Blue atlas cedar trunk chop advice

[radhatter]

I’m looking for advice on this recently collected blue atlas cedar. It came from a yard of someone who was looking to remove it before it got too large. I had to chop the trunk in order to get it home anyway and I’m looking for advice on if I should just get the intended chop out of the way now or wait until it recovers(if it does). I would like to chop it at the red line and turn the branch on the left into the new apex. I’m concerned if I don’t chop it now, the intended apex will be shaded out and drop some of the buds I’ll intend to use in the final apex.
I’ve never recovered a field grown tree before and I’ve heard BAC are finicky about their roots so it may be a goner regardless but I’d love some advice from those that have done this work before

 

[Orion_metalhead]

let it recover a year or two then when it has plenty of vigor cut back.

 

[Shibui]

Like many other conifers, the branches and foliage will help the tree produce new roots so I'd leave it until you are certain it's well established before more pruning.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Leave it at the current height and keep it a tall and dense beast with a dense apex/dome I love these trees. Quickly becoming my favorite for bonsai.

 

[radhatter]

Thanks all, I’ll leave it for now and give it a chance to recover