Grape carving project

[aml1014]

Hey everybody,
Today I got in my new baby that I won on the .99 cent auctions page on facebook.
It's my first grape and it has an awesome 10 inch base that is basically all dead wood. I snagged this up for a heck of a deal so I figured I could make it into a fun carving project this season.

I plan to carve the two dead limbs and lighten them up, and do some detail carving of the deadwood at the base. Then I'll lime sulfur and just play with the top from there.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks for looking!

Aaron

 

[leatherback]

You get that for 99ct? I am in the wrong part of the world, clearly.
Nice stuff. That would make me reconsider the thought that I do not like grape for bonsai.

 

[aml1014]

You get that for 99ct? I am in the wrong part of the world, clearly.
Nice stuff. That would make me reconsider the thought that I do not like grape for bonsai.

".99 cent bonsai" is an auctions page on Facebook where the material has a starting price below 75USD. I scored this one for 66USD and another 40 to ship it. 100USD total, not bad at all I MO.
I've been on the hunt for one with a good trunk and this one was to good of a deal to not go after.

Aaron

 

[justBonsai]

Looks pretty cool. I dug a grape awhile back that I plan on doing carving too as well.

 

[_#1_]

I thought grape vines has fibres wood. Are their wood hard enough for carving, and lasting?

Nice snag man. I dig this!

 

[aml1014]

I thought grape vines has fibres wood. Are their wood hard enough for carving, and lasting?

Nice snag man. I dig this!

They definitely do have fibrous wood but it does have some durability. I'll need to lime sulfur at least once a year. I don't worry about the top rotting away as its very dry here, my worry is the base, I'll probably use a wood preservative when I do repottings.
I worked on removing the dead bark this evening.
Can't wait to start carving on it.

Aaron

 

[Underdog]

can't wait to see. I have my eye on a very old one.

 

[just.wing.it]

Now that's interesting, I also can't wait to see what you do with this one!

 

[sorce]

I don't know what you see in that...

But I heard it through it.

Sorce

 

[aml1014]

I don't know what you see in that...

But I heard it through it.

Sorce

I'm sure you can tell by now, I like the interesting ones. Lol

Aaron

 

[aml1014]

@sorce
Here's what I had in mind when I got it, obviously better done in real life lol
And I was thinking it would look good on a slab.

Aaron

 

[aml1014]

Got my trunk bend done, I'm very surprised I was able to do it without hearing any cracking (grapes are brittle), I guess the key is to go slow.
Aaron

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Nice, I don't have experience to offer. I dug one as thick as my upper arm, but it didn't take. Never established.