Bass,

I have been watching your z-grafting video and I am amazed at your talent. I would like to know what knife you use. I have had a Victorinox knife but I don't believe it was wide enough and I honestly could not sharpen it well enough. Some have suggested disposable box-cutter knives but I had a hard time with the flexible blade. What knife do you use? I have been trying my best to figure it out from the video, even is slowest and highest definition, but I can't get it.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhDUpwgCnJM[/video]

I use the swiss army grafting knife and probably should keep a better edge on it than I do, though it doesn't seem to hold an edge so well. 

Cost 12 bucks I think.  I use a 6" diamond sharpening rod out "in the field", and that does help.

Bass's knife looks similar to mine in shape, but nicer. 

I looked around online and decided to go cheapo and it has met my needs, but I don't doubt that a better one would have made the experience of over 100 grafts more pleasant.  And conceivably more successful, though a sharp edge is the key.

Bass, I like that graft!

I think I finally figured it out. Manaresi from Italy.

I will have to try that grafting method.

Not to butt in, but let me tell you, Bass makes it look easy, but it ain't easy! Don't forget that Bass is some kind of freak of nature talentwise. Childsplay for him, damn difficult for the rest of us.

I about cut off one of my fingers trying to Z graft, so be careful!!!

Not sure which is worse, a dullish knife, or a really really sharp knife. I can tell you that my really really sharp knife nearly cost me a knuckle.

Have fun!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Budding-Grafting-Knife-Barklifter/dp/B000AYIYKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404666220&sr=8-1&k

This is the type of knife he is using.  They make some cheaper ones and more expensive.

It's an Italian knife I got while I was in Trinidad & Tobago while grafting mango trees. This graft is similar to whip and tongue but it's improved so I can graft a scion on a rootstock of different sizes. 
You can use any grafting knife, Victorinox knife is good too. 
As for cutting your fingers, I have a big scar on my finger from the first time I attempted to graft, since then I know how to hold the knife. Always cut away from your fingers. 

There used to be a guy near by that sold all sorts of grafted trees.  He was a third generation landscaper/grower.  I asked him about learning to graft because his were beautiful.  He told me that he charged $1000 and I would need to take a week off of work so that I could graft trees under his supervision.  He said after a 1000 trees I would be very good or I would quit.  I declined the offer.

I graft about 1000 per day when I am grafting pecans. You can come and learn for free. Everyone in the field will help you. I wish I would have had an offer like this when I was trying to learn. It pays pretty good to be a hobby, actually the only hobby that I can actually make money at.

Donna,

No doubt with swift and precise movements like Bass's, he's got a lot of experience. I'm tired of practicing with knives that I cannot sharpen. I don't want to keep trying with something that isn't razor sharp. I have had my own flesh-slicing experience with my Felco pruner, it took a couple of months to heal; stitches were probably in order. I give it much respect now. For some reason the Felco is Swiss made but has metal that can be sharpened. My husband's a machinist so I may have to ask him about the difference. I have found the same knife on Ebay from Italy but I have to find out about shipping. 

Very nice knives!

This year I'm going to try grafting with the snap off disposable razor blades...I saw someone on the other fruit forum using that and it makes sense it me. My grafting issues last year were due to dull blades, I think...so now I'll never have that problem!

I tried the disposable knives also but I found that I did not have the control I wanted. The blades are flexible and I was unable to control the blade as well as I would have liked. Sharpness is important too. I tried the Victorinox grafting knife but I couldn't' get it sharp enough. I'm no expert so I'm not saying they can't be sharpened, just that I couldn't get it the way it needed to be.