The Worst Bonsaitalk Avatar?!

Little Arborist

Geez..I just realized it probably offends a serious bonsai artist to have a picture of a guy doin' bonsai with a chain saw!

I thought it rather humerous.

Any feedback?

Am I totally off my rocker?

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Steve,
Inquisitive Newbie.
Certified Bonehead
Worm Herder

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erubeck

It doesn't bother me at all. I belong to a group that was thinking of naming our new bonsai club "The Bushwhackers". It seemed to fit a Kansas setting but we thought better of it.

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Regards,

Ed

Salvelinus

I dunno. Ever seen an article by Kimura? A chain saw is probably the most delicate tool he uses!

Erubeck--nice to see someone from my old stomping grounds. I grew up about 35 miles northwest of you. My father-in-law lives down at Santa Fe Lake.

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Namaste,

--Scott ><>

"There seems to be no survivors to interview, but I suspect [kamakazi pilots] did not shout 'traytree' the moment before their personal sacrifice." -Herb Gustafson

dbz12fan

I use a chainsaw often on my bonsai. Infact, I just used one today. They can do wonders of good for root pruning and trunk chopping.

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"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

Bart Thomas(deceased)

I used the chainsaw avatar until I got my "vanity" plates.

It's a very handy tool; specially a small one.

Little Arborist

Kewl. Then I'm off my rocker as usual. Chainsaw is actually a tool of my trade, but the contrast between what I'm learning of the intense delicacy and careful planning of bonsai, and the methods of a typical chainsaw user got me to laughing.

Also, I appreciate the value of a resource such as this forum and would not want to offend anyone. Misunderstandings come about easily in such a format.

I just hope I never need a chipper for my bonsai!

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Steve,
Inquisitive Newbie.
Certified Bonehead
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BonsaiMon

I also see the chainsaw a useful tool in the beginning stages. Any cut made with the chainsaw will need to cleaned up with other tools.. the die grinder, dremel, concave cutter, knob cutter, sharp knife, etc. I have found an electric chainsaw can do the job unless you need to have it when collecting.
I also used that avatar in the beginnings here..(edited a bit.. shorter tree for effect)
No chipper here.. but there is a bones pile.

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peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

Walter_Pall

Steve,

I used to work with a chain saw. Still have it, but only use it for very big chunky raw material anymore. For more refining a die grinder is much better.
I also work with electrical hedge pruners on very raw material. At the Bonsai Intrernational Symposium two years ago I even used a big hedge pruner on stage. Some thought it was a joke.
I think it is quite professioal to do this if you kno what you are doing anyway. But it does not mean at all that everyone who uses such heavy gear is a good artist or professional,. It also does not mean that soemone who has never used it is no good. It really depends a lot on the material you are working with.
It would not occur to me that someone offends me with a picture of a bonsai and a chainsaw. It is not so easy to offend me anyway.

best reagrds
Walter Pall
http://walter-pall.de

Little Arborist

Eye opener. I never thought of using the dremel or die grinder.

The more I am learning, the more the doors are opening.

So far I've gone from wanting to semi-ignore classic bonsai style ,(before I started learning more about it,)...

to wanting to adhere to it strictly, (for the challenge of it,)...

to feeling free to do as I wish, conforming over-all to the tradition, but still be free to experiment and modify in aesthetically acceptable ways.

Sounds like my relationship with my wife!

In my local Japanese Garden, much of the work is done with hedge-trimmers and the like, and the work is beautiful.

I find that todays hand saw make such quick and clean cuts, that I probably would never need a chainsaw for bonsai even though I have quite a bit of experience with a chainsaw and actually do quite a bit of decorative pruning with one at times. I wouldn't limit myself to that though. Not at this stage certainly. I enjoy the thought of using tools in a more creative format, and having to figure out the best tool for the job in a more precise artistic way.

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Steve,
Inquisitive Newbie.
Certified Bonehead
Worm Herder