Home made Branch/Trunk Benders (Jacks)?

Graydon

Bingo Chris...

In my humble opinion that is the proper way to use one of these. The center threaded rod with the "T" handle looks awfully like a c-clamp handle we are so used to seeing and using. Those of us who use c-clamps on a daily basis can tell you that even though the pad on a c-clamp is essentially a pivot joint (ball and socket) it's not made to swivel under pressure. Same for one of these tools.

I made a simple modification to mine by replacing the wing nuts with a pair of bronze flat washers and a hex nut. The bronze washers provide less friction that plated steel washers. I use a box wrench or a socket to make the adjustments to the nut. Using a tool that gives you leverage eases the pain in the fingers from twisting a wing nut to make a big bend.

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watzone69

Hi Behr,

Here are some pictures from the workshop that you gave here in Austin. Once again, I must say that it was fantastic! We all learned a lot and are looking forward to your next visit.

The second picture really shows the torque you were putting on that branch! It took Jim and I both to hold that sucker down!

Mike

Attached Images

	Behr-Boxwood-2.jpg (66.7 KB, 70 views)
	Behr-Boxwood-3.jpg (63.9 KB, 93 views)

watzone69

Here's a couple more pictures. Notice the "club" bender?

Behr, when you come back to Austin, please bring the bender. I just got one of those clubs and I want to see how to modify it. Thanks again!

Mike

Attached Images

	Behr-Boxwood-5.jpg (64.4 KB, 51 views)
	Behr-Boxwood-4.jpg (69.3 KB, 81 views)

grampz

Mr. Mike,

Thank you for your kind words about the program, but I in turn would highly praise the Austin club members in attendance that evening...Through the years I have worked with several groups of people, but I haven't enjoyed any of them as much as that evening...The number of people paying close attention, asking questions, and taking notes and photos, made the program a true pleasure for me...

I am attaching another photo of 'the club' which may give you a better view [you may even recognize the person in the photo]...As to the construction, I have attempted to explain it better with the 'photoshop' pic...I first cut the 'U' shaped end off [red lines], turned it 90 degrees, and drilled two holes through the 'U' and the shaft [blue dots] to accept 1/4 inch bolts to fasten the 'U' in place...I then used black electrical tape to cover the sharp edges...The yellow circle is where I drilled out the lock, then drilled and taped to accept a 3/8 inch bolt, which allows me to adjust the length of the handle...I hope this helps to better understand how it was made...


Regards
Behr

Attached Images

	the-club.jpg (71.6 KB, 56 views)
	the-club-how-to.jpg (71.6 KB, 59 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

watzone69

Gentlemen, start your power tools!!

Now I see how it worked. I was trying to remember if you had made it adjustable. Once again... ingenius! You can see my obvious admiration of it in the picture.

Funny story, I had been thinking of where I could get ahold of a club. I bought my wife a used VW Jetta last year but I had never opened the trunk except for the time we bought it. 2 weeks ago I was using her car and finally opened the trunk again. Low and behold, there was a bright red, nearly mint condition club! Funny thing is, I don't remember it being there before (cue spooky theremin music).

Hey, we love having you here. I hope to see you in August when we have our combined Austin/San Antonio meeting with Matt Ouwinga.

Thanks again Behr!

Mike

Graydon

Brilliant, simply brilliant. So it's basically a lever that allows you hook and bend. For some reason I was thinking you somehow put it in place than then actuated it and locked it in the new position. Now I understand.

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grampz

Mr. Graydon,

I wish I could say this was my idea, however it is only my way of having a useful tool that has been around for a long time available for my use...My original one was made from a length of 1/2 inch galvanized pipe with a hole close to the end, and a sliding notch making it adjustable for different branch thicknesses, with a couple bolts run through it as in the attached drawing...I then wrapped cloth padding [strips of blue jean material] around the bolts, and taped the whole with electrical tape...It worked fine, and probably still is for the folks I gave it to...But, I do like this one better...

Mr. Mike,

Good on you...Funny how things like that happen...The whole thing can be converted in a short time and will give countless years of use...I do hope to be able to make the picnic in August...Finally getting to meet Mr. Matt would be such a pleasure...

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

old.jpg (26.0 KB, 38 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.