With the invention of the FIELDCRAFT grafting machines and grafting tools. Propagators, Growers, Nurserymen, both professional and amateurs from all over the globe now look to simply the most accurate, effective and the fastest grafting tools and systems in the world.
Now FIELDCRAFT is the worlds most popular grafting machine because FIELDCRAFT machines are incredibly accurate and increase your graft take by up to 99%.
The Fieldcraft grafting machines give near 100% successful grafts and can be used to graft any woods including grapes, apples, avocados, persimmons, kiwifruit, nuts, ornamentals, stone and pip fruit trees. For the professional or the amateur, these machines are fast, incredibly accurate, save time and labour. A morning's work can pay for the machine.
Our grafting machines may be obtained directly from this web site.
Fieldcraft is the registered trademark of Raggett Industries Ltd.
Grafting Tools
Presently there are three Fieldcraft tools available each has received a great deal of testing and development since their initial development. They are the "Graftech" a specialised bench mounted grafting tool the "Topgrafter" an all-purpose tool designed to field graft and bench graft and the "Chipbudder" predominately used as a repair tool but is also an effective tool to sidegraft larger stock.
The Graftech The Graftech has been designed to be solely bench mounted and specifically aimed at grafting operations performing large amounts of grafts yearly. Especially aimed at the commercial sector i.e. nurseries. The baseplate of the Graftech has been ergonomically designed so users of the tools are comfortable using the tool for long hours required when grafting in a nursery situation.
The Graftech is faster and designed for larger number of grafts performed in nursery situations and if you should be looking to increase throughput and reduce staff costs this may be the preferred tool.
The principal difference between the Graftech Topgrafter and the Topgrafter tools is the "Baseplate". Both use exactly the same system, which performs the cutting action (executing 'V' cleft cuts).
The Topgrafter
Weighing 1.2kgs The Topgrafter is a universal tool, which can be used by hand in the field or bench mounted in a nursery situation. For the Topgrafter to be bench mounted purchase of a bench mount attachment is further required. However the Topgrafter was not initially designed for bench mounting and while just as efficient in graft take results it is not as "user friendly" as the Graftech thus affecting the number of cuts completed by operators. The Topgrafter cannot be air assisted in the operation where as the Graftech is universal.
The complete range of Fieldcraft tools are fast and uncomplicated to use. Depending on the type of tool purchased users could easily complete in excess of 2000 completed grafts in 8 hours. This is with one of the men grafting and the other taping and waxing the unification between the rootstock and scion.
Topgrafter
A small efficient tool weighing approx. 1 kg, the Fieldcraft Topgrafter executes the long V cleft cut most popular in Europe. The efficiency of all grafting is shown in the take and speed of operation. The Fieldcraft Topgrafter is a precision instrument consisting of two blades, made of hardened steel, which can be removed, sharpened or replaced.
The, anvil is grooved and positions the grafting wood in the centre to provide a precision cut. The handle operates like a pair of pliers, and is spring loaded to open, ready for the next cut. The grafter can be bench mounted, or used loose for fieldwork. To operate the grafter, the stock is first placed on the anvil and a "v" groove is neatly sliced out.
The scion wood selected is next positioned from the other side of the grafter, and sliced. The resultant cut matches perfectly with the rootstock. It's important the selected scion wood is of similar size as the stock to be grafted. This ensures the cambium layers fit neatly together. The Topgrafter is suitable for grafts from three millimetres to thirty millimetres. This graft is then taped as normal, and the operation completed.
With the addition of the foot-operated Bench Mount the grafting procedure is greatly speeded. This accessory was designed for vineyards, orchards and nurseries that perform both bench grafting and field grafting. The bench mount is attached to the workbench and the grafter is clipped into the mount with the blades facing the operator. A foot lever then operates the tool. With this accessory, daily throughput of bench grafts is more than doubled and the tool can be disengaged from the bench mount for fieldwork in less than a minute.
<Graftech>
The latest addition to our range of Fieldcraft™ range of products is the ‘Graftech’ Topgrafter, which has been developed specifically for use in grafting’s commercial sector. This tool is solely bench mounted and foot operated. Basically, this tool is a progression of the Topgrafter with the principal difference between the Graftech Topgrafter and the Topgrafter tools being the “Baseplate”. Both tools use the exact system, which performs the cutting action (executing ‘V’ cleft cuts) and continues to demonstrate high percentage of successful grafts from grapes, kiwifruit, avocados, persimmons, nuts, ornamentals, stone and pip fruit trees.
Graftech system Operation using the Graftech is notably faster then using the Topgrafter and benchmount attachment. Design and manufacture of the Graftech has been directed towards operators performing numerous grafts per season. Using the Graftech Topgrafter you can increase throughput and reduce staff costs. Control system of the Graftech Topgrafter can be powered and operated by a compressed air “accelerator” or by manual foot lever.
Control procedure may be easily changed by purchasing the variance not initially purchased i.e. manual - air or vice versa. Whilst the Graftech Topgrafter is aimed at the commercial sector this tool is simple to use and has been used by novices to great effect. All the operator requires is a basic understanding of the “V” cleft grafting process enabling operators to complete procedures effectively.
Graftech design The Graftech has been designed to be solely bench mounted and specifically aimed at grafting operations performing larger amount of grafts yearly. The Graftech is especially intended for use in the commercial sector i.e. nurseries. The special aspect of the Graftech is the baseplate, which has been ergonomically designed so operators of the tools are comfortable using the tool for long hours required when grafting in a nursery situation. The ergonomic shape also allows operators to sight the grafting stock prior to the cut thus improving operators centring of grafts
Graftech trials Initial trial installations of this new tool was to Riversun Nursery (Gisborne, New Zealand) who grafting grapevines began with an initial installation of 12 air operated Fieldcraft™ Graftech Topgrafters for the 2000 season. These new machines produced in excess of 2,000,000 grafts in their first season of trials. Impressed with the efficiency and high success rate achieved with the initial trial year Riversun Nursery purchased a further 14 machines for the 2001 grafting season and produced in excess of 2,750,000 grafts. To date Riversun Nursery have purchased a total of 36 Graftech tools, which they have used to complete 3,500,000 grafts in an eleven week period. It is not unusual for operators to complete over 3000 grafts per day. One operator has even completed a total in excess of 5400 grafts in a 9 hour day!
The Topgrafter