And Now For Something Completely Different..

[Vin]

I really like it! Always good to see something different... The pick marked detail makes it a little more interesting but to be honest, I felt the "clean" side made it have a real classic "slab built" feel to it.

Now, I cannot help but say what I see the drawback would be-
1. The weight! You mentioned that it is heavy, what are the dimensions?
2. Metal+water= rust. Even stainless will rust eventually when exposed to the elements, especially along those weld lines inside the pot, I imagine the water holes would rust as well... Not sure it would be bad for the tree, might actually be a trace source of iron for it, which could be beneficial for some, like Lines for instance...

Where is the pic of that tree that was in a show about a year back where they chromed out the deadwood?
It would make for an interesting pairing with this pot! "Terminator Bonsai"-
Skynet is taking over everything, even our trees!
WAIT- Am a I stealing your bit @sorce ? LOL

All valid concerns. We both thought and talked about all of them. I haven't weighed it but it's about 10 pounds and has dimensions of 12 1/2" x 9 1/4" x 2 3/8". Yes, I'm sure there will be rust. However, hopefully it will add to the patina and not take away from the image. This is all new so only time will tell the rest of the story. Thanks for your input!

 

[Vin]

What are the dimensions; especially internal.
You could have a sleeve like pot constructed
that drops into this one & use this one only
when on display.

Dimensions are 12 1/2" x 9 1/4" x 2 3/8"

I did think of using as a display pot only but I'd like to see how they hold up as a regular pot first. Thanks!

 

[JudyB]

Could these be made of lighter metals like titanium? I like the look, but my trees are heavy enough without adding a 10lb weight lol...

 

[Vin]

DIGGING this one!!!!

best regards
Herman

Thanks Herman! Here it is with a Spirea:

 

[GrimLore]

Cool! And weight wise, hell I have a clay pot from Dave Bennett that shipped at 40+ pounds slightly under double the size Just keeps in place on the bench better when in use Both of those look darn nice but I would be prone to just display the first one and use it to display a tree occasionally. The second one has a nice warm look and it will be interesting to see how it weathers. Nice project and thank you for sharing!

Grimmy

 

[Vin]

Cool! And weight wise, hell I have a clay pot from Dave Bennett that shipped at 40+ pounds slightly under double the size Just keeps in place on the bench better when in use Both of those look darn nice but I would be prone to just display the first one and use it to display a tree occasionally. The second one has a nice warm look and it will be interesting to see how it weathers. Nice project and thank you for sharing!

Grimmy

The weight doesn't really bother me either. Hell, with a tree properly wired in it there should be no reason for it to blow over I do think however that it will be used only on occasion to display a tree (if I find the right tree for it). Conifer, deciduous or evergreen, I just don't know yet.

 

[Vin]

No, this is not a post about Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Last year I asked Metal Fabricator and fellow B-Nutter Stickroot if he could make a pot for me. Not just any pot but one that could possibly start another path of American creativity in bonsai. That sounded like a tall order but I had already acquired a few of his tools so I knew he could do it. After some creative discussion back and forth about the design and construction we had a finished product. Boy did he deliver! It certainly exceeded all my expectations. Thoughts and or critiques are welcome.

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@Walter Pall Sir, any thoughts or comments on this?

 

[Waltron]

very cool, im not sure heat would be that big of an issue really, possibly though. People said that about my aluminum bonsai benches.. they were wrong. Aluminum may be a good material to try.. doesn't rust, is much lighter than stainless.. wont absorb as much heat.. easily coated.. titanium by the way @JudyB, is $400 per lb. aluminum and stainless.. $1-$2 per lb.

 

[Vin]

Could these be made of lighter metals like titanium? I like the look, but my trees are heavy enough without adding a 10lb weight lol...

We'll need to defer that question to Stickroot.

 

[Vin]

very cool, im not sure heat would be that big of an issue really, possibly though. People said that about my aluminum bonsai benches.. they were wrong. Aluminum may be a good material to try.. doesn't rust, is much lighter than stainless.. wont absorb as much heat.. easily coated.. titanium by the way @JudyB, is $400 per lb. aluminum and stainless.. $1-$2 per lb.

I know an aluminum fabricator very well and want to have him make one. I figured the Stainless ones would be a great start initially. Sticky and I talked about powder coating down the road. Thanks for the reply.

 

[GrimLore]

@sawgrass

I would think so as well as Nick Lenz [URL]http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php[/URL] and @sawgrass...

Grimmy

 

[GrimLore]

@Walter Pall Sir, any thoughts or comments on this?

I would think so as well as Nick Lenz http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php and @sawgrass...

Grimmy

 

[armetisius]

The weight doesn't really bother me either. Hell, with a tree properly wired in it there should be no reason for it to blow over I do think however that it will be used only on occasion to display a tree (if I find the right tree for it). Conifer, deciduous or evergreen, I just don't know yet.

Well; I ah; who the heck knows?
Glazed for flowers/fruit;
non-glazed for conifers/azalea;
WTH for stainless steel?
Don't think we have one for that . . .
Beautiful work though and I am sure
you will find something that goes.

 

[Vin]

Well; I ah; who the heck knows?
Glazed for flowers/fruit;
non-glazed for conifers/azalea;
WTH for stainless steel?
Don't think we have one for that . . .
Beautiful work though and I am sure
you will find something that goes.

I have a Red JM that would really pop.

 

[Vin]

I would think so as well as Nick Lenz http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php and @sawgrass...

Grimmy

And @crust along with a few others as well. Is Nick a member here?

 

[GrimLore]

Not certain about Lenz being here just like his work. Dave(Crust) is probably busy as I think he is teaching some Bonsai classes and has not been on lately.

Grimmy

 

[Vin]

Patina could look cool...as long as being planted in metal wouldn't have I'll effects on the tree'swallowed health. I actually have a fire pit bowl and stand I am pondering in making a planter. But am concerned with metal reaction to the plants.

Weight...will help it on the bench with strong winds. So that's a plus.

Adam has a name for the type of stainless he used but I can't remember it. Something like Surgical but I'm not sure. Basically, there won't be a reaction with the plant.

 

[rockm]

Sorry Reminds me of a brownie pan my mom has. The stainless is too cold and clinical (and cookwarish), the other is too industrial.

Guess I'm a traditionalist snob, but I find regular old pots made from dirt more appropriate for trees. Clay, made from actual dirt, has a straightforward connection to the tree. Steel doesn't.

I'd also wonder about heat build up, weight and the affects of fertilizers on the structure of metal pots over the years. One has only to look at how nurseries long ago shifted from metal cans to plastic because of all those practical things.

As for the finishes that more like pots, isn't that just re-inventing the wheel?

 

[0soyoung]

I'd like to have a metal pot that is polished like a mirror. Would be so much cooler than black plastic or even dark brown ceramic.

 

[Vin]

Sorry Reminds me of a brownie pan my mom has. The stainless is too cold and clinical (and cookwarish), the other is too industrial.

Guess I'm a traditionalist snob, but I find regular old pots made from dirt more appropriate for trees. Clay, made from actual dirt, has a straightforward connection to the tree. Steel doesn't.

I'd also wonder about heat build up, weight and the affects of fertilizers on the structure of metal pots over the years. One has only to look at how nurseries long ago shifted from metal cans to plastic because of all those practical things.

Thanks for your candid yet insightful comments. I agree they will not be for everyone but I do think there could be a place for them in bonsai provided the plant suffers no ill effects. As far as clay having a straightforward connection to the tree, isn't stainless made from elements and minerals found on earth?

The jury is out on heat build up. Come July and August I'll have a pretty good idea on that aspect.