some areas.
* Please note Niwaki are not responsible for any import duty, taxes or fees incurred and these will be will be collected by our courier during customs clearance — For EU countries, when possible DHL will provide an estimate on the order confirmation page.

Caring For Your Tools

Most of our sharp tools are made from carbon steel - this means they may, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things…

1. Correct Use:

Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts

2. Keeping Them Clean:

Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Crean Mate and water
Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place

3. Keeping Them Sharp:

New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).