Looking for J'inspiration

[Sephiro]

Hey nuts!
I have recently gotten my hands on my new favorite tree, a larch yamadori!
Said tree is early in development, and there is one feature on the back that I am entirely unsure how to attack. I've created jins before, but never with a stump of this magnitude. Just wondering if you guys have any experience or elegant ways of going about shaping it. Pictures for inspiration would be awesome!
I've gotten my hands on a rotary (dremel off brand)
Here is the stump in question:

 

[Shibui]

There's as many possible jin designs as there are bonsai growers.
You could reduce it completely and hollow the cut to create uro but seems hardly worth it when it can't be seen.
Make a short fat pointed jin. Just needs to be uneven, not sharpened like a pencil, to look more natural.
Larger branches like this one offer the opportunity to split the branch into 2 or more sections by carving deeper down the centre. Again make one side shorter to make it look more natural.
Here's one I prepared earlier. Still early stages of the carving in the second photo but should serve to show carving some of the centre away to create 2 smaller ends.


an olive. The jin is almost centre here and was previously the main trunk of the tree.



You may find the rotary tool frustratingly slow to remove wood. I know I do. Great for finer and detailed work but not great for hogging out lots of wood.

 

[Sephiro]

There's as many possible jin designs as there are bonsai growers.
You could reduce it completely and hollow the cut to create uro but seems hardly worth it when it can't be seen.
Make a short fat pointed jin. Just needs to be uneven, not sharpened like a pencil, to look more natural.
Larger branches like this one offer the opportunity to split the branch into 2 or more sections by carving deeper down the centre. Again make one side shorter to make it look more natural.
Here's one I prepared earlier. Still early stages of the carving in the second photo but should serve to show carving some of the centre away to create 2 smaller ends.
View attachment 449169View attachment 449170

an olive. The jin is almost centre here and was previously the main trunk of the tree.
View attachment 449171


You may find the rotary tool frustratingly slow to remove wood. I know I do. Great for finer and detailed work but not great for hogging out lots of wood.

Hey! Thanks for the response. And I appreciate the example, gives me an idea of what’s possible. And yes, first time using the rotary blew my mind with the speed or lack there of. What did you use to remove the larger mass before refining?

 

[Shibui]

I also have an arbortech mini carving wheel on an angle grinder. It can be a bit hard to get into tight spots but it certainly chops out some wood.
There are also wood carving bits available for die grinders. That's like your rotary tool on steroids but they do seem to be harder to find as it isn't something that many home handy persons use. Check out Samurai bonsai carving tools to see one range. I know there are other makers too but can't think of names now.

Some people prefer the extra control of hand carving. With really good sharp tools it is possible to remove lots of wood but I haven't been down that path.

 

[BobbyLane]

After watching many hours of people creating deadwood on youtube and looking at deadwood in nature and lots of trial n error, some I did on a Taxus. Ive used carving tools in the past, but this was mostly by hand after watching Ryan neil use branch splitters and knob cutters then peel away slivers of wood on a Pine I think it was. Bjorn has some good jin videos too, I keep telling people youtube is your friend

you could also hollow them out, I always think carving or deadwood advice is tricky to convey in words. Im visual, I get more out of watching people actually do the work

 

[sorce]

I'm wholely anti-tool....well.....

I'd sooner make a "jin plier" from a beaver skull than plug something in.

Ought wait till it's frozen in the pot for root safety before using anything..... except mushrooms, you should think about it all summer on something!

Time and Nature Time and Nature.

Sorce

 

[BobbyLane]

Inset, a hollow jin on a real taxus tree, not a larch but doesnt matter. for the first part, again I used knob cutters/branch splitters then pliers to pull away slivers, the next step would be hollowing out of that stub and taking off the straight square edge.
You can learn a lot from real trees, I know I keep saying this everywhere


ps make sure tree is firmly secured in pot before carrying out heavy work.
I dont see any foliage on your tree, is it even healthy?
Ive killed a fair few conifers, but usually was my rootwork that did it.

I wont be posting anymore images, its time consuming, youll have to put in some work, the resources are out there.

 

[Paradox]

I forget the name but there is a book about doing carving. I own the damn thing...just can't remember atm...lol

 

[Sephiro]

Inset, a hollow jin on a real taxus tree, not a larch but doesnt matter. for the first part, again I used knob cutters/branch splitters then pliers to pull away slivers, the next step would be hollowing out of that stub and taking off the straight square edge.
You can learn a lot from real trees, I know I keep saying this everywhere
View attachment 449275

ps make sure tree is firmly secured in pot before carrying out heavy work.
I dont see any foliage on your tree, is it even healthy?
Ive killed a fair few conifers, but usually was my rootwork that did it.

I wont be posting anymore images, its time consuming, youll have to put in some work, the resources are out there.

Thanks for the input, suggestions and pictures! Yes there is foliage, I just didn’t include it. Here’s the whole tree.
Appreciate the suggestions!

 

[BobbyLane]

Thats a good tree, i'd take my time and gather up as much information until your confident you can do the work. Graham potter, Bjorn, Ryan neil all have great videos on YT.

 

[Sephiro]

After watching many hours of people creating deadwood on youtube and looking at deadwood in nature and lots of trial n error, some I did on a Taxus. Ive used carving tools in the past, but this was mostly by hand after watching Ryan neil use branch splitters and knob cutters then peel away slivers of wood on a Pine I think it was. Bjorn has some good jin videos too, I keep telling people youtube is your friend

you could also hollow them out, I always think carving or deadwood advice is tricky to convey in words. Im visual, I get more out of watching people actually do the work

Thanks for the advice! Definitely going to take my time and learn/practice before digging in!

 

[Sephiro]

Thats a good tree, i'd take my time and gather up as much information until your confident you can do the work. Graham potter, Bjorn, Ryan neil all have great videos on YT.

Thanks for the advice! I was planning on just practicing on some stumps of 2x4 or random deadwood I find to get an idea/feel and some practice.

 

[Sephiro]

I'm wholely anti-tool....well.....

I'd sooner make a "jin plier" from a beaver skull than plug something in.

Ought wait till it's frozen in the pot for root safety before using anything..... except mushrooms, you should think about it all summer on something!

Time and Nature Time and Nature.

Sorce

Thanks for the wise poetic words sorce. Definitely going to wait, ponder and sketch, before channeling my inner beaver

 

[SgtPilko]

Not sure what you have available where you are but in the UK we have these quite pricey but effective nibbler/terrier style bits for removing larger quantities of material - quite vicious but controllable! Best to wear some eye protection.

Shop – Bonsai4Me

bonsai4me.com

I am a carving novice too, I think practising lots on some scrap wood is a good idea, also when you do work on the tree do it in stages and come back multiple times as there is no rush, you can refine it gradually and see how it weathers. I have only done rough work so far and no detailing. For me it is important to know when to stop, I have done jins that I regret messing with too much, you can always take more off later but you can't stick it back on

 

[Potawatomi13]

Ought wait till it's frozen in the pot for root safety before using anything..... except mushrooms, you should think about it all summer on something!

Most wise advice. Wrenching/wresting against root system can be disastrous. Look to nature for inspiration so does not look phony/man made.