Quote:
Originally posted by Adam_MA
Wow,
From rafia and other methods of binding branches for bending... Right into an anti-smoking lecture!
Kids: DON'T SMOKE
Adults: DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
Now, I will be bending the trunk on a Cypress this coming spring (is spring the best time) and was wondering, at the base the trunk is about 3/4" this will be to add some movement to the trunk that is now ram-rod straight and lead me to a literati. How many layers of rafia should I have? And should I use something in addition to just the rafia?
Thanks
Adam
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1. Tie raffia in bundles of 4-6 strands tied at one end.
2. Soak the raffia in hot water first. Makes it more flexible and stretchy.
3. Apply a thick Layer of raffia so you don't see any trunk, tying in a new bundle as the older one is consumed.
4. Tie three parallel pieces of copper wire firmly to the outside of the bend, overwrap with more raffia.
5. Wrap the bundle with additional copper wire in the normal, spiraling fashion.
6. Bend with your fingers supporting the outside of the bend
If you don't have any copper wire. You will need several pieces of the thickest aluminum you can get, and you will probably need to use a branch splitter to split the trunk perpendicular to the bend to make it more flexible.
These links may help some:
http://pabonsai.org/Raffia.html
http://pabonsai.org/Bend1.html
Good luck,
Matt