The first thing you need to know about tools is getting the right kind. Find Dallas bonsai in the links and go to tools to buy good ones. Now the right way to do bonsai all starts of course with a tree but also with right tools. After you have them you'll need to maintain them. How? You'll need to oil them so they dont get rusty; keep them out of very wet areas and keep them safe from falling and denting. One thing you should have that can keep your tools and your trees safe is disenfectant. One good type is Lysol; I use 50% lysol  50% water. Every time you to trim dip your tool in Lysol this will prevent you from spreading disease Also dip if youve cut dead tissue becasuse it could spread disease to another branch on your tree if you dont disenfect it. This is very serious matter most bonsai artists dont understand the importance of disenfecting their tools. You could kill your tree without even knowing it. This is especially true with azalea if the tools are not disenfected the tree could die. I always advise you when you make a cut to brush your lysol with a very fine brush on your trees cut. Then put cutpaste over it if you dont have cutpaste you can get it from Dallas Bonsai in the links page.

Email me if you have any questions. thebonsaischool@zoomshare.com