What’s your latest Bonsai related purchase?

IzzyG said:
Picked up some kiln dried black walnut. Going to try my hand on making some giant stands for the larger trees.

View attachment 487494View attachment 487493
Click to expand...
Not sure of your experience in woodworking, but I've been playing with English walnut for a couple years from a dead tree in my dad's yard.
Beautiful grain. Very dense wood when going across the grain, but can split along the grain relatively easily. This makes it tricky to work large sections like you have there. Doesn't swell with humidity as much as other common woods.
You'll notice a hollow spot at the very heart. That's leftover from the pith that fills the centers of the saplings. It never quite closes up. Makes for problems trying to get a wide slice across the center.

Just a heads up from a guy who learned it the hard way.
 
ShadyStump said:
You'll notice a hollow spot at the very heart. That's leftover from the pith that fills the centers of the saplings. It never quite closes up. Makes for problems trying to get a wide slice across the center.
Click to expand...
You can always stabilize it with either CA glue or epoxy resin. I have used Fibre Glast System 1000 with very good results. Not the cheapest, but I think that any decent epoxy resin with low viscosity and low to no amber color will work as well.

For spalted woods I rather use a very low viscosity CA glue, no activator. I have used this to stabilize spalted maple for sanding, it requires multiple applications once you sand through the hardened area, but it will save your sanity vs having the rotted areas rolled out with the sand paper.
 
ShadyStump said:
Not sure of your experience in woodworking, but I've been playing with English walnut for a couple years from a dead tree in my dad's yard.
Beautiful grain. Very dense wood when going across the grain, but can split along the grain relatively easily. This makes it tricky to work large sections like you have there. Doesn't swell with humidity as much as other common woods.
You'll notice a hollow spot at the very heart. That's leftover from the pith that fills the centers of the saplings. It never quite closes up. Makes for problems trying to get a wide slice across the center.

Just a heads up from a guy who learned it the hard way.
Click to expand...
I've worked with a few hardwoods before but this is the first black walnut attempt.

tempImagedpk6Kf.pngtempImageibbEum.png

I had seen a few guys bridge the hollow spot with a couple of dovetail dowels to strengthen gap. Piqued my curiosity enough to grab these pieces to try it out!
 
IzzyG said:
I've worked with a few hardwoods before but this is the first black walnut attempt.

View attachment 487513View attachment 487514

I had seen a few guys bridge the hollow spot with a couple of dovetail dowels to strengthen gap. Piqued my curiosity enough to grab these pieces to try it out!
Click to expand...
Cool! Let us know how it goes.
I'm still very much a novice, but I'm hoping to have the wherewithal to get some more practice this year after I've caught up the house, maybe get more in the way of actual building done vs just carving.
 
IzzyG said:
I had seen a few guys bridge the hollow spot with a couple of dovetail dowels to strengthen gap
Click to expand...
That can be done as well, it all depends on the cosmetic and design you are going for. The "new thing" was filling with clear epoxy once you clean out the bark or decayed wood from the cracks, now they use black epoxy, which to me nullifies any benefit or aesthetics of having a "live edge" on the tree. The "butterfly spline" looks more traditional.
 
Maiden69 said:
That can be done as well, it all depends on the cosmetic and design you are going for. The "new thing" was filling with clear epoxy once you clean out the bark or decayed wood from the cracks, now they use black epoxy, which to me nullifies any benefit or aesthetics of having a "live edge" on the tree. The "butterfly spline" looks more traditional.
Click to expand...
Have you ever attempted using marine glue? I had heard of a few woodworkers having success with it but I’ve not personally used it.
 
IzzyG said:
Have you ever attempted using marine glue? I had heard of a few woodworkers having success with it but I’ve not personally used it.
Click to expand...
Not really. If I have something that will be subject to constant moisture I use Titebond III. But have not used it to stabilize wood. Remember most glues are "rubber" or some sort of urethane based. The CA and Epoxy cure hard and the joint will be solid, something you want while working it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BillsBayou
ABS Denver 2023 - Latest member of the Midnight Bonsai Society
Replies
6
Views
1K
vesper818
vesper818
cornfed
ME and Josh Hooson of Bonsai-En on the latest United We Ag Podcast
Replies
1
Views
1K
penumbra
penumbra
RobertB
Composting for Bonsai? (Latest Podcast, Modern Soil Science - Mirai)
3 4 5
Replies
98
Views
16K
leus
L
Stevebonsai
My latest purchase... Acer burgeranium shoin
Replies
3
Views
734
Stevebonsai
Stevebonsai
oysterowl83
My Latest Aquistions!
Replies
1
Views
515
Carol 83
Carol 83
Back
Top Bottom