I had a not-great knife last year, better ones this year but still didn’t like the whip&tongue grafts as much. I did do a few, and a modified W&T (smaller scion on the edge of a larger stock) but left most of my knife work to oddities. I have not enough wrist strength or close vision to use the knife as safely as the tool. I used the v-grafter tool on same or similar size scion. Works fine either as V or saddle type graft, depended on what I had. If the contact looked like it might be iffy or it was a scion I really wanted, I cut across a rootstock bud so there was of exposed & confused cambium to cross. It is easier for me to wrap if cut as a saddle graft. Some used the v-cut as a start of a cleft/split rootstock.Then the long, narrow, knife-cut scion inserted.The v-cut allowed the rootstock to split and hold, and I could generally force the cut closed further over the scion. Some grafts are actually two skinny scion in the rootstock, we’ll see how that goes. Z-grafts were knife-cut as well, if I had to use them.
The tiniest, whippiest, thinnest scion that I still wanted to try - got a long exposed slice of cambium on both parts and was strapped together. Looks like it worked for at least one scion. Should end up similar to the photo here if they take, but I did use larger rootstock- Basic Tips For New Grafters #2: Different Grafts (Discussion Needed) - #80 by VSOP
One thing I did do with the tool- modifying to allow for larger stock also allows enough room for a ‘backer’ piece of scrap below what is being cut. Less tear-out and made my graft cleaner. I also added a rubber band to tighten the tool, no play side-to-side when cutting.
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