Anyone use those trunk bender clamps

[ianmcglocklin]

Has anyone ever tried out the trunk/branch bender vise clamps before? I see a bunch for sale online but not too many pictures of them actually in use on Google search and not much information on how thick of branch they can bend. I have a JPB I purchased from a nursery that has like a 6" long very straight section of trunk between the first branch and second branch, approx. 1" thick or so, not sure if wiring would do the trick so was curious if anyone has tried these and what the success was. If I can't get some movement on that part I will have to chop down to first branch which I'm still considering as the solution but would like to have options.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

No, they are trash and a gimmick for newbies. They can cause damage, and frankly only put a crook in one plane and returns the portion above it right back to where it started. Using rebar and wire is much more effective.

 

[hemmy]

Has anyone ever tried out the trunk/branch bender vise clamps before? I see a bunch for sale online but not too many pictures of them actually in use on Google search and not much information on how thick of branch they can bend. I have a JPB I purchased from a nursery that has like a 6" long very straight section of trunk between the first branch and second branch, approx. 1" thick or so, not sure if wiring would do the trick so was curious if anyone has tried these and what the success was. If I can't get some movement on that part I will have to chop down to first branch which I'm still considering as the solution but would like to have options.

these?



I made a set, but anything that I could bend with it could also be bent with thick gauge copper. Plus the bend didn’t seem as natural.

A one inch trunk should bend with 4-6 awg copper. You can double up strands. But if not, look at some rebar bending videos or articles.


Edit: BVF beat me to it!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I like how they designed the center screw as if you can twist it while the hooks keep it in place.. Because you can't. The saddle is fixed, so you can't tighten it once it's in place without scraping the whole bark off.
The hooks dig into the wood because they're not very wide and the nuts rust like crazy.

I prefer wood screws, glue clamps and rebar.

 

[Shibui]

My experience is as above. Limited success, not great looking bends and lots of permanent bark damage. Don't bother.

 

[rockm]

Yeah, those clamps are crap.

 

[ianmcglocklin]

Thank you all for sparing me the frustration and disappointment lol! I will look into the rebar method a few of you mentioned. I've never tried to bend something that thick before and didn't know if wire would do it but gotta try to learn. I had a feeling it was stupid seeing as how I don't hear people talking about it all the time and there were no pictures of it in use of any beautiful bonsai.

 

[Cajunrider]

No, they are trash and a gimmick for newbies. They can cause damage, and frankly only put a crook in one plane and returns the portion above it right back to where it started. Using rebar and wire is much more effective.

I second that. I bought one and trying to use it was futile.

 

[leatherback]

I do not think it has been mentioned. Those things are crap.

 

[penumbra]

Not terribly useful as the look like they should be. I have used them successfully to redirect branch direction on a 40 year old 4+ foot tall Stewartia pseudocamelia.

 

[NMbonsai]

My experience echoes those stated previously. My girlfriend bought me a pair of them several years ago. I never used them because I was able to get the bends I wanted using heavier gauge copper with raffia.
There are a couple of threads on here about wedge cutting the trunks of pines to get a bend in them. There is also a livestream on Bonsai Mirai where Ryan demonstrates the process on a JWP with a pretty thick trunk (6-8 inches?). I watched it several months ago and my main takeaways were that he had only done it on pines (with one failure) and would not comment on using it on other species. He also said that this procedure should only be done in late summer/early fall when the tree was at the height of of it's strength and vigor. I have not done this myself, so I have no personal information to share. I tried to find the link to this podcast but I couldn't find it. I know it is on Bonsainut somewhere.