You know all I really want to do is remove that whole trunk like you suggested and let that lowest leader run. Fun way of applying the bend and the red g-cramp made it even better.
Yeah, that is still definitely a possibility going forward, but I do love having thee projects on the go. I'm already looking forward to this one in the summer.
my first thought was even „just remove all above the first branch, to make this one the new leader and get more taper and a beautiful shape automatically“. nevertheless, nice experiment and there is still everything possible :)
very true paul, although I have learned that skinny branches like that one never seem to properly develop, and either of those buds would be far thicker than it within a few months. So many options still available as you say.
Hi. I did a big bend on an oak this time last year, and I took it off after about 6 months. It deflected back by about a quarter over the following few days.
Hi Tony that was a fun experiment! And you now have a future new leader at the top of the bend, ready for your trunk chop in a year or two. When you switch the clamp to a rope or wire be careful not to snap the trunk! will be keeping fingers crossed for you.
Thank you, I love this kind of experimentation. I'm still not exactly sure how to remove the clamp, and I've been thinking that seeing as the tree will be going into dormancy anyway, I will just leave the clamp on and leave it in my workshop by the window. I'd be gutted If as you say I snapped it at this stage.
I was thinking the same thing about the branch at the top of the bend. Not a big fan of trees that are just bent over unless they're windswept. There needs to be a natural reason.
@@TonysBonsai and like you said with those lower buds you can always chop it. It looked to me that with the new bend it may be interesting replanted at an angle . Also wonder if the stress on the trunk will force those lower buds open stronger?
I think you may well be right. Also, I have found that where the trunk fractures on the outside of the bend the tree ends up sending buds out from. It will be interesting to see what happens to this over the years.
Nice work, I use pipe clamps in the past, even used a car jack before. I've also hand bent a piece of rebar and tie the tree to it. What ever gets the job done right. I use burlap ribbon to the trunk when doing heavy bends. When your ready to work with the trunk splitter don't twist the tree, go with side to side motion for a better recovery.
Sounds like we have the same approach to trunk bending! I'm interested in the idea that you don't rotate the trunk when using the trunk splitter? On the videos I've seen, the rotation allows the trunk to bend and contort. I'm looking forward to experimenting with this technique.
@@TonysBonsai Mr Peter Chan from Herrons Bonsai shows quite a few videos on how's he's using the trunk splitter. I'll let you on a big secret I found out on sagebrush how to bend them isn't just with brute force but with water and lots of it. Heavy misting the area needed to bend like any amount of spare time you got or a wet sponge with a bag over it for two months before the actual bending process.
Cheers mate. I love pushing the boundaries and seeing what new techniques are possible. Now to head out and do a video on pines which I know nothing about 🤣
That looks like it did a great job of bending the trunk. A bit unconventional but good thinking on your behalf. Being conventional is boring sometimes. Well done.
I really like how you think outside of the box. I would never of thought of doing that with a g clamp, I would have used a purpose made trunk bender. Great video Tony. 👍👍👍👍
Good idea Tony 👍👍👍 Next year I will try to find some sort of curved halfpipe template to Fit on trunk Which I can put the trunk in and bend it with clamping
I tried that last year on a thicker oak than this one, and it worked really well. The problem was that the pressure on the bark on the inside of the bend caused it to crush and split open. It has all calloused over now and looks quite interesting, but it's worth bearing on mind. Perhaps if you put some very dense foam between the template and the tree, that would help.
Not wrong there Tim. It's a bit of a mess for sure, but I don't care about how my trees look when I'm developing them. I'm hoping that they look good in five years time. (If they make it)
I really enjoyed episode 1 of Tony's Bondage - Forcing an Oak to Bend To Your Will in One Easy Lesson. Keen to see episode 2 when Tony shows Hazel who is Master.
@@TonysBonsai Heather is in your Ep3. Watch out Hazel in Ep2 has been out coppicing and is therefore stick thin and whip ready. Heather has a sister, Erica and they are up for some Kusamono or even a bit of Shitakusa so watch where you are treading.
You had me squirming on the edge of my seat there Tony! I could feel every turn of the screw thread! Nevermind, it worked but I fancy it may take a very long time to set in place. 👍👍
Great video bud 👍 there's a saying I always use don't knock it till you've tried it 👍 😉 just bear in mind that G clamp will rust very quickly outside 👍
Cheers, yeah I've got it in my workshop now, so I don't think I'll put it outside until the spring, or perhaps I'll have a go at replacing the clamp in a few weeks.
Cheers Nolan. A week or so later, I removed the clamp and added some rope. This is the video, but I will be doing a proper update in the autumn when I remove the rope. ruclips.net/video/5LdCeeLRFl8/видео.html
Hellfire Tony! Dry mouth bonsai... Never done this but I believe there are smaller clamps, possibly used by model makers, which apply a central pressure. I think the idea is you do a bit, then do a bit more incrementally. Anyway - see what happens? Oaks are well hard. Good luck mate.
Hi David. Someone else suggested a turnbuckle. I'm sure they are great for bending down branches off a trunk etc, but to get this moving required a tremendous amount of force and I'm not convinced a small thread would work. Plus, I enjoy taking the odd risk 🤣
Who’s a clever boy then it has worked, what you could now do is to keep the bend without the clamp would be to loop the rope over the tree at the top to a hole in the plastic pot with the rope then with a piece of wood create a tourniquet as you do with wire to bend branches down so then you can turn the the wood to further increase the bend or just hold it in the position it is already in then remove the clamp. All the best whatever you decide to do.
Hi Joe, I like your thinking, but the forces on that tree are far greater than any I could apply with a tourniquet. If I apply the rope I would be happy to only lose a small amount of the bend, which is why I'm thinking about just leaving the cramp in place for the winter and keeping the tree in my workshop instead. It makes sense to not push my luck I think.
I am so glad it didn't break. Great job Tony! Is that a nylon rope? If so will it hold up to the element outside under stress ? Sorry just curiosity questions.
Hi Marcus. Someone else suggested this, and I think it is an interesting idea, although I suspect you may be underestimating the forces being applied my that cramp. I don't believe a turnbuckle would have generated the necessary forces unless is was a very heavy duty one? I have seen them used for repositioning branches, but bending a trunk like this I'm not sure. I think I will buy one and have a go though to see whether or not they will do the same job, because as you say, if they work it would be easier.
oh wow. did not expect that this would work so well. tbh i thought the oak would break any second 😅 thanks for sharing this experiment. what i thought when you applied the tape, you could have also applied some cut paste on the outer bend to enhance the healing of the cracks in bark. what do you think?
Hi PAul. That is a very interesting idea, and I have no idea whether that would work or not. the bark will surely have some significant lateral fissures, although in my experience they don't seem to cause any problems, and if anything just add to the craggy bark.
You make a great point Kennet, and thanks for your thoughts. I don't personally believe that a tree necessarily has to look like a miniature version of it's full-sized self. Most yew bonsai look nothing like real large yews, and large boxwoods are often styled to look like oak trees. I love larch bonsai, but almost none of them look like mature larch that I see out and about. to me it is about creating an image that looks like a large tree, but that is often a different type of tree. As for this oak, some of the bend will mellow once the clamp is removed, and I have no real idea what it will end up looking like, but I know I definitely didn't want that straight section.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Vet tape is a kind of bandage that they use on animals. They wrap it around horses and dogs legs. I'm not sure what it's for, but it works great for bonsai!
Can you use trunk splitters on deciduous trees, or just pines? If yes, you can use them to bend an otherwise unbending trunk, and perhaps not have to start from scratch, so to speak. The tree was growing well, and vigorous. Just wondering. I Like your various experiments ….they get me thinking of possibilities 🤔…at someone else’s expense.😅 I don’t keep a vast array of trees, so I proceed with a little more caution.
Hi Caryn. I have never experimented with my trunk splitters, but I believe they can be used on a whole variety of trees. I will be doing some experimentation with them next year for sure. It's on my list of things to try.
If you don't break something or kill something then you're not really doing bonsai!!! Well that's my Philosophy and definitely use wet raffy at next time it's the best for major bends.. Yup cool tree as usual
@@TonysBonsai i am going to tell you somthing fun i learned on my own. 3 weeks ago i put dobbel coil 5 mm alu wire on a pine i got. Tick trunck. I got a littel bend to it. I tok it in last night and tried again. And it was much more flexible. I got a s shape into it. I guess the fibers in the tree had losen up in those weeks or somthing! Fun!
That sounds great. The fibres of the wood relax and we can then add a bit more, but I don't think I'll be trying to push this oak any further. that would be tempting fate.
You are a brave man, Tony. I look forward to see the result.
Thanks Dorrit. It should be a fun project to follow I think
You know all I really want to do is remove that whole trunk like you suggested and let that lowest leader run. Fun way of applying the bend and the red g-cramp made it even better.
Yeah, that is still definitely a possibility going forward, but I do love having thee projects on the go. I'm already looking forward to this one in the summer.
my first thought was even „just remove all above the first branch, to make this one the new leader and get more taper and a beautiful shape automatically“.
nevertheless, nice experiment and there is still everything possible :)
very true paul, although I have learned that skinny branches like that one never seem to properly develop, and either of those buds would be far thicker than it within a few months. So many options still available as you say.
@@TonysBonsai ahh good to know :)
Ufffft then oaks are tough was expected a snap any second great idea and custom wood gripper👌🏽
yeah I must admit that I was expecting a snap at any moment, and we vary happy that it didn't.
Industrial Bonsai Techniques 101 , brilliant!
Cheers mate. I love this kind of experimentation. great fun!
I do wonder how much it will bounce back, but given long enough... 👍 Thanks for having the courage and for bring us along for the ride!
Hi. I did a big bend on an oak this time last year, and I took it off after about 6 months. It deflected back by about a quarter over the following few days.
Hi Tony that was a fun experiment! And you now have a future new leader at the top of the bend, ready for your trunk chop in a year or two.
When you switch the clamp to a rope or wire be careful not to snap the trunk! will be keeping fingers crossed for you.
Thank you, I love this kind of experimentation. I'm still not exactly sure how to remove the clamp, and I've been thinking that seeing as the tree will be going into dormancy anyway, I will just leave the clamp on and leave it in my workshop by the window. I'd be gutted If as you say I snapped it at this stage.
I was thinking the same thing about the branch at the top of the bend. Not a big fan of trees that are just bent over unless they're windswept. There needs to be a natural reason.
@@TonysBonsai Hi Tony just put tie wrap on the loops if u want to remove the clamp.
Great idea Tjeerd.
Definitely a different method of bending. Gee Whiz! I must admit I am a bit precious with my oaks, just happy to have them. Keep growing.xx
Yeah I love oaks too. Fortunately I've got plenty so I'm happy to have an experiment.
Oh my ! I thought for sure it would snap ! Well done - great experiment
Thanks Peter. That makes two of us. I'm really looking forward to next year when I can take a peek at it and see what it looks like.
@@TonysBonsai and like you said with those lower buds you can always chop it. It looked to me that with the new bend it may be interesting replanted at an angle . Also wonder if the stress on the trunk will force those lower buds open stronger?
I think you may well be right. Also, I have found that where the trunk fractures on the outside of the bend the tree ends up sending buds out from. It will be interesting to see what happens to this over the years.
You never know what you're about to witness on Tony's bonsai.🤣🤣
I like to keep everyone on their toes Kevin!
Nice work, I use pipe clamps in the past, even used a car jack before. I've also hand bent a piece of rebar and tie the tree to it. What ever gets the job done right. I use burlap ribbon to the trunk when doing heavy bends.
When your ready to work with the trunk splitter don't twist the tree, go with side to side motion for a better recovery.
Sounds like we have the same approach to trunk bending! I'm interested in the idea that you don't rotate the trunk when using the trunk splitter? On the videos I've seen, the rotation allows the trunk to bend and contort. I'm looking forward to experimenting with this technique.
@@TonysBonsai Mr Peter Chan from Herrons Bonsai shows quite a few videos on how's he's using the trunk splitter.
I'll let you on a big secret I found out on sagebrush how to bend them isn't just with brute force but with water and lots of it. Heavy misting the area needed to bend like any amount of spare time you got or a wet sponge with a bag over it for two months before the actual bending process.
Clever lad our Tony, Tony great video my man!
Cheers mate. Glad you enjoyed it
“This is exciting stuff” I couldn’t agree more. Mission accomplished. Thanks, keep growing (and bending).
Cheers mate. I love pushing the boundaries and seeing what new techniques are possible. Now to head out and do a video on pines which I know nothing about 🤣
That looks like it did a great job of bending the trunk. A bit unconventional but good thinking on your behalf. Being conventional is boring sometimes. Well done.
Thanks Sam. yes, I like to experiment and try new ideas. Some will work and some won't, but that's the part I enjoy the most.
Trees are very resultant. Good choice not being afraid. Teach that tree whos the boss.
You're not wrong Andrew. This tree is doing really well and appears full of new buds for the spring.
I really like how you think outside of the box. I would never of thought of doing that with a g clamp, I would have used a purpose made trunk bender. Great video Tony. 👍👍👍👍
Cheers Mick. It was really good fun experimenting with this technique, and fingers crossed it holds its new position well.
Good idea Tony 👍👍👍
Next year I will try to find some sort of curved halfpipe template to Fit on trunk
Which I can put the trunk in and bend it with clamping
I tried that last year on a thicker oak than this one, and it worked really well. The problem was that the pressure on the bark on the inside of the bend caused it to crush and split open. It has all calloused over now and looks quite interesting, but it's worth bearing on mind. Perhaps if you put some very dense foam between the template and the tree, that would help.
You found the G spot Tony!!
There's a first time for everything 🤣
Thats a cool experiment. I hope its successful.
It's doing well and the buds are just swelling now ready for a year of strong growth I reckon.
I mean it’s not going to win any awards at the beauty pageant, but it’s getting the job done! Nice work! 💪🏼
Not wrong there Tim. It's a bit of a mess for sure, but I don't care about how my trees look when I'm developing them. I'm hoping that they look good in five years time. (If they make it)
I had faith Tony! Of course it may split over the coming weeks 😊 you've done it the right time of year though.
Good man. It seems fairly stable, and I have high hopes, but you just never know with something like this. The crack could happen anytime!
I held my breath at the end 😂 good video 👍
Thanks Rob. I think it was a bit touch and go at the end, but luckily it made it.
I love this stuff Tone. Was a big fan of Fred Dibnah. I think you and him would of got on just fine.
Cheers Andrew. I love hos programs. I call my dad Fred Dibnah
Enjoyed that! 💚
Cheers buddy
I really enjoyed episode 1 of Tony's Bondage - Forcing an Oak to Bend To Your Will in One Easy Lesson. Keen to see episode 2 when Tony shows Hazel who is Master.
From that description, I am really looking forward to episode two, and meeting Heather!
@@TonysBonsai Heather is in your Ep3. Watch out Hazel in Ep2 has been out coppicing and is therefore stick thin and whip ready. Heather has a sister, Erica and they are up for some Kusamono or even a bit of Shitakusa so watch where you are treading.
You had me squirming on the edge of my seat there Tony! I could feel every turn of the screw thread! Nevermind, it worked but I fancy it may take a very long time to set in place. 👍👍
Yeah, it was touch and go mate. I did one last year using a different but not dissimilar technique, and it set in place in around 6 months.
Great video bud 👍 there's a saying I always use don't knock it till you've tried it 👍 😉 just bear in mind that G clamp will rust very quickly outside 👍
Cheers, yeah I've got it in my workshop now, so I don't think I'll put it outside until the spring, or perhaps I'll have a go at replacing the clamp in a few weeks.
@@TonysBonsai great on bud 👍
Great to watch. I would love an update
Cheers Nolan. A week or so later, I removed the clamp and added some rope. This is the video, but I will be doing a proper update in the autumn when I remove the rope.
ruclips.net/video/5LdCeeLRFl8/видео.html
Them oaks are tough babies.
Not wrong Brian. they don't half take some stick.
Hellfire Tony! Dry mouth bonsai... Never done this but I believe there are smaller clamps, possibly used by model makers, which apply a central pressure. I think the idea is you do a bit, then do a bit more incrementally. Anyway - see what happens? Oaks are well hard. Good luck mate.
Hi David. Someone else suggested a turnbuckle. I'm sure they are great for bending down branches off a trunk etc, but to get this moving required a tremendous amount of force and I'm not convinced a small thread would work. Plus, I enjoy taking the odd risk 🤣
Foist 😊
Bracing myself for the SNAP!!! 😂
🤣🤣That made two of us mate!
Great idea, using what most of us already have laying around to solve a problem.
Yeah, it seemed to work really well, and to generate this kind of force you need something very solid.
Great idea!🙂👍
Who’s a clever boy then it has worked, what you could now do is to keep the bend without the clamp would be to loop the rope over the tree at the top to a hole in the plastic pot with the rope then with a piece of wood create a tourniquet as you do with wire to bend branches down so then you can turn the the wood to further increase the bend or just hold it in the position it is already in then remove the clamp. All the best whatever you decide to do.
Hi Joe, I like your thinking, but the forces on that tree are far greater than any I could apply with a tourniquet. If I apply the rope I would be happy to only lose a small amount of the bend, which is why I'm thinking about just leaving the cramp in place for the winter and keeping the tree in my workshop instead. It makes sense to not push my luck I think.
I am so glad it didn't break. Great job Tony! Is that a nylon rope? If so will it hold up to the element outside under stress ? Sorry just curiosity questions.
Yes, it is some sort of plastic rope. I think it should be fine for a few months at least.
Not a bad improvisation. I think a "Turnbuckle Screw hook" would have been much better and a cheaper option. Lot easier to set up and use to.
Hi Marcus. Someone else suggested this, and I think it is an interesting idea, although I suspect you may be underestimating the forces being applied my that cramp. I don't believe a turnbuckle would have generated the necessary forces unless is was a very heavy duty one?
I have seen them used for repositioning branches, but bending a trunk like this I'm not sure. I think I will buy one and have a go though to see whether or not they will do the same job, because as you say, if they work it would be easier.
Thank You..
Cheers Bobby
oh wow. did not expect that this would work so well. tbh i thought the oak would break any second 😅
thanks for sharing this experiment.
what i thought when you applied the tape, you could have also applied some cut paste on the outer bend to enhance the healing of the cracks in bark. what do you think?
Hi PAul. That is a very interesting idea, and I have no idea whether that would work or not. the bark will surely have some significant lateral fissures, although in my experience they don't seem to cause any problems, and if anything just add to the craggy bark.
Well, that´s a nice bend. But does this tree now look like an oak in nature?
You make a great point Kennet, and thanks for your thoughts. I don't personally believe that a tree necessarily has to look like a miniature version of it's full-sized self. Most yew bonsai look nothing like real large yews, and large boxwoods are often styled to look like oak trees. I love larch bonsai, but almost none of them look like mature larch that I see out and about. to me it is about creating an image that looks like a large tree, but that is often a different type of tree.
As for this oak, some of the bend will mellow once the clamp is removed, and I have no real idea what it will end up looking like, but I know I definitely didn't want that straight section.
Crazy man 🤣 but seem to be working alright. "Why use a conventional method when you can choose a more funny method". WTG 😊!
I agree. This seems like a common-sense solution to me, and I'll be using in the future on other trees for sure.
Great video, thanks for sharing! I’ve got to ask, what is vet tape?
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Vet tape is a kind of bandage that they use on animals. They wrap it around horses and dogs legs. I'm not sure what it's for, but it works great for bonsai!
@@TonysBonsai Thanks, I actually have a live oak that is a perfect candidate for this technique. I'm thinking about giving it a go. Cheers
Inventive.
Thanks Roger.
Can you use trunk splitters on deciduous trees, or just pines? If yes, you can use them to bend an otherwise unbending trunk, and perhaps not have to start from scratch, so to speak. The tree was growing well, and vigorous. Just wondering. I Like your various experiments ….they get me thinking of possibilities 🤔…at someone else’s expense.😅 I don’t keep a vast array of trees, so I proceed with a little more caution.
Hi Caryn. I have never experimented with my trunk splitters, but I believe they can be used on a whole variety of trees. I will be doing some experimentation with them next year for sure. It's on my list of things to try.
You got such a nice bend to it, if it holds, you might want to develop the tree as is….it is already quite nice.
It's on its way I think, but like all bonsai we won't really know for a good few years if it's going to be a nice tree or not, but I have high hopes.
If you don't break something or kill something then you're not really doing bonsai!!! Well that's my Philosophy and definitely use wet raffy at next time it's the best for major bends..
Yup cool tree as usual
Cheers MArcus. I agree. It's good to push things from time to time to see what the limits are.
Wow i thought it was going to crack.
Me too. That vet tape must be under some incredible pressure.
@@TonysBonsai i am going to tell you somthing fun i learned on my own. 3 weeks ago i put dobbel coil 5 mm alu wire on a pine i got. Tick trunck. I got a littel bend to it. I tok it in last night and tried again. And it was much more flexible. I got a s shape into it. I guess the fibers in the tree had losen up in those weeks or somthing! Fun!
That sounds great. The fibres of the wood relax and we can then add a bit more, but I don't think I'll be trying to push this oak any further. that would be tempting fate.
👍👌🙂
Cheers Bruce
Attach it to the bucket
Good idea, but it would have just ripped the plant out of the pot.
I don't know plants swear or not 😂😀
This one was probably saying, what the hell is going on?
Is it just me that feels for the tree?
I doubt it is any less upset than the plants that we eat.