I just got the Tina grafting knife that Phillip found on sale--what a deal! I tested it out yesterday (I had ordered the left hand model but they sent the right hand model). It originally cut much better in the right hand than in the left--it made really nice tapered cuts and glided right on top of the wood--right under the cambium. Last night as I was feeling the edge, I noticed a slight bur on the flat side. I worked that off using a fine ceramic rod and tested it again this morning-- Now it is really nice in both hands! I can see how the flat side helps in cutting the buds, but if you are good with a knife, it works well in either hand.

Skeet, I grew up in P'Cola - now, a wannabe grafter in Biloxi - this site is great - Hope you can share some pointers about the best citrus, fruit varieties for this area
a question about what kind of grafting/budding knives to purchase..
I am left handed and have always cut with blade edge facing away from me - it appears some of the T and clip budding tutorials recommend cutting towards body parts.
any advice on proper technique and best tools to purchase?
Is it too late this season to try bud or bark graft - persimmon, pecan, citrus?
Thanks
TJ

Welcome. It is a little late for budding as the bark needs to be slipping. You can still use chip grafting and cleft grafting on citrus, but for persimmons, Joe says it works best when the buds are just starting to leaf out. All of the persimmon grafts I have done in the spring when the stock has started have worked. The same goes for pecans, but the graft I like best for pecans is the 4 flap banana graft. Collect your winter wood (scions from your pecans and persimmons) in the middle of Jan and store them in a ziplock bag with some moist sawdust in your regrigerator crisper. As soon as buds start to break in spring--start your grafting--good luck.