Having been inspired by Skeet Lores (Skeeter), who originally posted the use of Third Hand Device, I built several and used it. Indeed it is a very nifty device to help taking out buds from scionwood without cutting yourself, without wasting the buds, and do the cutting operation so effortlessly.

Most of us are not experts at handling the knife. We need to hold the stick while taking out the bud. Sometimes the bud would fly off away from you and into the ground where it gets contaminated and useless. This device based on Skeeter's idea will prevent that. The downward motion of the cutting process is instinctive and provides excellent control on the knife as you remove the bud.

To start off making this device, you would need a drill bit set, ranging from 1/8" to 1/2". Make the complete range of different sized holes so that you can fit the scionwood stick snugly into one of the many holes that you made. If the budstick would not fit into any of these holes, those are not good size woods to take buds from anyway.

My main wood here is the left-over wood laminate from my flooring. It is 5/8" thick with a built-in styrofoam backing. Wood laminate have very clean scratch resistant surface. I cut it down to size to fit my big pocket, so that I can simply slide it into my pocket when doing the T-budding.

I'm drilling a series of holes, various sizes from 1/8" drill bit set to 1/2", the expected range of budstick diameter that I use for T-budding.

If you noticed, I made two devices in one shot to be efficient when changing the drill bit. I also made two sets of hole series, you'll never know when one hole gets clogged up or chipped off, so there is a plan B set of holes. I left a large area free of holes to serve as my chopping board.

Here's the close-up view of the final Third Hand Device.

to use the device, find a budstick with a viable bud, find a whole where it fits snugly the most, and then simply cut off to remove the bud in a vertical position. See, I can do this with one hand only.

Take note that I place the device on top of my knee when I remove the bud. I'll have to take the pics with the other hand. Indeed the device is my third hand that holds the budstick.

Take note that in the last pic in the previous post, the bud did not fly off, it simply fell off unto the clean board.

And of course, I need to take it out cleanly like below, and again the bud did not fly off into the ground, it stayed on the board.

And here's the bud ready for insertion into the T-flap. It is relatively flat, and straight cut, considering that I used my left hand to cut it, and I am right handed! I used my right hand to take the pics. You'll really love this device, especially if you are a beginner. And you can build it yourself, for free.

By the way, the holes are between 1/4" to 1/2" deep. It need not be precise.

Joe,
Great job of explaining my budwood cutting device-- glad to see someone else try it and see how helpful it really is. I am actually pretty good with a knife having carved decorative ducks and birds in competition, but I am always looking for a way to make it easier and I clearly needed a third hand to cut the budwood with maximum control.
I knew it would be helpful to beginners, but it is good to know that it is helpful to you as well.

Ahhh!
I got ll the tools tha it needs so I won't have any problem.
But then I like the bark graft method so much also so I will reserve this for special occation. At least I know one easy way doing it.
Thanks guys for a good info.

I have come up with another handy device for grafting that hepls me do the grafting faster and faster usually means more success-- it helps with both T-budding and bark grafting but is not that necessary for bark grafting.

I simply use the top part of a removable ink pen top (like on a Bic pen)-- you may need to sharpen or flaten the tip of the of the part that goes over the shirt pocket, but I use that part of the ink pen top to keep the T-slot open while I make the cut on the budwood. When I have the budwood in hand I simply knock the top out of the way and insert the bud.

As with all of your equipment you should sterilize the part that comes in contact with the cut.

Using this little device, I can insert a bud in less than 5 sec from the time it was cut. I'm sure there are other things one could use-- I thought about cutting plastic straws on a diagonal, I'm sure it would work as well, I just couldn't find one when I tried it.

glad this thread came back up.. I almost forgot about it.. I will have to get my brother to make me one of these for me..
Also like the idea of using the bic pen cap..

I am going to use pipe insulation to make the knife handle a little fatter and easier for me to grip till hand dexterity is back to normal...

Gina *BabyBlue*

Hi Gina,
Thanks, the bic pen cap was my solution to one of my grafting peaves-- the problem of the T-slot closing up after I open it-- while I was cutting the bud. It seems like a real simple idea, but it really helps.

Here is a pic of the pen top--I use it to cover my exacto knife.


Here it is in use-- just barely inserted under the corner flaps of the T cut


Here is a new technique I have been using-- I guess you could call it an inlay bark graft-- I simply insert a small beveled stem in the T slot and wrap it with parafilm. This technique has worked well for me--If I had done a bark graft I would have had to cut the limb off.