Rootstock Caliper - Rootstock Order Question

[CrazyEd]

I am putting my order in Willamette. Last year i ordered late and had 7/16" which is pretty big and difficult to graft.

This year i'm ordering earlier. 1/4" or 3/16".

What do you guys prefer?

 

[Turkey Creek]

1/4" on apples. 1/4-3/8" for stone fruit. I have had difficulties finding the right caliper on pears. 1/4" is not universal grade for pear root stock growers. Large pear root stock is not fun to work with and the smaller stuff seems to need another year in the ground to provide successful bench grafts, at least thats what I found this year.

 

[chickenlittle]

Having worked with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" from Treco the last couple years, 1/4" was easiest for bench grafting. I mostly cleft and the smaller is easier to cleft and then more flexible to tighten to the scion.

Not sure I care which caliper for T budding.

 

[buckvelvet]

7/16 holy smokes thats big for grafting, but then again CE is a honeybadger.

I have worked only with 1/2 and 3/8 though my pears from cummins were quite hefty this spring.

 

[CrazyEd]

Yeah man 7/16 is like grafting on a Louisville slugger, not easy to whip and tongue. I am going to do 1/4" this time. Thanks guys!

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I had only 10 rootstocks to graft this year, but they were 3/8" and just about needed an axe to split for cleft grafts !! My knife would barely get them to split. No more big dia. stocks - 1/4" if I graft again. Tough to tighten scion with grafting tape.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Yeah man 7/16 is like grafting on a Louisville slugger, not easy to whip and tongue. I am going to do 1/4" this time. Thanks guys!

I think I had a started a thread before last spring's grafting season about the Craftsman Utility cutter for making some of the cuts on your grafts. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!! It is not a perfect tool but saved me a huge amount of time (and sore hands) when making the cut in the root stock for cleft grafts.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

TC - I got one of those but only used it on the scion for the tapered cuts. I used the knife for the rootstock splits. I'll try the utility cutter on the stock next time, too !! :oops: It does work great.

I'm still gonna request 1/4" rootstocks if I can get them. A little more flexible for tightening the split, hopefully.

 

[CrazyEd]

I think I had a started a thread before last spring's grafting season about the Craftsman Utility cutter for making some of the cuts on your grafts. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!! It is not a perfect tool but saved me a huge amount of time (and sore hands) when making the cut in the root stock for cleft grafts.

I'll need to check that out. I tried one of those floor tax strip cutters recommended by smsmith but the one i bought didn't work very well. Maybe I need to checkout the craftsman.

 

[Turkey Creek]

TC - I got one of those but only used it on the scion for the tapered cuts. I used the knife for the rootstock splits. I'll try the utility cutter on the stock next time, too !! :oops: It does work great.

I'm still gonna request 1/4" rootstocks if I can get them. A little more flexible for tightening the split, hopefully.

I tried it on the wedge portion and wasnt quite as satisfied as the results I can get with my knife in the same amount of time.

 

[buckvelvet]

That craftsman tool was BA for me in grafting last year, perhaps it helped w/ my success % increase this year.