changing long dead branches

dub365

greetings
I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to change the shape of long thin deadwood(branches) . I think I read somewhere about steaming them. anyone have any ideas. the tree I want to effect is a japanese juniper
thanks for any help

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TreeBay

There is something in Techniques->Deadwood at http://www.bonsaitalk.com/links
on this with a demo by Kathy Shaner. Maybe Walter had a post here on it too. If you search here, try "torch" as opposed to "steam" as the keyword.

Regards,

Matt

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Alasdair

I have a book that says something about heating the branch directly with the flame of a candle. There is an actual picture of the author using this technique, but it did show burning of the wood. it worked to bend the branch by heating the sap within it, but sed nothing about how to remove the burn. i supose if you wrapped the branch in cooking foil then used a candle, it would work fine. But i would suggest testing it on a random dead stick first, just to be sure.

Alasdair

ive found that book now, 'The Bonsai Handbook' writen by Colin Lewis. The exact instructions are:
BENDING JINS
1. Branches on vigorous trees tend to grow straight, whereas a curved jin may well be better.
(picture of unlit candle held under branch)
2.After a few minutes the heat will soften the resin, making the wood flexible.
(picture of lit candle, bent branch and burnt wood)
3.Hold the jin in the desired position until it has cooled completly.
(picture of bent jin, minus scorching)

I asume the person scrapped away the char and sanded it down to the wood again. Hope this helps.