Is all raffia the same? want To attempt some major bends, just wondering if there is a difference in the raffia available to purchase? Because it all looks the same to me. Where do y’all get your raffia. Thanks
Raffia
- Thread starter Gatorade
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I got my raffia from Michael’s. If there’s a difference between what craft stores sell and what is sold specifically for the bonsai market, I’d also like to hear what it is. The stuff I got from the craft store seems to work well enough for branch bending.
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
From Ryan Neils place
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.vp999
Omono
I also see some people use electrical tape so I tried it in my last major bend couple weeks ago works great but its only been a couple weeks so we will see.
hemmy
Omono
This is for hat making. You want it wide and long. . .
Your two pics look pretty similar.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Raffia is raffia. Get it wherever you can.
Avoid the colored stuff that some craft shops stock. The dyes are not waterproof so it will stain your hands when you wet it and stain your trees when you water - unless you particularly want a red trunk, or blue???
Avoid the colored stuff that some craft shops stock. The dyes are not waterproof so it will stain your hands when you wet it and stain your trees when you water - unless you particularly want a red trunk, or blue???
RJG2
Omono
The argument I've heard against electrical tape it's that it doesn't breath, so could trap moisture underneath.
If you try it, make sure to do the first layer sticky side out, then a second layer sticky in. Don't want to rip that bark off (I used it for my first couple apple tree grafts years ago, and it ripped some bark off - then actually purchased grafting tape - my apple tree now has 8 varieties on it).
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Many people use the self-adhering sports wrap instead of raffia...
berzerkules
Shohin
Good to know. I was planning on trying that stuff at some point. seems easier to get than raffia
Maiden69
Masterpiece
The few people I have seen use electrical tape us it over raffia, never seen anybody using it against the tree bark. Also, it is not regular electrical tape, it's rubber splicing tape. Not the same at all, electrical tape will start oozing adhesive when the sun heats it, splicing tape wont. Also, splicing tape is applied like you would apply grafting tape, by stretching it giving you more control.
Harry Harrington uses veterinary tape.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I used it once and it left a white sticky mess on the bark behind impossible to remove until it eventually wore off with age a season later. It degraded and came off one thread at a time too when removing.
Maybe for a short term application but... Mine came from Rite-Aid
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Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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The vet wrap/self sticking sports tape is easier to apply then rafia and gets the job done but degrades in the sun to one solid mass that will need a razor blade- same as rafia- to remove once the bend has set. For older pines with mature bark, there will be some damage- just like rafia- but there will also be small remnants of the wrap left behind that will require either a tooth pick to removes or another year in the sun to fall away. Generally, trees requiring this kind of treatment are years away from being show ready, so I'm ok with it.
NaoTK
Chumono
Anyone ever try using soft rubber-cushioned wire before, like this? Less for HEAVY bends and more for delicate bark
I haven't used that product, specifically. However, I have slipped 2.5 mm aluminum wire into aquarium tubing and used that to wire some branches on a maple. Just did it recently, though, so the results aren't in yet.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I have a few coils of this stuff laying around. The wire inside is steel of course, so I do not use it for regular wiring. But I do use it sometimes for tension wires to reduce biting in. The rubber on it deteriorates fast though
