First shimpaku

[Brian Van Fleet]

I wouldn't apply anything to it yet. Let it weather a bit on its own, and callusing will cover half the exposed Shari this year anyway.

When you do, PC Petrifier is good, water based, but leaves a sheen that takes a while to fade. I'd treat with LS first, let it dry and bleach out, then hit it with PC Petrifier....but it will look more natural if you let it weather a while first.

On that Jin, use a pair of needle nose pliers and start peeling it like string cheese to get some texture while the wood is still green.

 

[Neli]

The tree will need time to re route the live veins...so it is better to do that at a later stage.
When you do a double shari, one in front and one behind you need to be careful, not to cutt supply to vital branches totally.. In this case live veins grow on both sides and not behind and front...and therefor the expansion is faster and larger.

 

[KennedyMarx]

On that Jin, use a pair of needle nose pliers and start peeling it like string cheese to get some texture while the wood is still green.

Neli reposted some techniques for making realistic deadwood without using power tools that I thought would come in very handy. I'm surprised she didn't mention it:

http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/sidiao-technique/