bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Painter's Caulk as a Wound Sealant?

***RANT ALERT !!!***

Cut paste is so inexpensive and works so well, why use anything else? Sure you can use white glue and have it run all over the bark of your tree at the first rain, and yes, you can use latex caulk and curse yourself when you try to get it off later.

Is it worth wondering if you killed a tree with by using the wrong product.? Some of those tub seals and things have fungicides, which are probably not what killed your tree. Pure latex should be "safe," but I really wonder about some of the things that people try to use in the interest of saving a dime. I'd get kicked or laughed out of the workshop and study groups I attend if I came in with a tube of that stuff.

I see people use the wrong tools all the time. We get folks at the beginner classes bringing slipjoint pliers and anvil pruners, and these same guys usually have a bundle of bent and used wire stuffed in their pre-war toolboxes along with some clothespins and a rusty philips screwdriver. That will come in real handy one day, I'm sure.

I've seen fingers sliced open at grafting workshops with both scalpels and single edge razor blades, (which are darn cheap granted, but really don't work quite the same as a hollow-ground grafting knife). I've seen branches broken as wire was removed by unwrapping rather than cutting each coil, either because the owner was trying to save a $.05 length of wire or because he didn't want to splurge on a proper pair of wire cutters.

You don't need expensive tools and supplies to do bonsai, but there are some basic ones. I think the most important rule I could ever teach anyone is to respect the tree. If you respect the tree, you'll do better work and operate in its best interest. You'll take your time, you'll plan better, and you'll do better bonsai.

If you don't think you can find the money for proper tools, then save the money you'd use on that next tree or another pot and instead, buy some fresh wire and a pair of wire cutters, a tube or can of cut paste, It's an inexpensive way to get a a fresh attitude.

*** END RANT ALERT ***

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest - I feel so much better!

This Bonsai Rant brought to you by

Matt

20-Aug-2002	#6
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,737	*RANT ALERT !!!* Cut paste is so inexpensive and works so well, why use anything else? Sure you can use white glue and have it run all over the bark of your tree at the first rain, and yes, you can use latex caulk and curse yourself when you try to get it off later. Is it worth wondering if you killed a tree with by using the wrong product.? Some of those tub seals and things have fungicides, which are probably not what killed your tree. Pure latex should be "safe," but I really wonder about some of the things that people try to use in the interest of saving a dime. I'd get kicked or laughed out of the workshop and study groups I attend if I came in with a tube of that stuff. I see people use the wrong tools all the time. We get folks at the beginner classes bringing slipjoint pliers and anvil pruners, and these same guys usually have a bundle of bent and used wire stuffed in their pre-war toolboxes along with some clothespins and a rusty philips screwdriver. That will come in real handy one day, I'm sure. I've seen fingers sliced open at grafting workshops with both scalpels and single edge razor blades, (which are darn cheap granted, but really don't work quite the same as a hollow-ground grafting knife). I've seen branches broken as wire was removed by unwrapping rather than cutting each coil, either because the owner was trying to save a $.05 length of wire or because he didn't want to splurge on a proper pair of wire cutters. You don't need expensive tools and supplies to do bonsai, but there are some basic ones. I think the most important rule I could ever teach anyone is to respect the tree. If you respect the tree, you'll do better work and operate in its best interest. You'll take your time, you'll plan better, and you'll do better bonsai. If you don't think you can find the money for proper tools, then save the money you'd use on that next tree or another pot and instead, buy some fresh wire and a pair of wire cutters, a tube or can of cut paste, It's an inexpensive way to get a a fresh attitude. * END RANT ALERT * Thanks for letting me get that off my chest - I feel so much better! This Bonsai Rant brought to you by Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!