New bonsai bench built and stained

[small trees]

Paul,

The tridents at Plant City are still tight. I'll check them again on Saturday. I'm giving a potting workshop then, and if one of them is moving, I'll use it as a demo. Steve said you wanted them put back in the same containers. Right?

Are the tridents going on that stand?

Ah man, were it Sunday I might be able to attend. I'm heading to north carolina in a couple hours and will be coming back Sunday. I wish I could come by and say hey and take another look at the nursery.

 

[Adair M]

You should stop by Sunday anyway. Steve has a lot of new trees in from California.

 

[small trees]

You should stop by Sunday anyway. Steve has a lot of new trees in from California.

I'll see if I can talk the misses into it. I've seen that from the website but I haven't seen any of the trees. I'd love to if I can.

 

[Beng]

I'm jealous of the Masakuni grafting equipment. My grafting knife is dangerously sharp, but it has a curved blade. Which makes making square tipped scions kinda tricky. I can do it, but it would be easier using a straight blade.

I've got some grafting to do, but my trees are still VERY dormant. I'll wait another week or so.

It'll probably surprise you to know this but Gary Ishi of Chikugo-En's best grafting knife which is the same one his father used has a slightly curved blade. He's considered by many to be one of the best if not the best grafter in the US. My grafting knife is straight but I don't think a inward curved knife is such a bad thing.

 

[Poink88]

It'll probably surprise you to know this but Gary Ishi of Chikugo-En's best grafting knife which is the same one his father used has a slightly curved blade. He's considered by many to be one of the best if not the best grafter in the US. My grafting knife is straight but I don't think a inward curved knife is such a bad thing.

Not knowing that info ...I actually thought that a curved knife is better in grafting just because used properly, you can get (a little) more cambium contact area with such a knife.

The trade off...is a more difficult knife to sharpen.

 

[Adair M]

Beng,

That is where my knife came from. And he sharpened it for me. And it is an excellent knife.

In the right hands.

I don't graft enough to truly master it.

In this case, it's not the tool's fault, it's the person holding it!

When I cut my scions, I eventually can get a square tip, but it's rarely on the first try.

All that said, the knife cuts great, most of my grafts take, which, of course, is the goal.

The tool I really need is a grafting chisel for grafting onto trunks.

 

[Poink88]

The tool I really need is a grafting chisel for grafting onto trunks.

A cheap Craftsman/Stanley/etc. chisel will work as well...just need to grind and decrease the bevel angle.

 

[GrimLore]

Use a conical drill and taper cut your scions, make it easier on yourself...

Grimmy

 

[Poink88]

Use a conical drill and taper cut your scions, make it easier on yourself...

Grimmy

I've read about this before but forgot about it. Have you tried this method? Sounds good but aligning the cambium perfectly might be tricky. Also, the drill bit might not leave as clean a cut as you need. Thoughts?

 

[GrimLore]

I've read about this before but forgot about it. Have you tried this method? Sounds good but aligning the cambium perfectly might be tricky. Also, the drill bit might not leave as clean a cut as you need. Thoughts?

It depends on the bit. I do not remember where I got mine as I bought them years before I ever used them. This is the style they are though and they produce an ultra smooth entry point. I experimented a bit on some pine prior to use and they were very easy to get a "feel" for. There are some conicals out there that would just plain chew a mess but not this style. http://www.fine-tools.com/konischebohrer.html I also find it easier to make a scion tapered with a Xacto knife. It just plain works for me and would not use any other method myself.

Grimmy

 

[Adair M]

GrimLore,

So, in effect you insert the scion so that it emerges like a thread graft?

 

[GrimLore]

GrimLore,

So, in effect you insert the scion so that it emerges like a thread graft?

Without drilling through the tree I guess is the best way to describe it. I never really saw it done in person or researched it. I have however rearranged branches on fruit trees and maples. You made me stop in the middle of typing this to add photo documentation of the process to my "Spring List" as I am certain I can find something to rearrange When I first did it 6 years ago I just guessed and gave it a shot with what I had. Back then I had acres to play with so I was not sensitive to failure but it worked out fine. Only other thing I did was put a Tiny bit of Clonex on the bare end of the scion and honest I do not know for certain if it helped or not *shrugs*.

Grimmy

 

[Poink88]

Grim,

I am excited of the possibility (for my Boxwoods). I just need to find a way to do it with the tools I already have ...I know I'll use regular drill bits then find a way to taper it.

What are you using to seal the contact area? Regular cut paste?

Any special protection so the scion won't fall off? Or is the hole deep enough that it won't wiggle and move?

 

[GrimLore]

Grim,

I am excited of the possibility (for my Boxwoods). I just need to find a way to do it with the tools I already have ...I know I'll use regular drill bits then find a way to taper it.

What are you using to seal the contact area? Regular cut paste?

Any special protection so the scion won't fall off? Or is the hole deep enough that it won't wiggle and move?

I bet if you took a picture of those bits to a local tool and die supplier(pretty certain is where I got mine) you could get them inexpensive as they do not need to be carbide. I only used wet raffia tied around on loose fitting ones and Elmers glue as a paste on all and very little. My Wife thought I was crazy but she agrees it works so far. The only other thing I can think of is if you are working with anything sappy clean, clean, and then apply oil or whatever you preserve the bits with and of course clean it off before next use. Thinking back I still do not remember seeing it done but if I have It was probably my Dad "creating" some weird plant.

Grimmy

 

[jkd2572]

Very much like the nice looking bench. Well done and attractive. I don't understand why some people will spend tons on trees, But have them sitting on ugly and unattractive make shift benches. Nice job.

 

[Paulkellum]

Looks like a somewhat time-consuming project. How many hours did it take to put that all together?

12 hours I think

 

[GrimLore]

12 hours I think

That is huge nice for 12 hours, I am sorry the thread went different for a bit Honest though for the space and having the option to use shade cloth easy it will make you and your specimens "happier" for many year to follow... Did I mention that is some damn nice stock?

Grimmy

 

[Paulkellum]

That is huge nice for 12 hours, I am sorry the thread went different for a bit Honest though for the space and having the option to use shade cloth easy it will make you and your specimens "happier" for many year to follow... Did I mention that is some damn nice stock?

Grimmy

Thanks yes it came out pretty decent I just filled it up now with the conifers for now they all have poles around house. I built this for my maples. But then added second shelf that is full sun for a few conifers. Yes Iv been getting my hands on very nice pre stock. Only thing is Iv got a lot of repotting to do this year to get all this pre stock in boxes.

 

[Adair M]

You DO have a lot of repotting to do!

At the workshop today, someone brought in another of the Warren Hill tridents to repot. OMG! It hadn't been repotted in years! At least a solid inch if matted roots on the bottom, circling roots as big as a finger, etc. And they are planted in muck and playsand. Pretty much had to bare root it.

She is going to air layer off the top foot to have a broom style, and then see what pops out down low, to develop a new, shorter tree.

 

[Paulkellum]

[REFLIST][/REFLIST]

You DO have a lot of repotting to do!

At the workshop today, someone brought in another of the Warren Hill tridents to repot. OMG! It hadn't been repotted in years! At least a solid inch if matted roots on the bottom, circling roots as big as a finger, etc. And they are planted in muck and playsand. Pretty much had to bare root it.

She is going to air layer off the top foot to have a broom style, and then see what pops out down low, to develop a new, shorter tree.

I am going air layer they taller fat one and redo the trunk chop the v notch kills any chance at taper. The other one is smaller and has some taper so may let it go like it it and build some,branches. I figured it was going be bad with that nastiness it was grown in.